Defibrillator power management systems and corresponding defibrillator storage methods

• US 20040002737A1
• Filed: 01/30/2003
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Physio-Control Manufacturing Corp.
• Inventors: Yerkovich, Daniel, Kavounas, Gregory T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,928,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence

Abstract

A system is provided for delivering a defibrillation pulse to a patient and a corresponding method of storing such a system is provided in accordance with the present invention. The system includes a defibrillator (e.g., an AED) that is configured to deliver the defibrillation pulse to the patient and a cell that is configured to convert light into electrical power for the defibrillator. The method includes storing an defibrillator of the system for future use and arranging a light receiving system to receive light such that the light receiving system converts light into electrical power for the defibrillator.

Claims

1. A system for delivering a defibrillation pulse to a patient, comprising:

a defibrillator that is configured to deliver the defibrillation pulse to the patient; and

a cell that is configured to convert light into electrical power for the defibrillator.

2. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, wherein said cell is a photovoltaic cell.

3. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cells forming a module with said cell, said plurality of cells configured to convert said light into electrical power for the defibrillator.

4. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, further comprising a battery coupled to said cell, wherein said cell is configured to convert said light into electrical power for replenishing an electrical charge of said battery.

5. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery charger coupled to said cell, wherein said cell is configured to convert said light into electrical power for electrically powering said battery charger; and

a battery coupled to said battery charger, said battery charger configured to replenish an electrical charge of said battery.

6. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to said cell, wherein said cell is configured to convert said light into electrical power for driving said display.

7. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, wherein said cell is integrated onto a housing of said defibrillator.

8. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, wherein said cell is at least partially integrated into a housing of said defibrillator.

9. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 7, wherein said housing has a cover and said cell is integrated onto said cover.

10. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 8, wherein said housing has a cover and said cell is at least partially integrated into said cover.

11. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, wherein said cell is integrated onto a storage case that is configured to store said defibrillator.

12. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, wherein said cell is integrated at least partially into a storage case that is configured to store said defibrillator.

13. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, further comprising a storage case that is configured to store said defibrillator, said storage case configured to permit light to impinge on said cell when said defibrillator is stored in said storage case.

14. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 1, wherein said light has a wavelength greater than approximately four hundred nanometers (400 nm) and less than approximately seven hundred nanometers (700 nm).

15. A method for storing a system for delivering a defibrillation pulse to a patient, comprising the steps of:

storing a defibrillator of the system for future use; and

arranging a light receiving system to receive light such that the light receiving system converts light into electrical power for the defibrillator.

16. The method for storing the system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 15, further comprising the step of verifying that a sufficient amount of light is being received by the light receiving system to produce the electrical power for the defibrillator.

17. The method for storing the system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 15, wherein said light receiving system comprises a cell and said method further comprises the step of positioning the cell to receive light for converting the light into electrical power for the defibrillator.

18. The method for storing the system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 17, wherein said light receiving system further comprises a mechanism to direct the light to the cell.

19. The method for storing the system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 16, wherein verifying that said sufficient amount of light is being received by the light receiving system to produce the electrical power for the defibrillator comprises the step of checking a charging indicator.

20. The method for storing the system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 19, wherein said charging indicator is a visual indicator.

21. A system for delivering a defibrillation pulse to a patient, comprising:

means for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient; and

means for converting light into electrical power for said means for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient.

22. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 21, further comprising means for storing and furnishing an electrical charge that is coupled to said means for converting light into electrical power, wherein said means for converting light into electrical power is configured to convert said light into electrical power for replenishing said electrical charge of said means for storing and furnishing.

23. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 21, further comprising:

means for charging a battery coupled to said means for converting light into electrical power, wherein said means for converting light into electrical power is configured to convert said light into electrical power for electrically powering said means for charging said battery; and

means for storing and furnishing an electrical charge coupled to said means for charging said battery, said means for charging said battery configured to replenish said electrical charge of said means for storing and furnishing.

24. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 21, further comprising means for displaying a visual image coupled to said means for converting light into electrical power, wherein said means for converting light into electrical power is configured to convert said light into electrical power for driving said means for displaying said visual image.

25. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 21, further comprising a means for housing said means for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient, wherein said means for converting light into electrical power is integrated onto a means for housing.

26. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 21, wherein said means for converting light into electrical power is at least partially integrated into a means for housing said means for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient.

27. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 26, further comprising a means for covering said means for housing, wherein said means for converting light into electrical power is integrated onto said means for covering.

28. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 26, further comprising a means for covering said means for housing, wherein said means for converting light into electrical power is at least partially integrated into said means for covering.

29. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 21, further comprising a means for storing said means for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient, wherein said means for converting light into electrical power is integrated onto said means for storing.

30. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 21, further comprising a means for storing said means for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient, wherein said means for converting light into electrical power is integrated at least partially into said means for storing.

31. The system for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient of claim 21, further comprising means for storing said means for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient, said means for storing configured to permit light to impinge on said means for converting light into electrical power when said means for delivering the defibrillation pulse to the patient is stored in said means for storing.