Dalziel revisited: a study of the electrical parameters affecting ventricular fibrillation

More than 32 years have passed since Charles F. Dalziel published his last of four seminal papers on ventricular fibrillation. His empirical formula for the current necessary to produce ventricular fibrillation in man has been recognized by scientists and engineers as forming the basis for an analytical understanding of this major cause of death from electrical shock. In addition, the concept of let go current for man has resulted in the standard for personnel safety used to design ground-fault interrupting circuit protection. In this paper the additional electrical parameters of energy, voltage and resistance are related analytically to Dalziel's work and the relationship of these parameters to the likelihood of ventricular fibrillation is established for humans ranging in mass from 50 kg to 90 kg, i.e. 110 to 198 lbs in weight. Equations and graphical plots of these important relationships are given