Interactive automatic external defibrillator providing attachment guidance to operator

• US 20060116723A1
• Filed: 10/13/2003
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Froman, James Adkins, Denney, Douglas Michael, Hansen, Kim, Lyster, Thomas D, Fischer, Kurt V
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,008 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 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting

Abstract

A method for operating an automatic external defibrillator (AED) prompts an operator about proper operation of the automatic external defibrillator and placement of the electrodes to ensure rapid and proper operation. Depending upon a state of a pad storage compartment, upon activation the AED issues an initial prompt, pauses after the initial prompt and then issues a second prompt. The AED also determines whether the pads have been removed from a liner and if so, issues a pad application prompt. The AED next determines whether both pads have been placed and if so, analyzes an impedance signal and if the impedance signal is erratic, issues a pad correction prompt. The AED also issues the pad correction prompt if the pads are removed from the liner but never go on the patient.

Claims

1. An automatic external defibrillator, comprising:

a plurality of pads;

a memory;

a display; and

a processor coupled to the memory,_[KH4]

wherein the processor is arranged to execute commands stored in the memory to prompt an operator to view a pad placement picture on the display when the plurality of pads are being handled and to prompt the operator to place the plurality of pads in accordance with the pad placement picture when the plurality of pads have been removed from a liner.

2. The defibrillator according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to analyze an impedance signal after the plurality of pads have been placed.

3. The defibrillator according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to issue a pad correction prompt when an impedance signal is erratic.

4. The defibrillator according to claim 3, wherein the pad correction prompt includes one or more of the following instructions:

an instruction to firmly press the pads to bare skin, an instruction to ensure that the plastic liner has been removed, an instruction to place the pad in accordance with the pad placement picture and an instruction that the pads must not touch each other or clothing.

5. The defibrillator according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to repeat one or more initial prompts until the plurality of pads are handled.

6. The defibrillator according to claim 1, depending upon a state of a pad storage compartment, the processor is further arranged to repeat one or more initial prompts until a pre-determined amount of time has elapsed.

7. The defibrillator according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to repeat the picture prompt until the plurality of pads have been removed from the liner.

8. The defibrillator according to claim 1 wherein the processor is further arranged to repeat a pad application prompt until determining that the plurality of pads have been placed.

9. The defibrillator according to claim 3, wherein the processor is further arranged to issue the pad correction prompt until the impedance signal is no longer erratic.

10. The defibrillator according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further arranged to prompt, upon activation, an operator to remove all clothing from a patient'"'"'s chest.

11. The defibrillator according to claim 10 wherein the processor is further arranged to prompt, upon activation, an operator to cut clothing from the patient'"'"'s chest if necessary.

12. The defibrillator according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further arranged to prompt an operator to remove a protective cover and to take out adhesive pads once the patient'"'"'s chest is bare.