Pressure resistant conductive fluid containment

• US 9,833,631 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
• Original Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp
• Inventors: Meeker, Dallas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US15/213,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• 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 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence

Abstract

A conductive fluid reservoir can be used to dispense conductive fluid to increase electrical connectivity between an electrode of a defibrillator and a patient. The reservoir includes a container that holds the conductive fluid, one or more outlets on the container, and an inflatable pouch located at least partially within the container. The inflatable pouch is capable of being inflated from a deflated state to an inflated state. In the deflated state, a free end of the inflatable pouch covers the one or more outlets. In the inflated state, the free end of the inflatable pouch is removed from the one or more outlets such that the conductive fluid is allowed to flow out of the container via the one or more outlets. Inflating the inflatable pouch causes the conductive fluid to be dispensed from the reservoir.

Claims

1. A conductive fluid reservoir configured to contain a conductive fluid, the reservoir comprising:

an inflatable pouch having a free end; and

one or more outlets, wherein the inflatable pouch is configured to be inflated from a deflated state to an inflated state in response to pressurized fluid being delivered from a source of pressurized fluid, wherein, when the inflatable pouch is in the deflated state, the free end of the inflatable pouch covers the one or more outlets and seals the one or more outlets from the conductive fluid contained in the conductive fluid reservoir, and further wherein, when the inflatable pouch is in the inflated state, the free end of the inflatable pouch is removed from the one or more outlets such that the contained conductive fluid is allowed to flow from the conductive fluid reservoir through the one or more outlets to increase electrical connectivity between an electrode and a patient.

2. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein a shape of the inflatable pouch transitions from flat to round as the inflatable pouch transitions from the deflated state to the inflated state.

3. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 1, further comprising a seal between the inflatable pouch and the one or more outlets when the inflatable pouch is in the deflated state.

4. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 3, wherein the seal between the inflatable pouch and the one or more outlets is broken when the inflatable pouch is inflated from the deflated state to the inflated state.

5. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the inflatable pouch has a U-shape comprising a first side and a second side.

6. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 5, wherein the free end of the inflatable pouch covers one or more outlets on the first side of the U-shape.

7. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 5, wherein the inflatable pouch comprises an inlet configured to receive the pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid.

8. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 5, wherein the first and second sides of the inflatable pouch are arranged such that, when the inflatable pouch is in the inflated state, there is a path for most or all of the conductive fluid to flow to the one or more outlets.

9. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the inflatable pouch has a ring shape.

10. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the free end of the inflatable pouch has a saw-tooth shape.

11. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 10, wherein the saw-tooth shape comprises peaks and valleys, and further wherein at least one of the valleys is located near the one or more outlets.

12. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the one or more outlets include four outlets arranged linearly.

13. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein a pressure of gas in the inflatable pouch is within a range between 5 psi and 30 psi.

14. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the source of pressurized fluid comprises a gas generator.

15. The conductive fluid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the source of pressurized fluid comprises a pressurized fluid container.

16. A system configured to be used by a patient, comprising:

a wearable defibrillator having a first electrode;

a first source of pressurized fluid; and

a first conductive fluid reservoir having one or more outlets and a first inflatable pouch configured to be inflated from a deflated state to an inflated state in response to pressurized fluid being delivered from the first source of pressurized fluid, wherein, when the first inflatable pouch is in the deflated state, a free end of the first inflatable pouch covers the one or more outlets and seals the one or more outlets from conductive fluid in the first conductive fluid reservoir, and further wherein, when the first inflatable pouch is in the inflated state, the free end of the first inflatable pouch is removed from the one or more outlets such that conductive fluid is allowed to flow from the first conductive fluid reservoir through the one or more outlets to increase electrical connectivity between the first electrode and the patient.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first source of pressurized fluid comprises a gas generator.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a controller configured to control selective delivery of the pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid to the inflatable pouch.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a second electrode;

a second source of pressurized fluid; and

a second conductive fluid reservoir having one or more outlets and a second inflatable pouch.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to control selective delivery of the pressurized fluid from the second source of pressurized fluid to the second inflatable pouch to increase electrical connectivity between the second electrode and the patient.