A pacemaker is a small, battery-powered device that is implanted under the skin near the collarbone to help regulate the heartbeat. It sends electrical signals to the heart to keep it beating regularly and can be used to control or increase the heartbeat as needed. Pacemakers are used to treat heart problems that cause the heart to beat too slowly, such as bradycardia, sinus node disease, and heart block. There are different types of pacemakers, including:

• Single chamber pacemaker: This type usually sends electrical signals to the lower right chamber of the heart.
• Dual chamber pacemaker: This type sends electrical signals to the upper and lower right heart chambers.
• Biventricular pacemaker: This type is also called a cardiac resynchronization pacemaker and is for people who have heart failure and a slow heartbeat. The device stimulates both lower heart chambers to help make the heart muscle stronger.

A pacemaker may have two parts: a pulse generator and leads. The pulse generator is a small metal box that has a battery and electrical parts. It controls the rate of electrical signals sent to the heart. The leads are flexible wires that are placed in one or more chambers of the heart. They deliver electrical signals to fix the heart rate. Some newer pacemakers dont need wires.

Pacemakers are implanted through surgery, which takes about an hour in most cases. The procedure involves making a small incision on the left side of the chest below the collarbone, and the pacemaker generator is placed under the skin at this location. After the pacemaker is implanted, regularly scheduled appointments will be made to ensure that it is functioning properly.