Wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) poking the patient when not ready for use

• US 9,987,496 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2017
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
• Original Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp
• Inventors: Sullivan, Joseph Leo, Banville, Isabelle, Krusor, Blaine, Piha, Daniel Ralph, Gustavson, Laura Marie, Finch, David Peter, Cowan, Kenneth Frederick, Nova, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko, George
• Application Number:
  US15/672,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20170368361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• 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

A wearable medical device includes a garment and a medical device. The medical device has a functionality that can transition between an operative state and an inoperative state. When the functionality is in the inoperative state, a protrusion extends so as to poke the patient, as an indication that steps need to be taken to make the device ready for use.

Claims

1. A wearable medical device for treating a patient, comprising:

a garment configured to be worn by the patient;

a medical device configured to deliver a treatment shock to the patient while the garment is worn by the patient, the medical device having a functionality that can transition between an operative state and an inoperative state;

a monitor to determine when the functionality is in the operative state and when the functionality is in the inoperative state; and

a protrusion configured to extend so as to poke the patient when the patient wears the garment and the monitored functionality is in the inoperative state, the protrusion further configured to retract when the monitored functionality is in the operative state.

2. The wearable medical device of claim 1, in which

the protrusion is integrated into the garment.

3. The wearable medical device of claim 1, in which

the medical device is attached to the garment and worn by the patient when the patient wears the garment, and

the protrusion is integrated with the medical device.

4. The wearable medical device of claim 1, further comprising:

a solenoid, and

in which the protrusion is activated by the solenoid.

5. The wearable medical device of claim 1, in which

the medical device includes a wearable cardioverter defibrillator.

6. The wearable medical device of claim 1, in which

the medical device includes a defibrillator, and

the functionality is an ability of the defibrillator to deliver the treatment shock.

7. The wearable medical device of claim 6, in which

the defibrillator includes a battery, and

the defibrillator is configured to be powered by the battery, and

the functionality is in the operative state if the battery is sufficiently charged for the defibrillator to deliver the treatment shock to the patient.

8. The wearable medical device of claim 6, in which

the defibrillator is configured to perform a self-test to determine also if the functionality is in the operative state.