Electrode containment structures in a wearable medical device

A method of providing cardiac defibrillation to a patient using a wearable article of a medical device, the method comprising:

• inserting a defibrillator electrode pad into a containment portion of a wearable article, the containment portion comprising:
• an attached spacer structure positioned to provide a cushioned area for pressure on the defibrillator electrode pad, one or more fluid packs coupled to the defibrillator electrode pad, and an outer layer coupled with the spacer structure,
• the spacer structure comprising:
• a top permeable layer positioned toward the defibrillator electrode pad;
• a bottom permeable layer opposite of the top permeable layer;
• and
• a compressible middle layer having a plurality of springy elements dispersed between the top permeable layer and the bottom permeable layer for airflow through the spacer structure;
• activating a treatment session for the patient;
• in response to activating the treatment session, injecting a gas into or adjacent to the one or more fluid packs, thereby causing the spacer structure to compress and change shape in resistance to a pressure increase within the containment portion, enabling fluid to be released from the one or more fluid packs at the defibrillator electrode pad onto the patient, and enabling the pressure to be exerted onto the defibrillator electrode pad in a direction toward the patient;
• and
• activating the defibrillator electrode pad to provide an electrical shock treatment to the patient by one or more electrodes.

A wearable medical device for cardiac defibrillation of a patient, the wearable medical device comprising:

• a defibrillator electrode pad for providing electrical shock treatment to the patient upon activation;
• a wearable article comprising:
• one or more flexible support material configured to hold a containment portion on the patient, the containment portion being sized to house the defibrillator electrode pad, and the containment portion comprising:
• one or more fluid packs coupled to the defibrillator electrode pad to release fluid upon injection of a gas into the containment portion;
• a spacer structure positioned to provide a cushioned area for pressure on the defibrillator electrode pad during the electrical shock treatment;
• and
• an outer layer coupled with the spacer structure,
• the spacer structure comprising:
• a top permeable layer positioned toward the defibrillator electrode pad;
• a bottom permeable layer opposite of the top permeable layer;
• and
• a compressible middle layer having a plurality of springy elements dispersed between the top permeable layer and the bottom permeable layer for airflow through the spacer structure,
• wherein the spacer structure is configured to resist pressure increase in the containment portion, thereby enabling pressure to be exerted onto the defibrillator electrode pad in a direction toward the patient;
• and
• one or more processors to determine the electrical shock treatment and based on the determination, to activate the defibrillator electrode pad.