Truncated pulse defibrillator with flash tube switch

摘要

A defibrillator utilizes at least one flash tube for switching electrical energy from an energy source to a heart patient. The flash tube has a high impedance state in which the patient is isolated from the energy. In response to a triggering pulse, the flash tube enters a low impedance state in which energy is delivered to the patient. An additional switching element in the defibrillator operates to interrupt energy delivery through the flash tube so that a truncated defibrillation pulse having a desired energy level is produced.