System and method for performing self-test in an automatic external defibrillator (AED)

• US 9,687,665 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scion Medical Ltd. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Scion Medical Ltd. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Bowers, Kyle R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Rex R
• Application Number:
  US14/686,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20160067505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

An automatic external defibrillator with an intelligent self-test system that ensures device readiness. The self-test system conditionally runs functional tests based on knowledge of device use, time of day, pre-programmed information, operational features and previous events. The condition of the defibrillator is indicated visually, audibly or both based on the results of the self-test performed.

Claims

1. A defibrillator system comprising:

a battery having a battery capacity;

a capacitor for storing a charge;

a charge circuit to charge the capacitor from the battery;

a discharge circuit to discharge the capacitor and deliver a biphasic waveform to a patient;

user interface controls connected to the charge circuit and the discharge circuit and configured to receive operator instructions and to provide system information to the operator; and

a microprocessor-based self-test controller for testing the system;

wherein the microprocessor-based self-test controller periodically initiates a test of the defibrillator system to determine (i) whether the battery capacity is below a predetermined threshold value, and (ii) whether the capacitor charge circuit is functioning within predetermined parameters;

and further wherein the microprocessor-based self-test controller only runs the battery capacity test and the capacitor charge circuit test if the defibrillator system has not previously failed a self-test.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the user interface controls comprise at least one element from the group consisting of:

an LCD display;

an LED;

a buzzer;

a voice playback circuit;

an audio amplifier; and

an audio speaker to notify the operator of events during system operation.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the battery is part of a battery pack.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a pair of electrode pads.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein the controller further conditionally runs tests based on prior system use.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the prior system use comprises at least one event from the group consisting of:

a prior capacitor discharge;

the number of prior capacitor discharges;

the time interval since the last capacitor discharge;

the number of times the system was previously powered on; and

the number of previous self-tests performed.

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein the controller further conditionally runs tests based on at least one from the group consisting of:

a pre-programmed system parameter;

system configuration; and

prior events.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the controller further conditionally runs tests based on a pre-programmed system parameter.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein the pre-programmed system parameter comprises at least one parameter from the group consisting of:

a voltage level;

a rate of charge;

a “

Replace Before”

date;

a “

Use Before”

date; and

a temperature limit.

10. A system according to claim 8 wherein the controller further conditionally runs tests based on at least one from the group consisting of:

prior system use;

system configuration; and

prior events.

11. A system according to claim 1 wherein the controller further conditionally runs tests based on system configuration.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein system configuration comprises at least one feature from the group consisting of:

a voice synthesizer;

the presence of a flash card;

the manual override controls; and

audio recording circuit.

13. A system according to claim 11 wherein the controller further conditionally runs tests based on at least one from the group consisting of:

prior system use;

a pre-programmed system parameter; and

prior events.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein the controller further conditionally runs tests based on prior events.

15. A system according to claim 14 wherein the prior event comprises at least one event from the group consisting of:

the length of time the system has remained in standby mode;

a previous test outcome;

the occurrence of over-current during discharge;

use of the system since a previous self-test; and

temperature.

16. A system according to claim 14 wherein the controller further conditionally runs tests based on at least one from the group consisting of:

prior system use;

a pre-programmed system parameter; and

system configuration.

17. A system according to claim 1 wherein the controller includes an algorithm to determine the battery capacity without applying a load to the battery.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein the controller includes an algorithm to determine the battery capacity while applying a load to the battery.

19. A method for operating a defibrillator system, comprising:

providing a defibrillator system comprising;

a battery having a battery capacity;

a capacitor for storing a charge;

a charge circuit to charge the capacitor from the battery;

a discharge circuit to discharge the capacitor and deliver a biphasic waveform to a patient;

user interface controls connected to the charge circuit and the discharge circuit and configured to receive operator instructions and to provide system information to the operator; and

a microprocessor-based self-test controller for testing the system;

wherein the microprocessor-based self-test controller periodically initiates a test of the defibrillator system to determine (i) whether the battery capacity is below a predetermined threshold value, and (ii) whether the capacitor charge circuit is functioning within predetermined parameters;

and further wherein the microprocessor-based self-test controller only runs the battery capacity test and the capacitor charge circuit test if the defibrillator system has not previously failed a self-test; and

operating the system in standby mode so that the controller tests the system while in standby mode.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the controller further conditionally tests the system.