Four contact identification defibrillator electrode system

• US 6,560,485 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies Europe BV (Agilent Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Herleikson, Earl Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US09/817,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 607/5, 607/8, 607/27, 607/119, 607/142, 607/152, 600/509, 600/522
• US Class Current: 607/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3686 configured for selecting the electrode configuration on a lead A61N1/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]

Abstract

A system for identifying electrodes connected to a defibrillator. At least two electrodes with at least one connecting pin operatively connected to each electrode. Each connecting pin includes at least one pair of contacts. A receptacle receives each connecting pin. Circuitry is operatively connected to the receptacle for detecting shorting of the contacts to determine a type of electrode connected to the receptacle.

Claims

1. A system for identifying electrodes connected to a defibrillator, the system comprising:

at least one connecting pin operatively connected to an electrode, each connecting pin comprising at least one pair of contacts;

a receptacle for receiving each connecting pin; and

circuitry operatively connected to the receptacle for detecting shorting of the contacts to determine a type of electrode connected to the receptacle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two electrodes comprise one of adult defibrillation electrodes, attenuated pediatric defibrillation electrodes, non-attenuated pediatric defibrillation electrodes, and monitoring electrodes.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system comprises a pair of adult defibrillation electrodes each comprising a connecting pin including a pair of shorted contacts.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system comprises a pair of attenuated pediatric defibrillation electrodes each comprising a connecting pin including a pair of contacts, wherein only one of the pairs of contacts is shorted.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system comprises a pair of non-attenuated pediatric defibrillating electrodes each comprising a connecting pin including a pair of contacts, wherein only one of the pairs of contacts is shorted.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the shorting of the contacts permits the circuitry to detect whether the electrodes are fully engaged in the receptacle.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system comprises three monitoring electrodes and two connecting pins, a first one of the electrodes is connected to at least one contact of one of the connecting pins, a second one of the electrodes is connected to at least one contact of a second of the connecting pins, and a third one of the electrodes is connected to at least one contact of each connecting pin not connected to the other electrodes.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are preconnected to the defibrillator each comprising a connecting pin including a pair of contacts that are not shorted.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the electrodes comprise a pair of adult defibrillation electrodes each comprising a connecting pin including a pair of contacts that are not shorted.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein a contact of a pin of a first of the at least two electrodes is shorted to a contact of a pin of a second of the at least two electrodes.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of contacts on a first of the at least two electrodes are shorted and none of the contacts on a second of the at least two electrodes are shorted.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of contacts on both of the at least two electrodes are shorted.

13. The system according to claim 9, further comprising:

two separate metal foil members associated with each electrode;

an electrical connection to each foil member;

a region of electrically conductive gel overlying the foil members;

wherein the foil members permit the impedance of the gel to be tested while packaged.

14. A method for determining a type of electrode attached to a defibrillator, the method comprising:

inserting connecting pins operatively connected to the electrodes into a receptacle for receiving the connecting pins; and

detecting the presence or absence of shorts between contacts on the pins and a pattern of shorts to determine the electrode type.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method determines a pattern of shorts between contacts on each connecting pin and between contacts on different connecting pins.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein detecting the shorts permits detecting whether the contacts are fully engaged in the receptacle.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein detection of shorts between two contacts included on each of a pair of connecting pins operatively connected to a pair of electrodes indicates that the electrodes are adult defibrillation electrodes.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein detection of shorts between one set of two contacts included on each of a pair of connecting pins operatively connected to a pair of electrodes indicates that the electrodes are attenuated pediatric defibrillation electrodes.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein detection of shorts between one set of two contacts included on each of a pair of connecting pins operatively connected to a pair of electrodes indicates that the electrodes are non-attenuated pediatric defibrillation electrodes.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein detection of shorts between ring contacts included on each of a pair of connecting pins operatively connected to a pair of electrodes indicates that the electrodes are monitoring electrodes.

21. A system for identifying and testing preconnected electrodes tar a defibrillator, the system comprising:

at least one pair of connecting pins, each connecting pin comprising a pair of contacts;

at least one pair of receptacles for receiving each pair of connecting pins, each receptacle comprising a pair of contacts, wherein when the pins are inserted into the receptacles none of the contacts are shorted.