Even with the advent of defibrillators at various non-hospital settings it still takes a while to prep the victim by pulling off whatever clothing they're wearing, then greasing up the paddles, etc. Why not have the thing redesigned so that it resembles a Taser? That way, when someone's in trouble you grab the thing, point and shoot right thru the clothing? When seconds count this might make the difference, yes?
-- Steamboat, Feb 06 2006

Info on taser effects on the heart http://www.tbotech....r-information.htm#3
[DesertFox, Feb 06 2006]

Internal defib paddles http://www.defib-ec..._defibrillators.htm
Small spoon like paddles for use inside the chest cavity [oneoffdave, Feb 07 2006]

"My god, John, hold on!"

"Mabel, it was just a cough- GAAAAAAAHAAAAAAA GHAAAAHghghgg..."
-- notmarkflynn, Feb 06 2006


Methinks the major problem here is that Tasers put out about 1.6 joules, and 26 watts, while defibrilators put out more than 200 J. I don't know what wattage exactly, suffice to say that it's much, much higher. They have to be plugged into a good outlet. Tasers run on AA batteries.

[linkie] - Tells how tasers are designed so they DON'T have an effect on the heart; you'd need to plug it in to get any good amount of power. Batteries just dont cut it, unless you use those spotlight batteries; then maybe.
-- DesertFox, Feb 06 2006


--I didn't suggest *using* a Taser, but to use a defibrillator that operates *like* a Taser, i.e. that shoots the electrodes thru intervening clothing. The voltage/amperage and the pulse rate would *have* to be the same as used by a "real" defib unit. Is that sufficient descriptive clarity?
-- Steamboat, Feb 07 2006


The only real problem with this is that you insist on using a real Taser. If it were not for your consarned stubborness you might have amounted to something. But no - it is always "lets use a taser" for every single problem you stumble across.

I wonder what the surgeons do if a patient's heart stops while they have it out lying around, with the overlying bones and stuff set aside. I cannot imagine they just put the regular paddles on the poor bare heart.
-- bungston, Feb 07 2006


[bung] If you look about halfway down the page on the [link] you'll see two spoon-like devices that they use when shocking the heart directly.
-- oneoffdave, Feb 07 2006


Point and shoot isn't a good idea. The electrode positioning needs to be precise.

Besides, this is baked (sorta): Get on Amazon.com and search for "AED". You can buy one for $1200. It's not point-and-shoot, but peel-and-stick is simple and fast enough. It's also smart enough that it won't zap the person unless they need it. It runs on an internal battery, so you aren't looking for an outlet. They even talk, so you don't even have to know how to use it.

Next time you're in an airport, or even a large shopping mall, look for signs with a heart logo that say AED. These things aren't new, and since they really can save lives, they're getting to be more and more common. One day they may even be as common as fire extinguishers.
-- Souse Mouse, Feb 07 2006


The paddles need to be placed on either side of the heart, not on it directly. I don't see how this could be accomplished with a taser.
-- hidden truths, Feb 07 2006


//I don't see how this could be accomplished with a taser.// nipple-homing darts?
-- coprocephalous, Feb 07 2006


What could be simpler?
-- reensure, Feb 07 2006


/It's also smart enough that it won't zap the person unless they need it./

Next thing those dang robots will be telling me when I need to take a leak or scratch my bum. Who's the robot then, I ask you? WHO'S THE ROBOT THEN??
-- bungston, Feb 08 2006



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