Cardiac pacemaker discharge at about 40-60 beats per minute, and are called the "secondary pacemaker". Further down the electrical conducting system of the heart is the Bundle of His. The left and right branches of this bundle, and the Purkinje fibres, will also produce a spontaneous action potential at a rate of 30-40 beats per minute, so if the SA and AV node both fail to function, these cells can become pacemakers. It is important to realize that these cells will be initiating action potentials and contraction at a much lower rate than the primary or secondary pacemaker cells. The SA node
Heart rate monitor sensors and these are still the default used for medical devices. The newer technology is based on optical sensors. ECG (Electrocardiography) sensors measure the bio-potential generated by electrical signals that control the expansion and contraction of heart chambers. PPG (Photoplethysmography) sensors use a light-based technology to sense the rate of blood flow as controlled by the heart's pumping action. The electrical monitors consist of two elements: a monitor/transmitter, which is worn on a chest strap, and a receiver. When a heartbeat is detected a radio signal is transmitted, which the receiver uses to display/determine the current heart rate. This signal