Heart monitor vest generator#

Who may be prescribed a vest defibrillator?Ī vest defibrillator may be prescribed to anyone at high risk for cardiac arrest who cannot currently have an ICD. The vest also includes two defibrillation electrodes that administer electrical impulses from the generator. These electrodes monitor the rhythm of the heart.

These may be worn attached to a belt, in a fanny pack, or over the shoulder.

Heart monitor vest generator#

The vest includes two electrodes attached to a rechargeable generator and battery pack. There are a few different types of vest defibrillators, but the parts are essentially the same in each. Cardiac arrest is the sudden stoppage of electrical activity in the heart. The goal is to shock the heart back into a steady, healthy rhythm and prevent a serious incident such as cardiac arrest. If the individual is either unconscious from cardiac arrest or aware that the heart is beating irregularly, the shock can continue. If the wearer is conscious and does not feel in distress, the alarm can be turned off and the shock diverted. The vests will usually sound an alert and vibrate prior to delivering the shock. When a dangerous rhythm is detected, the WCD delivers a shock to the heart, usually within 60 to 90 seconds. Two of the more potentially dangerous arrhythmias include ventricular fibrillation, which is a quivering and ineffective beating of the ventricles, and ventricular tachycardia, which is an irregularly rapid heartbeat. A vest defibrillator constantly monitors the heart for irregular heart rhythms ( arrhythmias).