# US 10,307,133 B2 · Therapeutic device including acoustic sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,133 B2 - Document ID: US10307133B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/918,617 - Filed: 2018-03-12 - Published: 2018-07-19 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-26 - Assignees: ZOLL Medical Corporation - Applicants: Zoll Medical Corporation - Inventors: Thomas E. Kaib - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307133B2 ## CPC - A61B 7/04: Electric stethoscopes - A61B 5/282: Holders for multiple electrodes (for introduction into the body A61B5/287) - A61B 5/6833: {Adhesive patches} - G10L 25/48: specially adapted for particular use - A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches - A61B 2562/028: Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS] - A61N 1/0484: {Garment electrodes worn by the patient} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A therapeutic device comprises a therapy electrode that includes a substrate, a conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the substrate, an electrically conductive gel reservoir configured to release an electrically conductive gel onto a surface of the conductive layer, and an acoustic sensor coupled to the therapy electrode. The acoustic sensor is configured to acoustically couple to a body of a subject to which the therapy electrode is applied and to detect sounds indicative of a state of health of the subject. The therapeutic device is configured to transmit data regarding the sounds detected by the acoustic sensor to an external system for processing and analysis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A therapeutic device comprising: a therapy electrode including: a substrate; a conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the substrate; an electrically conductive gel reservoir configured to release an electrically conductive gel onto a surface of the conductive layer; and an acoustic sensor coupled to the therapy electrode, the acoustic sensor configured to acoustically couple to a body of a subject to which the therapy electrode is applied and to detect sounds indicative of a state of health of the subject, the therapeutic device configured to transmit data regarding the sounds detected by the acoustic sensor to an external system for processing and analysis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic device is configured to wirelessly transmit the data regarding the sounds detected by the acoustic sensor to the external system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the sounds indicative of the state of health of the subject include heart sounds of the subject. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The therapeutic device of claim 3, wherein the therapeutic device further comprises a control unit configured to analyze the heart sounds for indications of potential problems, compare observed heart sound parameters with control limits, and provide a warning to the subject responsive to any one or more of the control limits being violated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The therapeutic device of claim 3, wherein the sounds indicative of the state of health of the subject further includes one or more of gastrointestinal sounds, sounds indicative of the subject experiencing sleep apnea, and sounds indicative of respiration of the subject. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The therapeutic device of claim 3, wherein the acoustic sensor is further configured to detect an activity level of the subject. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The therapeutic device of claim 3, wherein the acoustic sensor is configured to provide signals indicative of more than one physiological parameter of the subject. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The therapeutic device of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes configured to monitor cardiac function of the subject. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The therapeutic device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes are combined with the therapy electrode in a single integrated electrode assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The therapeutic device of claim 9, wherein the integrated electrode assembly further includes one or more sensors capable of monitoring one or more of blood pressure, heart rate, thoracic impedance, pulse oxygen level, and respiration rate of the subject. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The therapeutic device of claim 3, wherein the therapy electrode is configured to selectively apply at least one of a defibrillation shock to the subject, electrical current as a part of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy, and electrical pacing of a heart of the subject. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The therapeutic device of claim 3, further comprising electronics associated with the acoustic sensor, wherein the acoustic sensor and associated electronics are configured to provide an output indicating whether the therapy electrode has been correctly oriented on the subject. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the sounds indicative of the state of health of the subject comprise gastrointestinal sounds of the subject. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the sounds indicative of the state of health of the subject comprise sounds indicative of the subject experiencing sleep apnea. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The therapeutic device of claim 14, wherein the therapeutic device is configured to provide an indication of the subject experiencing sleep apnea responsive to detecting the sounds indicative of the subject experiencing sleep apnea. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The therapeutic device of claim 14, wherein the sounds indicative of the subject experiencing sleep apnea comprises sounds of snoring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the sounds indicative of the state of health of the subject comprise sounds indicative of respiration of the subject. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the acoustic sensor is further configured to provide a signal indicative of body position of the subject. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The therapeutic device of claim 1, further comprising electronics associated with the acoustic sensor, wherein the acoustic sensor and associated electronics are configured to detect sounds associated with the release of the electrically conductive gel from the electrically conductive gel reservoir. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The therapeutic device of claim 1, further comprising electronics associated with the acoustic sensor, wherein the acoustic sensor and associated electronics are configured to detect whether CPR is being performed on the subject and to output a signal responsive to detection of the performance of CPR. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The therapeutic device of claim 20, wherein the acoustic sensor and associated electronics are configured to provide feedback to a person administering the CPR to adjust a rate and/or depth of chest compressions to provide for a more effective administration of CPR. ### Claim 22 A therapy electrode system comprising: a substrate; a conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the substrate; an electrically conductive gel reservoir configured to release an electrically conductive gel onto a surface of the conductive layer; and an acoustic sensor coupled to the therapy electrode, the acoustic sensor configured to acoustically couple to a body of a subject to which the therapy electrode is applied and to detect sounds made by the subject's heart; and a control unit coupled to the acoustic sensor and configured to wirelessly transmit data regarding the sounds made by the subject's heart to an external system for processing and analysis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The therapy electrode system of claim 22, wherein the acoustic sensor is further configured to detect sounds indicative of the subject experiencing sleep apnea. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The therapy electrode system of claim 23, wherein the acoustic sensor is further configured to provide an indication of the subject experiencing sleep apnea responsive to detecting the sounds indicative of the subject experiencing sleep apnea. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The therapy electrode system of claim 24, wherein the sounds indicative of the subject experiencing sleep apnea comprises sounds of snoring. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The therapy electrode system of claim 22, wherein the acoustic sensor is further configured to detect sounds indicative of respiration of the subject. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The therapy electrode system of claim 22, wherein the acoustic sensor is further configured to detect one or more of gastrointestinal sounds, sounds indicative of the subject experiencing sleep apnea, and sounds indicative of respiration of the subject. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The therapy electrode system of claim 22, wherein the acoustic sensor is further configured to detect an activity level of the subject. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The therapy electrode system of claim 22, wherein the therapy electrode is configured to selectively apply at least one of a defibrillation shock to the subject, electrical current as a part of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy, and electrical pacing of the subject's heart.