MEDICAL MONITOR-DEFIBRILLATOR WITH DEFIBRILLATOR AND DATA OPERATIONS PROCESSORS

• US 20140277227A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Peterson, Ken, Smith, Mitchell A., Edwards, Denny Craig, Nordness, Rockland W., Bielstein, Matthew Lawrence, Wootten, James, Juhasz, Paul R., Okey, David, Witters, Steven, Turner, Ira M., Edwards, Jeffery Scott, Gonzalez-Gandolfi, Pablo, Young, Clayton Ming, Stewart, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,099,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3987 characterised by the timing or triggering of the shock
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

A defibrillator is provided with two processors for enhancing the defibrillation process. A first processor is dedicated to controlling when an electrical charge is applied to a patient. A second processor is dedicated to data operations for enhancing the coaching of the defibrillation process. The second data processor is in communication with one or more external devices for transmission and receipt of network data for further enhancing the coaching process. The second data processor allows both the defibrillator to be maintained with updated network data and software and the one or more external devices to be maintained with updated defibrillator data. Independent controllers provide multiple processing paths on critical charge and coaching functions; with the second data processor further providing redundancy control in the event of any malfunction of the first charge processor.

Claims

1-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A defibrillator comprising:

a defibrillator processor module for storing and applying an electrical charge for defibrillating a patient, the defibrillator processor module including a defibrillator processor for controlling when the electrical charge is applied for defibrillating a patient; and

a data processor module for storing and providing coaching information for use for defibrillating a patient, the data processor module including a data processor for controlling the coaching information provided.

39. The defibrillator of claim 38 wherein the defibrillator processor module further comprises:

an energy storage device for storing an electrical charge;

a defibrillation port;

a display; and

a defibrillator data connect port

wherein the defibrillator processor is configured to control the display and data communications over the defibrillator data connect port and when an electrical charge is applied to the defibrillation port for defibrillating a patient.

40. The defibrillator of claim 38 wherein the data processor module further comprises:

a memory unit configured for storing instructions executable by the data processor;

a display unit configured to display coaching information;

a communication module configured to transmit and receive coaching information from an external utility;

a user interface configured for entering data;

a bus interface configured to enable electrical communications between the data processor, the memory unit, the display unit, the communication module and the user interface; and

wherein .the data processor being configured to control the memory unit, the display unit, the communication module, and the user interface for controlling the coaching information provided.

41. The defibrillator of claim 40 wherein the communication module further comprises a wireless communication module, the data processor being configured to control the wireless communication module for controlling the coaching information provided.

42. The defibrillator of claim 41 wherein the wireless communication module is based on a protocol take from the group of protocols consisting of Wi-Fi, Ultra Wideband, NFC, Bluetooth, and ZigBee.

43. The defibrillator of claim 40 wherein the communication module further comprises a network data connect module including a data connect port, the data processor being configured to control the network data connect module for controlling the coaching information provided.

44. The defibrillator of claim 43 wherein the network data connect is based on a protocol take from the group of protocols consisting of SPI, Ethernet, and USB.

45. The defibrillator of claim 40 wherein the data processor module further comprises a parameter module configured for providing patient parameter data, the data processor being configured to control the parameter module for controlling the coaching information provided.

46. The defibrillator of claim 40 wherein the data processor module resides in a package that is physically attached to the outside of the defibrillator.

47. The defibrillator of claim 40 wherein the data processor module resides in a device that is separate from the defibrillator, the data processor being in communication with the defibrillator through a communication module included in the separate device.

48. The defibrillator of claim 47 wherein the separate device provides audio, video, or audio-visual coaching and/or serves as a data collection tool in support of the treatment of a patient with the defibrillator.

49. The defibrillator of claim 40 wherein the data processor module resides inside the defibrillator.

50. The defibrillator of claim 46:

wherein patient parameter data from the parameter module is displayed on the data processor display.

51. The defibrillator of claim 38 further comprising:

a shared resource configured for sharing between the defibrillator processor module and the data processor module; and

a bus configured for enabling electrical communications between each of the defibrillator processor module and the data processor module and the share resource.

52. The defibrillator of claim 51 wherein the shared resource is a display.

53. The defibrillator of claim 38 further comprising:

an interprocessor control line configured for enabling control by the defibrillator processor over the data processor.

54. The device of claim 53 wherein the control is for power management of the data processor.

55. The device of claim 53 wherein the control is for power management of the external devices connected to the data processor.

56. The defibrillator of claim 38 further comprising:

an interprocessor communication unit configured for transferring data between the defibrillator processor and the data processor; and

hardwire control lines for controlling the transfer of the data.

57. The defibrillator of claim 56 wherein the inter processor interface bus comprises a message based communication link.

58. The defibrillator of claim 56 wherein a semaphore module is configured for enabling coordinated access to the shared resource by the defibrillator processor module and the data processor module.

59. The defibrillator of claim 56 wherein the interprocessor interface bus comprises a tightly coupled memory unit.

60. The defibrillator of claim 38 further comprising:

a global memory unit;

and control lines for enabling either of the defibrillator processor and the data processor to assert control over the global memory unit for transferring data to the global memory unit for transfer to the other processor.

61. The defibrillator of claim 38 wherein the data processor periodically polls the defibrillator processor to determine the functioning of the defibrillator processor and activates fail safe measures based on a predetermined response.

62. The defibrillator of claim 38:

wherein the data processor being further configured to execute an instance for providing data communications between the data processor and an external utility.

63. The defibrillator of claim 62 wherein the instance is an event service.

64. The defibrillator of claim 62 wherein the external utility is a computer.

65. The defibrillator of claim 64 wherein the computer is a server.

66. The defibrillator of claim 65 wherein the transmission of the data by the instance that provides data communications between the defibrillator and the server is via a network.

67. The defibrillator of claim 66 wherein the network over which the data communications between the defibrillator and the server is the internet.

68. The defibrillator of claim 62 wherein the one or more external devices is a computer taken from the group consisting of a server, a personal computer, a tablet, a mobile computing device, a video device, an ultrasound device, and a printer.

69. A method for enhancing a defibrillation process involving a defibrillator including an energy storage device for storing an electrical charge and a defibrillator processor, the method comprising:

controlling by a first processor when an electrical charge is applied by the defibrillator for defibrillating a patient;

controlling by a second processor coaching information provided for defibrillating a patient.

70. The method of claim 69 where coaching is taken from the group of coaching types consisting of extended monitoring, extended diagnosis, and interventional treatments.

71. The method of claim 69 comprising the step of:

sharing a resource between the first processor and the second processor.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein the shared resource is a display.

73. The method of claim 71 further comprising the step of:

polling the first processor by the second processor to determine whether the second processor is properly controlling when an electrical charge is applied by the defibrillator for defibrillating a patient.

74. The method of claim 69 further comprising the step of:

transmitting data by the data processor from the defibrillator to one or more external devices for use by the one or more external devices in coaching the defibrillator user.

75. The method of claim 69 wherein the external device is taken from the group of external devices consisting of a printer, a tablet, a mobile device, a smart phone, an external computer, and a Smart Cart.

76. The method of claim 75 further comprising the step of:

receiving data by the data processor from one or more external devices for use in enhancing the monitoring and diagnostic capability, interventional treatment capability, and the coaching capability of the defibrillator.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein those external devices include medical imaging claims such as Video Laryngoscope, Ultrasound.

78. The method of claim 77 wherein external devices include diagnostics.

79. The method of claim 74:

wherein the step of transmitting data from the defibrillator to the one or more external devices is for use by the one or more external devices in a post-defibrillation treatment.

80. The method of claim 74:

wherein the step of transmitting the data transmitted from the defibrillator to the one or more external devices is for use by the one or more external devices in asset management.

81. The method of claim 74 further comprising the step of:

scheduling a polling of the defibrillator by the one or more external devices to determine the existence of data residing in the defibrillator.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein the polling is scheduled to occur at a predetermined period of time.

83. The method of claim 82 further comprising the step of:

downloading software updates to the defibrillator by the one or more external devices.

84. The method of claim 69 further comprising the step of:

periodically polling by the data processor of the defibrillator processor to determine the functioning of the defibrillator processor; and

activating fail safe measures in the event that the data processor does not respond to the poll.

85. A defibrillator comprising:

a defibrillator processor module for storing and applying an electrical charge for defibrillating a patient, the defibrillator processor module including a defibrillator processor for controlling when the electrical charge is applied for defibrillating a patient; and

a data processor module configured to control operations not essential for the survival of the patient.

86. The defibrillator of claim 85 wherein communication and control of the data processor module is configured to avoid interfering with the defibrillator processor module control of the electrical charge applied.

87. The defibrillator of claim 85 wherein the non-survival essential operations is coaching from the group of coaching types consisting of extended monitoring, extended diagnosis, and interventional treatments.

88. The defibrillator of claim 85 wherein the application of the electrical charge by the defibrillator processor module is isolated from the control operations of the data processor module.