WEARABLE CARDIAC DEFIBRILLATOR SYSTEM CONTROLLING CONDUCTIVE FLUID DEPLOYMENT

• US 20140207201A1
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Piha, Daniel Ralph, Sullivan, Joseph Leo, Banville, Isabelle, Gustavson, Laura Marie, Cowan, Kenneth Frederick, Nova, Richard C., Szul, Krystyna, Kavounas, Gregory T., Foshee, Phillip Dewey Jr., Finch, Daniel Peter, Buchanan, Robert Reuben
• Granted Patent: US 9,345,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3918 characterised by shock pathway, e.g. by electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3987 characterised by the timing or triggering of the shock

Abstract

In embodiments, a wearable cardiac defibrillator system includes an energy storage module configured to store a charge. Two electrodes can be configured to be applied to respective locations of a patient. One or more reservoirs can store one or more conductive fluids. Respective fluid deploying mechanisms can be configured to cause the fluids to be released from one or more of the reservoirs, which decreases the impedance at the patient location, and decreases discomfort for the patient. In some embodiments an impedance is sensed between the two electrodes, and the stored charge is delivered when the sensed impedance meets a discharge condition. In some embodiments, different fluids are released for different patient treatments. In some embodiments, fluid release is controlled to be in at least two doses, with an intervening pause.

Claims

1. A wearable defibrillator system, comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a patient;

an energy storage module configured to store a charge;

two electrodes coupled with the support structure and configured to be applied to two respective patient locations of the patient;

a reservoir coupled to the support structure and configured to store a fluid;

a fluid deploying mechanism configured to cause at least some of the fluid to be released from the reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations, so as to cause an impedance between the two electrodes to be decreased; and

an impedance measurement circuit configured to sense the decreased impedance, and

in which the stored charge is delivered to the patient locations via the electrodes after the sensed impedance meets a discharge condition.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor configured to cause the stored charge to be delivered, when the discharge condition is met.

3. The system of claim 1, in which

the reservoir includes an exit mechanism that has a directing tube.

4. The system of claim 1, in which

the fluid deploying mechanism includes a pump configured to pump the fluid out of the reservoir.

5. The system of claim 1, in which

an ECG measurement is taken via the electrodes.

6. The system of claim 1, in which

the discharge condition is that the sensed impedance has a value below a first threshold.

7. The system of claim 6, in which

a determination is made that the charge needs to be delivered, and

the first threshold has a first value if the needed delivery of the charge is appropriate for a first electrical therapy, and

the first threshold has a second value different from the first value if the needed delivery of the charge is appropriate for a second electrical therapy.

8. The system of claim 7, in which

the first electrical therapy is defibrillation and the second electrical therapy is pacing.

9. The system of claim 1, in which

the discharge condition is that the sensed impedance has a value that changes less than a threshold in a given amount of time.

10. The system of claim 1, in which

the discharge condition is that a timeout threshold has lapsed, since causing at least some of the fluid to be released.

11. The system of claim 1, in which

the fluid releasing mechanism is caused to release some more of the fluid, if the impedance is sensed to be above a second threshold.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface configured to output an alert if the sensed impedance decreases below an alert threshold.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory, and

in which a time profile of the sensed impedance is stored in the memory.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs which, when executed by a defibrillator system including an energy storage module, an impedance measurement circuit, two electrodes configured to be applied to two respective patient locations of a patient, a reservoir containing fluid, and a fluid deploying mechanism, they result in operations comprising:

storing a charge;

causing at least some of the fluid to be released from the reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations, so as to cause an impedance between the two electrodes to be decreased;

sensing the decreased impedance; and

causing the charge to be delivered to the patient locations via the electrodes after the sensed impedance meets a discharge condition.

15-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A method for a defibrillator system including an energy storage module, an impedance measurement circuit, two electrodes configured to be applied to two-respective patient locations of a patient, a reservoir containing fluid, and a fluid deploying mechanism, the method comprising:

storing a charge;

causing at least some of the fluid to be released from the reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations, so as to cause an impedance between the two electrodes to be decreased;

sensing the decreased impedance; and

causing the charge to be delivered to the patient locations via the electrodes after the sensed impedance meets a discharge condition.

25-34. -34. (canceled)

35. A wearable defibrillator system, comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a patient;

an energy storage module configured to store a charge;

two electrodes coupled with the support structure and configured to be applied to two respective patient locations of the patient, at least one of the electrodes including a conductive pad and a fluid retention structure coupled with the conductive pad;

a reservoir coupled to the support structure and configured to store a fluid; and

a fluid deploying mechanism configured to cause at least some of the fluid to be released from the reservoir and be deployed into and be substantially retained by the conductive pad.

36. The system of claim 35, in which

the fluid retention structure is attached to the conductive pad.

37. The system of claim 36, in which

the fluid retention structure is sewn on the support structure.

38. The system of claim 35, in which

the fluid retention structure includes a sponge and/or a piece of cellulose.

39. The system of claim 35, in which

the released fluid soaks the fluid retention structure by a capillary effect and/or a wicking effect.

40. The system of claim 35, in which

The conductive pad and the fluid retention structure are made by a structure made by a fabric that includes thin conductive wires woven into the fabric.

41. A wearable defibrillator system, comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a patient;

an energy storage module configured to store a charge;

a processor configured to make a determination as to whether the patient needs one of a first electrical therapy and a second electrical therapy distinct from the first electrical therapy;

two electrodes coupled with the support structure, configured to be applied to the patient at respective patient locations and to deliver the stored charge at the patient locations for administering the needed one of the first electrical therapy and the second electrical therapy;

a first reservoir coupled to the support structure and configured to store a first fluid;

a first fluid deploying mechanism configured to cause at least some of the first fluid to be released from the first reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations if the determination is that the first electrical therapy is needed;

a second reservoir coupled to the support structure and configured to store a second fluid different from the first fluid; and

a second fluid deploying mechanism configured to cause at least some if the second fluid to be released from the second reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations if the determination is that the second electrical therapy is needed.

42-51. -51. (canceled)

52. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs which, when executed by a defibrillator system including two electrodes configured to be applied to two patient locations of a patient, a first reservoir storing a first fluid, and a second reservoir storing a second fluid, they result in operations comprising:

storing a charge;

making a determination that the patient needs one of a first electrical therapy and a second electrical therapy distinct from the first electrical therapy;

if the determination is that the first electrical therapy is needed, causing the first fluid to be released from the first reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations;

else if the determination is that the second electrical therapy is needed, causing the second fluid to be released from the second reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations; and

causing the charge to be delivered to the patient locations via the electrodes for administering the needed one of the electrical therapies.

53-59. -59. (canceled)

60. A method for a defibrillator system including two electrodes configured to be applied to two patient locations of a patient, a first reservoir storing a first fluid, and a second reservoir storing a second fluid, the method comprising:

storing a charge;

making a determination that the patient needs one of a first electrical therapy and a second electrical therapy distinct from the first electrical therapy;

if the determination is that the first electrical therapy is needed, causing the first fluid to be released from the first reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations;

else if the determination is that the second electrical therapy is needed, causing the second fluid to be released from the second reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations; and

causing the charge to be delivered to the patient locations via the electrodes for administering the needed one of the electrical therapies.

61-67. -67. (canceled)

68. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs which, when executed by a defibrillator system including two electrodes configured to be applied to two patient locations of a patient, and one or more reservoirs storing a fluid, they result in operations comprising:

storing a charge;

causing at least some of the fluid to be released from the one or more reservoirs and be deployed near a certain one of the patient locations;

waiting for at least one minute;

then causing at least some more of the fluid to be released from the one or more reservoirs and be deployed near the certain patient location.

69-73. -73. (canceled)

74. A method for a defibrillator system including two electrodes configured to be applied to two patient locations of a patient, and one or more reservoirs storing a fluid, the method comprising:

storing a charge;

causing at least some of the fluid to be released from the one or more reservoirs and be deployed near a certain one of the patient locations;

waiting for at least one minute;

then causing at least some more of the fluid to be released from the one or more reservoirs and be deployed near the certain patient location.

75-79. -79. (canceled)