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A member asked:
How does a defibrillator function?
5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
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.
Answered 9/28/2016
6.1k views
Electrical system: A defibrillator causes all myocardial (heart) cells to become depolarized at the same time. This extinguishes the abnormal arrhythmia, and allows the natural cardiac pacemaker to kick back in. This requires a large electrical current, to make sure all myocardial cells get activated at the same time.
Answered 1/15/2021
5.5k views
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