Reed switches and Reed Sensors in Portable Defibrillators

Defibrillation is a treatment for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heart beat. This condition is also known as fibrillation. A portable defibrillator is a device that delivers an electric current to the heart, when cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, or CPR is required. The high current depolarizes the heart muscles, and although not fully understood, stops the fibrillation.

Defibrillators can be external or implantable. Some models of external defibrillators come with a battery to make this devices portable for use in ambulances and other reserved zones. These need to conserve battery to ensure that the set high current value is discharge. This is where special high voltage reed switches, capable of switching thousands of volts are used. High Voltage Reed Switches with a breakdown voltage higher than 1000V are used in the manufacture of High Voltage Reed Relays. These Reed Relays are triggered by a button the person in charge of CPR presses, when the set power has been reached.

Implantable versions are known as Cardioverter-Defibrillators and are inserted into the body using a procedure similar to that of pacemaker insertion. This type of Defibrillator maintains irregular heartbeats by pacing the heart and giving high or low level currents as and when required. Implants use ultra-miniature reed sensors to help change the mode of operation by using an external magnetic wand, just as in the case of Canal Hearing Aids.

Recommended Products

The Reed Switches and Sensors used in such applications need to be robust, durable and efficient in meeting a high life expectancy. Our engineers work hard in life testing our products under various conditions, and we want to ensure that the the end product has a long working life. Although we wouldn’t want to restrict our products for use in only certain applications, the recommended products for use in Defibrillator applications are listed below.