Systems, protective casings for smartphones, and associated methods to enhance use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) device

• US 9,889,311 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Horseman, Samantha J., Gonter, Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Alter, Alyssa M
• Application Number:
  US14/959,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20170157415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2011/002 for portable handheld communication devices, e.g. mobile phone, pager, beeper, PDA, smart phone
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/39044 in combination with cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3925 Monitoring; Protecting
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3993 User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include systems, protective casings for smartphones, and associated methods to enhance use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) device before arrival of emergency medical personnel. A system can include a smartphone and a protective casing abuttingly contacting one or more side portions of the smartphone and retaining the smartphone positioned therein. The smartphone can include a defibrillation control module to control defibrillation of a victim of sudden cardiac arrest. The protective casing can include sensors, capacitors, and extendable electrode pads. The protective casing further can include a check module to determine whether the victim'"'"'s heart rhythm requires an electrical shock to reestablish a normal heart rhythm, a space module to measure presence and amount of preselected materials relatively near the system, and a shock module to activate the one or more capacitors and generate an electrical current to deliver an electrical shock to the victim'"'"'s chest.

Claims

1. A system to enhance use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) device before arrival of emergency medical personnel, the system comprising:

a mobile phone configured to communicate with the Internet thereby to define a smartphone, the smartphone configured to include;

one or more processors thereby to define smartphone processors,

one or more input and output units in communication with the smartphone processors and further in communication with one or more communication networks,

one or more displays in communication with the smartphone processors,

one or more speakers in communication with the smartphone processors,

one or more microphones in communication with the smartphone processors, and

non-transitory memory medium in communication with the smartphone processors and configured to include one or more smartphone modules, each of the smartphone modules including computer-readable instructions stored in the computer-readable medium that when executed by the smartphone processors cause the smartphone processors to perform operations, the one or more smartphone modules including;

a defibrillation control module to control defibrillation of a victim; and

a protective casing abuttingly contacting one or more side portions of the smartphone and retaining the smartphone positioned therein, the protective casing configured to include;

one or more processors thereby to define casing processors,

one or more input and output units in communication with the casing processors and further in communication with the smartphone processors,

one or more sensors in communication with the casing processors,

one or more capacitors in communication with the casing processors,

two or more extendable electrode pads in communication with the casing processors and configured to transmit a current responsive to activation of the one or more capacitors,

non-transitory memory medium in communication with the casing processors and configured to include a plurality of casing modules, each of the casing modules including computer-readable instructions stored in the computer-readable medium of the protective casing that when executed by the casing processors cause the casing processors to perform operations, the plurality of casing modules including;

a check module to determine, by use of the two or more extendable electrode pads and the one or more sensors, whether the victim'"'"'s heart rhythm requires an electrical shock to reestablish a normal heart rhythm responsive to the defibrillation control module,

a space module to measure, by use of the one or more sensors, presence and amount of preselected materials relatively near the system thereby to define environmental data responsive to the check module, and

a shock module to activate the one or more capacitors and generate an electrical current between the two or more extendable electrode pads to deliver an electrical shock to the victim'"'"'s chest by use of the two or more extendable electrode pads responsive to the check module, the space module, and the defibrillation control module.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the two or more extendable electrode pads include a layer of nanomaterials on each surface of the two or more extendable electrode pads adapted to be positioned on the victim thereby to define two or more extendable electrode nano-coated pads.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein operations of the check module include measuring, by use of the two or more extendable electrode pads and the one or more sensors, impedance of a victim'"'"'s body and determining, responsive to a determination that the victim'"'"'s heart rhythm requires an electrical shock to reestablish a normal heart rhythm, an electrical shock energy level required to reestablish a normal heart rhythm to the victim'"'"'s heart.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the preselected materials include one or more of the following:

oxygen, carbon monoxide, H₂S emissions, gases, inflammables, and combustibles.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the protective casing further includes a compartment adapted to house the two or more extendable electrode pads thereby to separate the two or more extendable electrode pads from one or more other components of the protective casing.

6. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein the compartment is a portion of a body of the protective casing, wherein the protective casing further includes a component that has one or more substantially rectangular faces, is connected to the body of the protective casing by one or more connections, and is adapted to substantially enclose the compartment when in a closed position thereby to define a compartment cover, the compartment cover adapted to enclose the two or more extendable electrode pads when in the closed position, and wherein the smartphone and the protective casing are in communication through a Bluetooth connection.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the smartphone further includes one or more batteries that provide power to charge the one or more capacitors, and wherein the protective casing further includes a direct current (DC) booster configured to amplify the power provided by the one or more batteries of the smartphone.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of casing modules further include:

a sync module to generate an electrical current between the two or more extendable electrode pads in a synchronized cardio version;

a pace module to transcutaneously pace the victim by use of the two or more extendable electrode pads; and

a self-regulation module to determine when one or more components of the protective casing require replacement thereby to enable the protective casing to self-regulate.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the one or more smartphone modules further include:

an augmented virtual reality (AVR) module to generate directions to use the system by use of the one or more displays and the one or more speakers;

a rescue module to transmit geographical information systems (GIS) data associated with the system to emergency medical personnel via the one or more communication networks responsive to the defibrillation control module;

a record module to record biometric status of the victim from time of discovery to arrival of the emergency medical personnel thereby to enhance availability of telemedicine;

a note module to transcribe the recorded biometric status of the victim into medical notes for review by the emergency medical personnel responsive to the record module;

an environmental module to transmit geographical positioning system (GPS) data associated with the system and the environmental data to the emergency medical personnel via the one or more communication networks; and

an alert module to transmit data to the emergency medical personnel in real time via the one or more communication networks.

10. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the protective casing is adapted to snap the smartphone into a locked position when the smartphone is positioned in the protective casing, wherein the protective casing includes an inner cavity that has five or more sides, each of the five or more sides adapted to contact abuttingly one or more side portions of the smartphone when the smartphone is in the locked position, and wherein the protective casing is adapted to comply with OSHA standards.

11. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the one or more smartphone modules is associated with one or more applications of the smartphone.

12. A protective casing to enhance use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) device before arrival of emergency medical personnel and adapted to abuttingly contact one or more side portions of and retain a mobile phone configured to communicate with the Internet thereby to define a smartphone when the smartphone is positioned therein, the protective casing comprising:

one or more processors thereby to define casing processors;

one or more input and output units in communication with the casing processors and further in communication with a smartphone;

one or more sensors in communication with the casing processors;

one or more capacitors in communication with the casing processors;

two or more extendable electrode pads in communication with the casing processors and configured to transmit a current responsive to activation of the one or more capacitors; and

non-transitory memory medium in communication with the casing processors and configured to include a plurality of modules, each of the modules including computer-readable instructions stored in the computer-readable medium that when executed by the casing processors cause the casing processors to perform operations, the plurality of modules including;

a check module to determine, by use of the two or more extendable electrode pads and the one or more sensors, whether the victim'"'"'s heart rhythm requires an electrical shock to reestablish a normal heart rhythm responsive to input from the smartphone,

a space module to measure, by use of the one or more sensors, presence and amount of preselected materials relatively near the protective casing thereby to define environmental data responsive to the check module, and

a shock module to activate the one or more capacitors and generate an electrical current between the two or more extendable electrode pads to deliver an electrical shock to the victim'"'"'s chest by use of the two or more extendable electrode pads responsive to the check module, the space module, and input from the smartphone.

13. The protective casing as defined in claim 12, wherein the two or more extendable electrode pads include a layer of nanomaterials on each surface of the two or more extendable electrode pads adapted to be positioned on the victim thereby to define two or more extendable electrode nano-coated pads.

14. The protective casing as defined in claim 12, wherein operations of the check module include measuring, by use of the two or more extendable electrode pads and the one or more sensors, impedance of a victim'"'"'s body and determining, responsive to a determination that the victim'"'"'s heart rhythm requires an electrical shock to reestablish a normal heart rhythm, an electrical shock energy level required to reestablish a normal heart rhythm to the victim'"'"'s heart.

15. The protective casing as defined in claim 12, wherein the preselected materials include one or more of the following:

oxygen, carbon monoxide, H₂S emissions, gases, inflammables, and combustibles.

16. The protective casing as defined in claim 12, wherein the protective casing further comprises a compartment adapted to house the two or more extendable electrode pads thereby to separate the two or more extendable electrode pads from one or more other components of the protective casing.

17. The protective casing as defined in claim 16, wherein the compartment is a portion of a body of the protective casing, wherein the protective casing further includes a component that has one or more substantially rectangular faces, is connected to the body of the protective casing by one or more connections, and is adapted to substantially enclose the compartment when in a closed position thereby to define a compartment cover, the compartment cover adapted to enclose the two or more extendable electrode pads when in the closed position, and wherein the protective casing is in communication with the smartphone through a Bluetooth connection.

18. The protective casing as defined in claim 12, wherein one or more batteries of the smartphone provide power to charge the one or more capacitors, and wherein the protective casing further includes a direct current (DC) booster configured to amplify the power provided by the one or more batteries of the smartphone.

19. The protective casing as defined in claim 12, wherein the plurality of casing modules further include:

a sync module to generate an electrical current between the two or more extendable electrode pads in a synchronized cardio version;

a pace module to transcutaneously pace the victim by use of the two or more extendable electrode pads; and

a self-regulation module to determine when one or more components of the protective casing require replacement thereby to enable the protective casing to self-regulate.

20. The protective casing as defined in claim 12, wherein the protective casing is adapted to snap the smartphone into a locked position when the smartphone is positioned in the protective casing, wherein the protective casing includes an inner cavity that has five or more sides, each of the five or more sides adapted to contact abuttingly one or more side portions of the smartphone when the smartphone is in the locked position, and wherein the protective casing is adapted to comply with OSHA standards.

21. A method to assemble a system to enhance use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) device before arrival of emergency medical personnel, the method comprising positioning a mobile phone configured to communicate with the Internet thereby to define a smartphone in a protective casing adapted to abuttingly contact one or more side portions of the smartphone and retain the smartphone, the protective casing configured to include one or more sensors, one or more capacitors, and two or more extendable electrode pads configured to transmit a current responsive to activation of the one or more capacitors.

22. A method to use a protective casing for a mobile phone configured to communicate with the Internet thereby to define a smartphone to enhance use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) device before arrival of emergency medical personnel, the protective casing positioned to abuttingly contact one or more side portions of a smartphone and retain the smartphone, the protective casing configured to include one or more sensors, one or more capacitors, and two or more extendable electrode pads configured to transmit a current responsive to activation of the one or more capacitors, the method comprising:

positioning the two or more extendable electrode pads on a victim'"'"'s chest;

determining, by use of the two or more extendable electrode pads and the one or more sensors, whether the victim'"'"'s heart rhythm requires an electrical shock to reestablish a normal heart rhythm responsive to input from the smartphone;

measuring, by use of the one or more sensors, presence and amount of preselected materials relatively near the protective casing thereby to define environmental data responsive to determination of whether the victim'"'"'s heart rhythm requires an electrical shock to reestablish a normal heart rhythm;

activating the one or more capacitors responsive to measurement of presence and amount of the preselected materials relatively near the protective casing; and

generating an electrical current between the two or more extendable electrode pads to deliver an electrical shock to the victim'"'"'s chest by use of the two or more extendable electrode pads responsive to activation of the one or more capacitors.