Remote control arrhythmia analyzer and defibrillator

• US 6,459,933 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2000
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Circulatory Systems, Inc. (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Lurie, Keith G., Zielinski, Todd M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/564,889
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 607/5, 607/9, 607/3, 607/30, 607/32, 607/60, 600/16, 128/200.24, 128/203.14, 128/204.23
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting

Abstract

A method for providing medical treatment to a patient at a location away from a medical facility comprises monitoring at least one physical parameter of a patient that is located away from a medical facility with a monitoring device. The monitored physical parameter is transmitted to a central controller that is located within a medical facility. A control signal is transmitted from the controller to operate a treatment device that is coupled to the patient, with the control signal being selected based at least in part on the monitored physical characteristic.

Claims

1. A medical monitoring and treatment system, comprising:

a central controller having at least one communication device for receiving monitoring signals and for transmitting treatment control signals;

at least one remote device having at least one communication device for receiving treatment control signals and for transmitting monitoring signals, wherein the communication device of the remote device includes a switch that is operable to establish a connection with the central controller;

at least one monitoring device that is adapted to be electrically coupled to the remote device;

at least one treatment device that is adapted to be electrically coupled to the remote device; and

a valve that may be interfaced with a patient'"'"'s airway to regulate intrathoracic pressures within the patient;

wherein the remote device is configured to transmit monitoring signals received from the monitoring device to the central controller, and to control the treatment device based on control signals received from the central controller.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the communication devices of the central controller and the remote device are configured to communicate over a communications link that is selected from a group of links consisting of telephone lines, computer networks, cable lines, radio frequency transmission links and satellite transmission links.

3. A system as in claim 2, wherein the monitoring device is selected from a group of devices consisting of heart monitors, respiratory profile monitors, and temperature monitors.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the treatment device is selected from a group consisting of positive pressure ventilators, electroventilators, phrenic nerve stimulators, diaphragm stimulators, external defibrillators, and external cardiac pacemakers.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the treatment device comprises at least one electrode that is configured to produce an electrical stimulant or shock to the patient.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the remote device further includes a speaker and circuitry to produce an audible signal or message transmitted from the central controller.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the remote device further includes a camera and circuitry to transmit image signals from the camera to the central controller, and wherein the central controller further includes a display screen for visually displaying images produced from the image signals.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the treatment device comprises at least one pair of external electrodes, and wherein the central controller includes a shock control module that is operable to send a control signal to the remote device to permit the remote device to produce a defibrillating shock using the electrodes.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the treatment device comprises at least one pair of external electrodes, and wherein the central controller includes a stimulation control module that is operable to send control signals to the remote device to permit the remote device to produce an electrical stimulant with the electrodes to stimulate the phrenic nerve.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the treatment device includes an active electrode that is attachable to the patient to produce a stimulating shock, cardiac pacing or phrenic nerve stimulation.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein the treatment device comprises a positive pressure ventilator, and wherein the central controller includes a ventilation control module that is operable to send control signals to the remote device to permit the remote device to control the positive pressure ventilator.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein the treatment device comprises an external cardiac pacemaker, and wherein the central controller includes a pacemaker control module that is operable to send control signals to the remote device to permit the remote device to control operation of the pacemaker.

13. A system as in claim 1, wherein the central controller includes a microphone to receive verbal instructions from medical personnel, and wherein the central controller is configured to transmit an audio signal containing the verbal instructions to the remote device.

14. A system as in claim 1, wherein the central controller further includes a monitoring screen to visually display monitoring signals received from the remote device.

15. A method for providing medical treatment to a patient at a location away from a medical facility, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one physiological parameter of a patient that is located away from a medical facility with a monitoring device;

transmitting the monitored physiological parameter to a central controller that is located within a medical facility;

transmitting a control signal from the controller to operate a treatment device that is coupled to the patient, wherein the control signal is selected based at least in part on the monitored physiological parameter;

wherein the treatment device comprises at least one pair of electrodes, and wherein the transmitted control signal is used to control actuation of the electrodes to externally stimulate the phrenic nerve and thereby electroventilate the patient, to increase the negative intrathoracic pressure within the patient and/or to perform electronic CPR on the patient; and

coupling a valve to the patient'"'"'s airway to regulate gas flow into the patient'"'"'s lungs during decompression of the patient'"'"'s chest.

16. A method as in claim 15, further comprising displaying the monitored physiological parameter at the central controller, evaluating the parameter and operating the central controller to select and transmit the control signal.

17. A method as in claim 15, wherein the monitoring device and the treatment device are electrically coupled to a remote device, and further comprising transmitting the monitored physiological parameter to the central controller from the remote device, and receiving the transmitted control signal from the central controller with the remote device.

18. A method as in claim 15, further comprising transmitting the monitored physiological parameter and the control signal over a communications link that is selected from a group consisting of telephone lines, computer networks, cable lines, radio frequency transmission links and satellite transmission links.

19. A method as in claim 15, wherein the monitored physiological parameter is selected from a of group of characteristics consisting of cardiac rhythms, end tidal CO₂, O₂ saturation, inspiratory tidal volume, expiratory tidal volume, and patient temperature.

20. A method as in claim 15, wherein the transmitted control signal is used to control actuation of at least one of the electrodes to supply an external defibrillating shock to the patient.

21. A method as in claim 15, wherein the treatment device comprises an external pacemaker, and wherein the transmitted control signal is used to control operation of the pacemaker.

22. A method as in claim 15, wherein the treatment device comprises a positive pressure ventilator, and wherein the transmitted control signal is used to control operation of the ventilator.

23. A method as in claim 17, wherein the remote device includes a speaker, and further comprising transmitting a signal containing verbal instructions to the remote device to permit the instructions to be audibilized by the speaker.

24. A method as in claim 17, wherein the remote device includes a camera, and further comprising transmitting a signal containing visual images from the camera of the remote device to controller for display by the controller.

25. A medical control device for controlling operation of a remote treatment device, the control device comprising:

a processor;

a communication device that is adapted to receive signals from a remote device containing information on a measured physiological parameter of a patient; and

at least one control module operable with the processor to produce and send a treatment control signal to the remote device using the communication device to control operation of the remote device;

wherein the control module comprises a stimulation control module that is operable to send control signals to the remote device to permit the remote device to produce an electrical stimulant with an electrode to stimulate the phrenic nerve when a valve is coupled to the patient'"'"'s airway to decrease the patient'"'"'s intrathoracic pressure.

26. A device as in claim 25, wherein the control module comprises a shock control module that is operable to send a control signal to the remote device to permit the remote device to produce a defibrillating shock using an external electrode pair.

27. A device as in claim 25, wherein the remote device is electrically active when in contact with the patient.

28. A device as in claim 25, wherein the control module comprises a ventilation control module that is operable to send control signals to the remote device to permit the remote device to control a positive pressure ventilator.

29. A device as in claim 25, wherein control module comprises an external pacemaker control module that is operable to send control signals to the remote device to permit the remote device to control operation of a pacemaker.

30. A device as in claim 25, further comprising a microphone to receive verbal instructions from medical personnel, and wherein the processor is configured to produce and transmit an audio signal containing the verbal instructions to the remote device.

31. A device as in claim 25, further comprising a monitoring screen to visually display monitoring signals received from the remote device.

32. A portable monitoring and treatment system, comprising:

a base unit having a processor and a communication device, wherein the communication device comprises a switch that is operable to establish a connection with a central controller;

a monitoring device connectable to the base unit, wherein the monitoring device is adapted to monitor a physiological parameter of a patient, and wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the monitored parameter to the central controller; and

a treatment device connectable to the base unit, wherein the treatment device is configured to supply a medical treatment to the patient based on a control signal received from the central controller using the communication device; and

a valve that may be interfaced with the patient'"'"'s airway to regulate intrathoracic pressures within the patient.

33. A system as in claim 32, wherein the monitoring device is selected from a group of devices consisting of heart monitors, respiratory profile monitors, and temperature monitors.

34. A system as in claim 32, wherein the treatment device is selected from a group consisting of positive pressure ventilators, electroventilators, phrenic nerve stimulators, defibrillators, and cardiac pacemakers.