Multilingual defibrillator

• US 20040049234A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carlton B. Morgan, Cecily Anne Snyder, Curtis W. Freeman, David Johnson, Helge Fossan, James Daren Bledsoe, John F. Harris
• Original Assignee: Carlton B. Morgan, Cecily Anne Snyder, Curtis W. Freeman, David Johnson, Helge Fossan, James Daren Bledsoe, John F. Harris
• Inventors: Johnson, David A., Freeman, Curtis W., Harris, John F., Fossan, Helge, Morgan, Carlton B., Snyder, Cecily Anne, Bledsoe, James Daren
• Granted Patent: US 7,257,440 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

This invention relates to an external defibrillator whose language of operation can be easily changed when the defibrillator is deployed for use. Defibrillators include, manual defibrillators, automatic or semi-automatic external defibrillators (“AEDs”) and defibrillator trainers. In one embodiment, the invention provides a way to change the language in which the defibrillator delivers instructions to a user. Defibrillators of this invention would contain multiple languages in their memory. During the set-up of the defibrillator some or all of the languages could be designated as a language in which a prompt will be offered. Additionally, during set-up, one language will be designated as the default language. Once the defibrillator is deployed for use in an emergency, the operator will indicate a language preference for the defibrillator operating instructions. Once the user has indicated which language the prompts should be in, the defibrillator will then begin instructing the user in the use of the defibrillator in that language. Conversely, if the user fails to make any language preference indication, the defibrillator will begin instructing the user in the use of the defibrillator in the default language. In an alternate embodiment, the defibrillator issues each instruction in multiple languages.

Claims

1. A method of selecting an operation language of an external defibrillator comprising:

prompting a defibrillator operator to select a language in a first language;

receiving a language selection from the operator;

determining whether the selection is available in memory; and

using the first language to provide instructions to the operator wherein the defibrillator has been deployed for use on a patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first language is displayed visually.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first language is announced audibly.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the external defibrillator prompts the operator to select a second language if the first language is not available in memory.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the external defibrillator determines whether the second prompting language is available in memory.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising using the second language to provide instructions to the operator.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the external defibrillator prompts the operator to select a third language if the second language is not available in memory.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the external defibrillator determines whether the third language is available in memory.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising using the third language to provide instructions to the operator.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the defibrillator defaults to prompting in a default language if a selection is not made by the operator.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the instructions are provided on a visual image generator.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the visual image generator provides written prompts.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the visual image generator provides graphical prompts.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the visual image generator provides a combination of written and graphical prompts.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the instructions are provided by an audible sound generator.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the instructions are provided by a visual image generator and an audible sound generator.

17. A method of selecting an operation language of an external defibrillator comprising:

selecting the operation language using a result sensed by the defibrillator wherein the defibrillator has been deployed for use on a patient.

18. An external defibrillator comprising:

a controller,

an energy delivery system operable by the controller to deliver an electrical shock from an energy source to an electrode interface,

a language generator comprising means for interacting with the external defibrillator operator to select a language, and

an instruction generator for providing instructions to a defibrillator operator in a language based on information from the language generator.

19. The external defibrillator of claim 18 wherein languages have been loaded into the memory.

20. The external defibrillator of claim 19 wherein from 2 to 6 languages have been loaded into the memory.

21. The external defibrillator of claim 20 wherein more than 6 languages have been loaded into memory.

22. The external defibrillator of claim 19 wherein the external defibrillator also has a multiplicity of language specific buttons which enable the user to select a language.

23. The external defibrillator of claim 19 wherein the external defibrillator delivers prompts sequentially in a multiplicity of languages.