The device enables the user to select between different pulse types (monophasic, alternating, bi- and polyphasic) adjust the length of an applied pulse (1–200 ms), the gap between two consecutive pulses (20–2000 ms), application of irregular pulses with random length and gaps (simulation of arrhythmia) in a user-defined range, as well as manual pulsing, while extensive data are recorded for every single pulse during the experiment. In this work, construction, functions and application of the MyoPulser are explained in detail, the electronic pacemaker is also tested on isolated cardiomyocytes and HT22-cells to quantify biological effects of pacing. After providing the free software MYOCYTER that analyzes a large amount of data from videos of contracting cells, tissues or organs, we now present an “Arduino”-based programmable, customizable and cost-effective electronic pacemaker (“ MyoPulser”) that triggers contraction by electric stimulation of the sample at arbitrary frequencies.
