Testing of Defibrillator Electrodes

• US 20120299607A1
• Filed: 05/25/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Limited (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Heartsine Technologies Limited (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: McIntyre, Allister Robert, Anderson, Johnny Houston
• Granted Patent: US 9,278,228 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/750.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3931 Protecting, e.g. back-up systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for testing defibrillator electrode conductivity. Connection for electrically connecting electrodes and defibrillation signal generator connected to the electrodes. Patient impedance measurement system comprising patient signal generator and patient signal receiver. A defibrillator controller connected to defibrillation signal generator and patient impedance measurement system. An electrode test system with control signal device connected to the patient signal receiver which generates at least one control signal causing the patient signal receiver to change from a patient signal receive state to an electrode test signal receive state, a test commence signal device connected to the patient signal generator which generates at least one test commence signal causing the patient signal generator to send a test signal to the electrodes and an electrode test signal device connected to the patient signal receiver which receives an electrode test signal and processes the signal to determine a test result.

Claims

1. A defibrillator comprising

electrodes,

a connection for electrically connecting the electrodes together during a test,

a defibrillation signal generator, connected to the electrodes,

a patient impedance measurement system, connected to the electrodes, comprising a patient signal generator and a patient signal receiver,

a defibrillator controller connected to the defibrillation signal generator and the patient impedance measurement system, and

an electrode test system, comprising

a control signal device, connected to the patient signal receiver, which generates at least one control signal which causes the patient signal receiver to change from a patient signal receive state to an electrode test signal receive state,

a test commence signal device, connected to the patient signal generator, which generates at least one test commence signal which causes the patient signal generator to send a test signal to the electrodes, and

an electrode test signal device, connected to the patient signal receiver, which receives an electrode test signal and processes the signal to determine a pass test result or a fail test result for the electrodes.

2. A defibrillator according to claim 1 in which the control signal device generates a control signal which causes the patient signal receiver to modify one or more characteristics thereof to change from a patient signal receive state to an electrode test signal receive state.

3. A defibrillator according to claim 2 in which the control signal device generates a control signal which causes the patient signal receiver to modify a gain characteristic thereof.

4. A defibrillator according to claim 3 in which the patient signal receiver comprises a voltage-controlled amplifier, and the control signal device generates a control signal comprising a voltage signal which causes the amplifier to modify a gain characteristic thereof.

5. A defibrillator according to claim 3 in which the patient signal receiver comprises a resistance-controlled amplifier, connected to a switch, and the control signal device generates a control signal comprising a logic signal sent to the switch which causes the amplifier to modify a gain characteristic thereof.

6. A defibrillator according to claim 1 in which the control signal device comprises control signal software which operates with a signal generator of the defibrillator to generate the at least one control signal.

7. A defibrillator according to claim 1 in which the control signal device comprises control signal software and a control signal generator, and the control signal software operates with the control signal generator to generate the at least one control signal.

8. A defibrillator according to claim 1 in which the test commence signal device comprises test commence signal software which operates with a signal generator of the defibrillator to generate the at least one test commence signal.

9. A defibrillator according to claim 1 in which the test commence signal device comprises test commence signal software and a test commence signal generator, and the test commence signal software operates with the test commence signal generator to generate the at least one test commence signal.

10. A defibrillator according to claim 1 in which the electrode test signal device comprises electrode test signal software which operates with a signal receiver of the defibrillator to receive the electrode test signal.

11. A defibrillator according to claim 1 in which the electrode test signal device comprises electrode test signal software and an electrode test signal receiver, and the electrode test signal software operates with the electrode test signal receiver to receive the electrode test signal.

12. A defibrillator according to claim 1 in which the test commence signal generator generates a test commence signal which causes the patient signal generator to send a test signal to the electrodes having the same characteristics as a signal sent to the electrodes to measure the impedance of a patient.

13. A method of testing electrical conductivity of electrodes of a defibrillator comprising

connecting the electrodes together during a test,

generating at least one control signal which causes a patient signal receiver of a patient impedance measurement system of the defibrillator to change from a patient signal receive state to an electrode test signal receive state,

generating at least one test commence signal which causes a patient signal generator of the patient impedance measurement system to send a test signal to the electrodes, and

receiving an electrode test signal from the patient signal receiver and processing the signal to determine a pass test result or a fail test result for the electrodes.