MEDICAL EQUIPMENT ELECTRODES

• US 20130060315A1
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Elghazzawi, Ziad F., Freeman, Gary A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,180,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/361 Detecting fibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/684 Indicating the position of the sensor on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39044 in combination with cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

Cardiac electrodes and techniques for testing application of the electrodes to a victim are described herein.

Claims

1. An electrode comprising:

a camera included in the electrode configured to generate image information related to the position of the electrode relative to an subject'"'"'s chest.

2. The electrode of claim 1, further comprising one or more indicators configured to provide information indicative of whether the electrode is adequately positioned for affixing to the subject'"'"'s chest based on the image information related to the position of the electrode.

3. The electrode of claim 2, wherein the one or more indicators comprise one or more light emitting diodes configured to provide information indicative of correct positioning of the electrode.

4. The electrode of claim 2, wherein the one or more indicators comprises a display configured to provide information indicative of correct positioning of the electrode.

6. The electrode of claim 2, wherein the one or more indicators comprise:

a first light emitting diode configured to provide information indicating the electrode should be moved toward the subject'"'"'s head;

a second light emitting diode configured to provide information indicating the electrode should be moved toward the subject'"'"'s feet;

a third light emitting diode configured to provide information indicating the electrode should be moved to the left; and

a fourth light emitting diode configured to provide information indicating the electrode should be moved to the right.

9. The electrode of claim 2, further comprising:

a first electrically conductive element of the electrode configured to accept an electrical defibrillation pulse from the defibrillation device and spread the electrical pulse across the electrically conductive element;

a second electrically conductive element of the electrode that is separate from the first electrically conductive element and configured to provide an electrical contact to the subject'"'"'s chest;

a first electrical lead of the electrode connected to the first electrically conductive element of the electrode; and

a second electrical lead of the electrode connected to the second electrically conductive element of the electrode, the first and second electrical leads of the electrode providing an output from which information indicative of whether the electrode is affixed to the subject'"'"'s chest can be obtained.

5. (canceled)

7-8. -8. (canceled)

10-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method, comprising:

receiving image information from a camera in an electrode;

determining information about a position of the electrode based on the image information; and

providing an indication relating to positioning of the electrode.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining information about the positioning of the electrode comprises determining an x-translation and a y-translation from a desired position.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein determining information about the position of the electrode comprises determining whether the electrode is adequately positioned for application to the victim'"'"'s chest.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein providing feedback to the rescuer about the position of the electrode comprises sending a signal to cause one or more light emitting diodes on the electrode to be illuminated.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein providing feedback to the rescuer about the position of the electrode comprises sending a signal to cause a display device to display information associated with the position.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein providing feedback to the rescuer about the position of the electrode comprises generating an audio output.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining an impedance between a first electrically conductive element and a second electrically conductive element of a first electrode; and

comparing, by a computing device, the impedance to a threshold to determine whether the first electrode is affixed to a subject'"'"'s chest.

33. The device of claim 19, wherein the electronic interface is configured to provide feedback to the rescuer by sending signals to a display device to cause the display device to indicate a direction in which the electrode should be moved.

21-22. -22. (canceled)

27-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A device comprising:

an electronic interface arranged to;

receive image information from a camera in an electrode, the image information providing information from which information about the position of the electrode relative to an subject'"'"'s chest can be obtained; and

provide feedback to a rescuer about the positioning of the electrode based on the received image information.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein the electronic interface is configured to provide feedback to the rescuer by sending a signal to an indicator in the electrode to cause the indicator to be illuminated when the electrode is adequately positioned for application to the victim'"'"'s chest.

32. The device of claim 29, wherein the electronic interface is configured to provide feedback to the rescuer by sending signals to one or more indicators in the electrode to cause the indicators to be illuminated to indicate a direction in which the electrode should be moved.

37. The device of claim 29, further comprising a processor configured to determine information about the positioning of the electrode by determining an x-translation and a y-translation from a desired position.

30. (canceled)

34-36. -36. (canceled)

38-41. -41. (canceled)

43. A device, comprising

a first therapy electrode for use with a defibrillation device comprising:

a first conductive element of the first therapy electrode configured to accept an electrical defibrillation pulse from the defibrillation device and spread the electrical pulse across the conductive element;

a second conductive element of the first therapy electrode that is separate from the first conductive element and configured to provide an electrical contact to the patient'"'"'s chest;

a first electrical lead of the first therapy electrode connected to the first conductive element of the first therapy electrode; and

a second electrical lead of the first therapy electrode connected to the second conductive element of the first therapy electrode, the first and second electrical leads of the first therapy electrode providing an output from which information indicative of whether the first therapy electrode is affixed to the patient'"'"'s chest can be obtained.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the information indicative of whether the first therapy electrode is affixed to the patient'"'"'s chest comprises an impedance measurement.

45. The device of claim 43, wherein the information indicative of whether the first therapy electrode is affixed to the patient'"'"'s chest comprises a resistance measurement.

46. The device of claim 43, further comprising:

a second therapy electrode comprising;

a first conductive element of the second therapy electrode configured to accept an electrical defibrillation pulse and spread the electrical pulse across the conductive element, from which it is delivered to the patient'"'"'s chest;

a second conductive element of the second therapy electrode that is separate from the first conductive element and configured to provide an electrical contact to the patient'"'"'s chest;

a first electrical lead of the second therapy electrode connected to the first conductive element of the second therapy electrode; and

a second electrical lead of the second therapy electrode connected to the second conductive element of the second therapy electrode, the first and second electrical leads of the first therapy electrode providing an output from which information indicative of whether the first therapy electrode is affixed to the patient'"'"'s chest can be, obtained.

47-64. -64. (canceled)