Indicating the status of an energy storage device of a medical device

• US 20060079938A1
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Daynes, John C., Fleenor, Susan H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,800 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3708 for power depletion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence

Abstract

The disclosure describes a medical device that provides an indication of the status of an energy storage device from which it receives power. For example, the medical device may provide an estimate of the number of therapy delivery events available from the medical device based on an estimate of the amount of energy stored in the energy storage device. The medical device may be an external defibrillator, and the therapy delivery events may be defibrillation shocks. Additionally or alternatively, the medical device may indicate an estimated amount of operational time remaining in each of a plurality of monitoring modes based on the estimated amount of stored energy. The energy storage device may be a battery. An energy storage device that itself provides an indication of its status is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a value that indicates an estimated number of therapy delivery events available from a medical device;

periodically estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of the medical device; and

periodically updating the stored value based on the estimated amounts of stored energy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises an external defibrillator, and storing a value that indicates an estimated number of therapy delivery events comprises storing a value that indicates an estimated number of defibrillation shocks.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein storing a value that indicates an estimated number of defibrillation shocks comprises storing a plurality of values, each of the values indicating an estimated number of defibrillation shocks available at a respective one of a plurality of energy levels, and

wherein periodically updating the stored value comprises periodically updating each of the stored values based on the estimated amounts of stored energy.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the external defibrillator stores a protocol that defines a progression of defibrillation shock energy levels and a number of defibrillation shocks for at least some of the energy levels, and storing a value that indicates an estimated number of defibrillation shocks available comprises storing a value that indicates an estimated number of defibrillation shocks according to the protocol that are available from the defibrillator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein periodically estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of the medical device comprises periodically estimating a total amount of energy stored by a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein storing a value that indicates an estimated number of therapy delivery events available from a medical device comprises storing a plurality of values, each of the values associated with a respective one of a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device,

wherein periodically estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of the medical device comprises periodically estimating an amount of energy stored by each of the plurality of energy storage devices, and

wherein periodically updating the stored value based on the estimated amounts of energy comprises periodically updating each of the stored values based on the estimated amounts of energy stored by the respective one of the energy storage devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the stored value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the stored value comprises substantially continuously displaying the stored value via a display of the medical device when the medical device is operational.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the stored value comprises displaying the stored value via a display of the energy storage device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the stored value comprises:

receiving a command from a user via a user interface of the medical device; and

displaying the stored value via the display of the medical device in response to the command.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein periodically estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device, comprises periodically estimating an amount of energy stored by a battery.

12. A device comprising:

a memory to store a value that indicates an estimated number of therapy delivery events available from a medical device; and

a processor to periodically estimate an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of a medical device, and update the stored value based on the estimated amount of stored energy.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the medical device comprises an external defibrillator, and the value stored by the memory indicates an estimated number of defibrillation shocks available from the external defibrillator.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the memory stores a plurality of values, each of the values indicating an estimated number of defibrillation shocks available at a respective one of a plurality of energy levels, and the processor updates each of the stored values based on the estimated amount of stored energy.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the external defibrillator stores a protocol that defines a progression of defibrillation shock energy levels and a number of defibrillation shocks for at least some of the energy levels, and the value stored by the memory indicates an estimated number of defibrillation shocks according to the protocol that are available from the defibrillator.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the processor periodically estimates a total amount of energy stored by a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, and updates the stored value based on the estimated total amount of stored energy.

17. The device of claim 12,

wherein the memory stores a plurality of values, each of the values associated with a respective one of a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device and indicating an estimated number of therapy delivery events available from the medical device when the medical device is powered by the respective one of the energy storage devices, and

wherein the processor periodically estimates an amount of energy storage by each of a plurality energy storage devices of the medical device, and updates each of the stored values based on the estimated amount of energy stored by the respective one of the energy storage devices.

18. The device of claim 12, further comprising a display, wherein the processor displays the stored value via the display.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein processor displays the stored value substantially continuously via the display when the device is operational.

20. The device of claim 18, further comprising a user interface, wherein the processor receives a command from a user via the user interface, and displays the stored value via the display in response to the command.

21. The device of claim 12, wherein the device comprises the medical device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the medical device comprises an external defibrillator.

23. The device of claim 12, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

24. The device of claim 12, wherein the device comprises the energy storage device.

25. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor to:

periodically estimate an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of a medical device; and

periodically update a value stored in a memory based on the estimated amounts of stored energy, the value indicating an estimated number of therapy delivery events available from the medical device.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the medical device comprises an external defibrillator, and the instructions that cause a programmable processor to periodically update a value that indicates an estimated number of therapy delivery events comprise instructions that cause a programmable processor to periodically update a value that indicates an estimated number of defibrillation shocks available from the external defibrillator.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the memory stores a plurality values, each of the values indicating an estimated number of defibrillation shocks available at a respective one of a plurality of energy levels, and the instructions that cause a programmable processor to periodically update a value comprise instructions that cause a programmable processor to periodically update each of the stored values based on the estimated amounts of stored energy.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the external defibrillator stores a protocol that defines a progression of defibrillation shock energy levels and a number of defibrillation shocks for at least some of the energy levels, and the instructions that cause a programmable processor to periodically update a value comprise instructions that cause a programmable processor to periodically update a value that indicates an estimated number of defibrillation shocks according to the protocol that are available from the defibrillator.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor to periodically estimate a total amount of energy stored by the plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, wherein the instructions that cause a programmable processor to periodically update a value comprise instructions that cause a programmable processor to periodically update the value based on the estimated total amounts of stored energy.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the memory stores a plurality of values, each of the values associated with a respective one of a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device and indicating an estimated number of therapy delivery events available from a medical device when the medical device is powered by the respective one of the energy storage devices, and the computer-readable medium further comprises instructions that cause a programmable processor to:

periodically estimate an amount of energy stored by each of energy storage devices; and

periodically update each of the stored values based on the estimated amounts of energy stored by the respective one of the energy storage devices.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor to display the stored value via a display.

32. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a user;

estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of a medical device in response to the request;

estimating a number of therapy delivery events available from the medical device based on the estimated amount of energy stored by the energy storage device; and

presenting the estimated number of therapy delivery events to the user.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the medical device comprises an external defibrillator, and estimating a number of therapy delivery events comprises estimating a number of defibrillation shocks.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein estimating a number of defibrillation shocks comprises estimating a number of defibrillation shocks available from the external defibrillator at each of a plurality of energy levels.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the external defibrillator stores a protocol that defines a progression of defibrillation shock energy levels and a number of defibrillation shocks for at least some of the energy levels, and estimating a number of defibrillation shocks available comprises estimating a number of defibrillation shocks according to the protocol that are available from the defibrillator.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of a medical device comprises estimating a total amount of energy stored by a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, and estimating a number of therapy delivery events comprises estimating the number of therapy delivery events based on the estimated total amount of stored energy.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of a medical device comprises estimating an amount of energy stored by each of a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, and estimating a number of therapy delivery events comprises, for each of the energy storage devices, estimating a number of therapy delivery events available from the medical device when the medical device is powered by the energy storage device based on the estimated amount of energy stored by the energy storage device.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein receiving a request from a user comprises receiving the request via a user interface of the medical device, and presenting the estimated number of therapy delivery events comprises displaying the estimated number of therapy delivery events via a display of the medical device.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device comprises estimating an amount of energy stored by a battery.

40. A device comprising:

a user interface; and

a processor to receive a request from a user via the user interface, estimate an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of a medical device in response to the request, estimate a number of therapy delivery events available from the medical device based on the estimated amount of stored energy, and present the estimated number of therapy delivery events to the user via the user interface.

41. The device of claim 40,

wherein the medical device comprises an external defibrillator, and

wherein the processor estimates a number of defibrillation shocks available from the external defibrillator based on the estimated amount of energy, and presents the estimated number of defibrillation shocks to the user.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein the processor estimates a number of defibrillation shocks available from the external defibrillator at each of a plurality of energy levels based on the estimated amount of stored energy, and presents the estimated number of defibrillation shocks available at each of the energy levels to the user.

43. The device of claim 41,

wherein the external defibrillator stores a protocol that defines a progression of defibrillation shock energy levels and a number of defibrillation shocks for at least some of the energy levels, and

wherein the processor estimates a number of defibrillation shocks according to the protocol that are available from the defibrillator based on the estimated amount of stored energy, and presents the estimated number of defibrillation shocks according to the protocol to the user.

44. The device of claim 40, wherein the processor estimates a total amount of energy stored by a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, and estimates the number of therapy events based on the estimated total amount of stored energy.

45. The device of claim 40, wherein the processor estimates an amount of energy stored by each of a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, and, for each of the energy storage devices, estimates a number of therapy delivery events available from the medical device when the medical device is powered by the energy storage device based on the estimated amount of energy stored by the energy storage device.

46. The device of claim 40, wherein the device comprises the medical device.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the medical device comprises an external defibrillator.

48. The device of claim 40, wherein the device comprises the energy storage device.

49. The device of claim 40, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

50. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor to:

receive a request from a user;

estimate an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of a medical device in response to the request;

estimate a number of therapy delivery events available from the medical device based on the estimated amount of stored energy; and

present the estimated number of therapy delivery events to the user.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, wherein the medical device comprises an external defibrillator, and the instructions that cause a programmable processor to estimate a number of therapy delivery events comprise instructions that cause a programmable processor to estimate a number of defibrillation shocks available from the external defibrillator based on the estimated amount of stored energy.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein the instructions that cause a programmable processor to estimate a number of defibrillation shocks comprise instructions that cause a programmable processor to estimate a number of defibrillation shocks available from the external defibrillator at each of a plurality of energy levels based on the estimated amount of stored energy.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein the external defibrillator stores a protocol that defines a progression of defibrillation shock energy levels and a number of defibrillation shocks for at least some of the energy levels, and the instructions that cause a programmable processor to estimate a number of defibrillation shocks comprise instructions that cause a programmable processor to estimate a number of defibrillation shocks according to the protocol that are available from the defibrillator based on the estimated amount of stored energy.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, further comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor to estimate a total capacity of a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, wherein the instructions that cause a programmable processor to estimate a number of therapy delivery events comprise instructions that cause a programmable processor to estimate the number of therapy delivery events based on the estimated total amount of stored energy.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 50, further comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor to:

estimate an amount of energy stored by each of a plurality energy storage devices of the medical device;

for each of the energy storage devices, estimate a number of therapy delivery events available from the medical device when the medical device is powered by the energy storage device based on the estimated amount of energy stored by the energy storage device; and

present the estimated number of therapy delivery events for each of the energy storage devices to the user.

56. A method comprising:

estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of a medical device that monitors a patient;

estimating a remaining operational time for the medical device in each of a plurality of monitoring modes based on the estimated amount of stored energy; and

presenting the estimated remaining operational times to a user.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein estimating a remaining operational time for the medical device in each of a plurality of monitoring modes comprises:

estimating a first remaining operational time for the medical device in a first monitoring mode that includes at least one of electrocardiogram monitoring, oxygen saturation monitoring, or temperature monitoring; and

estimating a second remaining operational time for the medical device in a second monitoring mode that includes at least one of non-invasive blood pressure monitoring or partial pressure of carbon dioxide monitoring.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein presenting the remaining operational times to a user comprises displaying the remaining operational times via a display of the medical device.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein estimating an amount of energy stored and a remaining operational time in each of a plurality of monitoring modes comprises periodically estimating the amount of energy stored and the remaining operational time in each of the plurality of operational modes, and displaying the estimated remaining operational times comprises:

displaying the estimated remaining operational times substantially continuously via the display of the medical device when the medical device is operational; and

periodically updating the displayed remaining operational times.

60. The method of claim 56, wherein estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of the medical device comprises estimating a total amount of energy stored by a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, and estimating a remaining operational time for the medical device comprises estimating the remaining operational time for the medical device in each of the monitoring modes based on the estimated total amount of stored energy.

61. The method of claim 56,

wherein estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of the medical device comprises estimating an amount of energy stored by each of a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, and

wherein estimating a remaining operational time for the medical device comprises, for each of the energy storage devices, estimating the remaining operational time for the medical device in each of the monitoring modes when the medical device is powered by the energy storage device based on the estimated capacity of the energy storage device.

62. The method of claim 56, wherein the medical device comprises an external defibrillator.

63. The method of claim 56, wherein estimating an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device comprises estimating an amount of energy stored by a battery.

64. A device comprising:

a user interface; and

a processor to estimate an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of a medical device, estimate a remaining operational time for the medical device in each of a plurality of monitoring modes based on the estimated amount of stored energy, and present the estimated remaining operational times to a user.

65. The device of claim 64, wherein the processor estimates a first remaining operational time for the medical device in a first monitoring mode that includes at least one of electrocardiogram monitoring, oxygen saturation monitoring, or temperature monitoring, and estimates a second remaining operational time for the medical device in a second monitoring mode that includes at least one of non-invasive blood pressure monitoring or partial pressure of carbon dioxide monitoring.

66. The device of claim 64, further comprising a display, wherein the processor displays the estimated remaining operational times to a user via the display.

67. The device of claim 66, wherein the processor periodically estimates the amount of energy stored by the energy storage device and the remaining operational time in each of the plurality of operational modes, displays the estimated remaining operational times substantially continuously via the display when the device is operational, and periodically updates the displayed remaining operational times.

68. The device of claim 64, wherein the processor estimates a total capacity of a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, and estimates the remaining operational time for the medical device in each of the monitoring modes based on the estimated total amount of stored energy.

69. The device of claim 64, wherein the processor estimates an amount of energy stored by each of a plurality of energy storage devices of the medical device, and, for each of the energy storage devices, estimates the remaining operational time for the medical device in each of the monitoring modes when the medical device is powered by the energy storage device based on the estimated amount of energy stored by the energy storage device.

70. The device of claim 64, wherein the device comprises the medical device.

71. The device of claim 70, wherein the medical device comprises an external defibrillator.

72. The device of claim 64, wherein the device comprises the energy storage device.

73. The device of claim 64, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

74. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a programmable processor to:

estimate an amount of energy stored by an energy storage device of a medical device;

estimate a remaining operational time for the medical device in each of a plurality of monitoring modes based on the estimated amount of stored energy; and

present the estimated remaining operational times to a user.

75. The computer-readable medium of claim 74, wherein the instructions that cause a programmable processor to determine a remaining operational time in each of a plurality of monitoring modes comprise instructions that cause a programmable processor to:

estimate a first remaining operational time for the medical device in a first monitoring mode that includes at least one of electrocardiogram monitoring, oxygen saturation monitoring, or temperature monitoring; and

estimate a second remaining operational time for the medical device in a second monitoring mode that includes at least one of non-invasive blood pressure monitoring or partial pressure of carbon dioxide monitoring.