The History of Defibrillators: A Timeline

From the earliest experiments in 1899 to the first human defibrillation in 1947, defibrillators are a story of engineering and medicine coming together to save lives. 

Thankfully, today defibrillators are a common sight in public places, ready for use by members of the public on victims of cardiac arrest. But these devices evolved slowly over time, going from surgical use only, to large vehicles, to the automated external defibrillator (AED) we have today. 

In this blog we will be exploring when the first defibrillator was made, how it evolved to save lives, and where we are today. 

1899-1930 The Earliest Discoveries

In 1899, Jean-Louis Prévost and Frédéric Batelli, a pair of Swiss scientists, demonstrated that electrical shocks could induce ventricular fibrillation in dogs, and reverse the condition. 

This pioneering research found that electrical currents could influence the heart’s rhythm, laying the groundwork for all future defibrillators. 

In 1930, William Kouwenhoven developed a very early external defibrillator, continuing to study the relationship between electric shocks and their effects on the human heart. At this point, all research on what was to become defibrillators had been experimental. 

The first successful human defibrillation wouldn’t take place until 1947.

 

1947 The First Human Defibrillation 

Claude Beck at the University Hospital of Cleveland began giving shocks to animals with irregular heartbeats. But the leap was made to human patients when, during open-heart surgery, a 14 year old patients heart stopped beating. 

Beck used his machine on the exposed heart, and after 2 shocks, restored a normal heart rhythm. This first successful human defibrillation was widely publicised and marked a new achievement in medicine. 

But at this stage, defibrillation was only possible when applied directly to the exposed heart; only during surgery could the technique be used. 

 

1950-1956 First External Defibrillator

In the 1950s, the first portable defibrillator was created. Although the device weighed 70 kilograms and required its own vehicle. 

In 1956, Dr. Paul Zoll was the first physician to externally regulate heart rhythms using a defibrillator. He later created a device that allowed for monitoring the heart’s electrical activity, giving us the cardiac monitor we have today. 

These early successes for defibrillation proved that it could be a viable and effective emergency treatment. 

If you are looking for a portable automatic defibrillator, try the Mindray Full Automatic AED. 

1966 Emergency Medicine Transformed

The milestone that brought defibrillators into everyday life was the refinement of the portable defibrillator. 

In 1966, Northern Irish doctor Frank Pantridge launched the world’s first mobile coronary emergency service. At this stage, the weight had reduced to 45 kilograms, and the defibrillator ran from ambulance batteries. It allowed medical teams to treat cardiac arrest outside of the hospital for the first time. 

This was quickly followed by advancements in battery technology, reducing the size and weight of devices, making them easier for ambulances or emergency responders to use. 

These advancements allowed for patients to be treated prior to hospital admission, and significantly improved survival and recovery rates.

 

1980 Implantable and Automated Defibrillators

The next major milestone came in the form of an implantable defibrillator. Surgically implanted into patients who are at high risk of heart rhythm disturbances. This device automatically detects and corrects arrhythmias when needed. 

At this time researchers were working on making defibrillators easier for non-medical people to use, which led to the creation of the automated external defibrillator (AED). These devices analyse the heart’s rhythms and guide a user through the process, often using voice commands. 

AED devices became more accessible to untrained people, allowing for fast treatment before hospital admission, further saving lives.

 

2000s Modern Day

Today, defibrillators are small, intelligent, and designed with the public in mind. AED’s can be found in public places, gyms, workplaces, and more, with the intent of having a defibrillator close by as often as possible.  

Advancements like wearable technology are also gaining traction. These continuing changes are improving survival outcomes and increasing the use of defibrillators in everyday life. 

75 Years Later

A paper published in the National Library of Medicine concluded that: in the 75 years since the first successful human defibrillation a new era of advanced cardiac life support has been created, and use of defibrillators has led to more effective treatment and improved patient safety. 

 

Defibrillators Today

The history of the defibrillator is a study of technology and innovation, pursuing one goal: saving lives. For early experiments in 1899, many public spaces had an AED  fast and effective treatment is now within our grasp. 

But cases of cardiac arrest, outside of hospital, still sit at around 40,000 a year. Clearly, there is still a great need for defibrillators, awareness, and education. 

At Defib World, we want to ensure that help is always within reach. 

You can order online today to see our full range of AED defibrillators and accompanying cases, for both indoor and outdoor storage.