Medical equipment electrodes

• US 9,180,288 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Elghazzawi, Ziad F., Freeman, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US13/558,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20130060315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 600/372, 600/382, 607/5, 607/6, 607/8, 607/63, 607/115, 607/142
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/065 Determining position of the probe employing exclusively positioning means located on or in the probe, e.g. using position sensors arranged on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/361 Detecting fibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/684 Indicating the position of the sensor on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39044 in combination with cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

An electrode assembly includes an electrode configured for externally defibrillating a subject. The electrode assembly also includes a camera configured to capture an image of at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s body. The image has sufficient information to enable the position of the electrode assembly relative to the subject'"'"'s chest to be determined.

Claims

1. An electrode assembly comprising:

an electrode configured for externally defibrillating a subject; and

a camera included in the electrode assembly, the camera configured to capture an image of at least a portion of the subject'"'"'s body, the image having sufficient information to enable the position of the electrode assembly relative to the subject'"'"'s chest to be determined.

2. The electrode assembly of claim 1, further comprising one or more indicators configured to provide information indicative of whether the electrode assembly is adequately positioned for affixing to the subject'"'"'s chest based on the image information related to the position of the electrode assembly.

3. The electrode assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more indicators comprise:

a first light emitting diode configured to provide information indicating the electrode assembly should be moved toward the subject'"'"'s head;

a second light emitting diode configured to provide information indicating the electrode assembly should be moved toward the subject'"'"'s feet;

a third light emitting diode configured to provide information indicating the electrode assembly should be moved to the left; and

a fourth light emitting diode configured to provide information indicating the electrode assembly should be moved to the right.

4. The electrode assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more indicators comprise one or more light emitting diodes configured to provide information indicative of correct positioning of the electrode assembly.

5. The electrode assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more indicators comprises a display configured to provide information indicative of correct positioning of the electrode assembly.

6. The electrode assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

a first electrically conductive element of the electrode configured to accept an electrical defibrillation pulse from the defibrillation device and spread the electrical pulse across the first electrically conductive element;

a second electrically conductive element that is separate from the first electrically conductive element and configured to provide an electrical contact to the subject'"'"'s chest;

a first electrical lead of the electrode assembly connected to the first electrically conductive element of the electrode; and

a second electrical lead of the electrode assembly connected to the second electrically conductive element, the first and second electrical leads of the electrode assembly providing an output from which information indicative of whether the electrode is affixed to the subject'"'"'s chest can be obtained.