The Pacemaker Patient Advocacy Group consists of volunteers who have a passion for improving pacemaker patient outcome. They are interested in accelerating the already rapidly evolving practice of how pacemakers are applied, with goal of improving heart health.
Tragically, published paced patient outcome results, especially since 2002, suggest that the classical practice of bypassing the specialized conduction system can result in what doctors call “pacing induced heart failure” and “atrial fibrillation” (A-fib). The conduction system is meant to choreograph (not synchronize) the contraction of the muscle cells. Yet today, too many pacemaker electrodes that activate the heart, bypass the heart’s native conduction system.
More generally, we believe that effective healthcare reform can best be achieved if patients take on a stronger and informed role in managing their health.
The Pacemaker Patient Advocacy Group website is managed by PPAG Founder and President, Terrell M. Williams. The Webmaster is Arlen C. Williams. The PPAG Board officials include: Secretary, Cat Thompson; Treasurer, Teresa Bird; officials, Ken Brennen PhD, and David Casavant, co-author of the first clinical His bundle pacing study.
Terrell (or preferably, Terry) holds a BSEE degree and was employed at Medtronic, 1971 through 2012. He has co-authored publications, a book chapter and is named inventor on 49 US Patents with Medtronic. Nine of those are related to His bundle pacing. For more about Terry, see his bio on this page.
Under Founder, Earl Bakken, new employees in 1971 spent a couple weeks in “Corporate Product Training.” Studies included an introduced to the His-Purkinje system. Four decades ago, Medtronic invited Dr. Benjamin Scherlag to present on his His bundle pacing animal research. Earl has always been a true visionary.
In 1990 Prof. Ryden (of Karolinska, Stockholm) directed Terry and his team on catheter development for a preclinical, followed by clinical His pacing project. The resulting publication “The Effect of Ventricular Activation Sequence on Cardiac Performance During Pacing,” published in 1996 is listed in the Papers Page under “What was the early research leading to His bundle pacing?” Unfortunately, the 1 French lead with its 1-to-1 torque delivery system, was designed to position the lead under the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve, was not close enough to the His bundle for acceptable pacing voltage thresholds.
By 2003, with publications including MOST and DAVID, healthcare was introduced to what doctors call “pacing induced heart failure” caused by ventricular apical pacing. Bypassing the cardiac conduction system seemed no longer acceptable. His bundle pacing, “growing exponentially” and accepted by some as the new paradigm, seems to be obsoleting the old paradigm, “conventional pacing” with its reported “pacing induced heart failure.”
Terry prototyped a 4 French lead, resulting in the Medtronic Model 3830 Lead, and worked with Dr. Raymond Yee, University of Western Ontario, to develop the accompanying Model C315HIS Catheter. Terry is named an inventor on both the Medtronic Model 3830 Lead and the Model C316HIS Catheter.
This PPAG website has an annual budget of approximately $400. It is funded by an occasional grant and by donors like you; thank you.