Patent ID: 7050850

Claim:
A method of operating a cardioverter/defibrillator of the type having at least one high voltage (HV) output capacitor that comprises a cathode, a valve metal anode with a formed oxide that deforms during periods of electrical inactivity and an electrolyte and that is charged from a battery through a charging circuit and is adapted to be discharged through cardioversion/defibrillation (C/D) electrodes comprising: in response to a detected arrthymia, charging at least one HV output capacitor at a therapeutic charging rate substantially to a preprogrammed or maximum charge and either: discharging at least a portion of the charge of said at least one HV output capacitor; or allowing at least a portion of the charge of said at least one HV output capacitor to discharge through a non-therapeutic load; and periodically charging the at least one HV output capacitor at a reform charging rate that is slower than the therapeutic charging rate substantially to the preprogrammed or maximum charge to thereby reform at least a portion of a deformed oxide of said HV output capacitor.