Final answer:
A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is used as a bridge to heart transplant, maintaining cardiac function until a donor heart is available, unlike AEDs, which are used for immediate cardiac emergencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a type of mechanical heart pump. It's used for patients who have severe heart failure. One primary use of the LVAD is as a bridge to heart transplant, meaning it helps to maintain cardiac function until a donor heart becomes available. Developed through a collaboration including NASA, Dr. Michael DeBakey, Dr. George Noon, and MicroMed Technology Inc., the MicroMed DeBakey VAD pumps blood throughout the body, keeping critically ill patients alive. This particular device is small, portable, and can operate on batteries, allowing patients more mobility and less incidence of device-related infections while they await a heart transplant.While automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are crucial in emergencies for correcting heart arrhythmias through an electrical shock, they are not to be confused with LVADs. AEDs are portable electronic devices used in cases of cardiac emergencies such as ventricular fibrillation and are commonly found in public places. They automatically diagnose the patient's heart rhythm and deliver the appropriate shock, with CPR often recommended before their use.