WEARABLE THERAPEUTIC DEVICE

• US 20170304606A1
• Filed: 07/07/2017
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaib, Thomas E., Volpe, Shane S., Oskin, Emil
• Granted Patent: US 10,183,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3906 characterised by the form of the shockwave
• 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 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence
• 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 wearable therapeutic device includes a garment configured to be worn on a torso of a patient. The garment has an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The garment is configured to house at least one defibrillator component, a first therapy electrode disposed in the anterior portion of the garment, a second therapy electrode disposed in the posterior portion of the garment, and an alarm module configured to alert the patient of an impending defibrillation shock from the at least one defibrillator component to be delivered by at least one of the first therapy electrode and the second therapy electrode. The first therapy electrode and the second therapy electrode are configured to be electrically coupled to the at least one defibrillator component. At least one of the first therapy electrode and the second therapy electrode is at least one of woven into the garment and comprises a textile material.

Claims

1. A wearable monitoring and therapeutic device comprising:

at least two sensing electrodes;

at least two therapy electrodes;

at least one defibrillator component comprising a power source;

the at least two sensing electrodes and the at least two therapy electrodes being housed within a breathable and stretchable fabric and mechanically connected to the at least one defibrillator component such that, when the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is positioned on a subject, the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device accommodates the subject'"'"'s chest size and enhances comfort;

the at least two sensing electrodes being electrically coupled to the at least one defibrillator component and configured to monitor an ECG of the subject; and

the at least two therapy electrodes being electrically connected to the at least one defibrillator component and configured to provide defibrillation energy;

an alarm module operatively coupled to the at least one defibrillator component and configured to alert the subject of an impending electric shock to be delivered by at least one of the at least two therapy electrodes; and

one or more response buttons operatively coupled to the at least one defibrillator component, the one or more response buttons being configured to be depressed by the subject to indicate that the subject tis conscious in response to the alert to the subject of the impending electric shock.

2. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a wicking material.

3. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 2, wherein the fabric comprises a polyester material.

4. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the at least two therapy electrodes are permanently housed in the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device.

5. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker configured to deliver an audio warning that the subject is experiencing cardiac distress.

6. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the alarm module is configured to deliver a visual warning that the subject is experiencing cardiac distress.

7. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the alarm module is configured to deliver a haptic warning that the subject is experiencing cardiac distress.

8. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 7, wherein the alarm module is configured to deliver the haptic warning to the subject by vibrating.

9. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the power source includes a battery configured to power one or more components of the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device.

10. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two sensing electrodes and the at least two therapy electrodes includes conductive thread sewn into the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device.

11. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is configured to provide continuous protection to the subject.

12. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, further comprising control circuitry configured to monitor the subject for an arrhythmic event.

13. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible conductive material connecting at least one of the at least two sensing electrodes and the at least two therapy electrodes to the at least one defibrillator component.

14. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, further including a memory configured to store information regarding signals sensed by the at least two sensing electrodes.

15. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two therapy electrodes is configured to be disposed in an anterior position on the subject.

16. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is configured to position a first one of the at least two therapy electrodes in an anterior position on the subject and to position a second of the at least two therapy electrodes in a posterior position on the subject.

17. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is configured to position a first one of the at least two therapy electrodes in an anterior position on the subject and to position a second of the at least two therapy electrodes in a lateral position on the subject

18. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, further comprising pockets in which at least one of the at least two therapy electrodes is disposed.

19. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, further comprising a pocket in which at least one of the alarm module and a monitor is disposed.

20. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is configured to not deliver the impending electric shock if the one or more response buttons is depressed by the subject.

21. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is configured to release a conductive gel to improve electrical contact between the at least two therapy electrodes and skin of the subject.

22. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 21, wherein the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is configured to release the conductive gel through at least one hole in each of the at least two therapy electrodes.

23. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 21, wherein the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is configured to release the conductive gel onto conductive surfaces of the at least two therapy electrodes.

24. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 21, wherein the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is configured to release the conductive gel prior to delivery of the defibrillation shock.

25. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 21, wherein the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is configured to cause the conductive gel to be released by applying pressure from a source of pressure to the conductive gel.

26. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 21, wherein the conductive gel is contained in at least one gel source disposed proximate the at least two therapy electrodes.

27. The wearable monitoring and therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is configured to deliver the electric shock to the subject via the at least two therapy electrodes and a conductive gel.

28. A wearable monitoring and therapeutic device comprising:

at least two sensing electrodes;

at least two therapy electrodes;

at least one defibrillator component comprising a power source;

wherein the at least two sensing electrodes and the at least two therapy electrodes are housed within a breathable and stretchable fabric and mechanically connected to the at least one defibrillator component such that, when the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device is positioned on a subject, the wearable monitoring and therapeutic device accommodates the subject'"'"'s chest size and enhances comfort;

wherein a first one of the at least two therapy electrodes is configured to be located in an anterior position on the subject and a second one of the at least two therapy electrodes is configured to be located in a lateral position on the subject;

wherein the at least two sensing electrodes are electrically coupled to the at least one defibrillator component and configured to monitor an ECG of the patient; and

wherein the at least two therapy electrodes are electrically connected to the at least one defibrillator component and configured to provide defibrillation energy;

an alarm module operatively coupled to the at least one defibrillator component and configured to alert a patient of an impending electric shock to be delivered by at least one of the at least two therapy electrodes; and

one or more response buttons operatively coupled to the at least one defibrillator component, the one or more response buttons configured to be depressed by the subject to indicate that the subject is conscious in response to the alert to the subject of the impending electric shock.