Q: can i order a defibrillator?

Yes: Yes , i bought one for my home from costco and they never asked if i was a doctor. This was a philips aed.

Q: how does a defibrillator work?

An ICD?: If you are referring to an implanted cardioverter defibrillator it works as follows: it detects fast heart beats above a threshold set by the cardiologist and programmed into the defibrillator and delivers a shock or ATP - pacemaker override, depending on the heart rate. It will deliver subsequent shocks depending on the heart rate it detects.

Q: how does a defibrillator function?

Defibirllator: The defibibrillator is a mini computer with a sensing circuit and a shock circuit. If the device senses a life threatening arrhythmia for a certain time period, then the device charges and will shock the patient out of the life threatening arrhythmia. The defibrillator is programmed by the electrophysiologist based on the studies done prior to implant and then after implant it is tested.

Q: how is a defibrillator made to work?

Defibrillator: Defibrillaor's function is to sense a life sensing rhythm and quickly deliver a life-saving shock. It contains a sensor (consisting of electronic filters/amplifiers). It also contains a 3v battery that is quickly charged upto 750 volts with help of a transformer in matter of 5-15 seconds. A high voltage capacitor stores the charge that is then delivered to the heart to shock the heart.

Q: would a tazer work as a defibrillator?

No, but…: A taser cannot function as a defibrillator (the energies it utilizes are too low). It is a point of great medical and legal contention whether electronic control devices can in fact cause fibrillation, and the company taser has taken numerous legal actions in an effort to maintain medicolegal consensus that they cannot. I'll leave the matter at that.

Q: how is a defibrillator used in people?

Implantable device: Implantable defibrillators are used in people who most often (not always) have poor heart function and are at risk for sudden cardiac death due to malignant heart rhythms. It's job is to sense the life threatening rhythm and provide necessary shock.

Q: when does someone use a defibrillator?

To stop fibrillation: "fibrillation" is when the heart muscle is not contracting efficiently, but rather twitching weakly at rapid rates. If this involves the bottom chambers of the heart ("ventricles"), it is life threatening as normal cardiac output falls drastically. The rhythm must be normalized quickly to resume normal heart output, and electrical shocks promptly defibrillate, i.e. Stop the abnormal rhythm.

Question 1

i read that there can be complications with an implanted defibrillator such as infections, is it true and what kind?

Accepted Answer

ICD: Infections related to implanted defibrillator usually are related to the implantation procedure. If the device has been in place for a while with no problem, then seeding of the pocket or lead sites from another infection is possible. These infections are uncommon but serious.

Question 2

how are defibrillators used in the body?

Accepted Answer

Terminate arrhythmia: Implantable defibrillators are used in patients who have already experienced or are at risk of experiencing a malignant rhythm problem in the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). The devices detect the arrhythmias then deliver a series of rapid pacing pulses or one or more shocks to reset the rhythm to normal.

Question 3

who needs a defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

ICD - new guidelines: This is somewhat complex and will not all fit in 400 characters so I am creating initials. 1. Ischemic cardiomyopathy, i.C., with ejection fraction, ef, >30% but <35%, newyork heartassoc, nyha, class ii or iii, and >30 days post mi/revascularization. 2. Ic, ef <30%. 3. Ic, ef between 36-40% with inducible ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia, 4. Non-ic with ef <35% and nyha class ii or greater.

Question 4

can i order a defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Yes , i bought one for my home from costco and they never asked if i was a doctor.  This was a philips aed.

Question 5

how does a defibrillator work?

Accepted Answer

An ICD?: If you are referring to an implanted cardioverter defibrillator it works as follows: it detects fast heart beats above a threshold set by the cardiologist and programmed into the defibrillator and delivers a shock or ATP - pacemaker override, depending on the heart rate. It will deliver subsequent shocks depending on the heart rate it detects.

Question 6

how does a defibrillator function?

Accepted Answer

Defibirllator: The defibibrillator is a mini computer with a sensing circuit and a shock circuit. If the device senses a life threatening arrhythmia for a certain time period, then the device charges and will shock the patient out of the life threatening arrhythmia. The defibrillator is programmed by the electrophysiologist  based on the studies done prior to implant and then after implant it is tested.

Question 7

how is a defibrillator made to work?

Accepted Answer

Defibrillator: Defibrillaor's function is to sense a life sensing rhythm and quickly deliver a life-saving shock.  It contains a sensor (consisting of electronic filters/amplifiers). It also contains a 3v battery that is quickly charged upto 750 volts with help of a transformer in matter of 5-15 seconds. A high voltage capacitor stores the charge that is then delivered to the heart to shock the heart.

Question 8

would a tazer work as a defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

No, but…: A taser cannot function as a defibrillator (the energies it utilizes are too low). It is a point of great medical and legal contention whether electronic control devices can in fact  cause fibrillation, and the company taser has taken numerous legal actions in an effort to maintain medicolegal consensus that they cannot.  I'll leave the matter at that.

Question 9

how is a defibrillator used in people?

Accepted Answer

Implantable device: Implantable defibrillators are used in people who most often (not always) have poor heart function and are at risk for sudden cardiac death due to malignant heart rhythms. It's job is to sense the life threatening rhythm and provide necessary shock.

Question 10

when does someone use a defibrillator?

Accepted Answer

To stop fibrillation: "fibrillation" is when the heart muscle is not contracting efficiently, but rather twitching weakly at rapid rates. If this involves the bottom chambers of the heart ("ventricles"), it is life threatening as normal cardiac output falls drastically. The rhythm must be normalized quickly to resume normal heart output, and electrical shocks promptly defibrillate, i.e. Stop the abnormal rhythm.

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Doctor answers about:

Defibrillator complications

A member asked:

I read that there can be complications with an implanted defibrillator such as infections, is it true and what kind?

A member asked:

How are defibrillators used in the body?

A member asked:

Who needs a defibrillator?

A member asked:

Can i order a defibrillator?

A member asked:

How does a defibrillator work?

A member asked:

How does a defibrillator function?

A member asked:

How is a defibrillator made to work?

A member asked:

Would a tazer work as a defibrillator?

A member asked:

How is a defibrillator used in people?

A member asked:

When does someone use a defibrillator?

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