Display for dual-mode medical device

A multi-mode electronic medical device, comprising:

• a device housing that defines a front side of the device that is positioned to be visible to a user of the device during use of the device;
• a display area comprising a thin panel having a substantially flat front surface portion along the front side of the device;
• a translucent layer behind, and aligned with, the thin panel;
• a layer of text or graphics behind, and aligned with the translucent layer, and arranged so that the text or graphics is not visible to a user on the front side of the device when light is not provided from inside the device housing;
• a switch to allow a user to select a first operating mode or a second operating mode for the device, the switch having a first position corresponding to the first operating mode and a second position corresponding to the second operating mode;
• circuitry arranged to energize one or more light sources to provide light from behind the thin panel when the device is in the second operating mode, and to thereby make visible the text or graphics when the device is switched from the first operating mode to the second operating mode;
• and
• one or more push button switches positioned behind the thin panel, and wherein the thin panel is flexible to permit a user to depress the one or more push button switches by pressing on the thin panel,
• wherein when the device is in the first operating mode, one or more text or graphics labeling the first position are visible to the user on the front side of the device, and one or more text or graphics labeling the second position are not visible to the user on the front side of the device, and
• wherein when the device is in the second operating mode, the one or more text or graphics labeling the first position are visible to the user on the front side of the device, and one or more text or graphics labeling the second position are visible to the user on the front side of the device.

A method of operating a multi-mode defibrillator, comprising:

• receiving a user input to operate the defibrillator in a basic operating mode;
• interacting with the user without energizing lights for showing advanced features of the defibrillator, such that labels for showing back-lit text or graphics in an advanced operating mode are not visible to the user;
• receiving a user input to through a structure that moves a switch to operate the defibrillator in the advanced operating mode, the switch having a first position corresponding to the basic operating mode and a second position corresponding to the advanced operating mode;
• lighting light sources through a layer of printed text or graphics, a translucent layer, and a thin transparent or translucent face layer that is arranged so that the text or graphics is not visible to a user of the defibrillator when the light sources are not lit, the lighting of the light sources, in combination with the face layer causing the text or graphics to transition between being not visible to the user, to being visible to the user;
• and
• interacting with a user in the advanced mode, wherein the interaction comprises displaying to the user at least some of the text or graphics using the light sources as back lights,
• wherein the light sources are lit as a result of receiving the user input,
• wherein when the device is in the basic operating mode, one or more text or graphics labeling the first position are visible to the user, and one or more text or graphics labeling the second position are not visible to the user, and
• wherein when the device is in the advanced operating mode, the one or more text or graphics labeling the first position are visible to the user, and one or more text or graphics labeling the second position are visible to the user.

A multi-mode external defibrillator comprising:

• a defibrillator housing having a front side, and defining a front face that faces the front side and is positioned to be visible to a user of the defibrillator during use of the defibrillator;
• a display area comprising a thin panel having a substantially flat front surface portion that faces the front side;
• a structure connected to actuate a switch to allow a user to select a first operating mode or a second operating mode for the defibrillator, the switch having a first position corresponding to the first operating mode and a second position corresponding to the second operating mode;
• circuitry arranged to energize one or more light sources to provide light from behind the thin panel when the defibrillator is in the first operating mode;
• and
• means for preventing text or graphics in the display are from being visible to a user of the defibrillator while the defibrillator is in the second operating mode, but to make the text or graphics in the display visible to the user while the defibrillator is in the first operating mode, wherein the circuitry arranged to energize the one or more light sources is arranged to energize the one or more light sources as a result of a user of the defibrillator operating the switch to change the device from the first operating mode to the second operating mode,
• wherein when the device is in the first operating mode, one or more text or graphics labeling the first position are visible to the user on the front side of the device, and one or more text or graphics labeling the second position are not visible to the user on the front side of the device, and
• wherein when the device is in the second operating mode, the one or more text or graphics labeling the first position are visible to the user on the front side of the device, and one or more text or graphics labeling the second position are visible to the user on the front side of the device.