The probability of ventricular fibrillation due to step voltage hazards

Abstract

In this paper the authors build on the findings of previous works to explore the risk due to step voltage hazards. Of particular interest is a correction to work published by Wang. The outcome is significant as it appears to indicate that the Wang result was significantly conservative and the corrected results are somewhat confronting. The same calculation framework is used to derive step voltage time curves which represent a constant probability of ventricular fibrillation and can be used as a component of the risk level assessment. Again the results were found to be confronting, motivating the authors to explore other physiological effects outside of ventricular fibrillation for establishing appropriate levels of risk for step voltages. The outcome of that work has produced a novel recommendation for a establishing step voltage safety criteria and an insight into further research which will further clarify the risk posed by step voltages.