US 5,792,190 AGranted

Automated external defibrillator operator interface

AssigneeSurVivaLink Corporation

InventorsKenneth F. Olson, Byron L. Gilman, Katherine H. Anderson, Karl J. F. Kroll

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Abstract

A portable automated external defibrillator (AED) configured for use with a packaged pair of defibrillator electrodes of the type electrically coupled to one another within the package and having lead wires extending from the package and an electrical connector on the ends of the lead wires. The AED includes a case with an electrode compartment configured to hold the packaged electrodes, and an openable lid for enclosing the compartment. Electrode terminals configured for electrical interconnection to the electrical connector of the electrodes, a speaker and an LED display are positioned within the electrode compartment. An operator-actuated rescue switch and a rescue LED display are positioned on the outside of the case. A high voltage circuit generates defibrillation pulses and applies the pulses to the electrode terminals. The operation of the AED is controlled by a digital control system. Rescue mode operation of the AED is initiated when the lid is opened. The digital control system then generates voice prompts and/or visual displays informing the operator: 1) when the electrodes are not properly connected to the electrode terminals, 2) when to place the electrodes on the patient, 3) when the electrodes are not properly positioned on the patient, 4) when the patient's cardiac rhythm is being analyzed, 5) when an nonshockable rhythm is identified, 6) when the high voltage circuit is being charged, and 7) when a shockable rhythm is identified and the rescue switch can be actuated.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An automated external defibrillator, comprising:

a pair of defibrillator electrodes having a stored disposition and an operating disposition, the electrodes being disposed in an electrically conductive relationship in said stored disposition;
a case including an electrode compartment and an openable lid for enclosing the compartment, the compartment configured to hold the pair of defibrillator electrodes;
a lid switch for sensing when the lid is opened;
electrode terminals in the electrode compartment, the electrode terminals configured for electrical interconnection to the defibrillator electrodes;
a battery compartment and battery terminals in the case, the battery compartment and terminals and configured for holding and electrical interconnection to one or more batteries;
a high voltage circuit coupled to the battery terminals and the electrode terminals, for generating defibrillation pulses and applying the pulses to the electrode terminals;
an operator-actuated rescue switch on the case;
a rescue indicator on the case;
and
a digital control system coupled to the lid switch, electrode terminals, high voltage circuit, rescue switch and rescue indicator, including:
rescue mode initiating means for initiating rescue operation of the defibrillator when the lid is opened;
rhythm analyzing means for analyzing signals present on the electrode terminals to identify a shockable cardiac rhythm;
rescue indicator actuating means for activating the rescue indicator when a shockable rhythm is identified;
and
pulse initiating means for actuating the high voltage circuit and causing the generation of defibrillation pulses when a shockable rhythm is identified and the rescue switch is actuated;
resume indicator actuating means for actuating the resume indicator if rescue data is stored in the digital control system when the lid is opened;
and
memory clearing means for clearing the rescue data from the digital control system when the resume button is actuated.

15 more elements

An automated external defibrillator, comprising:

a case including an electrode compartment and an openable lid for enclosing the compartment, the compartment configured to hold a pair of defibrillator electrodes;
a lid switch for sensing when the lid is opened;
electrode terminals in the electrode compartment, the electrode terminals configured for electrical interconnection to the defibrillator electrodes;
a battery compartment and battery terminals in the case, the battery compartment and terminals being configured for holding an electrical interconnection to one or more batteries;
a high voltage circuit coupled to the battery terminals and the electrode terminals, for generating defibrillation pulses and applying the pulses to the electrode terminals;
an operator-actuated rescue switch on the case;
a rescue indicator on the case;
a digital control system coupled to the lid switch, electrode terminals, high voltage circuit, rescue switch and rescue indicator;
a data communication port on the case coupled to the digital control system;
a resume indicator coupled to the digital control system;
an operator-actuated resume button coupled to the digital control system;
and
the digital control system including:
rescue mode initiating means for initiating rescue operation of the defibrillator when the lid is opened;
rhythm analyzing means for analyzing signals present on the electrode terminals to identify a shockable cardiac rhythm;
rescue indicator actuating means for activating the rescue indicator when a shockable rhythm is identified;
pulse initiating means for actuating the high voltage circuit and causing the generation of defibrillation pulses when a shockable rhythm is identified and the rescue switch is actuated;
event storage means for storing rescue data representative of the rescue operation of the defibrillator and/or monitored cardiac rhythms;
rescue data transfer means for transferring the rescue data to the data communication port;
resume indicator actuating means for actuating the resume indicator if rescue data is stored in the digital control system when the lid is opened;
and
memory clearing means for clearing the rescue data from the digital control system when the resume button is actuated.

19 more elements

An automated external defibrillator, comprising:

a case including an electrode compartment and an openable lid for enclosing the compartment, the compartment configured to hold a pair of defibrillator electrodes;
electrode terminals on the case configured for electrical interconnection to defibrillator electrodes;
a battery compartment and battery terminals in the case, the battery compartment and terminals configured for holding and for electrical interconnection to one or more batteries;
a high voltage circuit coupled to the battery terminals and the electrode terminals, for generating defibrillation pulses and applying the pulses to the electrode terminals;
an on/off switch on the case;
an operator-actuated rescue switch on the case;
a rescue indicator on the case;
and
a digital control system coupled to the on/off switch, electrode terminals, high voltage circuit, rescue switch and rescue indicator, including:
rescue mode initiating means for initiating rescue operation of the defibrillator when the on/off switch is actuated;
rhythm analyzing means for analyzing signals present on the electrode terminals to identify a shockable cardiac rhythm after the on/off switch is actuated;
rescue indicator actuating means for activating the rescue indicator when a shockable rhythm is identified;
pulse initiating means for actuating the high voltage circuit and causing the generation of defibrillation pulses when a shockable rhythm is identified and the rescue switch is actuated;
a resume indicator coupled to the digital control system;
an operator-actuated resume button coupled to the digital control system;
resume indicator actuating means for actuating the resume indicator if rescue data is stored in the digital control system when the lid is opened;
and
memory clearing means for clearing the rescue data from the digital control system when the resume button is actuated.

15 more elements

An automated external defibrillator, comprising:

a pair of defibrillator electrodes having a stored disposition and an operating disposition, the electrodes being disposed in an electrically conductive relationship in said stored disposition;
a case;
electrode terminals on the case configured for electrical interconnection to the defibrillator electrodes;
a battery compartment and battery terminals in the case, the battery compartment and terminals configured for holding and for electrical interconnection to one or more batteries;
a high voltage circuit coupled to the battery terminals and the electrode terminals, for generating defibrillation pulses and applying the pulses to the electrode terminals;
an impedance measuring circuit coupled to the electrode terminals, for measuring the impedance between the electrode terminals;
an on/off switch on the case;
an operator-actuated rescue switch on the case;
a rescue indicator on the case;
a digital control system coupled to the on/off switch, electrode terminals, high voltage circuit, rescue switch, impedance measuring circuit and rescue indicator;
a resume indicator coupled to the digital control system;
an operator-actuated resume button coupled to the digital control system;
and
the digital control system including:
rescue mode initiating means for initiating rescue operation of the defibrillator when the on/off switch is actuated;
electrode application checking means for identifying improper electrode placement on a patient as a function of the measured impedance between the electrode terminals;
rhythm analyzing means for automatically analyzing signals present on the electrode terminals to identify a shockable cardiac rhythm when proper electrode placement is identified;
rescue indicator actuating means for activating the rescue indicator when a shockable rhythm is identified;
pulse initiating means for actuating the high voltage circuit and causing the generation of defibrillation pulses when a shockable rhythm is identified and the rescue switch is actuated;
resume indicator actuating means for actuating the resume indicator if rescue data is stored in the digital control system when the lid is opened;
and
memory clearing means for clearing the rescue data from the digital control system when the resume button is actuated.

19 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.