Numerical simulations aided development of nanosecond pulse electroporators

Nanosecond pulse generators are used in various biomedical studies where the effects of high-voltage nanosecond pulses on biological cells are evaluated. The concept of generating nanosecond pulses demands new approaches in development of electroporators. Blumlein generator and diode opening switch generator are two concepts which have been most often used for generating nanosecond pulses. Development of nanosecond pulse generators based on these two concepts presents difficult engineering challenges due to high amplitudes and fast rise times of pulses. These challenges can be addressed with careful designing of the pulse generators architecture and selecting appropriate electrical components. Numerical approaches, such as SPICE, can be a great help during development of pulse generators by either verification of its configuration or defining values of electrical components in order to obtain desired pulse characteristics. We demonstrated this by simulating diode opening switch generator and comparing its results with measurements.