Novel biphasic or multiphasic pulse generator and method

Abstract

A dynamically adjustable biphasic or multiphasic pulse generation system and method are provided. The dynamically adjustable biphasic or multiphasic pulse generator system may be used as a pulse generation system for a defibrillator or other type of electrical stimulation medical device.

1 . A multiphasic pulse generator, comprising:
 a pulse waveform generator that generates a pulse waveform having at least one first phase of the pulse waveform and at least one second phase of the pulse waveform, wherein the first phase has an amplitude whose value is less than an amplitude of the second phase and wherein the first phase has a polarity and the second phase has an opposite polarity to the first phase;   a power source;   a first subsystem, coupled to the power source to draw power from the power source, that generates at least the first phase of the pulse waveform, the subsystem having an energy reservoir and a high voltage switch;   a second subsystem, coupled to the power source to draw power from the power source, that generates at least the second phase of the pulse waveform, the second subsystem having a second energy reservoir and a second high voltage switch; and   a control logic unit that includes the high voltage switch and the second high voltage switch and controls the first and second subsystems to generate the pulse waveform having the at least one first phase and the at least one second phase.   
     
     
         2 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the first subsystem further comprises a high voltage generator and the energy reservoir of the first subsystem further comprises one or more capacitors. 
     
     
         3 . The generator of  claim 2 , wherein the second subsystem further comprises a high voltage generator and the energy reservoir of the second subsystem further comprises one or more capacitors. 
     
     
         4 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the first subsystem further comprises a high voltage generator and wherein the second subsystem further comprises a high voltage generator. 
     
     
         5 . The generator of  claim 4 , wherein the energy reservoir of the first subsystem further comprises one or more capacitors and the energy reservoir of the second subsystem further comprises one or more capacitors. 
     
     
         6 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the power source further comprises a high voltage generator. 
     
     
         7 . The generator of  claim 6 , wherein the energy reservoir of the first subsystem further comprises one or more capacitors. 
     
     
         8 . The generator of  claim 7 , wherein the energy reservoir of the second subsystem further comprises one or more capacitors. 
     
     
         9 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the generated pulse waveform has a plurality of first phases and a plurality of second phases to generate a multiphasic pulse waveform. 
     
     
         10 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the generated pulse waveform has a single first phase and a single second phase to generate a biphasic pulse waveform. 
     
     
         11 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the generated pulse waveform has the first phase that has a positive polarity and the second phase that has a negative polarity. 
     
     
         12 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the generated pulse waveform has the first phase that has a negative polarity and the second phase that has a positive polarity. 
     
     
         13 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the generated pulse waveform has an energy of between 0.1 to 200 joules of energy delivered to a patient during the first phase and second phase of the generated pulse waveform and an inter-pulse period between the first and second phases. 
     
     
         14 . The generator of  claim 13 , wherein the energy of the generated pulse waveform is delivered to the patient during a 2 ms to 20 ms time period. 
     
     
         15 . The generator of  claim 1  further comprising an adjustment component that adjusts a slope of at least one phase of the pulse waveform or an amplitude of at least one phase of the pulse waveform. 
     
     
         16 . The generator of  claim 15 , wherein the adjustment component is an array of capacitors wherein one or more capacitors are selected to adjust a slope of at least one phase of the pulse waveform or an amplitude of at least one phase of the pulse waveform. 
     
     
         17 . The generator of  claim 16 , wherein the array of capacitors is one of capacitors connected in series, capacitors connected in parallel and capacitors connected in series and parallel. 
     
     
         18 . The generator of  claim 15 , wherein the adjustment component is an array of resistors wherein one or more resistors are selected to adjust a slope of at least one phase of the pulse waveform or an amplitude of at least one phase of the pulse waveform. 
     
     
         19 . The generator of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is one of a battery and a AC power source. 
     
     
         20 . The generator of  claim 1  further comprising an H-bridge circuit that delivers the pulse waveform to a patient. 
     
     
         21 . A method for generating a multiphasic pulse, comprising:
 providing a power source;   generating at least a first phase of a pulse waveform using a first subsystem coupled to the power source to draw power from the power source and having an energy reservoir and a high voltage switch;   generating at least a second phase of the pulse waveform using a second subsystem coupled to the power source to draw power from the power source, that generates at least the second phase of the pulse waveform, the second subsystem and having a second energy reservoir and a second high voltage switch;   controlling, using control logic including the high voltage switch and the second high voltage switch, the first and second subsystems to generate the pulse waveform having the at least one first phase and the at least one second phase; and   wherein the first phase has an amplitude whose value is less than an amplitude of the second phase and wherein the first phase has a polarity and the second phase has an opposite polarity to the first phase.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein controlling the first and second subsystems further comprises generating a plurality of first phases and a plurality of second phases to generate a multiphasic pulse waveform. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein controlling the first and second subsystems further comprises generating a single first phase and a single second phase to generate a biphasic pulse waveform. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the generated pulse waveform has the first phase that has a positive polarity and the second phase that has a negative polarity. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the generated pulse waveform has the first phase that has a negative polarity and the second phase that has a positive polarity. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the generated pulse waveform has an energy of between 0.1 to 200 joules of energy delivered to a patient during the first phase and second phase of the generated pulse waveform and an inter-pulse period between the first and second phases. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the energy of the generated pulse waveform is delivered to the patient during a 2 ms to 20 ms time period. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising adjusting a slope of at least one phase of the pulse waveform or an amplitude of at least one phase of the pulse waveform. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising delivering the pulse waveform to a patient using an H-bridge circuit.