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A kinder, gentler defibrillator

Nature (2011)Cite this article

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A new technique could lower the intensity of the shock needed to reset electrical instabilities in the heart.

When electrical rhythms in the heart go haywire, applying a strong electric shock to the chest can set them straight. But the procedure can also damage heart tissue and cause intense pain, prompting a search for a gentler approach. A technique tested in dogs now claims to be just that: it resets heart arrhythmias by applying a series of five small shocks, instead of one large one, slashing the amount of energy needed by about 84%.

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References

  1. Luther, S. et al. Nature 475, 235-239 (2011).

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Authors
  1. Alla Katsnelson
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Flavio Fenton

Stefan Luther

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Katsnelson, A. A kinder, gentler defibrillator. Nature (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/news.2011.414

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/news.2011.414

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