Controlling functions of wearable cardiac defibrillation system

• US 10,155,110 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2015
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
• Original Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp
• Inventors: Finch, David Peter, Foshee, Jr., Phillip Dewey, Roane, Erick Michael, Gustavson, Laura Marie, Cowan, Kenneth F., Buchanan, Robert Reuben, Finney, Daniel James, Fouts, Jason W., Kavounas, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): FAIRCHILD, MALLIKA DIPAYAN
• Application Number:
  US14/684,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20160296114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/361 Detecting fibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

A Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system is configured to be worn by a patient who carries a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device has a user interface that is configured to enable the patient to enter wireless inputs. The WCD system includes a communication module that is configured to establish a local comlink with the mobile communication device. The WCD system also includes a tethered action unit that has a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs. The WCD system can perform some of its functions in response to the action inputs or to the wireless inputs. Since the wireless inputs can be provided from the mobile communication device instead of the action unit, the patient is less likely to attract attention when entering them, and thus exhibit better compliance.

Claims

1. A Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system configured to be worn by a patient carrying a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device having a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter wireless inputs, the WCD system comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by the patient;

a power source configured to store an electrical charge;

a discharge circuit;

a communication module configured to establish a local comlink with the mobile communication device;

an action unit having a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs; and

one or more processors configured to;

perform a first function of causing the patient to be defibrillated by controlling the discharge circuit to discharge the stored electrical charge through the patient while the patient is wearing the support structure,

receive one of the action inputs,

perform, responsive to the received one of the action inputs, an aspect of a second function, the second function distinct from the first function, the second function including causing a physiological parameter of the patient to be measured,

receive one of the wireless inputs, and

subsequently perform again the aspect of the second function responsive to the received one of the wireless inputs.

2. The WCD system of claim 1, in which

the mobile communication device is part of the WCD system.

3. The WCD system of claim 1, in which

the second function includes causing an auditory notification to be provided to the patient, and

the performed aspect includes setting a sound volume of the auditory notification.

4. The WCD system of claim 1, in which

the second function includes causing quality-of-life data to be received from the patient, and

the performed aspect includes a time that the quality-of-life data is received.

5. The WCD system of claim 1, in which

the second function includes causing condition data to be transmitted to a remote party designated as friendly to the patient, and

the performed aspect includes a time that the condition data is transmitted.

6. The WCD system of claim 1, in which

the second function includes causing a certain operation to be performed, and

the performed aspect includes pausing the performance of the certain operation at a particular time.

7. The WCD system of claim 6, in which

the certain operation includes one of transmitting data wirelessly, receiving data wirelessly, and performing a diagnostic self-test.

8. The WCD system of claim 1, in which

the one or more processors are configured to further:

receive another one of the action inputs,

receive another one of the wireless inputs, and

perform a third function distinct from the first and the second functions, an aspect of the performance of the third function being controlled by the received other action input but not by the received other wireless input.

9. The WCD system of claim 1, in which

the one or more processors are coupled by a wire to the action unit.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs which, when executed by one or more processors of a Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system that is configured to be worn by a patient carrying a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device having a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter wireless inputs, the WCD system including a support structure worn by the patient, a power source storing an electrical charge, a discharge circuit, a communication module configured to establish a local comlink with the mobile communication device, an action unit having a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs, the one or more processors result in operations comprising:

performing a first function of causing the patient to be defibrillated by controlling the discharge circuit to discharge the stored electrical charge through the patient while the patient is wearing the support structure;

receiving one of the action inputs;

performing, responsive to the received one of the action inputs, an aspect of a second function, the second function distinct from the first function, the second function including causing a physiological parameter of the patient to be measured;

receiving one of the wireless inputs; and

subsequently performing again the aspect of the second function responsive to the received one of the wireless inputs.

11. The medium of claim 10, in which

the second function includes causing an auditory notification to be provided to the patient, and

the performed aspect includes setting a sound volume of the auditory notification.

12. The medium of claim 10, in which

the second function includes causing quality-of-life data to be received from the patient, and

the performed aspect includes a time that the quality-of-life data is received.

13. The medium of claim 10, in which

the second function includes causing condition data to be transmitted to a remote party designated as friendly to the patient, and

the performed aspect includes a time that the condition data is transmitted.

14. The medium of claim 10, in which

the second function includes causing a certain operation to be performed, and

the performed aspect includes pausing the performance of the certain operation at a particular time.

15. The medium of claim 14, in which

the certain operation includes one of transmitting data wirelessly, receiving data wirelessly, and performing a diagnostic self-test.

16. The medium of claim 10, in which executing the one or more programs results in the operations to further comprise:

receiving another one of the action inputs;

receiving another one of the wireless inputs; and

performing a third function distinct from the first and the second functions, an aspect of the performance of the third function being controlled by the received other wireless input but not by the received other action input.

17. The medium of claim 10, in which

the one or more processors are coupled by a wire to the action unit, and

the one of the action inputs is received via the wire.

18. A method for a Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system configured to be worn by a patient carrying a mobile communication device, the mobile communication device having a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter wireless inputs, the WCD system including a support structure worn by the patient, a power source storing an electrical charge, a discharge circuit, a communication module establishing a local comlink with the mobile communication device, an action unit having a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs, and one or more processors, the method comprising:

performing a first function of causing the patient to be defibrillated by controlling the discharge circuit to discharge the stored electrical charge through the patient while the patient is wearing the support structure;

receiving one of the action inputs;

performing, responsive to the received one of the action inputs, an aspect of a second function, the second function distinct from the first function, the second function including causing a physiological parameter of the patient to be measured;

receiving one of the wireless inputs; and

subsequently performing again the aspect of the second function responsive to the received one of the wireless inputs.

19. The method of claim 18, in which

the second function includes causing an auditory notification to be provided to the patient, and

the performed aspect includes setting a sound volume of the auditory notification.

20. The method of claim 18, in which

the second function includes causing quality-of-life data to be received from the patient, and

the performed aspect includes a time that the quality-of-life data is received.

21. The method of claim 18, in which

the second function includes causing condition data to be transmitted to a remote party designated as friendly to the patient, and

the performed aspect includes a time that the condition data is transmitted.

22. The method of claim 18, in which

the second function includes causing a certain operation to be performed, and

the performed aspect includes pausing the performance of the certain operation at a particular time.

23. The method of claim 22, in which

the certain operation includes one of transmitting data wirelessly, receiving data wirelessly, and performing a diagnostic self-test.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving another one of the action inputs;

receiving another one of the wireless inputs; and

performing a third function distinct from the first and the second functions, an aspect of the performance of the third function being controlled by the received other wireless input but not by the received other action input.

25. The method of claim 18, in which

the one or more processors are coupled by a wire to the action unit, and

the one of the action inputs is received via the wire.