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.
Claims24
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 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 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 heat the defibrillation electrodes to the desired temperature range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.