Abstract:
A patient parameter monitoring pod in embodiments of the teachings may include one or more of the following features: (a) portable housing containing a power supply, (b) a patient parameter module connectable to a patient via lead cables to collect patient data, the patient data including at least one vital sign, (c) a transceiver adapted to wirelessly transmit the patient data to a defibrillator, (d) a data port adapted to supply the patient data via a direct electrical connection to the defibrillator, and (e) a carrying handle extending from the housing proximate a patient lead cable port that permits connection of the lead cables to the pod, the carrying handle positioned to protect the patient lead cable port and the patient lead cables attached to the port from direct impact.
Abstract:
Techniques for initiating direct communication between an emergency medical device, such as an automated external defibrillator (AED) and a safety agency may include detecting an event and contacting the safety agency in response to the detected event and user authorization. For example, the AED may detect an event such as removal of the AED from a mount and alert an operator of the intent to send contact the safety agency. The AED determines whether an override command was received from the operator in a defined amount of time. When the operator does not input an override command, the AED interprets the absence of the override command as user authorization and contacts the safety agency via a communication unit. For instance, the AED may generate an advisory and send the advisory to the safety agency. The initiation of direct communication between the AED and the safety agency by the AED enables the operator to interact with a patient, e.g., perform CPR on the patient.
Abstract:
Electrodes having electrode identification tags are used on medical devices, particularly on defibrillators. One such defibrillator uses electrical devices to query the tags and acquire electrode identification information. Software is also incorporated for querying the tags automatically and interpreting the acquired information.
Abstract:
An external defibrillator is customized for at least one person, i.e., an anticipated patient, through creation of a profile for the anticipated patient that allows the defibrillator and users of the defibrillator to provide customized treatment to the patient. The profile may include treatment parameters for the anticipated patient, such as defibrillation therapy parameters selected for the patient. The profile may also include a baseline recording of a physiological parameter of the patient, and medical history and personal information regarding the patient. In some embodiments, the external defibrillator stores a profile for each of one or more anticipated patients within a memory. In other embodiments, a profile for an anticipated patient is stored within a medium associated with that anticipated patient. The medium may, for example, be a removable medium for external defibrillators.
Abstract:
Techniques for managing recording of audio during a medical emergency are presented. An audio recorder may selectively record at selected time during the medical emergency, and generate correlation information to temporally correlate the recorded audio with the medical emergency. The audio recorder may establish receive synchronization information from a medical device used during the medical emergency, and may mark recorded audio according to the synchronization information. A computer may generate a record for the medical emergency that includes recorded audio correlated with medical emergency information generated by the medical device. The computer may correlate the recorded audio with the medical emergency information according the synchronization markings.
Abstract:
The invention is directed to techniques for configuration of a medical device, such as a defibrillator or patient monitor. The configuration is menu-driven. The medical device may present a menu of patient conditions to an operator. When the operator selects a patient condition from the menu, the device selects a configuration parameter and self-configures with the configuration parameter. The menu-driven techniques may further allow an operator to change the configuration of the device to configure the device more specifically to the condition of the patient. The menu-driven techniques may also allow the device to self-configure with a default configuration parameter in the event the operator fails to make a menu selection.
Abstract:
A dosage for electrotherapy delivered to a patient, such as a defibrillation pulse delivered by an external defibrillator, is selected based on an age-related classification, such as adult or child, and a measured electrical parameter, such as the transthoracic impedance, of the patient. For example, a nominal voltage level for an energy storage circuit may be determined based on a nominal dosage. The nominal voltage level may be adjusted by applying a function that relates voltage level adjustment to impedance to the measured impedance. The function may be selected based on the age-related classification of the patient. The dosage of the defibrillation pulse delivered based on the adjusted voltage level, i.e., the selected dosage, may have a substantially equivalent probability of success for the patient as the nominal dosage would provide for a reference patient with an average transthoracic impedance for the class of which the patient is a member.
Abstract:
A modular external defibrillator system in embodiments of the teachings may include one or more of the following features: a base containing a defibrillator to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient, (b) one or more pods each connectable to a patient via patient lead cables to collect at least one patient vital sign, the pods operable at a distance from the base, (c) a wireless communications link between the base and a selected one of the two or more pods to carry the at least one vital sign from the selected pod to the base, the selection being based on which pod is associated with the base.
Abstract:
A patient parameter monitoring pod in embodiments of the teachings may include one or more of the following features: (a) portable housing containing a power supply, (b) a patient parameter module connectable to a patient via lead cables to collect patient data, the patient data including at least one vital sign, (c) a transceiver adapted to wirelessly transmit the patient data to a defibrillator, (d) a data port adapted to supply the patient data via a direct electrical connection to the defibrillator, and (e) a carrying handle extending from the housing proximate a patient lead cable port that permits connection of the lead cables to the pod, the carrying handle positioned to protect the patient lead cable port and the patient lead cables attached to the port from direct impact.
Abstract:
An external defibrillator is customized for at least one person, i.e., an anticipated patient, through creation of a profile for the anticipated patient that allows the defibrillator and users of the defibrillator to provide customized treatment to the patient. The profile may include treatment parameters for the anticipated patient, such as defibrillation therapy parameters selected for the patient. The profile may also include a baseline recording of a physiological parameter of the patient, and medical history and personal information regarding the patient. In some embodiments, the external defibrillator stores a profile for each of one or more anticipated patients within a memory. In other embodiments, a profile for an anticipated patient is stored within a medium associated with that anticipated patient. The medium may, for example, be a removable medium for external defibrillators.