Cardioverter

Cardioverter
Although cardioversion (the conversion of one cardiac rhythm to another) may sometimes be done with medications, a cardioverter is now synonymous with a defibrillator. Implantable defibrillators continuously monitor the heart rhythm in order to detect and correct rapid arrhythmias such as Ventricular tachycardia (rapid regular beating of the ventricles, the bottom chambers of the heart); and Ventricular fibrillation (rapid irregular beating of the ventricles). These ventricular arrhythmias impair the pumping efficiency of the heart and greatly raise the risks of fainting (syncope) and sudden cardiac arrest. They tend to develop in people with coronary artery disease and heart muscle diseases (cardiomyopathies). A defibrillator can be implanted within the body by far less invasive techniques than in the past because the devices, aside from being more technologically advanced, are smaller. (An implantable defibrillator is about the size of a minicassette). The defibrillator corrects the heart rhythm by delivering precisely calibrated and timed electrical shocks, when needed, to restore a normal heartbeat.
* * *
A machine used to perform cardioversion.

* * *

car·dio·ver·ter 'kärd-ē-ō-.vərt-ər n a device for the administration of an electric shock in cardioversion

* * *

car·dio·ver·ter (kahrґde-o-vur″tər) an energy-storage capacitor-discharge type of condenser which is discharged with an inductance; it delivers a direct-current shock which restores normal rhythm of the heart.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • cardioverter — noun A machine that performs cardioversion …   Wiktionary

  • Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator — An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a small battery powered electrical impulse generator which is implanted in patients who are at risk of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular fibrillation. The device is programmed to detect… …   Wikipedia

  • automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator — implantable cardioverter defibrillator see under cardioverter …   Medical dictionary

  • automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator — (AICD), implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) an implantable device that detects sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation and terminates it by a shock or shocks delivered directly to the myocardium …   Medical dictionary

  • Samuel Sears — Samuel F. Sears, Jr., Ph.D Born Orlando, F …   Wikipedia

  • Morton Mower — Co inventor of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Born January 31, 1933 (1933 01 31) (age 78) Baltimore, Maryland Residence Baltimore, MD …   Wikipedia

  • Defibrillation — View of defibrillator electrode position and placement. Defibrillation is a common treatment for life threatening cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Defibrillation consists of delivering a… …   Wikipedia

  • Artificial pacemaker — Cardiac resynchronization therapy and CRT (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy) redirect here. For the device termed a CRT D, see Implanted cardiac resynchronization device. For other uses, see Pacemaker (disambiguation). A pacemaker, scale in… …   Wikipedia

  • Cardiac arrest — For other uses, see Cardiac arrest (disambiguation). Cardiac Arrest Classification and external resources …   Wikipedia

  • Automatischer Externer Defibrillator — Ein im Rettungsdienst verwendeter Defibrillator mit EKG Funktion Nahansicht Ein Defibrillator ist ein medizinisches Gerät zur …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”