Pacemaker
A pacemaker is a medical device designed to regulate the beating of the heart. The purpose of an artificial pacemaker is to stimulate the heart when either the heart's native pacemaker is not fast enough or if there are blocks in the heart's electrical conduction system preventing the propagation of electrical impulses from the native pacemaker to the lower chambers of the heart, known as the ventricles. Generally, pacemakers do not treat fast rhythms of the heart. External pacemakers can be used for initial stabilization of a patient, but implantation of a permanent internal pacemaker is usually required for most conditions.
Automated external defibrillators
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are a proved method of reducing morbidity and mortality from acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). The most common lethal arrhythmias in adult cardiac arrest can be cured by electricity; early defibrillation is a nationally recognized standard of care. To provide a realistic chance of survival, defibrillation must be available soon after cardiac arrest. An automated external defibrillator (AED) detects and treats cardiac arrest due to the cardiac arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT). Uncorrected, these arrhythmias rapidly lead to irreversible brain damage and death.
