Patent ID: 7062321

Claim:
A method comprising the steps of: coupling a patient to an AED via a pair of identical universal electrodes suitable for use upon both adults and children which have a total area smaller than conventional adult electrodes and larger than conventional pediatric electrodes for delivering the energy level produced by the AED to a patient; identifying to the AED whether the patient is an adult or a child by operator setting of an operator adjustable adult/pediatric mode indicator; electronically determining whether the patient requires defibrillation; producing in the AED an energy level appropriate for an adult in the event that the patient is identified as an adult; delivering a first electrical waveform via the universal electrodes which is characterized by the energy level appropriate for an adult in the event that the patient is an adult; producing in the AED an energy level appropriate for a child in the event that the patient is identified as a child; and delivering a second electrical waveform via the universal electrodes which is characterized by the energy level appropriate for a child in the event that the patient is a child.