Patent ID: 6175765
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
In an external defibrillator for applying a multiphasic defibrillation pulse to a patient through first and second electrodes when said first and second electrodes are coupled to a patient, said external defibrillator including one or more energy storage devices having first and second leads and a charging system for charging said one or more energy storage devices, said external defibrillator also including one or more output circuits with a plurality of output switches for switchably coupling the one or more energy storage devices to the first and second electrodes in order to conduct the energy stored in the one or more energy storage devices to a patient, said external defibrillator further comprising a control circuit coupled to said plurality of output switches for controlling said output circuit switches, said control circuit switching the plurality of output switches so as to generate a multiphasic defibrillation pulse for application to a patient, the improvement comprising:(i) causing said charging system to charge said one or more energy storage devices to a combined energy level range from 50 or less joules to 200 or more joules; and(ii) forming said one or more output circuits of components capable of delivering a combined energy level range from 50 or less joules to 200 or more joules to the first and second electrodes for application to a patient.