In one embodiment, a defibrillation assembly energizable through case opening is provided. The assembly includes a magnetically-activated reed switch; an energy storage element that supplies power to the magnetically-activated reed switch; circuitry configured to generate one or more defibrillation waveforms, wherein flow of the power to the circuitry from the energy storage element is dependent on a position of the magnetically-activated reed switch; and a case within which at least a portion of the circuitry is located, the case including a cover and an electrode enclosure within which electrode pads for delivery of the defibrillation waveforms are stored, wherein a magnet is one of positioned on the cover and embedded within the cover, and wherein an opening of the case that includes a removal of the cover causes a change in the position of the magnetically-activated reed switch and the power to flow to the circuitry.

A defibrillator is provided. The defibrillator includes: one or more power generation subcircuits configured to generate a variable voltage bias supply; a solid-state defibrillation waveform therapy generator circuit including a plurality of elements at least portion of which is configured to be driven by the variable voltage bias supply, the generator configured to: generate one or more defibrillation waveforms when the voltage is in a high energy state, activating at least some of the elements of the generator in the saturated region; and generate one or more internal discharge waveforms that are isolated from the patient when the voltage is in a low energy state, activating at least some of the elements of the generator in the transconductance region and dissipating energy as heat; and a microcontroller control unit configured to control whether the voltage supply is provided to the generator circuit at the high or low energy state.

A defibrillator is provided. The defibrillator includes: one or more power generation subcircuits configured to generate a variable voltage bias supply; a solid-state defibrillation waveform therapy generator circuit including a plurality of elements at least portion of which is configured to be driven by the variable voltage bias supply, the generator configured to: generate one or more defibrillation waveforms when the voltage is in a high energy state, activating at least some of the elements of the generator in the saturated region; and generate one or more internal discharge waveforms that are isolated from the patient when the voltage is in a low energy state, activating at least some of the elements of the generator in the transconductance region and dissipating energy as heat; and a microcontroller control unit configured to control whether the voltage supply is provided to the generator circuit at the high or low energy state.

In one embodiment, a defibrillator is provided. The defibrillator includes a bias generation circuit that includes: a switching regulator, wherein the switched output of the regulator is connected to an input of a primary winding of a transformer and wherein an output of the primary winding of the transformer is rectified to create a regulated DC voltage which powers a microcontroller that is in control of a solid-state therapeutic defibrillation waveform generator; one or more secondary windings of the transformer whose energy is rectified by a diode, wherein the rectified energy is used to supply one or more bias voltages to the solid-state therapeutic defibrillation waveform generator that is used to create one or more therapeutic defibrillation waveforms; and the diode.

AED pulse generation circuits that provide floating, adjustable, bias voltages for driving a solid-state defibrillation waveform therapy generator circuit are provided. The provided bias voltages allow to reverse polarity of provided electric shock to increase chances of successful defibrillation and survival. In one of the provided configurations, energy stored in the pulse capacitor can be discharged by activating the waveform therapy generator in the high-resistance transconductance region. The circuits can be positioned on a self-contained module potted with an insulating material to reduce unintended interactions with other AED components. Through the use of the disclosed circuits, AED size can be reduced to promote pocketability while simultaneously increasing AED reliability.

A defibrillation assembly energizable through case opening is provided, including an electromechanical component; an energy storage element that supplies power to the component; circuitry configured to generate one or more defibrillation waveforms, wherein the circuitry is isolated from the energy storage element by the element; and a case within which at least a portion of the circuitry is located, the case including a cover and an electrode enclosure within which electrode pads for delivery of the waveforms are stored, wherein an opening of the case that includes a removal of the cover causes the power to flow to the circuitry through the component, wherein the circuitry includes a microcontroller unit configured to determine whether the flow of the power was accidental based on a time during which the microcontroller unit receives the power and to power down the circuitry upon making the determination the flow was accidental.

A completely de-energizable defibrillator is provided, allowing the electrical components of the defibrillator to be electrically unbiased while the defibrillator is not in use. Additionally, the microcontroller unit of the AED includes features to prevent computational errors due to external influences, electromagnetic interference, radio frequency interference, ionizing radiation, high energy particles, cosmic radiation, and/or solar radiation, or a combination thereof, including one or more pairs of lockstep processors, error detection code, and features that prevent tampering with the microcontroller.

AED patient protection circuitry is improved by using triode for alternating current (TRIACs), which are significantly smaller and cheaper than relays. The TRIACs are positioned between a defibrillation waveform generator and the pads through which defibrillation waveforms are delivered to the patient and alternate under the control of a processing element such as a microcontroller between a conductive state in which they allow the defibrillation waveforms to reach the patient through the pads and an isolated state in which they prevent the defibrillation waveforms from reaching the patient through the pads. A voltage monitor interfaced to the microcontroller can monitor current leakage from the TRIACs or other portions of the defibrillator, thus detecting degradation of patient protection circuitry and further increasing defibrillator safety and reliability.

In one embodiment, a defibrillation assembly energizable through magnet removal is provided. The defibrillation assembly includes an a magnetically triggered reed switch; an energy storage element that supplies power to the magnetically triggered reed switch; circuitry configured to generate a defibrillation waveform, wherein the circuitry is isolated from the energy storage element by the electromechanical component; a case within which at least a portion of the circuitry is located and comprising a printed circuit board (PCBA) enclosure within which a magnet is positioned that keeps the magnetically triggered reed switch in an open position, wherein an opening of the case that comprises removal of the magnet from the position causes the magnetically triggered reed switch to switch into a closed position and for the power to flow to the circuitry through the magnetically triggered reed switch.