Water resistant wearable medical device

• US 9,427,564 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaib, Thomas E., Volpe, Shane S., Clark, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alter, Alyssa M
• Application Number:
  US13/311,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,730 Days
• Field of Search: 607/36, 607/37, 607/142, 607/148, 607/149, 607/7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• 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 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• 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 1/3987 characterised by the timing or triggering of the shock
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

An accessory kit for use with a wearable medical device, such as a wearable defibrillator, that includes a control unit and a first plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the control unit. The first plurality of electrodes includes a first plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a first plurality of therapy electrodes configured to provide a defibrillating shock to a body of a patient. The accessory kit includes a waterproof enclosure configured to receive the control unit and protect the control unit during operation in a wet environment and a second plurality of electrodes that are electrically coupled to a connector configured to removably and electrically couple to the control unit. The second plurality of electrodes includes a second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a second plurality of therapy electrodes configured to provide a defibrillating shock to the body of the patient.

Claims

1. An accessory kit for use with a wearable medical device, the wearable medical device including a control unit and a first plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the control unit, the first plurality of electrodes including a first plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a first plurality of therapy electrodes configured to provide a defibrillating shock to a body of a patient, the accessory kit comprising:

a second plurality of electrodes, distinct from the first plurality of electrodes, configured for attachment to the body of the patient for operation in a wet environment, and including a second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a second plurality of therapy electrodes, the second plurality of therapy electrodes being distinct from the second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and being configured to provide a defibrillating shock to the body of the patient, the second plurality of electrodes being electrically coupled to a connector that is configured to removably and electrically couple to the control unit of the wearable medical device; and

a waterproof enclosure configured to receive the control unit and protect the control unit during operation in the wet environment.

2. The accessory kit of claim 1, wherein the connector is a first connector, and wherein the wearable medical device includes a connection pod that is electrically connected to the control unit, the connection pod being electrically connected to a second connector, and wherein the first connector is further configured to removably and electrically connect to the second connector.

3. The accessory kit of claim 2, wherein the waterproof enclosure is further configured to receive the connection pod and protect the connection pod and the control unit during operation in the wet environment.

4. The accessory kit of claim 3, wherein the connection pod is electrically connected to the second connector by a cable, and wherein the waterproof enclosure includes an aperture configured to form a waterproof seal about the cable.

5. The accessory kit of claim 2, wherein the second plurality of electrodes includes a pair of combined ECG/therapy electrodes, each combined ECG/therapy electrode of the pair of combined ECG/therapy electrodes including at least one ECG sensing electrode and a therapy electrode mounted to a common backing.

6. The accessory kit of claim 5, wherein each combined ECG/therapy electrode of the pair of combined ECG/therapy electrodes includes two ECG sensing electrodes and the therapy electrode mounted to the common backing.

7. The accessory kit of claim 6, wherein the wearable medical device includes a user interface pod electrically coupled to the control unit, and wherein the accessory kit further comprises a second waterproof enclosure configured to receive the user interface pod and protect the user interface pod during operation in a wet environment.

8. The accessory kit of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of electrodes are electrically coupled to the connector via a waterproof connection pod.

9. The accessory kit of claim 8, wherein the waterproof connection pod includes electronic circuitry that is potted with a waterproof potting compound, and wherein any openings in the waterproof connection pod are sealed with an elastomeric sealant.

10. The accessory kit of claim 8, wherein the waterproof connection pod is electrically connected to the connector by a cable, and wherein the waterproof enclosure includes an aperture configured to form a waterproof seal about the cable.

11. The accessory kit of claim 8, wherein the second plurality of electrodes includes a pair of combined ECG/therapy electrodes, each combined ECG/therapy electrode of the pair of combined ECG/therapy electrodes including at least one ECG sensing electrode and a therapy electrode mounted to a common backing.

12. The accessory kit of claim 11, wherein each combined ECG/therapy electrode of the pair of combined ECG/therapy electrodes includes two ECG sensing electrodes and the therapy electrode mounted to the common backing.

13. The accessory kit of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of electrodes are electrically coupled to a first connection port of the control unit via a first connection pod, wherein the second plurality of electrodes are electrically coupled to the connector via a waterproof connection pod, and wherein the connector is configured to removably and electrically couple to a second connection port of the control unit that is distinct from the first connection port.

14. The accessory kit of claim 13, wherein the waterproof connection pod includes electronic circuitry that is potted with a waterproof potting compound, and wherein any openings in the waterproof connection pod are sealed with an elastomeric sealant.

15. The accessory kit of claim 14, wherein the second plurality of electrodes includes a pair of combined ECG/therapy electrodes, each combined ECG/therapy electrode of the pair of combined ECG/therapy electrodes including at least one ECG sensing electrode and a therapy electrode mounted to a common backing.

16. The accessory kit of claim 15, wherein each combined ECG/therapy electrode of the pair of combined ECG/therapy electrodes includes two ECG sensing electrodes and the therapy electrode mounted to the common backing, and wherein at least one of the pair of combined ECG/therapy electrodes further includes a patient responsiveness button by which the patient can indicate to the control unit that they are conscious.

17. The accessory kit of claim 16, wherein the wearable medical device includes a user interface pod electrically coupled to the control unit, and wherein the accessory kit further comprises a second waterproof enclosure configured to receive the user interface pod and protect the user interface pod during operation in a wet environment.

18. The accessory kit of claim 1, wherein each of the second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and each of the second plurality of therapy electrodes has an adhesive backing.

19. The accessory kit of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes includes at least four ECG sensing electrodes.

20. An accessory kit for use with a wearable medical device, the wearable medical device including a control unit and a first plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the control unit, the first plurality of electrodes including a first plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a first plurality of therapy electrodes configured to provide a defibrillating shock to a body of a patient, the accessory kit comprising:

a second plurality of electrodes, distinct from the first plurality of electrodes, configured for attachment to the body of the patient in a wet environment, and including a second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a second plurality of therapy electrodes, the second plurality of therapy electrodes being distinct from the second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and being configured to provide a defibrillating shock to the body of the patient, the second plurality of electrodes being electrically coupled to a connector that is configured to removably and electrically couple to the control unit of the wearable medical device; and

a waterproof enclosure configured to receive the control unit and protect the control unit during operation in the wet environment;

wherein at least one of the second plurality of electrodes is configured to be adhesively attached to the patient during a period when the patient is in the wet environment.

21. An accessory kit for use with a wearable medical device, the wearable medical device including a control unit and a first plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the control unit, the first plurality of electrodes including a first plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a first plurality of therapy electrodes configured to provide a defibrillating shock to a body of a patient, the accessory kit comprising:

a second plurality of electrodes, distinct from the first plurality of electrodes, configured for attachment to the body of the patient in a wet environment, and including a second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a second plurality of therapy electrodes, the second plurality of therapy electrodes being distinct from the second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and being configured to provide a defibrillating shock to the body of the patient, the second plurality of electrodes being electrically coupled to a connector that is configured to removably and electrically couple to the control unit of the wearable medical device; and

a waterproof enclosure configured to receive the control unit and protect the control unit during operation in the wet environment;

wherein each of the second plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and each of the second plurality of therapy electrodes are configured to be adhesively attached to the patient during a period when the patient is in the wet environment.