METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SWITCHING SHOCK VECTORS AND DECREASING TRANSTHORACIC IMPEDANCE FOR CARDIOVERSION AND DEFIBRILLATION

• US 20140163663A1
• Filed: 12/11/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nexus Control Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nexus Control Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Subramanian, Sandya, Cohen, Todd J., Poddar, Piyush, Chang, Aaron Jiunhao, Chen, Melinda, Malamas, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,320,884 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3918 characterised by shock pathway, e.g. by electrode configuration

Abstract

A method and system for improving the effectiveness of cardioversion or defibrillation through the ability to switch shock vectors and to reduce transthoracic impedance. A “shock vector” or “shocking vector” is herein defined as the path and direction which electrical current follows in traversing a patient body cavity between two external adhesive electrode patches. An external multiple patch system comprises at least two options for a shocking vector once external patches are applied and adhered to desired locations on a patient'"'"'s body. A manual switching mechanism in the system provides the ability to direct current from a defibrillator to either of two or more specified shocking vectors. A method and system of decreasing transthoracic impedance comprises wrapping material around a patient'"'"'s body to apply pressure to adhered patches. This mechanism further reduces transthoracic impedance by increasing effective pressure on the patches through use of pressure-focusing mechanisms located between a patch and a strap. An integrated mechanism would provide qualitative and/or quantitative feedback on the force being applied to the desired patches.

Claims

1. A device for performing cardioversion or defibrillation, which comprises:

three or more adhesive electrode patches for external application;

a switching mechanism in electrical connection with each adhesive electrode patch; and

a cardioversion/defibrillator connector in electrical connection with the switching mechanism,

wherein the switching mechanism has a switch to choose between at least two patches at a time.

2. The device of claim 1, which comprises one or more straps capable of being adapted to increase pressure on one or more of the patches during use.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the strap is a strip of material with belt-like properties and/or elastic characteristics which wraps around a patient and/or hospital bed and/or table and has a connection mechanism with male and female connection components attached to either of two ends of said strip of material.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein a tightening mechanism allows the application of eighteen or more pounds of force onto the adhesive electrode patches in a constant or transient manner.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein a pressure-focusing component is attached to the strap and is positioned between at least one patch and the strap.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein there are three pressure-focusing components.

7. A system for performing cardioversion or defibrillation, which comprises:

three or more adhesive electrode patches;

a switching mechanism in electrical connection with each adhesive electrode patch;

a cardioversion/defibrillator connector in electrical connection with the switching mechanism; and

a cardiovertor or defibrillator,

wherein the switching mechanism has a switch to choose between at least two patches at a time.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the switching mechanism is capable of and approved to handle common defibrillator voltage and current standards.

9. In a method of performing cardioversion or defibrillation on a patient wherein adhesive electrode pads are applied to the patient'"'"'s chest and/or back and/or side and electrical shocks are applied to the patient through the adhesive electrode pads, the improvement wherein there are at least three adhesive electrode patches and a switching mechanism can be used to direct current to at least two desired patches at a time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the switching mechanism allows alternating the path of the cardioverter or defibrillator electrical current, through manual manipulation of switch user interface, between at least three external adhesive electrode patches, without need to lift electrodes from a patient'"'"'s skin.

11. A system for decreasing transthoracic impedance comprising:

a strip of material with belt-like properties and/or elastic characteristics or any combination thereof which wraps around patient and/or hospital bed and/or table and a contiguous connection on said strip of material and/or a connection mechanism on said strip of material with male and female connection components attached to either of two ends of said strip of material;

a tightening mechanism which allows the customized application of eighteen or more pounds of force onto foe desired adhesive electrode patches in a constant or transient manner.

a plurality of pressure-focusing mechanisms wherein said mechanisms embody fitted blocks of material and/or blocks of material capable of extending force against a desired patch and said strip of material with various adjustable screw and/or pneumatic and/or hydraulic mechanisms or any combination thereof, and/or soft or rigid inserts filled with filling material or mechanisms which are positioned over desired electrode patches and under said strip of material; and

a mechanism of accommodating said pressure-focusing mechanisms to said strip of material.

12. The system of claim 11 which may comprise VELCRO inserts and/or physical congruency and/or an alternate mechanical mechanism.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein a mechanism incorporated into the pressure-focusing mechanism provides qualitative and/or quantitative feedback on the pressure being applied on desired electrode patches.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the pressure-focusing mechanisms comprise sand and/or spring mechanisms or any combination thereof