Defibrillator with training features and pause actuator

• US 5,662,690 A
• Filed: 06/28/1996
• Issued: 09/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Heartstream, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Cyrus, Judi, Morgan, Carlton B., Powers, Daniel, Cole, Clinton
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US08/672,739
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 607/5, 607/7
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]

Abstract

A defibrillator featuring a treatment mode and a training mode comprises an energy source, an electrode connector, a controller, and training mode circuitry. The controller comprises a feature for connecting the energy source to the electrode connector and a pause actuator for permitting a user to inhibit electrical stimulation when no longer required. The training mode circuitry simulates the operation of the defibrillator in treatment mode. The defibrillator also includes a method of operating comprising the steps of: 1) providing a defibrillator having an energy source, a controller, and electrode connectors, wherein the controller further comprises circuits for actuating the defibrillator to deliver a defibrillation shock from the defibrillation energy source to the electrode connectors and 2) operating the defibrillator in a training mode to simulate delivery of a defibrillation shock from the energy source to the electrode connectors without delivering a defibrillation shock from the energy source to the electrode connectors.

Claims

1. A method for a user to operate an automatic or semiautomatic external defibrillator to treat a patient, the method comprising the following steps:

providing an automatic or semiautomatic external defibrillator to the user;

activating the defibrillator to provide therapy to the patient;

placing the defibrillator in a pause state by the user actuating a pause actuator;

ending the pause state.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the placing step comprises disabling defibrillator audible prompts.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the activating step comprises charging an energy source and the placing step comprises ceasing charging of the energy source.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the activating step comprises arming the defibrillator and the placing step comprises disarming the defibrillator.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the ending step comprises the user actuating a defibrillator actuator.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the placing step comprises the user actuating a button on the defibrillator.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the ending step comprises the user actuating the button.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the ending step comprises ending the pause state after a predetermined pause period.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising programming the predetermined pause period'"'"'s length.