A defibrillator is a medical device used to send small electric pulses through the heart muscle in an effort to shock the muscle into functioning normally. Defibrillators are used to prevent the patient from going into complete cardiac arrest.
Function
A defibrillator is a device used on patients experiencing a chaotic or dangerously rapid heartbeat. The device sends small amounts of electricity through the muscle to stabilize the heart's rhythm.
History
A defibrillator was first used on a human during surgery in 1947. In the 1950s, an external defibrillator that allowed for use without direct exposure to the heart was developed.
Types
Defibrillators are often portable, and can be automatic or manual. Automated defibrillators can also be implanted into the patient's chest to send shocks to the heart when the device detects dangerous heart activity.
Misconceptions
Though many believe defibrillators are used to restart the heart when a patient flat-lines, defibrillators are actually only used to reestablish a normal heart rate when the muscle is working too fast or chaotically.
Fun Fact
TV shows and movies often show a patient react to defibrillator treatment with an exaggerated jerk or spasm that lifts the entire body. In reality, a defibrillator causes only a slight muscle spasm.
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