Easy-to-use electrode and package

• US 20030088276A1
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Locke, Kelly JoAnn, Bertagnole, Shawn Robert, Covey, Kevin Kelly
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention presents techniques for making the operation of an automated external defibrillator easier to understand for an operator. The automated external defibrillator includes defibrillation electrodes packaged in a sealed, easy-to-open pouch. Visual cues such as instructive pictures show the operator how to open the pouch, retrieve the defibrillation electrodes and correctly position the electrodes on a patient'"'"'s chest.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a medical device; and

a pouch fastened to the medical device, the pouch containing an electrode.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is a defibrillator.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is a defibrillator-monitor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrode is a defibrillation electrode.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the pouch is hermetically sealed.

6. The device of claim 1, the pouch further comprising an anchor that fastens the pouch to the medical device.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the anchor is substantially cylindrical.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the anchor fastens the pouch to the medical device non-permanently.

9. The device of claim 6, the medical device comprising a mating member that receives the anchor.

10. The device of claim 6, the pouch further comprising:

a notch proximal to the anchor, the anchor on one side of the notch; and

a handle on another side of the notch that, when pulled, causes the handle to move away from the anchor and causes the pouch to tear at the notch.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

the electrode;

a lead wire coupled to the electrode; and

a connector coupled to the lead wire.

12. The device of claim 11, the medical device including a receptacle that receives the connector.

13. The device of claim 11, the electrode further comprising:

a right electrode; and

a left electrode.

14. The device of claim 1, the medical device including a lip that engages the pouch.

15. The device of claim 1, the pouch comprising an instructive picture that illustrates opening the pouch.

16. The device of claim 1, the pouch comprising an instructive picture that illustrates placement of the electrode on a patient.

17. A device comprising a pouch containing a defibrillation electrode, the pouch comprising a handle that when pulled causes the pouch to open.

18. The device of claim 17, the pouch further comprising a notch proximal to the handle, the pouch tearing at the notch when the handle is pulled.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the handle is on one side of the notch, the pouch further comprising an anchor on another side of the notch.

20. The device of claim 18, further comprising a tear strip proximal to the notch, wherein causing the pouch to open comprises causing the pouch to tear along the tear strip.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the handle has a ring shape.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein the handle is oriented to facilitate pulling in a defined direction.

23. The device of claim 17, the pouch further comprising an instructive picture that illustrates opening the pouch.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the instructive picture includes a symbol representing the handle and wherein the symbol and the handle are of the same color.

25. The device of claim 17, wherein the handle includes directional arrows.

26. The device of claim 17, the pouch comprising an instructive picture that illustrates placement of the defibrillation electrode on a patient.

27. The device of claim 17, the pouch containing a second defibrillation electrode, the pouch comprising an instructive picture that illustrates placement of the defibrillation electrodes on a patient.

28. A method comprising:

sealing a defibrillation electrode in a pouch; and

constructing a handle on the pouch that when pulled causes the pouch to open.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising forming a notch in the pouch proximal to the handle, the pouch tearing at the notch when the handle is pulled.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein constructing a handle on the pouch comprises constructing a handle on one side of the notch, the method further comprising constructing an anchor on the pouch on another side of the notch.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein constructing a handle on the pouch comprises attaching the handle to the pouch.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising printing an instructive picture on the pouch illustrating opening the pouch with the handle.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising printing an instructive picture on the pouch illustrating placement of the electrode on a human figure.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

coupling a lead wire to the defibrillation electrode; and

passing the lead wire through a sealed entry point in the pouch.

35. A device comprising:

a defibrillation electrode;

a human figure printed on the defibrillation electrode; and

an electrode symbol printed on the human figure,

wherein the human figure is oriented on the defibrillation electrode at an angle so that when the defibrillation electrode is applied to a patient with the head of the patient and the head of the human figure in the same direction, the defibrillation electrode will be oriented at the angle.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the human figure is oriented on the defibrillation electrode at an angle so that when the defibrillation electrode is applied to a left side of the chest of the patient with the head of the patient and the head of the human figure in the same direction, the defibrillation electrode will be oriented at the angle.

37. The device of claim 35, wherein the defibrillation electrode is a left defibrillation electrode, the device further comprising:

a right defibrillation electrode; and

a liner affixed to the left defibrillation electrode and the right defibrillation electrode.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the color of the liner is distinct from the colors of the left and right defibrillation electrodes.

39. The device of claim 35, further comprising:

a liner affixed to the defibrillation electrode; and

an icon printed on the defibrillation electrode that illustrates peeling the defibrillation electrode from the liner.

40. The device of claim 35, wherein the defibrillation electrode is a left defibrillation electrode, the device further comprising:

a right defibrillation electrode;

a second human figure printed on the right defibrillation electrode; and

a right electrode symbol printed on the second human figure.

41. A method comprising:

printing a human figure on a defibrillation electrode; and

printing an electrode symbol on the human figure on the defibrillation electrode,

wherein the human figure is oriented on the defibrillation electrode at an angle so that when the defibrillation electrode is applied to a patient with the head of the patient and the head of the human figure in the same direction, the defibrillation electrode will be oriented at the angle.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the human figure is oriented on the defibrillation electrode at an angle so that when the defibrillation electrode is applied to a left side of the chest of the patient with the head of the patient and the head of the human figure in the same direction, the defibrillation electrode will be oriented at the angle.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the defibrillation electrode is a left defibrillation electrode, the method further comprising:

affixing the left defibrillation electrode and a right defibrillation electrode to a liner.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising printing an icon on the left defibrillation electrode that illustrates peeling the left defibrillation electrode from the liner.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the color of the liner is distinct from the colors of the left and right defibrillation electrodes.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein the defibrillation electrode is a left defibrillation electrode, the method further comprising:

printing the human figure on a right defibrillation electrode; and

printing a right electrode symbol on the human figure on the right defibrillation electrode.

47. A device comprising:

a right defibrillation electrode including a first instructive picture; and

a left defibrillation electrode including a second instructive picture,

wherein the first instructive picture includes a right electrode symbol on a first human figure, the first human figure oriented in a first direction, and

wherein the second instructive picture includes a left electrode symbol on a second human figure, the second human figure oriented in a second direction.

48. The device of claim 47, further comprising a liner affixed to the right defibrillation electrode and the left defibrillation electrode.

49. The device of claim 48, wherein the color of the liner is distinct from the colors of the left and right defibrillation electrodes.

50. The device of claim 47, wherein at least a portion of the right electrode includes a first color, at least a portion of the left electrode includes a second color, the right electrode symbol includes the first color and not the second color and the left electrode symbol includes the second color and not the first color.

51. The device of claim 47, wherein the left electrode symbol is oriented in the first direction.

52. The device of claim 47, wherein the second human figure is oriented on the defibrillation electrode at an angle so that when the left defibrillation electrode is applied to a patient with the head of the patient and the head of the second human figure in the same direction, the left defibrillation electrode will be oriented at the angle.

53. A method comprising:

obtaining a pouch containing a defibrillation electrode;

opening the pouch by pulling a handle.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising pulling the handle as shown in an instructive picture.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising removing a liner from the defibrillation electrode.

56. The method of claim 53, further comprising placing the defibrillation electrode on the chest of a patient.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising placing the defibrillation electrode on the chest of the patient as shown in an instructive picture.

58. The method of claim 56, further comprising placing the defibrillation electrode on the left side of the chest of the patient at an angle as shown in an instructive picture.

59. The method of claim 56, further comprising placing the defibrillation electrode on the chest of the patient and orienting the head of a human figure on the defibrillation electrode in the same direction as the head of the patient.