Wearable medical treatment device with motion/position detection

• US 20080312709A1
• Filed: 12/17/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaib, Thomas E., Linder, Marshal, Braden, Wade, Volpe, Shane S., Macho, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,974,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/372 Analysis of electroencephalograms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39 Heart defibrillators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3987 characterised by the timing or triggering of the shock

Abstract

A wearable defibrillator consists of a vest (or belt) which is worn by the patient. The device monitors the patient'"'"'s ECG with sensing electrodes and can monitor other patient conditions and in appropriate cases can treat certain conditions. An accelerometer(s) in the wearable defibrillator can allow for the device to determine the position, movements, forces applied to the patient, and/or the device. The device can use a least one patient motion detector generating a signal indicative of patient activity. Analysis of the signal can be indicative of patient activity appropriate for treatment or indication of device condition.

Claims

1. A patient wearable treatment device comprising:

treatment elements adjacent said patient in proximity to said patient'"'"'s skin;

at least one patient motion detector connected to the device and generating a signal indicative of patient activity; and

at least one control to evaluate signals from said motion detector to determine if said signal is indicative of patient activity appropriate for treatment.

2. The treatment device of claim 1, wherein said motion detector includes at least one accelerometer.

3. The treatment device of claim 2, wherein said at least one accelerometer includes at least one multi-axis accelerometer.

4. The treatment device of claim 3, wherein said at least one accelerometer includes at least two three-axis accelerometers;

one of said accelerometers mounted on a patient vest portion; and

another of said accelerometers is mounted on a display portion.

5. The treatment device of claim 4, further including a visual display on said display portion and the orientation of said visual display is controlled by the output of said accelerometer.

6. The treatment device of claim 2, wherein the body orientation of the patient is determined by the output of said at least one accelerometer.

7. The treatment device of claim 6, wherein said patient orientation includes a vertical standing orientation and a prone reclining orientation.

8. The treatment device of claim 1, further comprising a treatment algorithm;

and

a treatment from said algorithm is accelerated or delayed based upon the output of said motion detector.

9. The treatment device of claim 2, further comprising storage of the output of said accelerometer;

and detecting a patient condition based upon the level of activity of a patient over a period of time based upon said stored output of said accelerometer.

10. The treatment device of claim 9, further comprising said condition including congestive heart failure.

11. The treatment device of claim 9, further comprising said condition including sleep disorder.

12. The treatment device of claim 8, further comprising a patient response sensor which can delay treatment when operated by said patient;

a stimulator alarm providing patient stimulus after a cardiac condition is sensed; and

said treatment algorithm initiates treatment when the output of said motion detector indicates a lack of patient activity and no input is received from said patient response sensor.

13. The treatment device of claim 2, further comprising storage of the output of said accelerometer;

and indicating a patient condition based upon sensed activity level and body position of said patient.

14. A method of cardiac treatment of a patient including:

sensing a cardiac condition;

treating a cardiac condition with treatment electrodes worn by said patient on a vest adjacent said patient;

sensing patient motion with sensors worn by said patient; and

evaluating said sensed patient activity to determine treatment is appropriate to said cardiac condition.

15. The method of claim 14, further including:

evaluating the output of said motion sensors to determine a patient activity and a patient body orientation.

16. The method of claim 14, further including sensing the accelerating motion of said patient.

17. The method of claim 15, further including sensing patient acceleration in multiple axes and at least two positions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said two positions includes a vertical position and a prone position.

19. The method of claim 17, further including displaying patient information and orienting the visual display dependent upon patient body orientation.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining patient body position from said motion detection.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising hastening the occurrence of or delaying treatment based upon detected patient activity.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing patient stimulus upon a sensed cardiac condition;

treating said condition while sensing patient activity if the patient fails to respond timely to said patient stimulator.