Method and apparatus for defrosting a defibrillation electrode
AssigneeCardiac Science Corporation
InventorsRabih C. Nassif, Peter M. Peterson
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Abstract
A device and method for defrosting a defibrillation electrode are provided. This includes an automated external defibrillator that is capable of defrosting one or more frozen electrodes. The device is includes a portable housing containing a battery powered energy source and a controller as well as at least a pair of electrodes which are operably coupled to the housing. The electrodes are designed for attachment to the chest of a patient in need of resuscitation and contain a conductive interface medium that has temperature dependent properties. A controller is configured to selectively heat the conductive interface medium by applying limited electrical impulses and raise the electrode temperature to a desired temperature range.
Claims19
An automated external defibrillator with defrosting capabilities comprising:
- a portable housing containing a battery powered energy source and a controller;
- and
- at least a pair of electrodes operably coupled to the housing, the electrodes being releasably attachable to an external portion of a patient in need of resuscitation, each of the electrodes including a conductive interface medium having physical properties dependent upon a desired temperature range of about 32° F. to 122° F.;
- wherein the controller is configured to selectively heat the conductive interface medium by applying a limited amount of electrical impulse from the energy source to raise the temperature of the conductive interface medium toward the desired range.
An automated external defibrillator with defrosting capabilities comprising:
- a pair of preconnected electrodes including an outer hydrogel layer on each electrode having physical properties dependent upon a normal temperature range of about 32° F. to 122° F.;
- and
- a housing including a battery powered energy source and a controller that selectively heats the hydrogel layer by applying a limited amount of electrical impulse to raise the temperature of the hydrogel layer to the normal range.
A method of controlling the operating conditions of defibrillation electrodes of an automated external defibrillator, comprising:
- providing a pair of electrodes releasably attachable with an external portion of a patient in need of resuscitation, each electrode having a conductive interface medium having physical properties dependent upon a desired temperature range of about 32° F. to 122° F.;
- and
- automatically causing the automated external defibrillator to deliver a limited electrical impulse to the defibrillation electrodes so as to heat the defibrillation electrodes to the desired temperature range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.