Defibrillation system

• US 6,301,502 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zoll Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Science Operating Company (Cardica Incorporated)
• Inventors: Owen, James M., Totman, Mark H., Fincke, Randall W., OʼLeary, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/651,947
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 607/4, 607/5, 607/7, 607/32
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3918 characterised by shock pathway, e.g. by electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3937 Monitoring output parameters
• 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 method of treating a patient for ventricular tachycardia using a wearable defibrillator includes monitoring the patient for a predetermined condition via one or more electrodes on the defibrillator, sending a message to the patient in response to the predetermined condition, activating the defibrillator so that the defibrillator delivers defibrillation energy to the patient, and storing at least one of the results of the monitoring, sending and activating steps in a memory on the defibrillator. The method also includes downloading information stored in the memory of the defibrillator to a base station having an external interface, and transmitting the information downloaded from the memory of the base station to an external location via the external interface of the base station.

Claims

1. A method for reprogramming a defibrillator connected to a central database based on information from other patents that use the same type of defibrillator, the method comprising:

collecting, in the central database, information from the plurality of patients;

analyzing the information stored in the central database to test an algorithm for detecting irregular heart activity;

correcting said algorithm based on a result of the analyzing step;

transmitting a corrected algorithm to a base station of one of said plurality of patients; and

reprogramming a defibrillator at said base station using the corrected algorithm.

2. A method for reprogramming an external defibrillator operating by using an algorithm, said defibrillator being connected to a central database, the method comprising:

collecting at the central database information from the plurality of patients that use the type of algorithm;

analyzing the information stored in the central database to test said algorithm;

correcting said algorithm based on a result of the analyzing step;

transmitting a corrected algorithm to said defibrillator; and

reprogramming said defibrillator using the corrected algorithm.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising using said algorithm by said defibrillator to detect an irregular cardiac activity.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising detecting by defibrillator an ECG intrinsic to the patient and detecting said irregular cardiac activity from said ECG using said algorithm.

5. A method of operating a wearable defibrillator, said defibrillator being worn by a patient and being selectively in communication with a corresponding base station, comprising the steps of:

providing a first wearable defibrillator that has been programmed based on an original algorithm;

detecting an ECG for the patient using said original algorithm;

transmitting information regarding the operation of said first defibrillator to a base station associated with said first wearable defibrillator;

transmitting said information to a central data base;

collecting similar information from other defibrillators using the same original algorithm;

analyzing information collected in said data base to test said original algorithm;

generating a corrected algorithm from said original algorithm based on a result of said analysis;

transmitting said corrected algorithm to base stations;

receiving said corrected algorithm at said base station; and

reprogramming said first defibrillator with said corrected algorithm.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said defibrillator is using said original and said corrected algorithm to detect an abnormal cardiac activity.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein each defibrillator is assigned a unique identifier to receive said corrected algorithm.