Visual and aural user interface for an automated external defibrillator
AssigneeMedtronic Physio-Control Manufacturing Corp.
InventorsRichard C. Nova, Shawn R. Bertagnole
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated external defibrillator (AED) (10) designed for use by a rescuer with minimal or no training during a medical emergency is provided. The AED implements a user interface program (22) which guides the rescuer through operation of the AED and application of CPR and defibrillation therapy to a patient by displaying a series of visual instructions on a graphic display (14) or other visual output device, and by providing additional aural instructions via a speaker (18) or other aural output device. The rescuer merely needs to press a start button (12) to initiate operation of the AED and begin CPR and defibrillation instruction.
Claims47
A defibrillator capable of providing a user with instructions for administering CPR and defibrillation therapy, the defibrillator comprising:
- (a) a processing unit;
- (b) a visual output device coupled to the processing unit for displaying CPR and defibrillation therapy instructions to the user;
- (c) an aural output device coupled to the processing unit for issuing CPR and defibrillation therapy instructions to the user;
- (d) a memory coupled to the processing unit for storing program code executed by the processing unit which generates:
- (i) a sequence of emergency notification instructions on the visual and aural output devices;
- (ii) a sequence of CPR instructions on the visual and aural output devices;
- and
- (iii) a sequence of defibrillator operation instructions on the visual and aural output devices;
- and
- (e) a user input mechanism coupled to the processing unit for enabling the user to affect the sequence of emergency notification, CPR and defibrillator instructions, if desired by the user.
In a defibrillator, a user interface for providing a user with instructions for deploying the defibrillator and administering CPR to a patient, the user interface comprising:
- (a) a visual output device for providing the user with visual instructions for deploying the defibrillator and administering CPR to the patient, wherein at least some of the visual instructions provided by the visual output device are animated illustrations;
- (b) an aural output device for providing the user with aural instructions for deploying the defibrillator and administering CPR to the patient;
- and
- (c) a user input mechanism for enabling the user to input responses to the visual and aural instructions provided on the visual and aural output devices.
A method for providing instructions to a user for operating a defibrillator having a set of electrodes couplable to a patient, wherein the instructions for operating the defibrillator include instructions for administering CPR and defibrillation therapy to the patient, the method comprising:
- (a) causing the defibrillator to instruct the user to attach the set of electrodes to the patient;
- (b) causing the defibrillator to analyze the ECG signals received via the set of electrodes to detect if a shockable heart rhythm is detected;
- (c) causing the defibrillator to instruct the user to deliver CPR to the patient, wherein causing the defibrillator to instruct the user to deliver CPR to the patient comprises:
- (i) determining if the patient is breathing;
- (ii) determining if the patient has a pulse;
- and
- (iii) instructing the user to deliver a predetermined number of breaths and chest compressions to the patient, if the patient is not breathing and if the patient does not have a pulse;
- and
- (d) causing the defibrillator to deliver a defibrillation shock to the patient via the electrodes if the shockable heart rhythm is detected.
A computer-readable medium having a computer-executable user interface component for generating graphical instructions for a user which illustrate to the user how to treat a patient during an emergency using the defibrillator, including how to attach a set of defibrillation electrodes to the patient.
A computer-readable medium having a computer-executable user interface component for generating aural instructions for a user which demonstrate to the user how to treat a patient during an emergency using the defibrillator, including how to administer CPR to the patient, wherein the aural instructions which demonstrate how to administer CPR to the patient comprise instructions to assess the patient's condition by checking the patient's breathing, checking the patient's pulse, and delivering rescue breaths if appropriate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.