External Defibrillators,Transcutaneous Electrodes for Same, and Methods of Use

• US 20080221631A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conduct Prosecution
• Inventors: Dupelle, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,573 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 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence

Abstract

An external defibrillator is provided including (a) a pair of disposable electrodes configured to be adhered to the skin of a patient, each electrode including an electrically conductive layer comprising a metal that is polarized during a defibrillating pulse, and (b) a control unit configured to deliver a defibrillating pulse to the patient through the electrodes. The waveform is configured to substantially depolarize the metal, and may be, for example, a biphasic waveform. Method of defibrillation and defibrillation electrodes are also provided.

Claims

1. An external defibrillator comprising:

a pair of flexible electrodes configured to be adhesively secured to the skin of a patient, each electrode including an electrically conductive layer comprising a metal that polarizes during a defibrillating pulse; and

a control unit configured to deliver a defibrillating pulse to the patient through the electrodes, the defibrillating pulse comprising a waveform configured to substantially depolarize the metal.

2. The defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the conductive layer comprises stainless steel.

3. The defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are configured to monitor electrical signals from the patient'"'"'s body.

4. The defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the electrodes comprise a disposable coupling portion and a reusable portion including the electrically conductive metal layer.

5. The defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the waveform comprises a biphasic waveform.

6. The defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the waveform is configured to depolarize the electrically conductive metal layer within 6 seconds of delivery of the pulse to the patient.

7. The defibrillator of claim 3 wherein the control unit is configured to generate an ECG from the electrical signals.

23. The defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the conductive layer comprises copper or aluminum.

8. A method of treating a patient with a defibrillating pulse, the method comprising:

applying to the skin of the patient a pair of flexible electrodes, each electrode being configured to be adhesively secured to the skin of the patient, and each electrode including an electrically conductive layer that comprises a metal that polarizes during a defibrillating pulse; and

using an external defibrillator to deliver to the patient, through the electrodes, a defibrillating pulse comprising a waveform that substantially depolarizes the metal.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising monitoring electrical signals from the patient'"'"'s body, using the same electrodes.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the conductive layer comprises stainless steel.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the electrodes comprise a disposable coupling portion and a reusable portion including the electrically conductive metal layer, and the method further comprises discarding the disposable coupling portion and replacing it with a second, unused disposable coupling portion.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the waveform comprises a biphasic waveform.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring the waveform to substantially depolarize the electrode within 6 seconds of delivery of the pulse.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising using the electrical signals to generate an ECG.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising deciding, based on the ECG, whether to deliver a further defibrillating pulse to the patient.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the ECG is generated within 6 seconds of delivery of the pulse to the patient.

24. The defibrillator of claim 8 wherein the conductive layer comprises copper or aluminum.

17. A medical electrode comprising:

a flexible electrode body, including a protective backing sheet, a coupling layer, and an adhesive portion configured to adhere the electrode to a patient'"'"'s skin;

within the electrode body, an electrically conductive layer comprising a metal that polarizes during a defibrillating pulse; and

a cable configured to provide electrical communication between the electrode body and an external defibrillator;

wherein the electrode is configured to be used as a “

hands-free”

electrode and to deliver a defibrillating pulse to the patient.

18. The medical electrode of claim 17, wherein the electrode is further configured to monitor electrical signals from the patient'"'"'s body.

19. The medical electrode of claim 17 wherein the metal comprises stainless steel.

20. The medical electrode of claim 17 wherein the electrode body comprises a disposable coupling assembly and a reusable portion that includes the electrically conductive layer.

25. The defibrillator of claim 17 wherein the conductive layer comprises copper or aluminum.

21. An external defibrillator comprising:

a pair of flexible electrodes configured to be adhesively secured to the skin of the patient for hands-free use, each of the electrodes including (a) a disposable portion including a coupling layer comprising an electrically conductive gel, the disposable portion being configured to be adhered to the skin of a patient, and (b) a reusable portion including an electrically conductive non-rigid metal layer; and

a control unit configured to deliver a defibrillating pulse to the patient through the electrodes.

22. The external defibrillator of claim 21 wherein the metal layer comprises stainless steel.

26. The defibrillator of claim 21 wherein the conductive layer comprises copper or aluminum.