Abstract: An external defibrillator/pacer (8) includes an output circuit (14) with four legs arrayed to form an H-bridge. Each leg of the output circuit contains a switch (SW1-SW4). In a defibrillation mode, pairs of switches in the H-bridge are selectively switched to generate a biphasic defibrillation pulse. Three switches (SW1, SW3, SW4) are silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs). Gate drive circuits (51, 53, 54) are coupled to the SCRs to bias the SCRs with a voltage that allows the SCRs in response to control signals. One switch (SW2) includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). A gate drive circuit (52) is coupled to the gate of the IGBTs to provide a slow turn-on and a fast turn-off of the IGBT. In a pacing mode, a bypass circuit or current source circuit is used to provide a current path bypassing an SCR switch (SW3), which cannot be triggered by the relatively low current of pacing pulses.

Abstract: An upgrade kit and method for converting a typical monophasic defibrillator into a biphasic defibrillator is provided. The upgrade kit is easily connected to a typical monophasic defibrillator and uses control signals that are commonly available in most monophasic defibrillators. Such control signals include the signals for transferring the defibrillation pulse to the patient, and for dumping unwanted energy from the energy storage capacitor. In addition, the upgrade kit avoids the need for information as to the charge level of the storage capacitor by using a discharge method that allows the production of proper biphasic defibrillation pulses regardless of the initial energy settings of the storage capacitor. More specifically, the upgrade kit determines the desired length of the biphasic defibrillation pulses according to two measurements which are taken during the defibrillation pulse.

Abstract: An external defibrillator/pacer (8) includes an output circuit (14) with four legs arrayed to form an H-bridge coupled to an energy storage capacitor. The energy storage capacitor delivers an external defibrillation pulse with stored energy during a defibrillation mode and an external pacing pulse during a pacing mode. Each leg of the output circuit contains a switch (SW1-SW4). In a defibrillation mode, pairs of switches in the H-bridge are selectively switched to generate a biphasic defibrillation pulse. Three switches (SW1, SW3, SW4) are silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs). Gate drive circuits (51, 53, 54) are coupled to the SCRs to bias the SCRs with a voltage that allows the SCRs in response to control signals. One switch (SW2) includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). A gate drive circuit (52) is coupled to the gate of the IGBTs to provide a slow turn-on and a fast turn-off of the IGBT.

Abstract: An external defibrillator with an output circuit having four legs arrayed in the form of an “H” (an “H-bridge”) is disclosed. The output circuit is designed to be able to conduct a range of defibrillation pulse energies, from below 50 joules to above 200 joules. Each leg of the output circuit contains a solid-state switch. By selectively switching on pairs of switches in the H-bridge, a biphasic defibrillation pulse may be applied to a patient. The switches in three of the legs of the H-bridge output circuit are preferably silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs). Gate drive circuits are coupled to the SCRs to bias the SCRs with a voltage that allows the SCRs to remain turned-on even when conducting low current. The switch in the fourth leg is preferably a pair of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) coupled in series. A gate drive circuit is coupled to the gate of the IGBTs to provide a slow turn-on and a fast turn-off of the IGBTs.

Abstract: An external defibrillator (8) with an output circuit (14) having four legs arrayed in the form of an "H" (an "H-bridge") is disclosed. Each leg of the output circuit contains a solid-state switch (31, 32, 33, 34). By selectively switching on pairs of switches in the H-bridge, a biphasic defibrillation pulse may be applied to a patient. The switches in three of the legs of the H-bridge output circuit are preferably silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs). Gate drive circuits (51, 53, 54) are coupled to the SCRs to bias the SCRs with a voltage that allows the SCRs to remain turned-on even when conducting low current. The switch in the fourth leg is preferably a pair of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) coupled in series. A gate drive circuit (52) is coupled to the gate of the IGBTs to provide a slow turn-on and a fast turn-off of the IGBTs.

Abstract: A defibrillator method and apparatus wherein a patient's measured transthoracic impedance (TTI) is used to control the amount of energy contained in a defibrillation pulse applied to the patient. Prior to delivering a defibrillation pulse, the patient's TTI is measured by an impedance measuring circuit (11). The patient's TTI may also be measured during delivery of a prior defibrillation pulse. A microprocessor (23) uses the measured patient TTI to control the shape of the defibrillation pulse by controlling: (i) the phase duration of the defibrillation pulse; and (ii) the voltage level to which the defibrillator's capacitor bank (15) is charged. The defibrillation pulse shape is controlled so that the energy conveyed by the defibrillation pulse to the patient is near or exceeds a desired value. The desired value may be set by an operator via an energy selector (25).

Abstract: An external defibrillator with a microprocessor for testing the integrity of an output circuit prior to and during the delivery of a multiphasic defibrillation pulse from an energy storage capacitor coupled to the output circuit is disclosed. The output circuit contains a plurality of switches. The integrity of the output circuit and the output switches is determined by selectively monitoring the changes in the voltage level on the energy storage capacitor while certain tests or functions are being performed. A scaling circuit steps down the voltage level of the high-energy storage device so that it can be measured and monitored by the microprocessor. The microprocessor may compensate for the failure of an output switch by locating a usable set of output switches and using them to provide a discharge path through the output circuit for application of a monophasic pulse.

Abstract: An external defibrillator (8) with an output circuit (14) having four legs arrayed in the form of an "H" (an "H-bridge") is disclosed. Each leg of the output circuit contains a solid-state switch (31, 32, 33, 34). By selectively switching on pairs of switches in the H-bridge, a biphasic defibrillation pulse may be applied to a patient. The switches in three of the legs of the H-bridge output circuit are preferably silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs). Gate drive circuits (51, 53, 54) are coupled to the SCRs to bias the SCRs with a voltage that allows the SCRs to remain turned-on even when conducting low current. The switch in the fourth leg is preferably a pair of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) coupled in series. A gate drive circuit (52) is coupled to the gate of the IGBTs to provide a slow turn-on and a fast turn-off of the IGBTs.

Abstract: A first electrical connector of an interface is provided on a floating plug assembly mounted on one component of a physiological instrument. A second electrical connector of the interface is mounted in a socket assembly constructed in another component that can be coupled to the first component by relative linear translation. Guides located in the socket assembly capture fingers on the plug assembly as the plug assembly is inserted in the socket assembly. The guides orient the plug assembly so that the first connector is correctly aligned with the second connector. The connectors are automatically joined as the first component is coupled to the second component.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for indicating perfusion and oxygen saturation trends in oximetry. In transmittance and reflectance oximetry, LEDs (40, 42) are typically employed to expose tissue to light at two different wavelengths. The light transmitted through, or reflected by, the tissue is received by a detector (38) where signals proportional to the intensity of light are produced. These signals are then processed by oximeter circuitry (14, 16) to determine oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and perfusion. Displays (20) are provided including a display (132, 134) of the change in the oxygen saturation during a specified interval. This display may include first (132) and second (134) trend indication displays that indicate when the oxygen saturation has either been increasing or decreasing at a rate in excess of some predetermined level. Preferably, these displays are triangular, upwardly and downwardly directed light-emitting diodes.