Do you know the difference?

Monophasic & biphasic

defibrillator

Monophasic Biphasic
defibrillator defibrillator

Sends an electrical
current in a single
direction from one side of

the chest to the electrode Sends an electrical

on the other side current accross two
directions or phases. The

direction of current flow
is reversed at some point
Standard waveform in the defibrillation cycle
used in most
defibrillators until
the 1980s Seen as a modern
defibrillation with
different patterns

The voltage and joules

delivered are higher
than those delivered by
biphasic defibrillator
patient and the potential
The waveform has one
peak, which is crucial in
determining the success of
Biphasic defibrillator
reduces the quantity of
energy delivered to the
damages to the heart
muscle or external
injuries due to high
voltage (burn)

defibrillation. There needs

to be enough current to Initially developed for use
reach the heart to in implantable
terminate the lethal rythm cardioverter defibrillator
or fibrillation (ICD) and later adapted to
external defibrillators