SYSTEMS FOR HYDRATING DEFIBRILLATION ELECTRODES

• US 20140088657A1
• Filed: 09/27/2012
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Garstka, Erick, Copp-Howland, Warren W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,072,885 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 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an automated external defibrillator is configured to deliver one or both of electrical pulses and shocks to a heart of a patient during a cardiac emergency. The defibrillator includes a defibrillator electrode delivery system and a hydrating system. The defibrillator electrode delivery system includes a pair of defibrillation electrode pads. Each pad supports a hydrogel to facilitate the deliverance of one or both of electrical pulses and shocks to a patient. The hydrating system includes a fluid container that maintains a fluid that hydrates the hydrogel over a predetermined time period to prolong the effectiveness of the hydrogel.

Claims

1. An automated external defibrillator configured to deliver electrical pulses and/or shocks to a heart of a patient during a cardiac emergency, the defibrillator comprising:

a housing;

a hydrating system including a fluid container, the fluid container supported by the housing; and

a pair of defibrillation electrode pads supported by the hydrating system, each defibrillation electrode pad supporting a hydrogel,

wherein the fluid container maintains a fluid to hydrate the hydrogel.

2. The defibrillator according to claim 1, wherein the hydrating system includes a mesh supported on the fluid container.

3. The defibrillator according to claim 2, wherein the mesh defines a plurality of micro pores.

4. The defibrillator according to claim 2, wherein the pair of defibrillation electrode pads are supported on the mesh.

5. The defibrillator according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is water.

8. The defibrillator according to claim 1, wherein the hydrating system includes a sprayer configured to spray at least one of the defibrillation electrode pads with the fluid.

9. The defibrillator according to claim 8, wherein the sprayer is configured to Periodically spray at least one of the defibrillation electrode pads with the fluid.

10. The defibrillator according to claim 1, wherein the hydrating system includes a plurality of sprayers, each sprayer configured to spray at least one of the defibrillation electrode pads with the fluid.

11. The defibrillator according to claim 1, further comprising a controller supported by the housing and being operatively coupled to the hydrating system.

6. The defibrillator according to claim, wherein the housing includes an energy source, each defibrillation electrode pad being electrically coupled to the energy source to selectively enable the deliverance of electrical pulses and/or shocks to a patient.

7. The defibrillator according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the defibrillation electrode pads are fixedly electrically coupled to the energy source.

23. The defibrillator according to claim 6, wherein the housing further supports an electrical connector, a battery, and a high voltage circuitry, and wherein each defibrillation electrode pad is pre-connected to the electrical connector of the housing so that each defibrillation electrode pad is in electrical communication with the battery and the high voltage circuitry.

12. An automated external defibrillator configured to deliver electrical pulses and/or shocks to a heart of a patient during a cardiac emergency, the defibrillator comprising:

a housing supporting an electrical connector, a battery, and high voltage circuitry;

a hydrating system including a fluid container, the hydrating system supported by the housing; and

a pair of defibrillation electrode pads supported on the hydrating system, each defibrillation electrode pad supporting a hydrogel and being pre-connected to the electrical connector of the housing so that each defibrillation electrode pad is in electrical communication with the battery and the high voltage circuitry,

wherein the fluid container maintains a fluid that hydrates the hydrogel to prolong the effectiveness of the hydrogel.

13. The defibrillator according to claim 12, wherein the hydrating system includes a mesh supported on the fluid container.

14. The defibrillator according to claim 13, wherein the pair of defibrillation electrode pads are supported on the mesh.

15. The defibrillator according to claim 12, wherein the housing includes the fluid container, and wherein a mesh is supported on the housing, the mesh being in fluid communication with the fluid container.

16. The defibrillator according to claim 15, wherein the pair of defibrillation electrode pads are supported on the mesh.

17. The defibrillator according to claim 12, wherein the fluid is water.

18. The defibrillator according to claim 12, wherein the hydrating system includes a sprayer configured to spray at least one of the defibrillation electrode pads with the fluid.

19. The defibrillator according to claim 18, wherein the sprayer is configured to periodically spray at least one of the defibrillation electrode pads with the fluid.

20. The defibrillator according to claim 12, wherein the hydrating system includes a plurality of sprayers, each sprayer configured to spray at least one of the defibrillation electrode pads with the fluid.

21. The defibrillator according to claim 12, further comprising a controller supported by the housing and being operatively coupled to the hydrating system.

22. A method of preserving a defibrillation electrode pad of an automated external defibrillator, comprising:

providing an automated external defibrillator including a defibrillation pad and a hydrating system, the defibrillation pad supporting a hydrogel; and

hydrating the hydrogel of the defibrillation pad with the hydrating system of the automated external defibrillator while storing the automated external defibrillator.