Easy-to-use electrode and package

• US 20060206152A1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Emergency Response Systems Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Emergency Response Systems Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Locke, Kelly JoAnn, Bertagnole, Shawn Robert, Covey, Kevin Kelly
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention presents techniques for making the operation of an automated external defibrillator easier to understand for an operator. The automated external defibrillator includes defibrillation electrodes packaged in a sealed, easy-to-open pouch. Visual cues such as instructive pictures show the operator how to open the pouch, retrieve the defibrillation electrodes and correctly position the electrodes on a patient'"'"'s chest.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an external defibrillator;

a hermetically sealed pouch containing an electrode, wherein the electrode is an external defibrillation electrode for placement on a patient'"'"'s skin;

an anchor that fastens the pouch to the external defibrillator; and

a handle that, when pulled, causes the handle to move away from the anchor and tear the pouch to provide access to the electrode contained within the pouch.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the external defibrillator is a defibrillator-monitor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor is substantially cylindrical.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor fastens the pouch to the external defibrillator non-permanently.

5. The device of claim 1, the external defibrillator comprising a mating member that receives the anchor.

6. The device of claim 1, the pouch further comprising:

a notch proximate to the anchor, the anchor on one side of the notch; and

wherein the handle is disposed on another side of the notch such that, when pulled, the handle moves away from the anchor and causes the pouch to tear at the notch.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a lead wire coupled to the electrode; and

a connector coupled to the lead wire.

8. The device of claim 7, the external defibrillator including a receptacle that receives the connector.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a right electrode; and

a left electrode.

10. The device of claim 1, the external defibrillator including a lip that engages the pouch.

11. The device of claim 1, the pouch comprising an instructive picture that illustrates opening the pouch.

12. The device of claim 1, the pouch comprising an instructive picture that illustrates placement of the electrode on a patient.

13. A device comprising a pouch containing a defibrillation electrode, the pouch comprising a ring-shaped handle that when pulled causes the pouch to tear open.

14. The device of claim 13, the pouch further comprising a notch proximate to the handle, the pouch tearing at the notch when the handle is pulled.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the handle is on one side of the notch, the pouch further comprising an anchor on another side of the notch.

16. The device of claim 14, further comprising a tear strip proximate to the notch, wherein causing the pouch to tear open comprises causing the pouch to tear along the tear strip.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the handle is oriented to facilitate pulling in a defined direction.

18. The device of claim 13, the pouch further comprising an instructive picture that illustrates opening the pouch.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the instructive picture includes a symbol representing the handle and wherein the symbol and the handle are of the same color.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the handle includes directional arrows.

21. The device of claim 13, the pouch comprising an instructive picture that illustrates placement of the defibrillation electrode on a patient.

22. The device of claim 13, the pouch containing a second defibrillation electrode, the pouch comprising an instructive picture that illustrates placement of the defibrillation electrodes on a patient.

23. A method comprising:

sealing a defibrillation electrode in a pouch; and

constructing a ring-shaped handle on the pouch that when pulled causes the pouch to tear open.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising forming a notch in the pouch proximate to the handle, the pouch tearing at the notch when the handle is pulled.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein constructing a handle on the pouch comprises constructing a handle on one side of the notch, the method further comprising constructing an anchor on the pouch on another side of the notch.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein constructing a handle on the pouch comprises attaching the handle to the pouch.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising printing an instructive picture on the pouch illustrating opening the pouch with the handle.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising printing an instructive picture on the pouch illustrating placement of the electrode on a human figure.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

coupling a lead wire to the defibrillation electrode; and

passing the lead wire through a sealed entry point in the pouch.

30. A method comprising:

obtaining a pouch containing a defibrillation electrode hermetically sealed within the pouch; and

tearing open the pouch by pulling a ring-shaped handle.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising pulling the handle as shown in an instructive picture.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising removing a liner from the defibrillation electrode.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising placing the defibrillation electrode on the chest of a patient.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising placing the defibrillation electrode on the chest of the patient as shown in an instructive picture.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising placing the defibrillation electrode on the left side of the chest of the patient at an angle as shown in an instructive picture.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising placing the defibrillation electrode on the chest of the patient and orienting the head of a human figure on the defibrillation electrode in the same direction as the head of the patient.