Patent ID: 6212429
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A biphasic upgrade circuit for converting a monophasic defibrillator into a defibrillator capable of generating a biphasic defibrillation pulse, the monophasic defibrillator including an energy storage device for providing a flow of energy, a high-energy relay that is coupled to the energy storage device and which may be activated to provide a circuit path for the flow of energy from the energy storage device, and a host control circuit that is coupled to the high-energy relay and which provides a control signal, the biphasic upgrade circuit comprising:a bridging circuit including a plurality of controller controllable switches; andan upgrade control circuit comprising:a controller for controlling the switches of the bridging circuit; anda means for receiving the control signal from the host control circuit of the monophasic defibrillator, the means being coupled to the controller of the upgrade control circuit, the controller having a function for activating the switches of the bridging circuit, the timing of the activation of the switches of the bridging circuit being controlled by the controller relative to the timing of the activation of the high energy relay so as to generate a biphasic defibrillation pulse.