Modular medical device, base unit and module thereof, and automated external defibrillator (AED), methods for assembling and using the AED
First Claim
1. An automated external defibrillator base unit, comprising:
- a functional circuit; and
a first interface operable to couple the functional circuit to a defibrillator module.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A modular automated external defibrillator (AED) system includes a base unit and at least one interconnected module. The base unit typically includes a functional circuit and includes an interface that couples the functional circuit to the module. Likewise, the module includes an interface that couples the module to the base unit. By manufacturing such modular AED models instead of one-piece, i.e., integrated, AED models, a manufacturer can reduce the cost and complexity of its manufacturing process. Furthermore, the manufacturer may be able to bring such a modular AED to market more quickly than it could bring an integrated model of the AED to market. Moreover, a modular AED allows the manufacturer and customer flexibility in respectively providing and selecting feature sets. In addition, a customer can obtain replacements for broken modules, and the manufacturer can provide cheaper upgrades by upgrading a module or base unit instead of upgrading the entire AED.
85 Citations
105 Claims
-
1. An automated external defibrillator base unit, comprising:
-
a functional circuit; and
a first interface operable to couple the functional circuit to a defibrillator module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. An automated external defibrillator module, comprising:
-
a functional circuit; and
a first interface operable to couple the functional circuit to a defibrillator base unit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An automated external defibrillator module, comprising:
-
a defibrillator attachment;
a compartment operable to store the attachment; and
an interface operable to couple the attachment to a defibrillator base unit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A defibrillator base unit, comprising:
-
a functional circuit; and
a first interface operable to couple the functional circuit to a first defibrillator module. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
28. The base unit of 19, further comprising a power supply operable to provide power to the functional circuit and to provide power to the module via the first interface.
-
35. A defibrillator module, comprising:
-
a functional circuit; and
a first interface operable to couple the functional circuit to a defibrillator base unit. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
-
-
55. A defibrillator module, comprising:
-
a defibrillator electrode pad;
a compartment operable to store the defibrillator electrode pad; and
a first interface operable to couple the defibrillator electrode pad to a defibrillator base unit. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
-
-
61. A modular automated external defibrillator system, comprising:
-
a base unit having, a base-unit circuit, and a first base-unit interface coupled to the base-unit circuit; and
a first module having, a first module circuit, and a first module interface operable to couple the module circuit to the base-unit circuit via the first base-unit interface. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
-
-
86. A method, comprising:
-
assembling an automated external defibrillator by coupling a first module to a base unit; and
operating the defibrillator. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
-
-
93. A method, comprising:
-
activating a modular automated external defibrillator system; and
treating a patient with the defibrillator system. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104)
-
-
105. A method, comprising:
-
activating a modular automated external defibrillator system; and
training an operator to use the defibrillator system.
-
Specification