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Jolts vs Joules, Voltes
- by Olena
- 2014-10-13 02:10:11
- General Posting
- 4615 views
- 5 comments
does anyone know how to translate Jolts into joules or volts?
5 Comments
POP: Got it from...
by donr - 2014-10-16 08:10:50
....this article on the web:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Arrhythmias/36008
The author's opening paragraph says:
"Rather than delivering one high-energy shock of 2.64 joules, newer-generation implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) might instead deliver a series of low-energy shocks, researchers suggested."
I read the entire article & not too soon after that statement, he started quoting joule spikes measured in the tenths, so that 2.64 joules fit the context of his commentary.
I just read three more of the articles after this one & two of them gave no figures for Joules delivered. The third said adjustable between 1- 40 Joules.
Had I dug well into the bowels of a Power Point presentation I'd have found the following - which substantiates your figures:
"ICD is programmed to deliver a shock 10 joules greater than the defib threshold which is ~15 joules, therefore usual shock is 25 joules."
MY apology for screwing up & thanks to Pop for correcting me.
Donr
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by donr - 2014-10-13 08:10:30
...OF JARGON!!!!!
Let's start w/ the Volte - also spelled Volt correctly. The Volt is a measure of electrical force, or pressure - is the best way to describe it to a non-engineer. I see that you live in the US. If you look down at an electrical outlet in the wall, between the two FLAT prongs is an electrical "Pressure" of 120 Volts. It is always measured between TWO points & the higher the Voltage, the greater the electrical pressure to make an electrical current flow. The internal guts of your PM/ICD operates at about 2.5 - 5 volts. NOT MUCH! Pick up a standard flashlight battery - say a AA size. Between the top & bottom is a voltage of 1.5 Volts. Pathetically small, trust me. You can pick it up in your hand, put your thumb on the top of it & any finger on the bottom and feel NOTHING between the two fingers. Even if you lick your fingers first.
Try the same stunt with the 120 Volt outlet in your house & you will get JOLTED, I promise you - you will feel "Electrified"! Tr it in the UK or Europe & you will REALLY get JOLTED - you see, they run at about 240 Volts for everything. (We in the US only use 240 Volts for ranges, water heaters and air conditioner units)
Now I just used the word "JOLT" to describe an event - you getting an electric shock. Over the years, people have come to use the word "Jolt" to describe getting shocked. It just seems to adequately describe how you feel when you get it - "JOLTED." It has no other use than to describe a sensation. Like when your ICD discharges an electric shock to bring your heart back into rhythm. People describe that as the ICD giving you a "JOLT." Sometimes called the "Jesus JOLT." Some people even talk in slang about a VOLTAGE as being a "Joltage." a mere slang term, which has no definition other than a play on words.
Now let's talk about the Joule. That is a unit describing electrical energy. I just copied the following from a web site
"It's early in their development, but the next wave in ICDs will rely on four or five less intense shocks rather than one big jolt."
Notice that the author used the word "Jolt" to describe the action of the ICD. He continued...
"Rather than delivering one high-energy shock of 2.64 joules, newer-generation implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) might instead deliver a series of low-energy shocks..."
The ICD gives your heart a shock of so many volts for a certain period of time. The energy delivered to the heart by that sudden spike of Voltage is measured in JOULES. I'll not give you the scientific method for defining the Joule - but rather try to explain it in terms that will make sense to you. On the outside of your house is an electric meter. It measures the electrical energy you consume and bills you for it monthly. It bills you for Kilowatt hours (KWH) of energy you use, where Kilo stands for THOUSANDS. Now your ICD does NOT even begin to use energy in KWH. It gives your heart a JOLT of about 2.5 watt seconds of energy (a couple Joules) - not very much, really, but, believe me when applied directly to the heart muscle, it's quite a JOLT & gets your attention!
Hope this helps!