REMOTE MEDICAL DEVICE ALARM

• US 20150109125A1
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaib, Thomas E., Volpe, Shane S., Rattanni, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,925,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• 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 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

A remote alarm for use with a wearable defibrillator. The remote alarm may be a wearable remote device including a strap for disposing the wearable remote device on a wrist of a patient and communications circuitry disposed in the wearable remote device to wirelessly communicate with the wearable defibrillator. The wearable remote device may be configured to receive alarms, voice messages and prompts issued by the wearable defibrillator and to repeat those alarms, voice messages and prompts in a manner that can more easily be perceived by a patient wearing the wearable defibrillator or a bystander. The wearable remote device may further be configured to take certain actions depending upon the content of the to communication, such as sending a telephone message to alert emergency personnel to the identity, location and medical condition of the patient, or sending an email to a friend, caregiver, or relative.

Claims

1. A wearable remote device comprising:

a strap for disposing the wearable remote device on a wrist of a patient; and

communications circuitry disposed in the wearable remote device, wherein the communications circuitry can wirelessly communicate with a wearable defibrillator.

2. The wearable remote device of claim 1, wherein the wearable defibrillator comprises at least one sensing electrode for monitoring a parameter associated with the patient.

3. The wearable remote device of claim 1, wherein the wearable defibrillator comprises at least one therapy electrode for providing treatment to the patient.

4. The wearable remote device of claim 1, wherein the wearable defibrillator can be worn about a torso of the patient.

5. The wearable remote device of claim 1, wherein the wearable defibrillator comprises a receiver for receiving wireless communications from the communications circuitry.

6. The wearable remote device of claim 1, wherein the wearable defibrillator comprises a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the communications circuitry.

7. The wearable remote device of claim 1, wherein the wearable defibrillator comprises a control unit electrically coupled with one or more electrodes of the wearable defibrillator.

8. The wearable remote device of claim 1, wherein the communications circuitry is one of a wireless receiver circuit for wirelessly receiving communications from the wearable defibrillator and a wireless transceiver circuit for wirelessly communicating with the wearable defibrillator.

9. The wearable remote device of claim 1, wherein the communications circuitry comprises a wireless transceiver, and wherein the wireless transceiver is at least one of a radiofrequency transceiver, a BLUETOOTH transceiver, a wireless Ethernet transceiver, a wireless USB transceiver, and a ZIGBEE transceiver.

10. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor disposed in the wearable remote device, wherein the sensor is at least one of a pulse rate sensor, a body temperature sensor, and a blood oxygen level sensor.

11. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising an audio output device disposed in the wearable remote device, and a processor in communication with the audio output device, wherein the processor can cause the audio output device to provide an audible message.

12. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising one or more buttons disposed on a housing of the wearable remote device for receiving input from the patient.

13. The wearable remote device of claim 12, further comprising a processor in communication with the communications circuitry, wherein the processor can cause transmission of a patient notification informing the patient to actuate the one or more buttons, and transmission of a device notification to the wearable defibrillator upon detecting actuation of the one or more buttons.

14. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising a voice synthesizer for converting a text message to an audible message.

15. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising an electromechanical vibrator disposed in the wearable remote device, and a processor in communication with the electromechanical vibrator, wherein the processor can actuate the electromechanical vibrator to provide a vibrational notification.

16. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising at least one visual indicator disposed on the wearable remote device for providing visual information to the patient.

17. The wearable remote device of claim 16, wherein the visual indicator is at least one of a light bulb and a light-emitting diode (LED).

18. The wearable remote device of claim 1, wherein the wearable defibrillator comprises at least one visual indicator, and wherein the visual indicator is at least one of a light bulb and a light-emitting diode (LED).

19. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising a processor for causing a state of at least one visual indicator to change upon detecting an arrhythmia condition of the patient.

20. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising a display that can present textual information relating to the patient.

21. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising a display that can present an alarm notification upon detecting an arrhythmia condition of the patient.

22. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising a user interactive display disposed on a housing of the wearable remote device.

23. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising a display, wherein the display is at least one of an integral part of a housing of the wearable remote device and included within the housing.

24. The wearable remote device of claim 1, further comprising a processor in communication with the communications circuitry, wherein the processor can cause a notification to be issued in response to a predetermined medical condition of the patient.

25. The wearable remote device of claim 24, wherein the notification can be presented on a display of the wearable remote device.

26. The wearable remote device of claim 24, wherein the notification comprises one of an indication that a shock is to be delivered by the wearable defibrillator and an indication to that a shock has been delivered by the wearable defibrillator.

27. A wearable remote device comprising:

a strap constructed to removably secure the wearable remote device to a wrist of a patient;

communications circuitry for wirelessly communicating with a wearable defibrillator;

a user interface; and

a processor coupled to the user interface, wherein the processor causes the user interface to provide notification relating to an arrhythmia condition of the patient based on medical information relating to the patient received via the communications circuitry.

28. The wearable remote device of claim 27, wherein the user interface is at least one of a display, a user interactive display, a button, an audio output device, a light bulb, and an electromechanical vibrator.

29. A wearable remote device comprising:

a strap constructed to removably secure the wearable remote device to a wrist of a patient;

communications circuitry for wirelessly communicating with a wearable defibrillator;

a user interface; and

a processor coupled to the user interface, wherein the processor causes the user interface to receive input from the patient relating to an arrhythmia condition of the patient based on medical information relating to the patient received via the communications circuitry.

30. A wearable remote device comprising:

a strap constructed to removably secure the wearable remote device to a wrist of a patient;

communications circuitry for wirelessly communicating with a wearable defibrillator;

a user interface; and

a processor coupled to the user interface, wherein the processor causes the user interface to provide notification relating to an arrhythmia condition of the patient based on medical information relating to the patient received via the communications circuitry;

wherein the user interface can receive input from the patient relating to the arrhythmia condition.