Defibrillator system using multiple external defibrillators and a communications network

In a system comprising an external defibrillator, a defibrillator communicator and a communication network, a method for operating the defibrillator comprising the following steps:

• automatically establishing a communication link between the defibrillator communicator and a station on the communication network in response to deployment of the defibrillator;
• applying electrodes to a patient;
• monitoring ECG signals from the patient;
• analyzing the ECG signals to determine whether to shock the patient;
• and
• locally generating an actuation signal to deliver a shock from the defibrillator to the patient.

In a system comprising a plurality of external defibrillators and a communication network, a method for maintaining the defibrillators comprising the following steps:

• establishing a communication link between a station on the communication network and a first defibrillator of the plurality of external defibrillators when the first defibrillator is not being used;
• transferring defibrillator status information from the first defibrillator to the station;
• establishing a communication link between the station and a second defibrillator of the plurality of external defibrillators when the second defibrillator is not being used;
• and
• transferring defibrillator status information from the second defibrillator to the station.