Calculating Energy Delivered by a Pacemaker

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the energy delivered by a pacemaker to heart tissue, focusing on the parameters such as resistance, pulse amplitude, pulse duration, and current drain. The context includes theoretical calculations and potential implications for battery requirements.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant calculates the energy delivered per pulse using the formula P=V^2/R and finds it to be 7.2x10-6 J, questioning the relevance of the current drain.
  • Another participant confirms the power calculation using P=V X I and suggests that the current drain of 2 microamps is likely related to battery consumption rather than the energy delivered to the heart.
  • A third participant clarifies that the 2 microamps refers to the current drain from the pacemaker circuitry, indicating potential confusion regarding the context of the question.
  • One participant emphasizes that all values provided were given in the original question, implying a limitation in the information available for further calculations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the interpretation of the current drain and its relevance to the energy calculation. There is no consensus on how the current drain should factor into the energy delivery calculations, leaving the discussion unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the current drain may not directly relate to the energy delivered to the heart, and there is ambiguity regarding the interpretation of the values provided in the question.

Sloan650
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A pacemaker stimulates heart tissue with R of 100ohms.
Pulse amplitude is 1.2 Volts & pulse duration is 0.5ms.
Stimulates at 70bpm
Current drain = 2microamps

Calculate energy delivered to heart from pacemaker at each pulse.

i got

P=V^2/R = 0.0144

Then Energy = Power*time = 0.0144*0.5x10-3 = 7.2x10-6 J

But do i not need to take into account the current drain?
 
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power P = V X I

and since I = V/R,
then
P= V X (V/R) = V^2/R

so when you did V^2/R you included current.

the 2 microamps sounds more like battery drain to me.

7.2 microjoules 70 times a minute = 8.4 microwatts
at 2 microamps dictates least 4.2 volt battery?

anything corroborate here?
 
2µA - It is current drain due to the pacemaker circuitry.

Im a bit confused, its a past exam question.
 
all the values i gave were all that was given in the question.
 

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