Modular defibrillator architecture

A defibrillator comprising:

• a capacitor unit configured to store and discharge sufficient energy to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient;
• charging circuitry configured to charge the capacitor unit to a voltage suitable for delivery of the defibrillation shock;
• discharge circuitry suitable for discharging the capacitor unit to deliver the defibrillation shock;
• a first connector suitable for electrically coupling the defibrillator to an interface unit that includes an associated display and includes wireless communication capabilities;
• and
• a second connector suitable for electrically coupling the defibrillator to an external device that has an associated display and includes wireless communication capabilities, the external device being different than the interface unit;
• and
• a defibrillator controller, the defibrillator controller being configured to facilitate communications with the interface unit when the interface unit is physically attached to the defibrillator and to facilitate communications with the external device when the external device is connected to the defibrillator;
• and
• wherein the defibrillator controller is further configured to cause first selected information to be transmitted from the defibrillator to the interface unit through the first connector that influences information displayed on the interface unit display when the interface unit is electrically coupled to the defibrillator via the first connector, and to cause second selected information to transmitted from the defibrillator to the interface unit through the first connector when the interface unit is electrically coupled to the defibrillator via the first connector such that the second information can be forwarded from the interface unit to a remote server, and to cause third selected information to be transmitted by the defibrillator to the external device through the second connector that influences information displayed on the external device display when the external device is electrically coupled to the defibrillator via the second connector, and to cause fourth selected information to be transmitted by the defibrillator to the external device through the second connector when the external device is electrically coupled to the defibrillator such that the fourth information can be forwarded from the external device to the remote server.

A modular defibrillator system comprising a defibrillator and an interface unit mounted on and detachably attached to the defibrillator such that the defibrillator and the interface unit may be carried together as a portable system, the defibrillator comprising:

• a capacitor unit configured to store and discharge sufficient energy to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient;
• charging circuitry configured to charge the capacitor unit to a voltage suitable for delivery of the defibrillation shock;
• discharge circuitry suitable for discharging the capacitor unit to deliver the defibrillation shock;
• a first connector suitable for electrically coupling the interface unit to the defibrillator when the interface unit is physically attached to the defibrillator;
• and
• a second connector suitable for electrically coupling an external device to the defibrillator, the external device being different than the interface unit;
• and
• a defibrillator controller, the defibrillator controller being configured to facilitate communications with the interface unit when the interface unit is physically attached to the defibrillator and to facilitate communications with the external device when the external device is connected to the defibrillator, and the interface unit including a connectivity module that facilitates wireless communication with a remote server, wherein the interface unit is not required for the defibrillator to operate properly.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) comprising:

• a capacitor unit configured to store and discharge sufficient energy to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient;
• charging circuitry configured to charge the capacitor unit to a voltage suitable for delivery of the defibrillation shock;
• discharge circuitry suitable for discharging the capacitor unit to deliver the defibrillation shock;
• a first connector suitable for electrically coupling an interface unit, that includes a connectivity module that facilitates wireless communication with a remote server, to the defibrillator when the interface unit is physically attached to the defibrillator;
• and
• a second connector suitable for electrically coupling an external device to the defibrillator, the external device being different than the interface unit;
• and
• a defibrillator controller, the defibrillator controller being configured to facilitate communications with the interface unit via the first connector when the interface unit is physically attached to the AED and electrically coupled to the AED via the first connector and to facilitate communications with the external device when the external device is connected to the AED, the defibrillator controller being further configured to cause first defibrillator status messages to be sent to the interface unit via the first connector when the interface unit is electrically coupled to the AED via the first connector, and to cause second defibrillator status messages to be sent to the external device via the second connector when the external device is electrically coupled to the AED via the second connector, whereby the status messages can be conveyed from the AED to the remote server by way of the first connector/interface unit and by way of the second connector/external device.