Performing and pausing functions of wearable cardiac defibrillation system

• US 10,471,252 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2018
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• 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 D
• Application Number:
  US16/171,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20190060644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 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 be coupled to the support structure and configured to establish a local comlink with the mobile communication device;

an action unit configured to be coupled to the support structure, the 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, a second function distinct from the first function, the second function including causing a certain operation to be performed and paused, an aspect of the performance of the second function that includes pausing the performance of the certain operation at a particular time being controlled by the received one of the action inputs,

receive one of the wireless inputs, and

subsequently perform again the second function, the aspect of the subsequent performance of the second function being controlled by the received one of the wireless inputs;

wherein 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 exclusively by the received other one of the action inputs but not by the received other 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 a physiological parameter of the patient to be measured.

4. The WCD system of claim 3, in which

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time when the patient signifies that a condition for the measuring is optimized.

5. The WCD system of claim 3, in which

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time when the physiological parameter is measured.

6. The WCD system of claim 1, in which

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

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a sound volume of the auditory notification.

7. 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 controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time that the quality-of-life data is received.

8. 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 controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time that the condition data is transmitted.

9. The WCD system of claim 1, in which the certain operation includes one of transmitting data wirelessly, receiving data wirelessly, and performing a diagnostic self-test.

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 coupled to the support structure and establishing a local comlink with the mobile communication device, an action unit coupled to the support structure, the action unit having a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs, and the one or more processors, the one or more programs 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, a second function distinct from the first function, the second function including causing a certain operation to be performed and paused, an aspect of the performance of the second function that includes pausing the performance of the certain operation at a particular time being controlled by the received one of the action inputs;

receiving one of the wireless inputs;

subsequently performing again the second function, an aspect of the subsequent performance of the second function being controlled by the received one of the wireless inputs;

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 exclusively by the received other one of the wireless inputs but not by the received other one of the action inputs.

11. The medium of claim 10, in which

the second function includes causing a physiological parameter of the patient to be measured.

12. The medium of claim 11, in which

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time when the patient signifies that a condition for the measuring is optimized.

13. The medium of claim 11, in which

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time when the physiological parameter is measured.

14. The medium of claim 10, in which

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

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a sound volume of the auditory notification.

15. The medium of claim 10, in which

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

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time that the quality-of-life data is received.

16. 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 controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time that the condition data is transmitted.

17. The medium of claim 10, in which

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

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 coupled to the support structure and establishing a local comlink with the mobile communication device, an action unit coupled to the support structure, the 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, a second function distinct from the first function, the second function including causing a certain operation to be performed and paused, an aspect of the performance of the second function that includes pausing the performance of the certain operation at a particular time being controlled by the received one of the action inputs;

receiving one of the wireless inputs;

subsequently performing again the second function, an aspect of the subsequent performance of the second function being controlled by the received one of the wireless inputs;

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 exclusively by the received other one of the wireless inputs but not by the received other one of the action inputs.

19. The method of claim 18, in which

the second function includes causing a physiological parameter of the patient to be measured.

20. The method of claim 19, in which

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time when the patient signifies that a condition for the measuring is optimized.

21. The method of claim 19, in which

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time when the physiological parameter is measured.

22. The method of claim 18, in which

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

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a sound volume of the auditory notification.

23. The method of claim 18, in which

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

the controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time that the quality-of-life data is received.

24. 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 controlled aspect of the performance of the second function includes a time that the condition data is transmitted.

25. The method of claim 18, in which

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