Implantable defibrillator

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Implantable defibrillator

• By Victor J. Gabbidon

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History

• Research on the implantable defibrillator
  commenced in 1969, but it was not until 11 years
  later that the device was tested in a human
  patient.
• More than a decade of research went into the
  system that allowed the device to detect the
  onset of an arrhythmia.

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Purpose and Functionality

• An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)
  is a small battery powered device that is
  implanted in patients at high risk for sudden
  cardiac death.
• It detects cardiac arrhythmia and generates an
  electrical impulse to correct it.

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Purpose and Functionality (cont.)

• Traditionally used in patients with experiencing
  ventricular fibrillation and ventricular
  tachycardia, or irregularly fast or irregularly
  slow heartbeat.
• A clinical trial revealed that ICDs in patients
  with congestive heart failure reduced risk of
  death by 23.

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Design

• Electrode wires are connected to the main unit
  and placed within a vein that leads to the heart.
• These wires are what detect the arrhythmia and
  transfer the electric shock.

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Limitations on device

• Many say the concept of the implantable
  defibrillator is excessive because people do not
  experience ventricular fibrillation frequently
• Bernard Lown, the inventor of the external
  defibrillator, spoke out against the device
  claiming it was an imperfect solutions and not a
  practical application.

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Sources

• http//www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topi
  cs/icd/
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Implantable_cardiover
  ter-defibrillator
• http//www.mayoclinic.com/health/implantable-cardi
  overter-defibrillator/MY00336