Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Electrical therapeutic systems
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-07-24
Getzow, Scott M. (Department: 3762)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Electrical therapeutic systems
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266562
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to defibrillators and, more specifically, to an external defibrillator having a built-in test load feature.
2. Description of Related Art
Defibrillators are used to apply an electrical shock to a patient's heart in response to a life-threatening condition such as an arrhythmia or cardiac arrest. External, or transthoracic, defibrillators deliver a pulse through a pair of electrodes placed on the patient's chest or back by the attending medical personnel. As shown in
FIG. 1
(Prior Art), a defibrillator
101
generally includes a controller
103
(such as a microprocessor) which controls the operation of an energy source
105
,
107
,
109
and an energy discharge switch
111
to deliver an electrical pulse to electrodes
113
,
115
(sometimes referred to in the art as the “paddles”). The controller
103
receives a command through a user interface, “shock button,”
117
. The electrodes
115
are also used to provide patient-feedback
119
,
121
to the controller
103
. Defibrillator operational readiness and patient-related information may be monitored on a display
121
. Particularly in portable defibrillators, the electrodes
115
are disposable, typically packaged having a conductive gel on the paddle faces to lower the electrical resistance between the electrodes and the patient
131
and an adhesive for holding the electrode paddles on the patient. Therefore, the paddles
115
are releasably attached to the defibrillator
101
via an electrode connector, or connector port,
113
.
Before actual use of a defibrillator
101
where the patient
131
provides the load across the paddles
115
, it is important, particularly in an emergency situation, for medical personnel to know that the defibrillator is fully functional. A variety of defibrillator test methods and apparatus have been developed. Separate test simulation units which plug into the electrode connector to simulate a patient feedback are used in defibrillator training. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,213 and 5,617,853 by Morgan, assigned to the common assignee of the present invention, patient simulation and analyzer circuits are built into a defibrillator. Neither provides the capability of testing through the actual electrode port itself, therefore leaving a critical component untested as to operability. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,611,815 and 5,662,690 by Cole et al., assigned to the common assignee of the present invention, such training mode circuitry simulates delivery of a shock without actually delivering the pulse to the electrodes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,645,571 and 5,797,969, assigned to SurVivaLink Corp., show built-in self-test systems; again, neither provides a capability of testing through the actual electrode port itself.
There is a need for a test load implementation scheme which automatically is activated when the defibrillator unit is not in use with a patient and which tests the ability of the unit actually to deliver a shock pulse through the electrode connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In its basic aspects, the present invention provides a defibrillator system including: an external defibrillator apparatus, including an electrode connector for connecting electrode paddles to the apparatus; and a test load mounted on the defibrillator apparatus such that the test load is selectively coupled to the electrode connector or selectively decoupled from the electrode connector such that the electrode connector is cleared for connecting the electrode paddles thereto.
In another basic aspect, the present invention provides a test load device for a defibrillator apparatus having a port for connecting electrodes thereto, including: a load for receiving a shock pulse from the apparatus; coupled to the load, a connector device for electrically connecting the load means to the port; and mounting for the load means for automatically inserting the connector into the port when the apparatus is not in use. In another embodiment, a basic aspect of the present invention includes a mechanism for providing a stimulus function to the defibrillator apparatus.
In another basic aspect, the present invention provides a method for putting a defibrillator apparatus into a test mode. The method includes the steps of:
providing a lid that covers a defibrillator apparatus' electrode port;
providing the lid with test load device that inserts into the electrode port upon closing the lid;
closing the lid such that the test load device is electrically connected to the electrode connector;
when the lid is closed, providing a signal to a defibrillator controller indicative that the test load device is connected to the electrode connector; and
instituting a test mode based on the signal.
It is an advantage of the present invention that it eliminates the need for use of separate patient simulation test units.
It is another advantage of the present invention that allows a closed loop test through electrode connectors of the defibrillator.
It is another advantage of the present invention that it allows automatic wake-up self test operation to be incorporated into a defibrillator which tests all functions of the defibrillator.
It is another advantage of the present invention that it prevents inadvertent contact with the electrode connector during self test mode operation of the defibrillator, thereby providing a safety feature.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following explanation and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference designations represent like features throughout the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4628935 (1986-12-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5230336 (1993-07-01), Fain et al.
patent: 5249573 (1993-10-01), Fincke et al.
patent: 5591213 (1997-01-01), Morgan
patent: 5601612 (1997-02-01), Gliner et al.
patent: 5607454 (1997-03-01), Cameron et al.
patent: 5611815 (1997-03-01), Cole et al.
patent: 5617853 (1997-04-01), Morgan
patent: 5662690 (1997-09-01), Cole et al.
patent: 5749904 (1998-05-01), Gliner et al.
patent: 5749905 (1998-05-01), Gliner et al.
patent: 5797969 (1998-08-01), Olson et al.
Agilent Technologie,s Inc.
Getzow Scott M.
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