Method and system for cardiac pacing and defibrillation

A method for cardiac pacing and defibrillation, the method comprising:

• in circuitry,
• receiving electro-cardiogram (ECG) signals from at least two electrodes configured to be placed in contact with a chest of a subject;
• identifying a cardiac arrhythmia in the subject based on the received ECG signals;
• selecting whether defibrillation signals or pacing signals are to be applied to the subject by setting the position of a selection relay;
• when the identified cardiac arrhythmia is bradycardia or asystole or ventricular tachycardia, shaping a mains electrical source signal into a first waveform applicable to a step-up transformer for generating pacing signals;
• generating the pacing signals by applying the first waveform to the step-up transformer;
• and
• applying the pacing signals through the at least two electrodes to the chest of the subject over long periods of time due to continuous connection to the mains electrical source;
• and
• when the identified cardiac arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation,
• shaping the mains electrical source signal into a second waveform applicable to the step-up transformer for generating defibrillation signals;
• pre-magnetizing a transformer core of the step-up transformer to maximize energy transfer through the step-up transformer;
• generating the defibrillation signals by applying the second waveform to the pre-magnetized step-up transformer;
• and
• applying the defibrillation signals through the at least two electrodes to the chest of the subject over long periods of time due to continuous connection to the mains electrical source.