One of the most critical and beneficial pieces of medical equipment available today is the defibrillator. This is made for the treatment of life threatening cardiac issues such as arrhythmia. Most universities and schools in the United States have installed a defibrillator as standard equipment to help save people's lives. Everyone should consider purchasing such a beneficial piece of equipment for their homes.
A defibrillator works by applying a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the affected heart muscle. The shock of current depolarizes the heart muscle, thus terminating the irregular heart beat. When the this is terminated, the body's natural pacemaker reestablishes the correct beating rhythm.
Since time is of the essence in a cardiac emergency, a defibrillator must be convenient and easy to operate. Some models are so easy to operate that an inexperienced bystander is able to use them. External defibrillators, as opposed to internal or implanted defibrillators, are life savers as the heart rhythm needs to be re-established quickly.
In 1889 two Swiss physiologists first discovered that ventricular fibrillation could be induced in dogs by small electrical shocks. They also learned that the condition would reverse if subsequent charges were given. It took almost 50 years before the experiment was tried on humans
The technology of medical defibrillators has advanced significantly since their first introduction. Originally, the machines were much more bulky and relied on alternating current to supply the electrical shock. Today, the machines rely on direct current, which allows for the smaller size, and also requires less energy to operate. The machines are even small enough now that they are portable, and can be transported and used in ambulances.
Modern technology has affected the waveform in a defibrillator device. The first of these machines used a Lown waveform to apply the electrical charge. This was the type used until there were developments to show that another waveform was just as good and used lower levels of energy.
So if you or your family is at risk of heart disease, it is very important to own and know how to operate a medical heart machine. It would be very unfortunate to lose someone you love, simply by not owning a medical heart machine to use during a cardiac arrhythmia. Since the prices have become affordable, many people are choosing to install these machines in their own homes to protect their families and loved ones.
Perhaps one of the most valuable pieces of Medical equipment to own is the Defibrillator. Defibrillation is the treatment for life-threatening Cardiac arrhythmia.
