defibrillator, implantable

defibrillator, implantable

A small, implantable device that detects the onset of the rapidly fatal condition VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION and immediately applies an electrical pulse to the heart to depolarize the muscle and restore normal rhythm. Alternatively the device can stop the fibrillation by providing a pacing pulse. The device is implanted under the skin of the chest or under a pectoral muscle.