External Defibrillator With Power and Battery Sharing Capabilities With a Pod

• US 20080183229A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Neumiller, James, Nordness, Rockland, Daynes, John, McGrath, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,038 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 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence

Abstract

A modular external defibrillator system in embodiments of the teachings may include one or more of the following features: (a) a base containing a defibrillator module to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient, (b) a patient parameter monitoring pod connectable to a patient via patient lead cables to collect patient data, the patient data including at least one patient vital sign, (c) a power supply sharing link between the base and the pod, the pod receiving power from the base via the power sharing link, the pod being operable to collect patient data without receiving power from the base, and (d) an external battery charger, the battery charger interrogating the batteries to determine battery information used for battery charging, the battery information including at least one of charging voltage, charging current, and charge time.

Claims

1. A modular external defibrillator system, comprising:

a base containing a defibrillator module to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient;

a patient parameter monitoring pod connectable to a patient via patient lead cables to collect patient data, the patient data including at least one patient vital sign; and

a power supply sharing link between the base and the pod, the pod receiving power from the base via the power sharing link, the pod being operable to collect patient data without receiving power from the base.

2. The defibrillator system of claim 1, wherein the base provides power to the pod to charge a battery in the pod.

3. The defibrillator system of claim 2, wherein the base selectively charges the pod battery based on whether the battery is in a low charge condition.

4. The defibrillator system of claim 2, wherein the base includes a power module, the power module interrogating the pod battery to receive battery information for charging the battery.

5. The defibrillator system of claim 2, wherein the base charges the pod battery when the base is connected to an external power source.

6. The defibrillator system of claim 2, wherein the base charges the pod battery using a battery contained in the base.

7. The defibrillator system of claim 1, wherein the base provides power to the pod to power the patient data collection of the pod.

8. The defibrillator system of claim 7, wherein the base includes a power module, and the base selectively powers the pod when a battery contained in the pod is sensed by the power module as being in a low charge condition.

9. The defibrillator system of claim 7, wherein the base powers the pod when the base is connected to an external power source.

10. The defibrillator system of claim 7, wherein the base powers the pod using a battery contained in the base.

11. The defibrillator system of claim 1, wherein the base can draw power from the pod to operate its defibrillation and monitoring functions.

12. The defibrillator system of claim 7, wherein the base includes a power module, and the base selectively draws power from the pod when the batteries contained in the base are sensed by the power module as being in a low charge condition and the battery in the pod is not in a low charge condition.

13. The defibrillator system of claim 7, wherein the base draws power from the pod using a battery contained in the pod.

14. The defibrillator system of claim 1, wherein the pod and base contain batteries.

15. The defibrillator system of claim 14, wherein the batteries are smart batteries, the smart batteries providing battery status information including at least one of battery charge status and battery usage.

16. The defibrillator system of claim 14, wherein the batteries are interchangeable between the base and the pod.

17. The defibrillator system of claim 14, wherein the base includes a power module, the power module controlling the charging of the batteries.

18. The defibrillator system of claim 17, wherein the power module charges batteries in the base before charging any battery in the pod.

19. The defibrillator system of claim 17, wherein the power module charges any battery in the pod when the power modules senses such pod battery is in a lower power condition.

20. The defibrillator system of claim 17, wherein the power module interrogates the batteries to determine the charge condition of the batteries.

21. The defibrillator system of claim 13, further including an external battery charger, the battery charger interrogating the batteries to determine battery information used for battery charging, the battery information including at least one of charging voltage, charging current, and charge time.

22. A modular external defibrillator system, comprising:

a base containing a defibrillator module to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient;

a patient parameter monitoring pod connectable to a patient via patient lead cables to collect patient data, the patient data including at least one patient vital sign; and

a power communications link between the base and the pod, the pod receiving power-on command signaling from the base via the power communications link, the pod being operable to power-on to a condition where the pod may collect patient data after receiving the power-on command signaling, the pod being operable to power-on without receiving the power-on command signaling.

23. The modular external defibrillator system of claim 22, wherein the power communications link is a wired connection between the pod and the base.

24. The modular external defibrillator system of claim 23, wherein the power-on command signaling is provided via the presence of a power supply over the power communications link.

25. The modular external defibrillator system of claim 22, wherein the power communications link is a wireless connection between the pod and the base.

26. The modular external defibrillator system of claim 22, wherein the pod is operable to return to a power off condition after receiving a signal over the power communications link.

27. The modular external defibrillator system of claim 22, wherein the pod is operable to return to a power off condition after receiving no signal from the base for a predetermined amount of time.

28. A modular external defibrillator system, comprising:

a base containing a defibrillator module to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient;

a patient parameter monitoring pod connectable to a patient via patient lead cables to collect patient data, the patient data including at least one patient vital sign, the pod containing a battery operable to supply power for pod operation; and

a battery power communications link between the base and the pod, the battery power communications link transferring pod battery information, the battery information including at least one of battery usage, battery charge status, battery charging information.

29. The modular defibrillator system of claim 28, wherein the battery charging information is used for charging the pod battery and includes at least one of charging voltage, charging current, and charge time.

30. The modular defibrillator system of claim 28, wherein the base includes a display that displays the pod battery information transferred to the base from the pod.

31. The modular defibrillator system of claim 28, wherein at least one of the pod and the base provides an alarm when the pod battery charge status indicates a lower power condition.