Configuring defibrillator energy dosing

• US 6,813,517 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Physio-Control Corp. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lee, Richard M., Daynes, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Application Number:
  US10/012,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20030088284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 607/4-11, 607/34, 607/62, 607/74
• US Class Current: 607/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3906 characterised by the form of the shockwave

Abstract

A defibrillator can be programmed with multiple energy protocols to be followed when the defibrillator administers therapy to a patient. Each energy protocol defines a sequence of energy dosages or levels to be applied during consecutive shocks. When the defibrillator is activated, the first energy dosage in the sequence is administered to the patient. If the first dosage is ineffective, the defibrillator administers subsequent dosages to the patient. Programming multiple energy protocols into the defibrillator allows the defibrillator to be adapted for use on a variety of patients with diverse needs, such as children and large adults, thereby improving the versatility of the defibrillator. Furthermore, because the expert responder can select the energy protocol most appropriate for the needs of the particular patient, therapy may be more effective.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing at least two defibrillation energy protocols in a defibrillator, each defibrillation energy protocol comprising a sequence of defibrillation energy dosages for application to a patient;

defining one of the stored defibrillation energy protocols as a default defibrillation energy protocol in response to a selection from a user; and

applying defibrillation energy dosages to the patient according to the sequence defined by the default energy protocol selected by the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user comprises a sequence of biphasic defibrillation energy dosages to be applied to the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying to the patient a first defibrillation energy dosage in the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user;

determining whether the first defibrillation energy dosage successfully defibrillated the patient; and

when the first defibrillation energy dosage did not successfully defibrillate the patient, applying to the patient a second defibrillation energy dosage in the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining whether the second defibrillation energy dosage successfully defibrillate the patient; and

when the second defibrillation energy dosage did not successfully defibrillate the patient, applying a third defibrillation energy dosage in the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a pediatric defibrillation energy protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a low energy defibrillation protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a high energy defibrillation protocol.

8. A method comprising:

programming at least two defibrillation energy protocols in a defibrillator, each defibrillation energy protocol comprising a sequence of defibrillation energy dosages for application to a patient;

storing the defibrillation energy protocols in a memory associated with the defibrillator; and

defining one of the stored defibrillation energy protocols as a default defibrillation energy protocol in response to a selection from a user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user comprises a sequence of biphasic energy dosages to be applied to the patient.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a pediatric defibrillation energy protocol.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a low energy defibrillation protocol.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a high energy defibrillation protocol.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising applying defibrillation energy dosages to the patient according to the sequence defined by the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user.

14. A defibrillating system comprising:

a defibrillator; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the defibrillator and configured to store at least two defibrillation energy protocols, each defibrillation energy protocol comprising a sequence of defibrillation energy dosages for application to a patient, wherein the defibrillator defines one of the stored defibrillation energy protocols as a default defibrillation energy protocol in response to a selection from a user, and applies defibrillation energy dosages to the patient according to the sequence defined by the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user.

15. The defibrillating system of claim 14, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user comprises a sequence of biphasic defibrillation energy dosages to be applied to the patient.

16. The defibrillating system of claim 14, wherein the defibrillator is further configured to:

apply to the patient a first defibrillation energy dosage in the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user;

determine whether the first defibrillation energy dosage successfully defibrillated the patient; and

when the first defibrillation energy dosage did not successfully defibrillate the patient, apply to the patient a second defibrillation energy dosage in the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user.

17. The defibrillating system of claim 16, wherein the defibrillator is further configured to:

determine whether the second defibrillation energy dosage successfully defibrillated the patient; and

when the second defibrillation energy dosage did not successfully defibrillate the patient, apply to the patient a third defibrillation energy dosage in the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user.

18. The defibrillating system of claim 14, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a pediatric defibrillation energy protocol.

19. The defibrillating system of claim 14, wherein the default defibrillation energy defibrillation protocols selected by the user comprises a low energy defibrillation protocol.

20. The defibrillating system of claim 14, wherein the default defibrillation energy defibrillation protocols selected by the user comprises a high energy defibrillation protocol.

21. A computer-readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for:

storing at least two defibrillation energy protocols in a defibrillator, each defibrillation energy protocol comprising a sequence of defibrillation energy dosages for application to a patient;

defining one of the stored defibrillation energy protocols as a default defibrillation energy protocol in response to a selection from a user; and

applying defibrillation energy dosages to the patient according to the sequence defined by the default energy defibrillation protocol selected by the user.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user comprises a sequence of biphasic defibrillation energy dosages to be applied to the patient.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising computer executable instructions for:

applying to the patient a first defibrillation energy dosage in the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user;

determining whether the first defibrillation energy dosage successfully defibrillated the patient; and

when the first defibrillation energy dosage did not successfully defibrillate the patient, applying to the patient a second defibrillation energy dosage in the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising computer executable instructions for:

determining whether the second defibrillation energy dosage successfully defibrillated the patient; and

when the second defibrillation energy dosage did not successfully defibrillate the patient, applying a third defibrillation energy dosage in the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a pediatric defibrillation energy protocol.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a low energy defibrillation protocol.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a high energy defibrillation protocol.

28. A computer-readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for:

programming at least two defibrillation energy protocols in a defibrillator, each defibrillation energy protocol comprising a sequence of defibrillation energy dosages for application to a patient;

storing the defibrillation energy protocols in a memory associated with the defibrillator; and

defining one of the stored defibrillation energy protocols as a default energy protocol in response to a selection from a user.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user comprises a sequence of biphasic defibrillation energy dosages to be applied to the patient.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user comprises a pediatric defibrillation energy protocol.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a low energy defibrillation protocol.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the default defibrillation energy protocols selected by the user comprises a high energy defibrillation protocol.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising computer executable instructions for applying defibrillation energy dosages to the patient according to the sequence defined by the default defibrillation energy protocol selected by the user.