Wearable monitoring and treatment device

• US 10,806,401 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2017
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Volpe, Shane S., Kaib, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kahelin, Michael W
• Application Number:
  US15/814,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20180132792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1281 with incorporated means for medical monitoring
• 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 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6844 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• 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 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3931 Protecting, e.g. back-up systems
• 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

Abstract

A wearable medical device is provided. The wearable medical device includes a garment that includes a sensing electrode, at least one of an inductive element and a capacitive element included in at least part of the garment, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine a confidence level of information received from the sensing electrode based on at least one of an inductance of the inductive element and a capacitance of the capacitive element.

Claims

1. A wearable medical device, comprising:

a garment in the shape of a vest or a shirt worn by a subject, the garment comprising a plurality of electrocardiograph sensing electrodes configured to receive electrocardiograph information from the subject;

at least two therapy electrodes held by the garment against the subject'"'"'s skin and configured to apply treatment to the subject;

at least one of an inductive element having an inductance and a capacitive element having a capacitance included in at least part of the garment;

detector circuitry configured to monitor for a change in at least one of the inductance and the capacitance; and

a controller in communication with the detector circuitry, the controller configured to

determine whether the garment has stretched beyond a predetermined tolerance threshold based on the change in the at least one of the inductance and the capacitance, and

cause the wearable medical device to provide a notification responsive to determining that the garment has stretched beyond the predetermined tolerance threshold.

2. The wearable medical device of claim 1, wherein the notification is provided to at least one of a doctor of the subject, a family member of the subject, a friend of the subject, a health care provider proximate to the subject, and a health care provider at a remote location.

3. The wearable medical device of claim 1, wherein the notification is provided one of audibly, visually, or haptically.

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

an alarm module coupled to the controller and configured to provide the notification to the subject based on at least one of the inductance and the capacitance.

5. The wearable medical device of claim 4, wherein the notification indicates that the garment is one of too loose about the subject, needs to be laundered to restore the garment'"'"'s elasticity, and needs to be replaced.

6. The wearable medical device of claim 4, wherein the notification comprises an instruction to the subject to at least one of tighten the garment, launder the garment, and replace the garment.

7. The wearable medical device of claim 4, wherein the notification to the subject comprises a notification informing the subject that the garment is too loose about the subject.

8. The wearable medical device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine respiratory function of the subject based on the change in the at least one of the inductance and the capacitance.

9. The wearable medical device of claim 1, wherein the at least two therapy electrodes are configured to deliver an electric shock to the subject.

10. The wearable medical device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrocardiograph sensing electrodes includes a conductive thread that is sewn into the garment.

11. The wearable medical device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to

determine a baseline inductance of the inductive element, and

determine whether the garment has stretched beyond the predetermined tolerance threshold based on a comparison of the inductance with the baseline inductance.

12. The wearable medical device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to

determine a baseline capacitance of the capacitive element, and

determine whether the garment has stretched beyond the predetermined tolerance threshold based on a comparison of the capacitance with the baseline capacitance.

13. The wearable medical device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to

determine a confidence level of the electrocardiograph information, and

decrease the confidence level of the electrocardiograph information responsive to determining that the garment has stretched beyond the predetermined tolerance threshold.

14. The wearable medical device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to provide the notification to the subject and the notification comprises an instruction to the subject to tighten the garment to increase the confidence level.