Portable Defibrillators Use Reed Relays in their High Voltage Charging Circuit

Introduction

Every year many thousands of peoples’ lives are saved having been resuscitated with a defibrillator after their heart had stopped beating. Many times this happens in a hospital environment. However, many people do not get to the hospital in time to be resuscitated and as a result die from heart attacks every day.  Several medical equipment manufacturers have developed portable defibrillators that are placed in airports, bus stations, office buildings, in the home, and several places where people are apt to congregate. These portable defibrillators are battery operated and therefore, the electronics chosen to run the charging circuit must use low average power. The circuit must also be comprised with only very high reliability components. Standex Electronics’s high voltage reed relays have been selected to be directly used in the high voltage charging circuit.