Synchronised DC defibrillator into two paddles
Synchronised DC defibrillator into two paddles, model 2015, by American Optical (Medical Division), Bedford, Massachusetts, 1975-1981
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Defibrillators are used to give a measured shock of electricity to restart a person’s heart if their heart stops suddenly.
The spoon-like electrodes in this example are used directly on a person’s heart during an open heart surgery and are only used in an operating theatre. This model has two modes. One was for ventricular fibrillation or v-fib, where the bottom chambers of a person’s heart are moving too quickly and randomly. The other mode was for cardioversion to reset a person’s heart rhythm.
Many previous defibrillators used alternating current, AC, rather than direct current or DC. Alternating current caused injury to the heart and surrounding muscles and bones DC defibrillators were developed by Dr Bernard Lown (1921-2021) and electrical engineer Barouh Berkovits (1926-2012) at the American Optical Company.
- Measurements:
-
overall - as displayed: 778 mm x 570 mm x 585 mm,
- Materials:
- complete , steel (metal) , plastic (unidentified) , asbestos , electrical components , rubber (unidentified) , metal (unknown) and paint
- Object Number:
- 1981-59/1
- type:
- defibrillator
