An ICD is a surgically inserted electronic device that constantly monitors your heart rate and rhythm. When it detects a very fast, abnormal heart rhythm, it delivers electrical energy to the heart muscle. This causes the heart to beat in a normal rhythm again.
An electronic device placed inside the body to control life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms.
An ICD monitors the heart rhythm at all times. When necessary, the ICD treats the rhythm with a specific type of electrical therapy.
A device that detects and corrects irregular heart rhythms.
A device placed in the chest that monitors the heartbeat (also known as an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator—AICD). When the heartbeats too fast, the ICD delivers a high-energy electrical impulse to restore a regular heart rhythm. The ICD system usually consists of a pulse generator and one or more leads. View illustration
Small, surgically implanted defibrillators. Weighing less than four ounces, these devices are able to sense abnormal heart rhythms and, within seconds of detecting fibrillation, deliver an electric shock to the heart.
(commonly abbreviated to ICD): A specialised pacemaker which recognises when a heart rate is excessively fast and responds by either pacing the heart or delivering a small electrical shock to restore the normal heart rhythm. The ICD can also serve as a conventional pacemaker to deliver the necessary impulses when the heart rate is too slow.
A device, intended to be permanently implanted into the body, capable of recognizing ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation and delivering electrical therapy to terminate such an arrhythmia. Sometimes called automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Abbreviated ICD.
a device that is implanted in the chest to monitor for and, if necessary, correct episodes of an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) by pacing or shocking the heart.
A surgically implanted device that monitors the heartbeat and delivers electrical impulses to correct an abnormally fast rhythm and restore a regular heartbeat. The ICD system usually consists of an implanted pulse generator and one or more leads. The system is adjusted using an external programming device. Also known as an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD). See larger view
A battery-operated device connected to the heart like a permanent cardiac pacemaker. When the ventricles contract in an uncoordinated manner so that blood is not pumped to the rest of the body, a life-threatening rhythm disturbance (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) results. To prevent a recurrence of this problem, a thoracic surgeon inserts an ICD. Whenever the ICD senses a rhythm disturbance, it delivers a correcting shock inside the heart.