High-voltage analog circuit pulser and pulse generator discharge circuit

A nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) generator system, comprising:

• a pair of electrodes configured to deliver a nsPEF pulse to a patient;
• a Marx generator apparatus, comprising:
• a power source, and
• a plurality of pulse generator stages, each pulse generator stage comprising a capacitive element configured to be charged by the power source and configured to be discharged through the electrodes;
• and
• a discharge circuit, configured to selectively discharge the capacitive elements of the stages.

A method of operating a nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) generator system, the method comprising:

• delivering a first nsPEF pulse to a patient with a pair of electrodes of the system, the first nsPEF pulse having a first voltage;
• discharging the system to a different charge voltage with a discharge circuit;
• and
• delivering a second nsPEF pulse to the patient with the pair of electrodes.

A method of operating a nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) generator system, the method comprising:

• charging the system to a charge voltage with current from one or more power supplies;
• determining that an nsPEF pulse is to be delivered to a patient;
• delivering an nsPEF pulse to the patient with a pair of electrodes of the system;
• determining that no further nsPEF pulses are to be delivered to the patient;
• in response to determining that no further nsPEF pulses are to be delivered to the patient, discharging the system to a different charge voltage with a discharge circuit.