Why not? Are you looking for something portable, worn all the time like a vest; or a device you go to and use when necessary, like hugging another person?

ak

Unfortunately, I think it's beyond my skill and know-how to create something portable enough to be worn at all times. It would have to be a device that's picked up and used when necessary, but I still want it to be small enough that it can be, say, brought to work in a large purse or something.

 

Small battery powered motorized toys often have an internal squeaker. My dogs have a couple. When on, the motor runs continuously to move the toy. It also drives a wind-up-and-release mechanism that stores up spring tension, then snaps loose and bangs on a bladder; that burst of air goes through a sounder that makes the dog "bark". Either a motor or solenoid driven piston could force air into a sealed pouch (size of a 1-quart zip loc bag) that has a hard outer side so it rapidly expands inward against the chest. Or something like that. The motor version would have zero electronics.

ak

 

The Build-A-Bear company sells what you are describing as an accessory. It costs $6.00 with free shipping.

It is used to be placed inside a plush toy to create a heartbeat effect, which can be felt.

 

https://www.tranquilomat.com/

 

Unfortunately there's only two known effective medical treatments, but both are quite invasive and can have many complications. Pacemakers are the first, and I dont think i need to explain the ups and downs of those, and the second is a radio-frequency treatment which literally destroys certain electrical pathways in the heart muscle tissue. Again, I don't think i need to explain the risks inherent in that. Granted, the technique is remarkably successful (>90%), but still, for some, there are no treatments for SVT, only coping mechanisms. That's all I'm hoping to construct here -- something that may bring relief during an episode, not a cure.

Seems that my reading is implying there are more than just two.

Depending On The person and the reason they go into an episode there are a number of variations on how it treated. Some surgically done some/most medication based (~40 different medications are listed to have beneficial control effects on it) and some diet exercise and lifestyle adaptation and conditioning based "Hug it out' Ain't listed anywhere as one of them.
Especially for serious heart arrhythmia type medical issues that can last for several hours at a time.

The closest I can dig up to the 'Hug it out' concept are these two.

• Carotid sinus massage. Your doctor may try this type of massage that involves applying gentle pressure on the neck — where the carotid artery splits into two branches — to release certain chemicals that slow the heart rate. Don't attempt to do this on your own as it may cause blood clots that could lead to a stroke, or heart or lung injury.
• Vagal maneuvers. You may be able to stop an episode of SVT by using particular maneuvers that include holding your breath and straining, dunking your face in ice water, or coughing.
  
  
  These maneuvers affect the nervous system that controls your heartbeat (vagus nerves), often causing your heart rate to slow.

From here.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...ia/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20301880

Unfortunately to me right now everything I am reading from you suggests that whomever it is doesn't want to seek real legitimate medical assistance on dealing with their problem which has the very real possibility of killing them at some point if left untreated or improperly managed.

BTW I too suffer from a similar issue of heart fluttering due to low level anxiety attacks. Or I used to until I started to put forth the effort to learn how to control them by psychosomatic conditioning where I actively choose to subject myself to the stimuli that triggers the reactions. It's been years since I have had a problem and the things that used to trigger an attack are now familiar conditions of little concern. Just ask my Ex. She did her damnedest to get to me through them before she finally left. Not so much as a flutter!

 

@Ty, that's a pretty incredible idea there bud. You really think people would go for it though?

 

Short comment on post # 8, a few years ago on AAC, someone wanted to make an electronic drum so I put together a drum using a rotary solenoid with a short drum stick attached, beating on the bottom of a large tin can. Could make 4 beats / sec. , was trying for 10.

 

@Ty, that's a pretty incredible idea there bud. You really think people would go for it though?

Only one way to find out

 

Short comment on post # 8, a few years ago on AAC, someone wanted to make an electronic drum so I put together a drum using a rotary solenoid with a short drum stick attached, beating on the bottom of a large tin can. Could make 4 beats / sec. , was trying for 10.

Hmm, this definitely lends credibility to the solenoid recommendations i've gotten. I've never worked with them before but I'm definitely going to look into it. Thank you!

 

Hello everyone,

I'll make this quick: a friend of mine suffers from SVT, short for Supraventricular Tachycardia, a condition in which the heart spontaneously starts to beat very quickly (>180 Bpm) , sometimes for many hours, due to improper electrical stimulation from the brain and heart.

There are many ways of dealing with the attacks, some more effective than others, and the techniques which help one person might not help another.

One technique that is known to help relatively consistently, however, is the application of an external pulse - typically achieved by hugging or resting with another person. By being able to feel the heartbeat of the person they're resting against, it can help to reset their own pulse rhythm, and bring it down.

Thing is, for obvious reasons, it can be hard to cuddle with someone during the middle of a day at work. So, there are devices such as pacemakers or electrode systems which can stimulate proper pulse rhythm anywhere the person is.

Thing is, because these systems are administering electrical signals directly to the muscle tissue of the heart, they need to be dealt with very carefully, and only at the recommendation of a medical professional.

This is where I'm hoping to step in.
I would like to create a device which externally "thumps" against a person's chest, simulating an external pulse, as if they were pressed up against another person, and we're feeling someone else's heartbeat.

The thing is, I have no idea what to use to generate the "thump". I can't think of any devices, mechanical or electrical, which can produce a thump, besides large, clunky motors swinging a hammer or something unwieldy.

For this reason, I am turning to you guys

I would greatly appreciate any and all thoughts or suggestions on what type of electromechanical device can be used to generate a soft but distinct "thump" against a surface. The other aspects of the device I'm hoping to create, like the peacekeeping functionality and the electrical signals and whatnot I can figure out myself... It's just the Mehanical thump that is escaping me.


So yeah, if anyone knows of anything that can produce the type of thump I'm looking for, I would love to hear it!

Thank you all for your time,
- Ty

 

Ty,
While I am a newbee here on AAC, I am thoroughly versed and have extensive 'experience' is treating SVT's and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) for over 17 years. I can tell the level and depth of care you have for your friend. As other's have said this is a very serious situation and indeed can be life threatening. Extremely high heart rates can be brought on by anxiety, but can be brought on by many things. The treatment of SVT's needs to be treated medically. What you propose 'may' work and may work a few times or 50 times, but eventually there will come a time it may not work at all! And then what? What are you going to do? And while I know the answer to that question....would your friend have been better served by calling for Emergency help a lot sooner? Anything less than treating your friend medically and under the guidance of a medical professional in a medical setting can and will eventually place them in dire straits. And while there are ways to treat them outpatient, and those treatments 'can,' I said can work, you run the risk of your friend going into cardiac arrest at some point. Show your friend that you deeply, truly care about them....keep 911 handy or whatever the Emergency Number is where you live! And if you truly want to be prepared in case your friend were to experience SVT's or worse, cardiac arrest?If you haven't already? Learn CPR! Become an EMT! Take coursework in Advanced Life Saving Techniques, and as crazy as it sounds? It might lead you into a very rewarding passion.