Automatic external defibrillator first responder and clinical data outcome management system

• US 6,321,113 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SurVivaLink Corporation (Cardica Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bradley, Matthew G., Splinter, Patrick J., Lindseth, Sarah M., Parker, William S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/281,076
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 607/5, 607/300, 600/523, 128/903, 128/920
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A method and system for managing cardiac rescue events is disclosed. Unlike prior systems, this method and system uses a rescue scene computer to obtain patient and incident data at the rescue scene and then marry that data with ECG rescue data and automated external defibrillator (AED) rescue data. All of this data is then simultaneously transmitted to a base computer at an emergency medical center for review. Accordingly, a reviewer at the base computer can immediately review the ECG and AED performance in context with patient and incident data. The method and system includes a Windows-based single screen graphical user interface for entering and reviewing the data and particularly includes a window for viewing ECG data simultaneously with entry and review of all other data available in the single screen user interface. The system and method comprises one or more of the following elements including a base computer, a portable rescue scene computer, an automated external defibrillator (AED), and a communication link for linking the rescue scene computer to the base computer and/or the AED. The system and method further includes software that is programmed in the base computer and rescue scene computer to operate the single screen user interface and database.

Claims

1. A method of managing cardiac rescue events comprising the steps of:

performing a cardiac rescue on a patient at a cardiac rescue site with an automated external defibrillator (AED);

collecting ECG data at the cardiac rescue event at the cardiac rescue site; and

collecting automated AED rescue data of the cardiac rescue event at the cardiac rescue site presenting the ECG data and AED rescue data on a screen of a rescue scene computer at the cardiac rescue site.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

displaying the ECG data graphically on a display screen simultaneously with the non-ECG rescue data.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

reviewing the cardiac rescue event by viewing the ECG data on the display screen; and

inputting analytical observations regarding the cardiac rescue event during the reviewing step.

4. The method of claim 2 further including displaying the ECG data graphically in real time.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of displaying the ECG data and AED rescue data in a real time enactment of the cardiac rescue event.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting AED rescue data including at least one of the following;

patient information, rescue scene location information, incident and rescue scene assessment information, patient vitals and therapy information, therapy information, rescue dispatch and response information, and AED operator performance information.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

collecting incident information/rescue scene assessment including chief complaint, cause of injury, provider impression, pre-existing condition, signs and symptoms, injury description, injury intent, incident/patient disposition, safety equipment, factors affecting EMS delivery, suspected drug or alcohol abuse.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting patient vitals and therapy information including respiratory rate, respiratory effort, blood pressure, skin perfusion and Glasgow information including eye opening, verbal component, motor component, coma score, and therapy including therapy provider, therapy name, and time of therapy.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting dispatch and response information including at least one of the following;

responder facility, vehicle type, dispatch ID and crew members, lights used, sirens used, location of hospital patient transported to, unit dispatched, unit notified, unit responding, arrival at scene, arrival at patient, departure from scene, arrival at destination, and unit back in service.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting AED rescue data including at least one of the following;

an AED serial number, AED model number, AED operator, the real time of and occurrence of the following events;

AED lid opening, electrode placement on patient, start of analysis, electrode checking, start of charge, advising operator of shock, delivering shock to patient.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting AED rescue data including at least one of the following;

first defibrillating shock time, initial rhythm, initial rhythm conversion.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting AED rescue data including at least one of the following;

provider type of first CPR, time of first CPR, time CPR discontinued,

witness type of cardiac arrest, witnessed cardiac arrest, confirmed cardiac arrest, initial cardiac rhythm shocked, return of spontaneous circulation, cardiac etiology, and resuscitation attempted.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

collecting review data including at least one of the following;

review date;

admitted to ER, ICU, or hospital;

name of ER, ICU, or hospital;

admission date;

admission time;

discharge date;

discharge time;

patient died within 24 hours;

alive after one year of discharge;

update Glasgow evaluation including eye opening, verbal, and motor components;

patient status including alive, alive after first year, scene of death, date of death, and time of death; and

review status including review completed, review due date, reviewer name.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

establishing a link between a predetermined NHTSA code to a corresponding ECG data or AED rescue data.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

operably communicatively coupling the AED to the rescue site computer for the automated interchange of certain data therebetween; and

embedding the predetermined NHSTA code in a background of active data fields to permit selective activation, deactivation, modification, and/or initialization thereof.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising simultaneously presenting the ECG data and AED rescue on a single screen graphical user interface of the rescue scene computer.