Final answer:
A defibrillator is the device used to restore the normal heart rhythm. It delivers an electrical shock to the heart in order to stop an arrhythmia, allowing the natural pacemaker to resume normal sinus rhythm. Defibrillators can take the form of AEDs for public use or paddles in hospitals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The general name for a device that restores the normal heart rhythm is a defibrillator. When heart arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms, persist and become life-threatening, a defibrillator delivers an electrical shock to the heart. This shock effectively can terminate an arrhythmia and allow the heart's natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial (SA) node, to resume establishing the normal sinus rhythm. An artificial pacemaker can also be implanted to deliver electrical impulses to the heart muscle, aiding in maintaining a regular heartbeat. Some devices combine both a pacemaker and a defibrillator for comprehensive treatment.
Defibrillators can be external, such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are often available in public spaces for use in cardiac emergencies. They are designed with simple instructions so that nonmedical personnel can attempt to save a life. In hospital settings, defibrillator paddles are commonly used by healthcare professionals to reestablish a normal sinus rhythm.