Defibrillators

When a person's heart beats uncharacteristically fast or sporadically, a defibrillator responds with a series of electric shocks to the heart. These pulses have the ability to restore the natural heart rate before the patient enters cardiac arrest--a seizure that can turn fatal in mere minutes.

Defibrillator implants have turned into a multibillion dollar industry for medical device manufacturers since clinical trials revealed that this equipment can save thousands of lives on an annual basis in regards to patients who are at high risk of cardiac arrest. Defibrillators are comprised of minuscule battery-powered cylinders that are imbedded in the muscle beneath the collarbone. Typically, it goes on the opposite side of your dominant hand. So, for a left-handed patient, it will be implanted under the right collar bone, and for a right-handed patient, it will be implanted under the left collar bone. Insulated wires called leads attach the cylinders to the heart.

The leads serve two purposes: identifying an irregular heartbeat that requires a corrective shock and then delivering that shock. When the batteries are drained, defibrillator tubes have to be changed, but the leads can remain in position unless they need to be replaced due to fractures or infections.

The majority of defibrillators on the market are designed to multitask; they can stimulate hindered heart rates through low-powered stimulation or encourage contractions amongst the four chambers of the heart to restore a more standardized rhythm.

External defibrillators are commonly found onboard ambulances and other emergency vehicles. These intense jolts administered through paddles touching the chest may be the difference between life and death. Over the past few years, less complex versions of these devices, known as automated external defibrillators (AED), were installed on commercial airlines and in public offices and schools. People who complete training courses offered by the Red Cross and other agencies can become certified in AED usage. In 2004, the first FDA-approved AED was made available for sale to people at home.