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Size of a Defibrillator

Typical defibrillators are used externally on the human body to essentially jump-start a person's heart if it has stopped. New technology has allowed defibrillators to be implanted within the human body.

  1. Function

    • A defibrillator that is surgically implanted is called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD. It uses electrical pulsing to regulate the heartbeat if irregular, or even if it stops.

    Size

    • An ICD is measured in volume size. Currently, it is sized at 80 cc, or 80 mL. Advances in health technology are working on making the ICD size smaller for ease of placement, as well as comfort for the patient who carries it.

    Significance

    • ICDs differ from pacemakers. Pacemakers can only regulate heartbeat; ICDs can defibrillate, as well as regulate rhythm. The use of implantable defibrillators can help save lives by keeping the heart rhythm steady with low electrical pulses, and in the event of a heart attack or irregularity, can switch to high output pulses to jump-start the heart.

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