Wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system sounding to bystanders in patient's own voice

• US 10,744,335 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2017
• Issued: 08/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
• Original Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp
• Inventors: Sullivan, Joseph L., Finch, David Peter, Foshee, Jr., Phillip Dewey, Banville, Isabelle, Nova, Richard C., Szul, Krystyna, Finney, Daniel, Gustavson, Laura Marie, Kavounas, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dietrich, Joseph M
• Application Number:
  US15/839,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20180110994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39 Heart defibrillators
• 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 1/39046 User protection from shock
• 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 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3987 characterised by the timing or triggering of the shock
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators

Abstract

A wearable cardiac defibrillator (“WCD”) system may include a support structure that a patient can wear, an energy storage module that can store an electrical charge, and a discharge circuit that can discharge the electrical charge through the patient so as to shock him or her, while the patient is wearing the support structure. Embodiments may actively take into account bystanders, both to protect them from an inadvertent shock, and also to enlist their help. In some embodiments, the WCD system includes a speaker system and a memory. Prompts have been saved in advance in the patient'"'"'s own voice, and stored in the memory. In case of an emergency, the prompts may be played by the speaker system in the patient'"'"'s own voice, and heard by a bystander.

Claims

1. A wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system, comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a patient;

an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge;

a discharge circuit configured to be coupled to the energy storage module and configured to discharge the stored electrical charge through the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient;

a memory configured to store at least one data file encoding a sound recorded in the voice of the patient; and

a speaker system coupled to the support structure and configured to output a transmitted sound that includes the sound recorded in the voice of the patient.

2. The WCD system of claim 1, in which the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to say:

“

CLEAR”

, “

YES”

, “

ALL CLEAR”

, “

NO”

, or “

WAIT”

.

3. The WCD system of claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone configured to sense the voice of the patient, and

in which the sensed voice becomes the recorded sound.

4. The WCD system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface configured to input the data file, and

in which the inputted data file becomes stored in the memory.

5. The WCD system of claim 1, in which

the memory is further configured to store another data file encoding another sound in a voice other than the voice of the patient, and

the transmitted sound further includes the other sound.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs which, when executed by at least one processor a wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system, the WCD system including a support structure configured to be worn by a patient, an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge, a discharge circuit configured to be coupled to the energy storage module, a measurement circuit, a speaker system coupled to the support structure and a memory, they result in operations comprising:

storing in the memory at least one data file encoding a sound recorded in the voice of the patient;

rendering, by the measurement circuit, a physiological input from a physiological signal of the patient while the patient is wearing the support structure;

determining from the physiological input whether or not a shock condition is met and, if met, controlling the discharge circuit to discharge the electrical charge through the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient; and

outputting, via the speaker system, a transmitted sound that includes the sound recorded in the voice of the patient after it is determined that the shock condition is met and before the discharge circuit is controlled to discharge the stored electrical charge through the patient.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, in which

the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to not touch the patient.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, in which

the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to not remove the support structure from the patient.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, in which

the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to say:

“

CLEAR”

, “

YES”

, “

ALL CLEAR”

, “

NO”

, or “

WAIT”

.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, in which

the WCD system further includes a microphone, and

storing is performed by sensing the patient'"'"'s voice via the microphone and recording it.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, in which

the WCD system further includes a user interface, and

storing is performed by inputting the data file via the user interface.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, in which when the one or more programs are so executed, they result in the operations to further comprise:

storing another data file encoding another sound in a voice other than the voice of the patient, and

in which the transmitted sound further includes the other sound.

13. A method for a wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system, the WCD system including a support structure configured to be worn by a patient, an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge, a discharge circuit configured to be coupled to the energy storage module, a measurement circuit, a processor, a speaker system coupled to the support structure and a memory, the method comprising:

storing in the memory at least one data file encoding a sound recorded in the voice of the patient;

rendering, by the measurement circuit, a physiological input from a physiological signal of the patient while the patient is wearing the support structure;

determining, by the processor, from the physiological input whether or not a shock condition is met and, if met, controlling the discharge circuit to discharge the electrical charge through the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient; and

outputting, via the speaker system, a transmitted sound that includes the sound recorded in the voice of the patient after it is determined that the shock condition is met and before the discharge circuit is controlled to discharge the stored electrical charge through the patient.

14. The method of claim 13, in which

the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to not touch the patient.

15. The method of claim 13, in which

the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to not remove the support structure from the patient.

16. The method of claim 13, in which

the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to say:

“

CLEAR”

, “

YES”

, “

ALL CLEAR”

, “

NO”

, or “

WAIT”

.

17. The method of claim 13, in which

the WCD system further includes a microphone, and

storing is performed by sensing the patient'"'"'s voice via the microphone and recording it.

18. The method of claim 13, in which

the WCD system further includes a user interface, and

storing is performed by inputting the data file via the user interface.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing another data file encoding another sound in a voice other than the voice of the patient, and

in which the transmitted sound further includes the other sound.

20. A wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system, comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a patient;

an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge;

a discharge circuit coupled to the energy storage module, the discharge circuit controllable to discharge the stored electrical charge so as to cause a shock to be delivered to the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient;

a memory configured to store at least one data file encoding a sound recorded in the voice of the patient that communicates a request to not touch the patient; and

a speaker system coupled to the support structure and configured to output a transmitted sound that includes the sound recorded in the voice of the patient.

21. The WCD system of claim 20, further comprising:

a user interface configured to input the data file, and

in which the inputted data file becomes stored in the memory.

22. The WCD system of claim 20, in which

the memory is further configured to store another data file encoding another sound in a voice other than the voice of the patient, and

the transmitted sound further includes the other sound.

23. A wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system, comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a patient;

an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge;

a discharge circuit coupled to the energy storage module, the discharge circuit controllable to discharge the stored electrical charge so as to cause a shock to be delivered to the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient;

a memory configured to store at least one data file encoding a sound recorded in the voice of the patient that communicates a request to not remove the support structure from the patient; and

a speaker system coupled to the support structure and configured to output a transmitted sound that includes the sound recorded in the voice of the patient.

24. The WCD system of claim 23, further comprising:

a user interface configured to input the data file, and

in which the inputted data file becomes stored in the memory.

25. The WCD system of claim 23, in which

the memory is further configured to store another data file encoding another sound in a voice other than the voice of the patient, and

the transmitted sound further includes the other sound.

26. A wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system, comprising:

a support structure configured to be worn by a patient;

an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge;

a discharge circuit coupled to the energy storage module, the discharge circuit controllable to discharge the stored electrical charge through the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient;

a measurement circuit configured to render a physiological input from a physiological signal of the patient while the patient is wearing the support structure;

a processor configured to;

determine from the physiological input whether or not a shock condition is met and, if met, to control the discharge circuit to discharge the electrical charge through the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient;

a memory configured to store at least one data file encoding a sound recorded in the voice of the patient; and

a speaker system coupled to the support structure and configured to output a transmitted sound that includes the sound recorded in the voice of the patient after it is determined that the shock condition is met and before the discharge circuit is controlled to discharge the electrical charge through the patient.

27. The WCD system of claim 26, in which

the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to not touch the patient.

28. The WCD system of claim 26, in which

the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to not remove the support structure from the patient.

29. The WCD system of claim 26, in which

the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to say:

“

CLEAR”

, “

YES”

, “

ALL CLEAR”

, “

NO”

, or “

WAIT”

.

30. The WCD system of claim 26, further comprising:

a user interface configured to input the data file, and

in which the inputted data file becomes stored in the memory.

31. The WCD system of claim 26, in which

the memory is further configured to store another data file encoding another sound in a voice other than the voice of the patient, and

the transmitted sound further includes the other sound.