Abstract: A publically available external defibrillator includes a detector used to detect a life threatening condition of a patient, a controller operating the defibrillator automatically and a therapy delivery circuit that delivers appropriate therapy. The defibrillator is attached to a patient by any attendant or bystander and once it is attached, the defibrillator is adapted to monitor the patient and when a life threatening condition is detected, to apply therapy automatically, i.e., without any involvement by the patient or the attendant.

Abstract: A publically available external defibrillator includes a detector used to detect a life threatening condition of a patient, a controller operating the defibrillator automatically and a therapy delivery circuit that delivers appropriate therapy. The defibrillator is attached to a patient by any attendant or bystander and once it is attached, the defibrillator is adapted to monitor the patient and when a life threatening condition is detected, to apply therapy automatically, i.e., without any involvement by the patient or the attendant.

Abstract: A publically available external defibrillator includes a detector used to detect a life threatening condition of a patient, a controller operating the defibrillator automatically and a therapy delivery circuit that delivers appropriate therapy. The defibrillator is attached to a patient by any attendant or bystander and once it is attached, the defibrillator is adapted to monitor the patient and when a life threatening condition is detected, to apply therapy automatically, i.e., without any involvement by the patient or the attendant.

Abstract: An external defibrillator includes a detector used to detect a life threatening condition of a patient, a controller operating the defibrillator automatically and a therapy delivery circuit that delivers appropriate therapy. Advantageously a parameter is derived from the cardiac signals sensed in the patient, the parameters being used to differentiate between shockable events such as ventricular tachyarrhythmia and other events such as SVT. The defibrillator is attached to a patient by an attendant and once it is attached, the defibrillator is adapted to monitor the patient and when a life threatening condition is detected, to apply therapy automatically, i.e., without any involvement by the patient or the attendant.

Abstract: An external defibrillator includes a detector used to detect a life threatening condition of a patient, a controller operating the defibrillator automatically and a therapy delivery circuit that delivers appropriate therapy. The defibrillator is attached to a patient and is adapted to monitor the patient and when a life threatening condition is detected, to apply therapy automatically. An averaging scheme is used to determine a current cardiac rate by taking a first average of the intervals between a preset number of successive cardiac events, establishing a differential between this average and the intervals, dropping the interval corresponding to the largest differential. In this manner, the effects of over- and undersensing are eliminated or at least reduced.