Patent ID: 7993338

Claim:
An ablation element power switching apparatus comprising: a plurality of first switches having an input end to receive a power input signal, each first switch having an output end; a plurality of second switches, each second switch having an input end coupled to the output end of at least one first switch, each second switch having an output end; a bypass switch having an input end to receive the power input signal and an output end coupled to the second switches, wherein in an on position, the bypass switch bypasses the first switches to transmit the power input signal to the second switches; a plurality of power receiving members, each power receiving member having an input end coupled to the output end of at least one second switch; and a controller selectively turning on the first switches one at a time in a cyclical manner according to a first switching rate to transmit the power input signal, the controller selectively turning on the second switches one subset of the second switches at a time according to a second switch rate to transmit the power input signal from the first switches to a subset of power receiving members one power receiving member at a time within the subset of power receiving members according to the first switching rate, wherein the first switching rate is substantially faster than the second switching rate, and further wherein each fist switch is configured to transmit the power input signal independendent of the switching position of the other of the plurality of first switches.