Bernard Lown, M.D. was the original developer of the defibrillator and is an internationally known peace activist. The Medicinæ Doctor or Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or D.M.) is a doctorate level degree held by medical doctors. ... A semi-automatic external defibrillator (AED) A defibrillator is a medical device used in the defibrillation of the heart. ... A peace activist is a political activist who strives for peace, and against war. ...

Born in Lithuania, he emigrated at age 13 with his parents to the US, initially to Maine shortly before the outbreak of World War II, and subsequently studied to become a specialist in cardiology. Cardiology is the branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. ...

Development of the defibrillator

Up until the late 1950's, fibrillation of the heart could be treated only by drug therapy. In 1956 American cardiologist Paul Zoll published a paper describing resuscitation of open-heart surgery patients by means of a 110 volt alternating current electric shock (derived from a wall socket) and conducted to the sides of the exposed heart by metal plate "paddles". While being an advance in emergency resuscitation, the technique was later to be shown to be both damaging to the heart muscle and of unpredictable effectiveness in reverting ventricular fibrillation. Fibrillation is the rapid, irregular, and unsynchronized contraction of the muscle fibers of the heart. ... One of the pioneers of the cardiac pacemaker and cardiac defibrillator. ...

In 1959, Lown, aware of the Zoll paper and of the complications resulting from the alternating current method, commenced animal research in an endeavour to define a less traumatic and more effective form of electric shock. Filmed by PETA, Covance primate-testing lab, Vienna, Virginia, 2004-5. ...

This work resulted in what became known as the "Lown waveform"; a single heavily damped sinusoidal waveform with a half cycle time of approximately 5 milliseconds. The waveform was produced by charging a bank of capacitors to about 1000 volts, then discharging the capacitors through an inductor to deliver the waveform to the heart. In mathematics, the trigonometric functions are functions of an angle, important when studying triangles and modeling periodic phenomena. ... A millisecond is an SI-derived unit of time, equal to one thousandth of a second. ... Various types of capacitors A capacitor is a device that stores energy in the electric field created between a pair of conductors on which equal but opposite electric charges have been placed. ... An inductor is a passive electrical device employed in electrical circuits for its property of inductance. ...

Following the research findings, Lown contacted engineer Barouh Berkovits of the American Optical Company, who produced a clinical prototype defibrillator (often referred to as a "cardioverter") which became the basis for further technological evolution. The original machine, weighing some 60 lb (27 kg), delivered the Lown waveform at energy levels up to 100 joules for exposed heart application, and 200–400 joules for transthoracic application. Barouh Berkovits is one of the pioneers of Bio-engineering; particularly the cardiac defibrillator and artificial cardiac pacemaker. ... The joule (IPA pronunciation: or ) (symbol: J) is the SI unit of energy. ...

Peace activist

In 1960 he was one of the founders of Physicians for Social Responsibility and later the co-founder of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. He also founded two organisations, SATELLIFE and ProCOR, which provide health information and assistance to developing countries. Physicians for Social Responsibility is an member of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War ... International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) is a worldwide grouping of national medical organizations. ...

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War was awarded the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize. International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) is a worldwide grouping of national medical organizations. ...

Bernard Lown is currently Professor of Cardiology Emeritus at the Harvard School of Public Health. He and his wife Louise have three children. Harvard School of Public Health The Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) is Harvard Universitys School of Public Health. ...

External links

• A Heart Doctor With an Extra Big Heart