CONTENTS -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. Fibrillation -- 1.1 Definition -- 1.2 Mechanisms -- 1.2.1 Reentry -- 1.2.2 Multiple Ectopic Foci -- 1.2.3 Rotor Theory -- 1.3 Causes -- 1.3.1 Setting -- 1.3.2 Type of Disturbance -- 1.4 Types of Fibrillation -- 1.4.1 Etiology -- 1.4.2 Localization -- 1.4.3 Characteristics -- 1.5 Clinical and Surgical Significance -- 1.6 Fibrillation Variables -- 1.6.1 Electrophysiological Variables -- 1.6.2 Metabolic Variables -- 1.6.3 MyocardialMass -- 1.7 Electrical Fibrillation Thresholds (EFTs) -- 1.7.1 Definition -- 1.7.2 Methods of Stimulation -- 1.7.3 Vulnerable Period -- 1.8 Conclusions and Review Questions -- 2. Defibrillation -- 2.1 Definition and Early Developments -- 2.2 Chemical Defibrillation -- 2.3 Electrical Defibrillation -- 2.3.1 Transventricular or Direct -- 2.3.2 Transthoracic or Indirect -- 2.4 Defibrillation Variables, Thresholds, and Concept of Dose -- 2.4.1 Physiological Variables -- 2.4.2 TechnologicalVariables -- 2.4.3 Defibrillation Thresholds -- 2.4.4 Concept of Defibrillation Dose -- 2.5 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) -- 2.6 Cardioversion or Atrial Defibrillation -- 2.7 Are there other methods? Ablation -- 2.8 Conclusions and Review Questions -- 3. Defibrillators -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Characterization -- 3.2.1 Technological Aspects -- 3.2.2 Functional Aspects -- 3.2.3 Implantable Defibrillators -- 3.2.4 Generator Types -- 3.3 Pacemakers -- 3.4 Defibrillator Analyzers -- 3.5 Conclusions and Review Questions -- 4. Ventricular Fibrillation Detection -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Algorithms for the Detection of Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) -- 4.2.1 Probability Density Function (PDF) -- 4.2.2 Threshold Crossing Intervals (TCI) -- 4.2.3 Cardiac Frequency (CF) -- 4.2.4 Signal Morphology (SM) or Correlation Waveform Analysis (CWA) -- 4.2.5 Time-Frequency Analysis (TFA).

4.2.6 Wavelet Transform (WT) -- 4.2.7 Phase Space Analysis (PSA) -- 4.3 Discussion -- 4.4 Conclusions and Review Questions -- 5. Electrodes and Pastes -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Electrode/Tissue Impedance and the Biological Load Impedance -- 5.2.1 The Electrode-Electrolyte Interface Impedance (EEI) -- 5.2.2 The Biological Load Impedance -- 5.3 Electrode Types -- 5.4 Pastes -- 5.5 Failures -- 5.6 Conclusions and Review Questions -- 6. Safety and Efficacy -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Safety Levels: Patient, Operator, and Equipment -- 6.3 Isolation -- 6.4 Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) -- 6.5 Standards -- 6.6 Pain -- 6.6.1 Evidence of the Sensation -- 6.6.2 Causes -- 6.6.3 Proposed Measures to Prevent it -- 6.7 Efficacy -- 6.7.1 Leads -- 6.7.2 Pulse Waveform (Monophasic or Polyphasic) -- 6.7.3 Pulse Duration -- 6.7.4 Safety Margin (in Terms of Energy or Current) -- 6.8 Conclusions and Review Questions -- 7. Theoretical Models -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Non-linear Microscopic Models of Cardiac Dynamics -- 7.3 Non-linear Dynamics and the Onset of Fibrillation -- 7.4 Extended Models and Connection with Sustained Fibrillation -- 7.5 Statistical Analysis -- 7.5.1 To Begin With -- 7.5.2 Lyapunov Exponents -- 7.5.3 Dimensions and Entropies -- 7.6 Discussion -- 7.7 Conclusions and Review Questions -- 8. Final Discussion, Overall Conclusions, and Looking Ahead -- References -- About the Authors -- Index.