This discussion regarding ventricular fribulation is very interesting and please, let it continue.
However, the original issue was the minimum time for measuring continuous energy levels. It seems that if you are even considering touching this circuit, it better already be at least SELV. Therefore, there was never any danger of fribulation occuring in the first place. At least not in the eyes of IEC950. So...has anyone received any official responses from any competent bodies regarding the answer to: How long is continuous? Glenn Lesmeister Compaq Computer Corp. [email protected] ------------- Original Text From: Mike Cantwell <[email protected]>, on 11/26/96 3:40 PM: When the heart goes into ventricular fibrillation, you're right, it is very erratic and does not pump blood very efficiently. The purpose of the defibrillator is to attempt to get the "electrical system" of the heart back into a normal sinus rythm. It may very well stop the heart first, the next time I see my Doctor, I'll have to ask him. I think it may work either way. Sometimes the heart does go into asystole (flat line) and drugs are given to stimulate the heart muscle along with CPR. I've also seen the rythm improve to life sustaining but critical condition. I'm not an EMT any more, but it was rather gratifying to have a "save". Oh well, off the original topic, but this is my justification for my two cents worth. Mike Cantwell, PE At 08:15 AM 11/26/96 EST, you wrote: >A PS to your note on defibrillators. I believe that a defibrillator STOPS the >heart, not starts it. When the heart goes into fibrillation, it has an erratic >and quite rapid pulse, it is fibrillating rather than pumping in rythm, and no >blood gets pumped. The heart fibrillation then needs to be stopped which is >where the defribrillator comes in. It puts out the current through the heart , >stops it dead, and then hopefully the heart will start up again either on its >own or with manipulation. > >Regards, > >Gabriel Roy >Hughes Network Systems >MD > > *******************************+********************************** * Mike Cantwell, PE ! Compliance Engineer * * P.O. Box 740 ! Bio-Rad Laboratories * * 21 Park Street ! 237 Putnam Avenue * * Pepperell, MA 01463 ! Cambridge, MA 02139 * * Tel: (508) 433-6907 ! Tel: (617) 234-7248 * * Fax: (508) 433-0699 ! Fax: (617) 234-7199 * ****************************************************************** e
