Modular defibrillator architecture

A defibrillator system comprising:

• a base defibrillator unit that constitutes a fully functional defibrillator that is independently capable of determining when a defibrillation shock is advisable and delivering the defibrillation shock, the base defibrillator unit including a capacitor unit suitable for delivering the defibrillation shock, and a battery capable of storing sufficient energy to independently facilitate charging the capacitor unit to a level suitable for delivering the defibrillation shock, the base defibrillator unit further being configured to provide audio instructions during emergency use of the defibrillator system;
• and
• an interface unit mounted on and detachably coupled to the base defibrillator unit such that the base defibrillator unit and the attached interface unit form at least a part of a unitary portable unit, the interface unit including a display screen and a communications module that facilitates wireless communication with a remote server, and wherein the interface unit is configured to cause graphic instructions to be displayed on the display screen that are synchronized with the audio instructions provided by the base defibrillator unit during the emergency use of the base defibrillator unit, and wherein the interface unit is not required for the base defibrillator unit to operate properly during the emergency use of the base defibrillator unit.

A method comprising:

• (a) transmitting status information from a base defibrillator unit to an interface unit mounted on and detachably attached to the base defibrillator unit such that the base defibrillator unit and the attached interface unit form at least a part of a unitary portable unit, wherein the interface unit is not required for operation of the base defibrillator unit and does not provide any control instructions to the base defibrillator unit during emergency use of the base defibrillator unit;
• and
• (b) transmitting at least some of the status information received by the interface unit to one or more remote servers;
• and
• (c) periodically repeating steps (a) and (b) to thereby periodically transmit status information from the base defibrillator unit to the one or more remote servers.

A defibrillator interface unit configured to be mounted on and detachable coupled to a base defibrillator unit such that the base defibrillator unit and the attached interface unit form at least a part of a unitary portable defibrillator system, the interface unit comprising:

• a communications module that facilitates wireless communication with a remote server;
• and
• a display screen and is configured to cause graphic instructions to be displayed on the display screen that are synchronized with audio instructions provided by the base defibrillator unit during emergency use of the base defibrillator unit,
• wherein the interface unit is configured to receive information from the base defibrillator unit during emergency use of the defibrillator system, and the interface unit does not provide any control instructions to the base defibrillator unit during the emergency use of the defibrillator system, and
• wherein the interface unit has no substantial function other than to operate in conjunction with the base defibrillator unit but is not required for the base defibrillator unit to operate properly during the emergency use of the defibrillator system.