User interface method and apparatus for a medical device

• US 20030216785A1
• Filed: 05/15/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Otman, Alex, Gausman, Mark, Nova, Richard C., Edwards, D. Craig, Bertagnole, Shawn R., Locke, Kelly J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,527,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

A user interface method and apparatus is described for use with a defibrillator (100) such as an automated external defibrillator (AED). The user interface comprises a plurality of layered user interface components which become available to the operator of the defibrillator (100) as they become necessary or appropriate during the operation of the defibrillator (100) and treatment of the patient. In one embodiment, the layered user interface components comprise an on/off actuator (108), a lid (104), an electrode package (120) containing defibrillation electrodes (142, 144), and a shock key (170), as well as accompanying visual and aural instructions for operating the defibrillator (100) and for treating the patient.

Claims

1. A medical device for patient treatment comprising a plurality of layered user interface components, each successive layer of user interface component becoming available to an operator of the medical device as the user interface component becomes appropriate during the operation of the medical device and patient treatment.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of layered user interface components includes:

an activator used by the operator to activate the medical device;

a connector used by the operator to connect the medical device to the patient; and

an initiator used by the operator to initiate treatment of the patient by the medical device.

3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of layered user interface components further includes:

activation instructions concerning operator use of the activator;

connection instructions concerning operator use of the connector; and

treatment instructions concerning operator use of the initiator.

4. The medical device of claim 3, wherein each of the activation instructions, connection instructions, and treatment instructions includes visual, audible, written, or diagrammatic instructions.

5. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the connector becomes available to the operator only after the operator has used the activator.

6. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the initiator becomes available to the operator only after the operator has used the connector.

7. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the activator includes an on/off actuator.

8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the on/off actuator is a button depressable by the operator.

9. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the activator includes a lid movable between closed and open positions.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein movement of the lid to the open position activates the medical device.

11. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the activator further includes a lid-release member actuatable by the operator to release the lid for movement to the open position.

12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein actuation of the lid-release member activates the medical device.

13. A layered user interface for an external defibrillator comprising:

an activation layer that guides an operator to activate the defibrillator;

an electrode application layer made available to the operator subsequent to the activation layer that guides the operator to apply electrodes to a patient; and

a defibrillation pulse delivery layer made available to the operator subsequent to the electrode application layer that guides the operator through delivery of a defibrillation pulse to the patient.

14. The layered user interface of claim 13, wherein the activation layer comprises an on/off actuator used by the operator to activate the defibrillator.

15. The layered user interface of claim 14, wherein the on/off actuator is a button contrastingly configured and colored to draw the attention of the operator.

16. The layered user interface of claim 13, wherein the electrode application layer comprises an electrode package containing the electrodes, and instructions for opening the package and for applying the electrodes to the patient.

17. The layered user interface of claim 16, wherein the instructions include audible instructions.

18. The layered user interface of claim 16, wherein the instructions include visual instructions.

19. The layered user interface of claim 16, wherein the instructions include written instructions.

20. The layered user interface of claim 16, wherein the instructions include diagrammatic instructions.

21. The layered user interface of claim 13, wherein the defibrillation pulse delivery layer comprises a shock key actuatable by the operator to initiate delivery of the defibrillation pulse, and instructions for actuating the shock key.

22. The layered user interface of claim 21, wherein the instructions include visual instructions.

23. The layered user interface of claim 21, wherein the instructions include audible instructions.

24. The layered user interface of claim 13 further comprising a status layer that indicates to the operator the status of the defibrillator.

25. The layered user interface of claim 24, wherein the status layer comprises a readiness display which indicates the status of components of the defibrillator.

26. The layered user interface of claim 24, wherein the status layer comprises an electrode expiration date display that indicates the status of the defibrillator'"'"'s electrodes.

27. The layered user interface of claim 13, wherein the defibrillation pulse delivery layer comprises instructions for guiding the operator through delivery of the defibrillation pulse, wherein the defibrillator automatically initiates delivery of the defibrillation pulse.

28. An external defibrillator adapted to lead an operator through a sequence of operations to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient, comprising:

a case having a first indicator presented to the operator and directing the operator to perform a first of the sequence of operations;

an electrode package disposed within the case and made accessible to the operator only upon performance of the first of the sequence of operations, the electrode package having a second indicator presented to the operator and directing the operator to perform a second of the sequence of operations; and

defibrillation electrodes disposed within the electrode package and made accessible to the operator only upon performance of the second of the sequence of operations, the defibrillation electrodes having a third indicator presented to the operator and directing the operator to perform a third of the sequence of operations.

29. The external defibrillator of claim 28, wherein the first indicator includes an on/off button configured and colored to contrast with the case, and wherein the first of the sequence of operations includes activating the defibrillator.

30. The external defibrillator of claim 28, wherein the electrode package includes a handle actuatable by the operator to open the electrode package, and wherein the second indicator includes a diagram depicting pulling the handle to open the electrode package, and wherein the second of the sequence of operations includes opening the electrode package.

31. The external defibrillator of claim 28, wherein the third indicator includes a diagram depicting placement of the defibrillation electrodes on the patient, and wherein the third of the sequence of operations includes placing the defibrillation electrodes on the patient.

32. The external defibrillator of claim 28 further comprising an audio speaker operable to issue a sequence of audible instructions corresponding with the sequence of operations.

33. The external defibrillator of claim 32, wherein each of audible instructions is issued following completion of a prior one of the corresponding operations.

34. The external defibrillator of claim 28, wherein the defibrillation electrodes have a fourth indicator presented to the operator and directing the operator to perform a fourth of the sequence of operations.

35. The external defibrillator of claim 34, wherein the third indicator directs the operator to remove the defibrillation electrodes from a liner, and wherein the fourth indicator includes a diagram depicting placement of the defibrillation electrodes on the patient.

36. The external defibrillator of claim 28 further comprising a shock control button disposed within the case and made accessible to the operator only upon performance of the second of the sequence of operations, the shock control button being actuatable by the operator to initiate the delivery of the defibrillation shock to the patient, and the shock control button having a fourth indicator presented to the operator and directing the operator to perform a fourth of the sequence of operations.

37. The external defibrillator of claim 36, wherein the fourth indicator includes a visual signal attracting the operator'"'"'s attention, and wherein the fourth of the sequence of operations includes actuating the shock control button.

38. A layered user interface for an external defibrillator comprising:

an activation device used by an operator of the defibrillator to activate the defibrillator;

an electrode package containing defibrillation electrodes, wherein the electrode package is made available to the operator after activation of the defibrillator; and

a shock key used by the operator to initiate a defibrillation pulse, wherein the shock key is made available to the operator after the electrode package has been deployed.

39. The layered user interface of claim 38 further comprising a prompting system for prompting the operator with instructions for deploying the electrode package.

40. The layered user interface of claim 39, wherein the prompting system includes written instructions for deploying the electrode package.

41. The layered user interface of claim 39, wherein the prompting system includes audible instructions for deploying the electrode package.

42. The layered user interface of claim 39, wherein the prompting system includes diagrammatic instructions for deploying the electrode package.

43. The layered user interface of claim 39, wherein the prompting system includes visual cues for deploying the electrode package.

44. The layered user interface of claim 39, wherein the prompting system further prompts the operator to activate the shock key if a shockable heart rhythm has been detected.

45. The layered user interface of claim 44, wherein the prompting system includes audible instructions to activate the shock key.

46. The layered user interface of claim 44, wherein the prompting system includes visual cues to activate the shock key.

47. A method for providing a user interface to an operator of an external defibrillator, the method comprising:

drawing the attention of the operator to an actuator for activating the defibrillator;

upon activating the defibrillator, revealing to the operator an electrode package containing defibrillation electrodes;

providing instructions to the operator for deploying the electrode package; and

upon deploying the electrode package, revealing a shock key to the operator for initiating delivery of a defibrillation pulse.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein providing instructions to the operator includes providing visual, audible, written, or diagrammatic instructions.

49. The method of claim 47 further comprising providing instructions to the operator for actuating the shock key.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein providing the instructions for actuating the shock key includes providing visual or audible instructions.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein providing instructions for deploying the electrode package includes providing instructions for opening the electrode package and providing instructions for deploying the defibrillation electrodes.

52. A method of providing a user interface to an operator of an external defibrillator, the method comprising:

instructing the operator concerning activating the defibrillator;

upon the operator activating the defibrillator, providing the operator with an electrode package having an opener that is actuatable by the operator;

instructing the operator concerning opening the electrode package;

instructing the operator concerning removing electrodes from the electrode package;

instructing the operator concerning placement of the electrodes on the patient; and

upon the operator placing the electrodes on the patient, instructing the operator concerning care giving operations.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning activating the defibrillator includes providing the operator with a button actuatable by the operator to activate the defibrillator.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning activating the defibrillator includes providing the operator with a lid-release button actuatable by the operator to release a lid of the defibrillator.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the actuation of the lid-release button initiates activation of the defibrillator.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein opening the lid initiates activation of the defibrillator.

57. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning opening the electrode package includes providing written information concerning opening the electrode package.

58. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning opening the electrode package includes producing audible information concerning opening the electrode package.

59. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning opening the electrode package includes providing a diagram depicting opening the electrode package.

60. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning removing the electrodes includes providing written information concerning removing the electrodes from the electrode package.

61. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning removing the electrodes includes producing audible information concerning removing the electrodes from the electrode package.

62. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning removing the electrodes includes providing a diagram depicting removing the electrodes from the electrode package.

63. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning positioning the electrodes includes providing written information concerning positioning the electrodes on the patient.

64. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning positioning the electrodes includes producing audible information concerning positioning the electrodes on the patient.

65. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning positioning the electrodes includes providing a diagram depicting positioning the electrodes on the patient.

66. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning positioning the electrodes includes providing to the operator status information concerning the application of the electrodes to the patient.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein providing to the operator status information includes producing a visual status signal having first and second states respectively corresponding to the application of the electrodes to the patient and the nonapplication of the electrodes to the patient.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein providing to the operator status information includes producing an audible instruction prompting the operator to check the application of the electrodes to the patient.

69. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning care giving operations includes providing written information concerning care giving operations.

70. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning care giving operations includes producing audible information concerning care giving operations.

71. The method of claim 52, wherein instructing the operator concerning care giving operations includes providing a diagram depicting care giving operations.

72. The method of claim 52 further comprising:

subsequent to the operator opening the electrode package, providing the operator with a shock control button actuatable by the operator to initiate delivery of the defibrillation shock to the patient; and

wherein instructing the operator concerning care giving operations includes instructing the operator concerning actuation of the shock control button.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein instructing the operator concerning actuation of the shock control button includes producing audible information concerning actuation of the shock control button.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein instructing the operator concerning actuation of the shock control button includes producing visual information concerning actuation of the shock control button.

75. The method of claim 52, wherein after the operator is instructed concerning care giving operations, the defibrillator automatically delivers a defibrillation pulse if a shockable heart rhythm is detected.

76. A method of leading an operator through a sequence of operations using an external defibrillator to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient, the method comprising:

presenting a first indicator to the operator to direct the operator to activate the defibrillator;

upon the operator activating the defibrillator, providing the operator with an electrode package and presenting a second indicator to the operator to direct the operator to open the electrode package;

upon the operator opening the electrode package, providing the operator with first and second defibrillation electrodes and presenting a third indicator to the operator concerning application of the electrodes to the patient; and

upon the operator placing the electrodes on the patient, instructing the operator concerning care giving operations.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein presenting the first indicator includes presenting an on/off actuator.

78. The method of claim 76, wherein presenting the first indicator includes presenting visual instructions concerning activating the defibrillator.

79. The method of claim 76, wherein presenting the second indicator includes presenting a diagram depicting opening the electrode package

80. The method of claim 76, wherein presenting the second indicator includes presenting an opener configured and colored to contrast with the electrode package.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the opener is a handle.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein presenting the second indicator further includes presenting a diagram depicting pulling the handle.

83. The method of claim 76, wherein presenting the second indicator includes presenting audible instructions concerning opening the electrode package.

84. The method of claim 76, wherein presenting the third indicator includes presenting a diagram depicting placement of the electrodes on the patient.

85. The method of claim 76, wherein presenting the third indicator includes presenting audible instructions concerning application of the electrodes to the patient.

86. The method of claim 76, wherein presenting the third indicator includes presenting instructions to remove the defibrillation electrodes from a liner.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the instructions include visual cues.

88. The method of claim 86, wherein the instructions include audible instructions.

89. The method of claim 76, wherein instructing the operator concerning care giving operations includes presenting a diagram depicting care giving operations.

90. The method of claim 76, wherein instructing the operator concerning care giving operations includes presenting audible instructions concerning care giving operations.

91. The method of claim 76 further comprising:

upon the operator opening the electrode package, providing the operator with a shock control button; and

wherein instructing the operator concerning care giving operations includes presenting a fourth indicator to the operator concerning actuation of the shock control button.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein presenting the fourth indicator includes issuing a visible signal.

93. The method of claim 91, wherein presenting the fourth indicator includes presenting audible instructions concerning actuation of the shock control button.

94. The method of claim 76, wherein after the operator is instructed concerning care giving operations, the defibrillator automatically delivers a defibrillation pulse if a shockable rhythm is detected.