Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward implantable medical devices, systems, and methods for cardiac assistance.

Abstract: An apparatus for perforating a film has one or more electrodes in electrode holders to lightly contact the film, a return electrode to support the film, and a voltage coupler to produce a discharge between the electrodes to perforate the film. A water jet sprayer is mounted on an electrode holder to provide a jet of water where the electrodes come into contact with the film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically treating foodstuffs flowing through a treatment chamber with low energy, high voltage electrical pulses for non-thermal pasteurization and/or sterilization. Instant-charge-reversal electrical pulses are applied to a foodstuff located between two electrodes in a treatment chamber, each electrical pulse having a pulse width in a range from about 1 to 5 .mu.s with vertically rising voltage to a peak followed immediately with a decreasing voltage through zero volts and continuing to a voltage peak of opposite polarity and rising vertically back to zero volts. The electrical pulses are very low energy (0.1-25 Joules/pulse) and the field strengths are in the range 15 kVolts/cm to 120 kVolts/cm. This instant-charge-reversal electrical pulse is shown to have a much greater microbial killing power compared to other pulse waveforms used to treat foodstuff.

Abstract: A power supply for producing a high voltage DC output. The power supply comprises a primary winding and a series of secondary stages each having secondary windings coupled to the primary winding through a magnetic circuit. Each secondary stage comprises a printed circuit board with the secondary windings formed as a series of independent coils or turns on the board substrate. The magnetic circuit comprises a series of segments which are separated by an insulating film to maintain each segment at the same potential as the associated printed circuit board. Each coil includes a rectifier element for converting the induced AC voltage into a DC voltage. The rectifier elements are connected in series and the printed circuit boards are coupled to produce a high level DC voltage output signal, for example, a minimum 200 kV output. To compensate for Magneto Motive Force (MMF) losses through the insulating film, the rectifier elements include a compensation capacitor.

Abstract: A power supply for producing a high DC output voltage. The power supply comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding coupled together by a magnetic circuit. The secondary winding comprises a series of independent coils or turns. Each coil includes a rectifier element for converting the induced AC voltage into a DC voltage. The rectifier elements are connected in series to produce a high level DC voltage output signal, for example, a minimum 50 kV output. The secondary coils have a turns ratio such that the induced voltage is less than the Paschen minimum voltage for the gaseous medium surrounding the secondary coils. The power supply may be fabricated using surface mount technology or as a printed circuit board where the secondary coils are formed as tracks on the substrate.

Abstract: Spark perforation of synthetic plastic film is carried out by applying electrodes to opposite ends of a portion of the film submerged in a water bath that is at a temperature above the onset temperature of glass transition of the film,and applying short fast rise time electrical pulses of an amplitude sufficient to ensure dielectric breakdown of the film. The size of the perforations formed can be controlled by altering the temperature of the water bath. By using short fast pulses, energy consumption, film decomposition and electrode erosion are minimized, and the high dielectric strength of water can be exploited to control perforation while its conductivity can be exploited to remove residual electric charges from the film. Capacitors formed by lengths of coaxial cable are used by a pulse generator for generating pulses having rise times less than one microsecond.

Abstract: In electrical spark treatment apparatus, more consistent and controllable sparking from multiple spark gaps is achieved by providing individual energy storage components for each spark gap, including a capacitance and an inductance in series with each gap, and a path for charging current in parallel with each gap, and a common means for charging the capacitors and then discharging them to break down the spark gaps. A common damping means is associated with the switching device to absorb surplus energy released during discharge of the capacitors.