by Max E Valentinuzzi (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina & University of Tucumán, Argentina)

Table of Contents (53k)
Preface (72k)
Introduction (72k)
Chapter 1: Fibrillation (601k)

This compendium gives a comprehensive overview of the advances in fibrillation-defibrillation knowledge — recognition of fibrillation as a unique life threatening cardiac arrhythmia; discovery of the electric discharge in its double role of culprit and savior; and technological improved contributions.

The book stands on the well-known philosophy of Education-Based on Problems (or EBP), that is, take fibrillation as a medical daily problem and search for that knowledge, technique or principle trying to solve it.

The book is interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary. It addresses undergraduate and graduate biomedical engineering students, physicians going into cardiology, clinical engineers and clinical engineering technicians, nurses, paramedics and emergency medical personnel.

• Fibrillation:
  • Definition
  • Mechanisms
  • Causes
  • Types of Fibrillation
  • Clinical and Surgical Significance
  • Fibrillation Variables
  • Electrical Fibrillation Thresholds (EFTs)
• Defibrillation:
  • Definition and Early Developments
  • Chemical Defibrillation
  • Electrical Defibrillation
  • Defibrillation Variables, Thresholds, and Concept of Dose
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Cardioversion or Atrial Defibrillation
  • Are There Other Methods? Ablation
• Defibrillators:
  • Characterization
  • Pacemakers
  • Defibrillator Analyzers
• Ventricular Fibrillation Detection:
  • Algorithms for the Detection of Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)
  • Discussion
• Electrodes and Pastes
  • Electrode/Tissue Impedence and the Biological Load Impedance
  • Electrode Types
  • Pastes
  • Failures
• Safety and Efficacy:
  • Safety Levels: Patient, Operator, and Equipment
  • Isolation
  • Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
  • Standards
  • Pain
  • Efficacy
• Theoretical Models:
  • Non-Linear Microscopic Models of Cardiac Dynamics
  • Non-Linear Dynamics and the Onset of Fibrillation
  • Extended Models and Connection with Sustained Fibrillation
  • Statistical Models