What device is used to assess heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to restore it?

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is specifically designed to assess a person's heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock if necessary. This device is portable and can analyze the heart's electrical activity to determine if it is in a life-threatening arrhythmia, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. If such rhythms are detected, the AED will prompt the user to deliver a shock, which helps to reset the heart's electrical activity and restore a normal rhythm.

It’s important to note that while other devices mentioned have functions related to heart health, they do not all serve the same dual purpose. For example, a pacemaker is used to regulate the heart's rhythm over the long term but does not deliver shocks for emergencies. Similarly, heart rate monitors track heart beats but do not analyze rhythm or deliver shocks. Cardiac monitors are typically used in clinical settings to continuously observe heart activity, but they do not provide the capability of delivering defibrillation shocks as an AED does.