WCD USER INTERFACE RESPONSE TO A CHANGE IN DEVICE ORIENTATION

• US 20190329053A1
• Filed: 04/25/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
• Original Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp
• Inventors: Engman, Zoie R., Piazza, Aaron J., Roane, Erick M.
• Granted Patent: US 11,298,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3912 Output circuitry therefor, e.g. switches
• 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 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

In one embodiment, a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is described. The WCD includes a support structure worn by a patient. A processor is coupled to the support structure. The WCD also includes a discharge circuit coupled to an energy storage module, the discharge circuit configured to discharge the stored electrical charge through a body of the patient. The wearable cardioverter defibrillator also includes a user interface housing at least one sensor and responsive to changes in device orientation. The processor is configured to detect a motion at the user interface and determine when the motion is patient-activated. When the motion is patient-activated, the processor determines a direction of rotation. The processor determines an orientation of a display at the user interface based on the direction of rotation and orients the display at the user interface to appear upright to the patient.

Claims

1. A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD), comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a patient;

a processor coupled to the support structure;

an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge and in communication with the processor;

a discharge circuit coupled to the energy storage module, the discharge circuit in communication with the processor and configured to discharge the stored electrical charge through a body of the patient;

a user interface housing at least one sensor and responsive to changes in device orientation; and

a processor configured to;

detect a motion at the user interface,

determine when the motion is patient-activated,

determine a direction of rotation when the motion is patient-activated;

determine an orientation of a display at the user interface based on the direction of rotation; and

orient the display at the user interface to appear upright to the patient.

2. The WCD of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine when the motion passes an angular threshold from a baseline plane of the user interface.

3. The WCD of claim 2, wherein the angular threshold is between 30 and 60 degrees from the baseline plane.

4. The WCD of claim 3, wherein the angular threshold is approximately 45 degrees from the baseline plane.

5. The WCD of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine an axis of rotation of the user interface.

6. The WCD of claim 1, wherein the direction of motion may be one of clockwise or counterclockwise.

7. The WCD of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises one or more of an accelerometer, gyroscope, or a combination thereof.

8. The WCD of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

illuminate a visual status indicator when the motion is patient-activated.

9. The WCD of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

activate the user interface when the motion is patient-activated.

10. The WCD of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a lateral location of the user interface on the patient; and

orient content of the user interface to accommodate for the lateral location of the user interface.

11. A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system, comprising:

a support structure for wearing by a patient;

a defibrillator housing coupled to the support structure;

a discharge circuit in communication with the defibrillator housing, the discharge circuit configured to discharge a stored electrical charge through a body of the patient,

a communication device coupled to the support structure, the communication device configured to communicate a status of the WCD to the patient;

a user interface coupled to the communication device, the user interface configured to respond to changes in orientation;

at least one motion sensor coupled to the user interface, the motion sensor positioned to detect a movement of the user interface;

a processor within the communication device, the processor configured to;

detect a motion at the user interface,

determine when the motion is patient-activated,

determine a direction of rotation when the motion is patient-activated;

determine an orientation of a display at the user interface based on the direction of rotation; and

orient the display at the user interface to appear upright to the patient.

12. The WCD of claim 11, wherein the user interface has a baseline plane when the user interface is at rest.

13. The WCD of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine when the motion passes an angular threshold from the baseline plane of the user interface.

14. The WCD of claim 13, wherein the angular threshold is between 30 and 60 degrees from the baseline plane.

15. The WCD of claim 14, wherein the angular threshold is approximately 45 degrees from the baseline plane.

16. The WCD of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine an axis of rotation of the user interface.

17. The WCD of claim 11, wherein the direction of motion may be one of clockwise or counterclockwise.

18. The WCD of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

illuminate a visual status indicator when the motion is patient-activated.

19. The WCD of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

activate the user interface when the motion is patient-activated.

20. A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system, comprising:

a support structure for wearing by a patient;

one or more electrodes for delivering a charge to the patient, while the patient is wearing the support structure;

a discharge circuit coupled to the electrodes, the discharge circuit configured to store an electrical charge;

a processor for activating the discharge circuit, the processor in communication with the discharge circuit;

a communication device coupled to the support structure, the communication device configured to communicate a status of the WCD to the patient;

a user interface coupled to the communication device, the user interface configured to respond to changes in orientation;

at least one motion sensor coupled to the user interface, the motion sensor configured to monitor a motion parameter of the patient while the patient wears the communication device and to transmit the motion parameter to the user interface for use in the response to the changes in orientation.