Method of utilizing an external defibrillator by replacing its electrodes

• US 6,944,498 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Science Operating Company (Cardica Incorporated)
• Inventors: Owen, James M., Totman, Mark H., O'Leary, James P., Fincke, Randall W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US10/235,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 607 4- 8, 607/142, 607/143
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3918 characterised by shock pathway, e.g. by electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3937 Monitoring output parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3987 characterised by the timing or triggering of the shock
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

A method of treating a patient for ventricular tachycardia using a wearable defibrillator includes monitoring the patient for a predetermined condition via one or more electrodes on the defibrillator, sending a message to the patient in response to the predetermined condition, activating the defibrillator so that the defibrillator delivers defibrillation energy to the patient, and storing at least one of the results of the monitoring, sending and activating steps in a memory on the defibrillator. The method also includes downloading information stored in the memory of the defibrillator to a base station having an external interface, and transmitting the information downloaded from the memory of the base station to an external location via the external interface of the base station.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing an external defibrillator having a plurality of electrodes, said method comprising:

applying said electrodes on a patient at respective first locations; and

at regular time intervals removing at least some of said electrodes and re-attaching the removed electrodes on the patient at respective second locations.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrodes include sensing electrodes, and wherein during said steps of applying said electrodes and re-attaching electrodes includes spacing said sensing electrodes in a manner that assures proper current accumulation between said sensing electrodes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said predetermined geometric pattern is maintained as said electrodes are re-attached.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are placed on the patient'"'"'s thoracic window.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said electrodes are placed in one of the apex-sternum thoracic window, the anterior-posterior thoracic window and a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are re-attached randomly.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are re-attached by rotating them with respect to the patient.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrodes are re-attached at intervals in the range of 12 hours to seven days.

10. A method of prolonging the wearability of an external wearable defibrillator that includes a plurality of electrodes attached to a patient comprising the step of replacing said electrodes at regular intervals including removing one electrode and re-attaching said on electrode in one of a different position and different orientation on said patient.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said electrodes are placed on the patient in a predetermined pattern.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said electrodes are re-attached in a different pattern.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said different pattern is created by re-attaching said electrodes randomly.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said electrodes are re-attached to different respective locations while retaining said predetermined pattern.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said predetermined pattern is rotated with respect to the patient.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein at least one electrode is removed from one location and re-attached at a second location, wherein said first and second locations overlap.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein said electrodes are replaced at intervals ranging from 12 hours to 7 days.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of replacing includes attaching ORIGINAL electrodes to the patient.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of replacing includes repositioning electrodes removed from the patient to new respective positions.

20. A method of prolonging the wearability of an external wearable defibrillator that includes a plurality of electrodes attached to a patient comprising the step of replacing said electrodes at regular intervals;

wherein said electrodes are placed on the patient in a predetermined pattern; and

wherein said electrodes are re-attached in a different pattern.

21. A method of prolonging the wearability of an external wearable defibrillator that includes a plurality of electrodes attached to a patient comprising the step of replacing said electrodes at regular intervals;

wherein said electrodes are placed on the patient in a predetermined pattern; and

said electrodes are re-attached to different respective locations while retaining said predetermined pattern.

22. A method of prolonging the wearability of an external wearable defibrillator that includes a plurality of electrodes attached to a patient comprising the step of replacing said electrodes at regular intervals wherein at least one electrode is removed from one location and re-attached at a second location, wherein said first and second locations overlap.

23. A method of prolonging the wearability of an external wearable defibrillator that includes a plurality of electrodes attached to a patient comprising the step of replacing said electrodes at regular intervals wherein said step of replacing includes repositioning electrodes removed from the patient to new respective positions.