APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING A DEFIBRILLATOR BATTERY CHARGE AND OPTIONALLY COMMUNICATING

• US 20090264948A1
• Filed: 07/01/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Physio-Control Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Physio-Control Corp. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: DeBardi, Gary A., Kelly, Patrick F., Nova, Richard C., Johnson, Stephen B., Yerkovich, Daniel, Williamson, Joseph Bradley, Tamura, Paul S.
• Application Number:
  US12/496,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20090264948A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

Defibrillator assemblies and methods to wirelessly transfer energy from an external source to a battery or other rechargeable power source within the defibrillator assembly. The transfer of energy may be through a non-contact interface on a defibrillator cradle or a docking station that mounts the defibrillator. The rate of energy transfer may be equal to the energy drain caused by self-discharge and automated self-testing. Accordingly, since the rate of energy transfer is lower than that required to run the defibrillator system continuously, several wireless methods of energy transfer may be used. In addition, the defibrillator assembly may communicate diagnostic and non-diagnostic data to the external source.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A method comprising:

receiving line power into a docking station; and

wirelessly coupling the received line power to a defibrillator docked at the station.

24. The method of claim 23, in which the coupling is capacitive.

25. The method of claim 23, in which the coupling is inductive.

26. The method of claim 23, in which the coupling is optical.

27. The method of claim 23, in which the coupling is electromagnetic.

28-35. -35. (canceled)