Method for performing self-test in a defibrillator

• US 5,800,460 A
• Filed: 04/16/1997
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Heartstream, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Cameron, David, Powers, Daniel J., Morgan, Carlton B., Lyster, Thomas D., Mydynski, Steven T., Cole, Clinton S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/834,346
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 607/4-8, 364/481
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3931 Protecting, e.g. back-up systems

Abstract

A defibrillator with an automatic self-test system that includes a test signal generator and a defibrillator status indicator. The test system preferably performs functional tests and calibration verification tests automatically in response to test signals generated periodically and/or in response to predetermined conditions or events and indicates the test results visually and audibly. The invention also relates to a method for automatically determining and indicating a defibrillator'"'"'s status without human intervention.

Claims

1. A method of performing a self-test in an external defibrillator, the method comprising the following steps:

generating a test signal automatically;

turning on a power system within the external defibrillator in response to the test signal; and

performing a plurality of automatic self-tests within the external defibrillator for determining the status of the defibrillator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the turning on step comprises providing power to a central processing unit to perform the self-tests.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating step comprises generating a test signal automatically upon a predetermined event or condition.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating step comprises generating a test signal periodically.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing step comprises performing said plurality of automatic self-tests within the external defibrillator on a schedule.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the performing step comprises performing a first automatic self-test on a first periodic schedule.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the performing step comprises performing a second automatic self-test on a second periodic schedule.