A Statistical Procedure for Testing Nuclear Powered Cardiac Pacemakers.

This paper addresses the question: "What is an appropriate statistical procedure for testing the electronic reliability of nuclear powered cardiac pacemakers?" A sequential test procedure is described, assuming a constant failure rate, together with a method for testing the validity of this assumption. The methods described herein were recommended by the authors to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Directorate of Licensing, and subsequently appeared as The Generic Environmental Statement on Routine Use of Plutonium Powered Cardiac Pacemakers, July, I976, Document NUREG 0060, issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]