External defibrillator electrode apparatus

• US 6,097,987 A
• Filed: 12/30/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Protocol Incorporated (Welch Allyn Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Medical Research Laboratories Inc. (Welch Allyn Incorporated)
• Inventors: Milani, Dean Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/223,605
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 607/142, 607/145, 607/149, 607/150, 607/115, D24/133, D24/144, D24/167, D24/168, D24/170, D24/187, D24/200
• US Class Current: 607/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]

Abstract

A defibrillator paddle set includes first and second paddles connected together with a Y-shaped cord set. The legs of the cord set are attached to the forward ends of each paddle, adjacent a defibrillator "firing" button. Improved manufacturing techniques and enhanced operator safety are realized.

Claims

1. A defibrillator paddle set, comprising:

first and second paddle bodies each having a first surface to be placed adjacent the patient'"'"'s body;

an electrode carried by each body adjacent the first surface thereof;

first and second handles carried by respective paddle bodies, remote from the electrode, said handles dimensioned to wrapped about by a users fingers during operation;

a Y-shaped cord set including a junction, first and second legs extending from the junction to ones of said handles and said paddle bodies, respectively and a stem extending from said junction, away from said first and second paddle bodies;

said cord set stem including an electrical connector for connection to an external defibrillator and electrical conductors extending from said electrical connector to said junction;

said cord set first and second legs including respective electrical conductors extending from said junction to said electrodes such that said electrodes are electrically connected to said electrical connector;

the handles extending generally parallel to respective ones of said cord set first and second legs with a first end adjacent the cord set leg and a second opposed end; and

electrical switch means carried by each paddle body, adjacent the cord set leg and said handle first end.

2. The defibrillator paddle set of claim 1 wherein said electrical conductors of said cord set include outer insulating coverings joined together at said junction.

3. The defibrillator paddle set of claim 1 wherein said electrical switch means carried by each paddle body are electrically coupled to the electrode carried by the paddle body.

4. The defibrillator paddle set of claim 1 wherein said handles cooperate with said paddle bodies to form a ring-shaped structure through which the operators fingers extend.

5. The defibrillator paddle set of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are flat, planar and said paddle bodies electrically insulate said handles from said electrodes.

6. The defibrillator paddle set of claim 1 wherein said cord set first and second legs extend from said paddle bodies.

7. The defibrillator paddle set of claim 1 wherein said cord set first and second legs extend from said handles.