Patent ID: 6438420
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A cardioverter/defibrillator for delivering cardioversion/defibrillation shocks from the discharge of at least one high voltage output capacitor through a cardioversion/defibrillation lead to a patient's heart comprising:a power supply; a DC-DC converter coupled to the power supply for the charging the high voltage output capacitor to a predetermined voltage level; high voltage discharge switch means coupled between the high voltage output capacitor and the cardioversion/defibrillation lead for discharging the high voltage output capacitor to deliver the cardioversion/defibrillation shock in response to a switching signal; means for generating an input current signal following charging the high voltage output capacitor to the predetermined voltage level; and drive circuit means responsive to the input current signal for providing said switching signal after the high voltage output capacitor is charged to the predetermined voltage level further comprising monolithic isolation circuit means comprising an input current loop and an output current loop that are formed as an integrated circuit isolated from one another to inhibit high voltage transients in the output current loop during delivery of the cardioversion/defibrillation shock from being coupled back into the input current loop, whereby the switching signal is generated in the output current loop when the input current signal is applied to the input current loop.