Electroshock device for monitoring target response

• US 9,707,407 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Cheatham, III, Jesse R., Chin, Hon Wah, Hyde, Alexander G., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): CAREY, MICHAEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US15/172,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20160279433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 607 6, 607 7, 607115, 607145, 607 1, 607 2
• 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 1/3968 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: F41H 13/0025 for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target

Abstract

An electroshock device for delivering an electrical discharge to a target includes an electrical discharge circuit, and an electrode coupled to the electrical discharge circuit and having an attachment feature attachable to the target. Upon attachment the electrode is enabled to monitor a physiological condition of the target, generate a signal based on the physiological condition, and deliver the electrical discharge to the target. The electroshock device also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the electrical discharge circuit and the electrode. The controller is configured to modulate delivery of the electrical discharge based on the physiological condition of the target.

Claims

1. A method for delivering an electrical discharge to a target by an electroshock device, the method comprising:

attaching one or more electrodes to the target by projecting the one or more electrodes from the electroshock device;

delivering the electrical discharge to the target via the one or more electrodes;

monitoring a physiological condition of the target using the one or more electrodes;

determining a position of the one or more electrodes at the target; and

modulating the electrical discharge based on the physiological condition and the position of the one or more electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological condition includes an involuntary muscular condition of the target, and wherein the electrical discharge is modulated based on the involuntary muscular condition.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the involuntary muscular condition includes at least one of an activation level, movement, electrical activity, and electrical potential associated with a muscle of the target.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological condition includes an involuntary response to delivery of the electrical discharge, and wherein the electrical discharge is modulated based on the involuntary response.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the target is sufficiently subdued based on the physiological condition; and

modulating the electrical discharge based on the determination of whether the target is sufficiently subdued.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical discharge includes a series of pulses in which the initial pulse is predefined, and wherein any subsequent pulses are modulated based on the physiological condition of the target.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the series of pulses are separated by one or more listening periods, and wherein modulating the electrical discharge includes modulating the subsequent pulses based on the physiological condition monitored during the one or more listening periods.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

based on the physiological condition, determining that the target will be harmed by the electrical discharge; and

modulating at least one of an intensity and a duration of the electrical discharge based on the determination that the target will be harmed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical discharge is modulated prior to delivering the electrical discharge to the target.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the physiological condition of the target is automatically monitored upon attachment of the one or more electrodes to the target.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

preventing delivery of the electrical discharge prior to monitoring the physiological condition.

12. An electroshock device for delivering an electrical discharge to a target, the electroshock device comprising:

an electrical discharge circuit configured to produce an electrical discharge;

one or more electrodes coupled to the electrical discharge circuit and configured to;

attach to the target by projecting from the electroshock device; and

deliver the electrical discharge to the target; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the electrical discharge circuit and the one or more electrodes, the controller configured to;

monitor a physiological condition of the target based on information received from the one or more electrodes;

determine whether the physiological condition indicates continued purposeful movement of the target based on the information; and

modulate the electrical discharge based on the physiological condition and the determination.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the physiological condition includes an involuntary muscular condition of the target, and wherein the controller modulates the electrical discharge based on the involuntary muscular condition.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the involuntary muscular condition includes at least one of an activation level, movement, electrical activity, and electrical potential associated with a muscle of the target.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the physiological condition includes an involuntary response to delivery of the electrical discharge, and wherein the controller modulates the electrical discharge based on the involuntary response.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine whether the target is sufficiently subdued based on the physiological condition; and

modulate the electrical discharge based on the determination of whether the target is sufficiently subdued.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine a position of the one or more electrodes at the target; and

modulate the electrical discharge based on the position of the one or more electrodes.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the electrical discharge includes a series of pulses in which the initial pulse is predefined, and wherein the controller is configured to modulate any subsequent pulses based on the physiological condition of the target.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the series of pulses are separated by one or more listening periods, and wherein the controller is configured to modulate the subsequent pulses based on the physiological condition monitored during the one or more listening periods.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to:

based on the physiological condition, determine that the target will be harmed by the electrical discharge; and

modulate at least one of an intensity and a duration of the electrical discharge based on the determination that the target will be harmed.

21. The device of claim 12, wherein the electrical discharge is modulated prior to delivering the electrical discharge to the target.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to automatically monitor the physiological condition of the target upon attachment of the one or more electrodes to the target.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to prevent delivery of the electrical discharge prior to monitoring the physiological condition.

24. A method for delivering a defibrillating pulse to a target by an electroshock device, the method comprising:

delivering an electrical discharge to the target via an electrode projected from the electroshock device;

monitoring a physiological condition of the target;

determining that the defibrillating pulse is required based on the physiological condition;

delivering the defibrillating pulse to the target based on the determination; and

modulating the defibrillating pulse based on determining whether the target is temporarily incapacitated.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the electrode is one of a plurality of electrodes projected from the electroshock device.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising discontinuing the electrical discharge based on a determination that the defibrillating pulse is required.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein determining whether the defibrillating pulse is required includes determining whether at least one of a heart arrhythmia or heart fibrillation is present in the target.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising modulating at least one of the electrical discharge and the defibrillating pulse based on the physiological condition.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the defibrillating pulse is delivered by applying defibrillation leads to the target.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the defibrillating pulse is delivered by the electrode.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing an indication that the defibrillating pulse is required.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein manual manipulation of the electroshock device is required to deliver the defibrillating pulse.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the physiological condition is monitored by the electrode.

34. The method of claim 24, further comprising attaching the electrode to the target prior to delivering the electrical charge by projecting the electrode from an electroshock device.