My ep rotates the brands; so if there's a recall they don't have 100% of patients who need them redone.
I'm a member of an icd forum and have read alot of different things about preferences. If you want that link, pm me and I'll be glad to give it to you, they're a great bunch of people and lots of useful information on there.
I have a Boston Scientific Teligen 100 with Guidant leads; it's so small most people would never even know I have it. When they checked 2 mths ago, my battery life was almost 8 years, which is another thing to take into consideration if you're given a choice.
http://www.bostonscientific.com/Device.bsci?navRelId=1000.1003&req_from_page=treatment&page=HCP_Overview&method=DevDetailHCP&id=10106021&pageDisclaimer=Disclaimer.ProductPage
Medtronic, Guidant, and St Jude make up most of the pacer implants, >90%. Medtronic and guidant in particular are very popular. Do some google research, there are some published articles on models names and recalls. And types, look into that too, as there are single lead, 2 lead, etc.
Pacers only activate at too low of a rate, they do nothing over a certain heart rate (usually around 40).