AED with force sensor

• US RE40,471 E1
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Science Operating Company (Cardica Incorporated)
• Inventors: Brewer, James E., Groenke, Allen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl
• Application Number:
  US10/255,988
• Time in Patent Office: 2,162 Days
• Field of Search: 607 5- 6, 607/3
• US Class Current: 607/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/007 Manual driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting

Abstract

A force sensor, for use in combination with an automated electronic defibrillator (AED), includes a first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is spaced apart from the first conductive layer such that no electrical communication occurs between the first and second conductive layers. An electrical communication device is provided for establishing electrical communication between the first and second conductive layers responsive to the application of a force to said electrical communication means. A method of prompting a rescuer in the application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a victim includes the steps of:

• • sensing a force applied by the rescuer to the victim'"'"'s sternum;
  • sensing an interval between successive applications of force to the victim'"'"'s sternum;
  • comparing the force applied by the rescuer to the victim'"'"'s sternum to a standard of force known to effect resuscitation;
  • providing a prompt to the rescuer that prompts the rescuer to vary the force delivered to approximate the force that is known to effect resuscitation,
  • comparing the interval between successive applications of force to the victim'"'"'s sternum to a standard interval known to effect resuscitation; and
  • providing a prompt to the rescuer that prompts the rescuer to vary the interval of force application to approximate the interval that is known to effect resuscitation.

Claims

1. An automated electronic defibrillator (AED) for use by an operator in assisting in resuscitating a victim, comprising:

a force sensor applicable to a skin surface of the victim and being responsive to the application of a force to said force sensor,

an AED control system being in electrical communication with the force sensor, the AED control system processing a signal communicated from the force sensor related to the magnitude of force applied thereto and to the frequency of application of the force thereto; and

AED prompting means operably coupled to the AED control system for receiving communication signals from the AED control system and for communicating prompts to the operator for use by the operator in resuscitating the victim, the prompts being related to the signal communicated to the AED control system by the force sensor related to the magnitude of force applied to the force sensor and to the frequency of application of the force to the force sensor.

2. The AED of claim 1 wherein the force sensor is responsive to the relative magnitude of the force applied thereto and communicates a signal related to said force magnitude to the AED control system.

3. The AED of claim 2 wherein the AED control system communicates signals relating to the relative magnitude of force applied to the force sensor to the AED prompting means for transmission as a prompt to the rescuer.

4. The AED of claim 1 wherein the AED control system determines the interval between a succession of force applications applied to the force sensor.

5. The AED of claim 4 wherein the AED control system communicates signals relating to the interval between a succession of force applications applied to the force sensor to the AED prompting means for transmission as a prompt to the rescuer.

6. The AED of claim 1 wherein the force sensor comprises:

a first conductive layer;

a second conductive layer being spaced apart from the first conductive layer, the first and second conductive layers being electrically isolated from one another; and

electrical communication means for establishing electrical communication between the first and second conductive layers responsive to the application of a force to said electrical communication means.

7. The AED of claim 6 wherein at least a part of the electrical communication means of the force sensor are formed of an extrudable, electrically conductive material, the electrical communication means being extruded by the application of a force to said electrical communication means, at least one extrusion thereof establishing a path of electrical communication between the first and second conductive layers responsive to the application of said force.

8. The AED of claim 7, the force sensor further including a flexible, nonconductive layer being disposed between the first and second conductive layers.

9. The AED of claim 8 wherein the first and second conductive layers of the force sensor are formed of conductive ink printed on opposed sides of the nonconductive layer.

10. The AED of claim 9, the force sensor further including a plurality of holes defined through the nonconductive layer and through the first and second conductive layers printed thereon.

11. The AED of claim 10, the force sensor further including a first extrudable, conductive layer disposed on the first conductive layer and a second extrudable, conductive layer disposed on the second conductive layer, the first and second extrudable, conductive layers being extrudable into the plurality of holes defined through the nonconductive layer and through the first and second conductive layers responsive to a force applied thereto to form an electrically communicative connection between the first and second conductive layers.

12. The AED of claim 6 wherein the first and second conductive layers of the force sensor are formed of conductive, metallic foil.

13. The AED of claim 1 wherein the force sensor is disposed in a hole defined in an electrode.

14. The AED of claim 6 wherein the magnitude of the force applied to the force sensor is inversely proportional to the impedance existing between the first and second conductive layers.

15. The AED of claim 6 wherein the impedance existing between the first and second conductive layers of the force sensor is related to the magnitude of the force applied to the force sensor.

16. A method of prompting a rescuer in the application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a victim comprising the steps of:

sensing a force applied by the rescuer to the victim by means of a force sensor;

sensing an interval between successive applications of force to the victim'"'"'s sternum;

by means of a processor operably coupled to the force sensor,

the processor comparing the force applied by the rescuer to the victim'"'"'s sternum to a standard of force known to effect resuscitation;

the processor providing a prompt to the rescuer that prompts the rescuer to vary the force delivered to approximate the force that is known to effect resuscitation;

the processor comparing the interval between successive applications of force to the victim'"'"'s sternum to a standard interval known to effect resuscitation; and

the processor providing a prompt to the rescuer that prompts the rescuer to vary the interval of force application to approximate the interval that is known to effect resuscitation.

17. An automated electronic defibrillator (AED) for use by an operator in assisting in resuscitating a victim, having a charging circuit for developing a high voltage charge, at least two electrodes for application to the person of a victim, the at least two electrodes being in electrical communication with the charging circuit, a control circuit communicatively coupled to the charging circuit and the electrodes for detecting certain biological parameters of the victim and for controlling the delivery of a voltage charge from the charging circuit through the at least two electrodes to the victim, comprising:

means for prompting a rescuer in the delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the victim, the means for prompting a rescuer further including the control system being in electrical communication with a force sensor, the AED control circuit processing a signal communicated from the force sensor related to the magnitude of force applied thereto and to a frequency of application of the force thereto.

18. The AED of claim 17 wherein the means for prompting a rescuer includes a force sensor applicable to a skin surface of the victim and being responsive to the application of a force to said force sensor.

19. The AED of claim 17 wherein the means for prompting a rescuer An automated electronic defibrillator (AED) for use by operator in assisting in resuscitating a victim, having a charging circuit for developing a high voltage charge, at least two electrodes for application to the person of a victim, the at least two electrodes being in electrical communication with the charging circuit, a control circuit communicatively coupled to the charging circuit and the electrodes for detecting certain biological parameters of the victim and for controlling the delivery of a voltage charge from the charging circuit through the at least two electrodes to the victim, comprising:

means for prompting a rescuer in the delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the victim, the means for prompting a rescuer including the control system being in electrical communication with a force sensor, the AED control circuit processing a signal communicated from the force sensor related to the magnitude of force applied thereto and to a frequency of application of the force thereto and further includesing prompting means operably coupled to the AED control circuit for receiving communication signals from the AED control circuit and for communicating prompts to the rescuer for use by the rescuer in resuscitating the victim, the prompts being related to the signal communicated to the AED control circuit by a force sensor related to the magnitude of force applied to the force sensor and to the frequency of application of the force to the force sensor.

20. The AED of claim 19 wherein the force sensor is responsive to the relative magnitude of the force applied thereto and communicates a signal related to said force magnitude to the AED control system.

21. The AED of claim 20 wherein the AED control circuit communicates signals relating to the relative magnitude of force applied to the force sensor to the AED prompting means for transmission as a prompt to the rescuer.

22. The AED of claim 21 wherein the AED control system determines the interval between a succession of force applications applied to the force sensor.

23. The AED of claim 22 wherein the AED control circuit communicates signals relating to the interval between a succession of force applications applied to the force sensor to the AED prompting means for transmission as a prompt to the rescuer.

24. An automated electronic defibrillator (AED) for use by an operator in assisting in resuscitating a victim, having a charging circuit for developing a high voltage charge, at least two electrodes for application to the person of a victim, the at least two electrodes being in electrical communication with the charging circuit, a control circuit communicatively coupled to the charging circuit and the electrodes for detecting certain biological parameters of the victim and for controlling the delivery of a voltage charge from the charging circuit through the at least two electrodes to the victim, comprising:

means for prompting a rescuer in the delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the victim, the means for prompting a rescuer including a force sensor applicable to a skin surface of the victim and being responsive to the application of a force to said force sensor, the force sensor having,

a first conductive layer;

a second conductive layer being spaced apart from the first conductive layer, the first and second conductive layers being electrically isolated from one another; and

electrical communication means for establishing electrical communication between the first and second conductive layers responsive to the application of a force to said electrical communication means.

25. The AED of claim 24 wherein at least a part of the electrical communication means of the force sensor are formed of an extrudable, electrically conductive material, the electrical communication means being extruded by the application of a force to said electrical communication means, at least one extrusion thereof establishing a path of electrical communication between the first and second conductive layers responsive to the application of said force.

26. The AED of claim 25, the force sensor further including a flexible, nonconductive layer being disposed between the first and second conductive layers.

27. The AED of claim 26 wherein the first and second conductive layers of the force sensor are formed of conductive ink printed on opposed sides of the nonconductive layer.

28. A patient interface for use with an automated electronic defibrillator (AED) comprising:

a patient connection interface adapted to be positioned externally on a victim and operably connected to the AED, the patient connection interface including;

means for selectively delivering a signal to the AED representative of the victim'"'"'s cardiac electrical signal;

means for selectively delivering a defibrillation shock pulse from the AED to the victim; and

means for selectively delivering a signal to the AED indicative of a magnitude of chest compression when the victim is receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

29. The patient connection of claim 28, wherein the means for selectively delivering a signal to the AED comprises at least one sensor having at least one lead wire attached to the sensor.

30. The patient connection of claim 29, wherein the sensor is a force sensor, and the signal delivered to the AED is related to a force applied to the sensor.

32. The patient connection of claim 29, wherein the sensor senses a force applied to the sensor, and wherein the signal from the sensor is proportional to the force applied to the sensor.

31. A method of interfacing an automated electronic defibrillator (AED) with a victim comprising the steps of:

positioning a patient interface externally on the victim, the patient interface having at least two electrodes and at least one sensor;

connecting the patient interface to the AED;

using the AED to sense a signal representative of the victim'"'"'s cardiac electrical signal from the at least two electrodes;

using the AED to sense a signal from the sensor indicative of a magnitude of chest compression when the victim is receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);

determining if the magnitude of chest compressions received by the victim during CPR is effective for resuscitation by using the AED to analyze the signal from the sensor;

prompting the rescuer in response to the step of determining if the magnitude of chest compressions received by the victim during CPR is effective; and

using the AED to selectively deliver a defibrillation shock pulse from the AED to the victim through the at least two electrodes.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of determining if the magnitude of chest compressions received by the victim during CPR is effective determines whether the rescuer effectively depressed the sternum between about 4 and 5 cm.

34. An automated external defibrillation system for use by a rescuer to resuscitate a victim comprising:

a patient connection interface adapted to be positioned externally on a victim, the patient connection interface including;

at least two electrodes, each having at least one lead wire attached to the electrode that selectively delivers a signal representative of the victim'"'"'s cardiac electrical signal (EKG) and that selectively delivers a defibrillation shock pulse to the victim; and

at least one sensor having at least one lead wire attached to the sensor that selectively delivers a signal indicative of a magnitude of chest compression when the victim is receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and

an automatic external defibrillator (AED) having;

charging circuitry that is in electrical communication with the at least two electrodes via the lead wires and selectively develops a high voltage charge for defibrillation of the victim;

EKG cardiac sensing circuitry that is in electrical communication with the at least two electrodes via the lead wires and selectively receives the signal representative of the victim'"'"'s cardiac electrical signal;

CPR sensing circuitry that is in electrical communication with the at least one sensor via the lead wires and selectively receives the signal indicative of the magnitude of chest compressions;

voice circuitry that selectively generates audio prompts for the rescuer; and

a processor and associated memory and control logic operably connected to the charging circuitry, the EKG sensing circuitry, the CPR sensing circuitry and the voice circuitry that executes programmed instructions to selectively perform the steps comprising;

automatically analyzing the victim'"'"'s cardiac electrical signal;

automatically analyzing the signal indicative of the magnitude of chest compression;

generating audio prompts to instruct the rescuer on appropriate instructions to perform both CPR and defibrillation based on the steps of analyzing the magnitude of chest compression and the victim'"'"'s cardiac electrical signal; and

controlling delivery of the high voltage charge from the charging circuitry to the victim via the at least two electrodes at a time coordinated with audio prompts that instruct the rescuer.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the processor analyzes the signal indicative of the magnitude of chest compression to determine if the indicated magnitude of chest compression is within a desired range.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the desired range is based on a force and the sensor senses a force applied to the sensor.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the desired range is based on a chest compression and the processor analyzes the signal indicative of the magnitude of chest compression to determine whether the rescuer effectively depressed the sternum between about 4 and 5 cm.

38. The system of claim 35 wherein the desired range is based on a rate and the processor analyzes the signal indicative of the magnitude of chest compression to determine a rate of chest compressions.

39. An automated external defibrillation system for use by a rescuer to resuscitate a victim comprising:

a patient connection interface adapted to be positioned externally on a victim, the patient connection interface including;

means for selectively sensing and delivering a signal representative of the victim'"'"'s cardiac electrical signal (EKG) and for selectively delivering a defibrillation shock pulse to the victim; and

means for selectively sensing and delivering a signal indicative of at least one parameter associated with the victim receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and

an automatic external defibrillator (AED) having;

means for selectively developing a high voltage charge for defibrillation of the victim in electrical communication with the patient interface;

means for selectively generating audio prompts for the rescuer; and

means operably connected to the means for selectively developing a high voltage charge and the means for selectively generating audio prompts for the rescuer for selectively controlling operation of the AED, including;

means for automatically analyzing the victim'"'"'s EKG signal;

means for automatically analyzing the CPR signal;

means for generating audio prompts to instruct the rescuer on appropriate instructions to perform both CPR and defibrillation in response to the means for automatically analyzing the EKG signal and the means for automatically analyzing the CPR signal; and

means for selectively delivering the high voltage charge from the means for selectively developing a high voltage charge at a time coordinated with audio prompts generated by the means for generating audio prompts.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the means for selectively sensing and delivering a signal representative of the victim'"'"'s cardiac electrical signal (EKG) and for selectively delivering a defibrillation shock pulse to the victim comprises a pair of electrodes, each electrode having at least one lead wire attached thereto.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the means for selectively sensing and delivering a signal indicative of at least one parameter associated with the victim receiving CPR comprises a sensor having at least one lead wire attached thereto.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the CPR signal includes a signal indicative of the magnitude of chest compression and the means for automatically analyzing the CPR signal analyzes the signal indicative of the magnitude of chest compression to determine if the magnitude of chest compression is within a desired range.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the desired range is based on a force.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the desired range is based on a rate.

45. The system of claim 42 wherein the desired range is based on a chest compression and the means for selectively controlling operation of the AED analyzes the signal indicative of the magnitude of chest compression to determine whether the rescuer effectively depressed the sternum between about 4 and 5 cm.

46. A method of prompting a rescuer in the resuscitation of a victim comprising the steps of:

positioning a patient connection interface externally on a victim, the patient connection interface including at least two electrodes and at least one sensor;

connecting the patient connection interface to an automatic external defibrillator (AED);

using the AED and the at least two electrodes to selectively sense and automatically analyze a signal representative of the victim'"'"'s cardiac electrical signal (EKG);

using the AED and the at least one sensor to selectively sense and automatically analyze a signal indicative of a magnitude of chest compression when the victim is receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR);

automatically causing voice circuitry in the AED to generate audio prompts to instruct the rescuer on appropriate instructions to perform both CPR and defibrillation based on the steps of automatically analyzing the victim'"'"'s EKG and automatically analyzing the signal indicative of a magnitude of chest compression when the victim is receiving CPR; and

automatically causing the AED to selectively deliver a high voltage charge from a charging circuitry to the victim via the at least two electrodes at a time coordinated with audio prompts generated by the voice circuitry.