Termination of Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmias with an Implanted Automatic Defibrillator in Human Beings

TLDR

The development of a clinically applicable automatic implantable defibrillator has been described; it monitors cardiac activity, detects ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and delivers corrective discharges. The study aims to protect high‑risk patients from sudden death by using the automatic defibrillator. Following extensive preclinical testing, a pilot study was initiated at Johns Hopkins Hospital to evaluate the device. The article reports the first three patients who received the automatic defibrillator implantation. No additional information provided.

Abstract

THE development of a clinically applicable, automatic, implantable defibrillator has been described previously.1 This electronic device is designed to monitor cardiac electrical activity, to recognize ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachyarrhythmias with a sinusoidal wave form, and then to deliver corrective defibrillatory discharges. It is intended to protect patients at particularly high risk of sudden death whenever and wherever they are stricken by these lethal arrhythmias.After extensive preclinical testing, 2 a pilot study of this new technique was recently initiated at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. This article decribes the first three patients in whom the automatic defibrillator was implanted to manage . . .