Communication between emergency medical device and safety agency

• US 20040124979A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Kunz, Richard E., Nova, Richard C., Jayne, Cynthia P., Piraino, Daniel W., Medema, Douglas K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]

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.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting an event within an emergency medical device; and

contacting a safety agency in response to the detected event and user authorization.

2. The method of claim 1, in which detecting an event includes detecting removal of the device from a mount.

3. The method of claim 1, in which detecting an event includes detecting opening of a cover associated with the medical device.

4. The method of claim 1, in which detecting an event includes detecting power-up of the medical device.

5. The method of claim 1, in which detecting an event includes detecting an oral command from an operator.

6. The method of claim 1, in which detecting an event includes detecting actuation of an input medium on the medical device.

7. The method of claim 6, in which the input medium is one of a button, a switch, and a dial.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the emergency medical device includes an automated external defibrillator (AED).

9. The method of claim 8, in which detecting an event includes coupling electrodes to the AED.

10. The method of claim 8, in which detecting an event includes attaching electrodes to a body of a patient.

11. The method of claim 8, in which detecting an event includes receiving an advisory decision to shock a patient from the AED.

12. The method of claim 8, in which detecting an event includes delivering a shock to the patient with the AED.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying information to the safety agency.

14. The method of claim 1, in which contacting the safety agency includes opening a voice channel between the device and the safety agency.

15. The method of claim 1, in which contacting the safety agency includes sending an advisory from the device to the safety agency.

16. The method of claim 15, in which the advisory includes a recorded message.

17. The method of claim 15, in which the advisory includes at least one of patient information, therapy information, and location information.

18. The method of claim 1, in which the emergency medical device is one of an external therapeutic emergency medical device and an external diagnostic emergency medical device.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an override command; and

canceling the contact with the safety agency upon receiving the override command.

20. The method of claim 1, in which user authorization includes absence of receipt of an override command by the emergency medical device.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving instructions from a dispatcher of the safety agency; and

conveying the instructions to an operator.

22. The method of claim 20, in which conveying the instructions to the operator includes conveying the instructions to the operator via a speaker.

23. The method of claim 20, in which conveying the instructions to the operator includes conveying the instructions to the operator via a display.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising contacting the safety agency using one of a mobile phone, a wireless local area network (WLAN) card, a infrared (IR) card, a network card, and a modem.

25. An emergency medical device comprising:

a detector that detects an event; and

a communication unit that contacts a safety agency in response to the detected event and user authorization.

26. The device of claim 25, in which the communication unit contacts the safety agency by sending an advisory from the device to the safety agency.

27. The device of claim 25, in which the communication unit contacts the safety agency by opening a voice channel between the device and the safety agency.

28. The device of claim 25, in which the event is removal of the device from a mount.

29. The device of claim 25, in which the event is opening of a cover associated with the device.

30. The device of claim 25, in which the event is power-up of the device.

31. The device of claim 25, in which the event is actuation of an input medium on the device.

32. The device of claim 31, in which the input medium is one of a button, a switch, and a dial.

33. The device of claim 25, further comprising an input medium to initiate the detection.

34. The device of claim 33, in which the input medium is one of a button, a switch, and a dial.

35. The device of claim 25, in which user authorization includes absence of receipt of an override command by the emergency medical device.

36. The device of claim 25, further comprising a memory to store information.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein the information stored in memory includes at least one of location information, patient information, and therapy information.

38. The device of claim 25, further comprising a speaker to convey information to an operator.

39. The device of claim 25, further comprising a display to convey information to an operator.

40. The device of claim 25, further comprising a microphone to input information into the device.

41. The device of claim 25, in which the detector receives an override command, and the device cancels the contact with the safety agency.

42. The device of claim 25, in which the communication unit includes at least one of a mobile phone, a wireless local area network (WLAN) card, a infrared (IR) card, a network card, and a modem.

43. The device of claim 25, in which the device includes an automated external defibrillator (AED).

44. The device of claim 25, in which the device is one of an external therapeutic emergency medical device and an external diagnostic emergency medical device.

45. An emergency medical device comprising:

means for detecting an event within an emergency medical device; and

means for contacting a safety agency in response to the detected event and user authorization.

46. The device of claim 45, in which the means for detecting an event detects removal of the device from a mount.

47. The device of claim 45, in which the means for detecting an event detects opening of a cover associated with the medical device.

48. The device of claim 45, in which the means for detecting an event detects power-up of the medical device.

49. The device of claim 45, in which the means for detecting an event detects an oral command from an operator.

50. The device of claim 45, in which the means for detecting an event detects actuation of an input medium on the medical device.

51. The device of claim 45, in which the input medium is one of a button, a switch, and a dial.

52. The device of claim 45, in which the device includes an automated external defibrillator (AED).

53. The device of claim 45, in which user authorization includes absence of receipt of an override command by the emergency medical device.