摘要:
An automated external defibrillator (AED) having a housing and an openable lid with a water resistant speaker port formed in the housing below the openable lid. A water resistant fabric is attached underneath the speaker port to resist water passing into the interior of the AED while allowing clear sound output from the speaker located beneath the speaker port. A microphone is positioned adjacent to the speaker port in the AED for recording emergency scene ambient activities. This position uses the existing water resistant opening thereby taking advantage of the good sound transmitting properties of the opening for recording purposes and at the same time eliminating the need for an additional cavity in the housing where water could ingress. Positioning the microphone near the speaker also eliminates the need for an additional wiring harness.
摘要:
A system for automatically synchronizing, isolated clocks is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the internal clock of an automated external defibrillator (AED) or an external defibrillator (ED) is integrated with a radio broadcast to receive standard time. The system may also include a mechanism for synchronizing the clock or a computer tracking the time of emergency calls such as 911. Further, the system enables synchronization between the AED or ED internal clock and the 911 clock such that response times can be accurately determined.
摘要:
An apparatus for generating a waveform for use in externally defibrillating the heart of a patient includes a plurality of capacitors chargeable to respective charge potentials. A control apparatus is operatively coupled with the capacitors to sequentially interconnect the capacitors in a circuit with one another to generate the waveform. Structure including e.g. electrodes is operatively coupled with the capacitors and the control apparatus to apply the waveform to the chest of the patient. The waveform preferably includes an emulated first-phase substantially sinusoidally shaped pulse component having a first polarity. According to biphasic embodiments, the waveform also includes an emulated second-phase substantially sinusoidally shaped pulse component having a second polarity. The control apparatus preferably is constructed to truncate the emulated first-phase pulse component at a predetermined time, preferably based on a design rule used to calculate pulse duration. The design rule calculates the pulse duration to correspond to substantially the peak response of the patient's heart-cell membrane to the first-phase pulse component. Corresponding method embodiments provide additional advantages.
摘要:
An automated external defibrillator automatically performs periodic self-tests on a daily and weekly basis. Self-test failures are identified by a watchdog timer which is reset upon activation of each periodic self-test. If the watchdog timer times out a maintenance indication is activated. The timeout period of the watchdog timer is non-repeating and non-periodic (typically 30 hrs.). Tested functions include the presence and interconnection of defibrillator electrodes, battery charge state, and the operability of the high voltage circuit. Visual and audible indicators are actuated to alert an operator if faults are identified. A record of each self-test is stored in memory, and can be subsequently retrieved through a communications port.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for delivering a truncated damped sinusoidal external defibrillation waveform which, when applied through a plurality of electrodes positioned on a patient's torso will produce a desired response in the patient's cardiac cell membranes is provided. The external defibrillator is utilized for applying a damped sinusoidal waveform having a first waveform phase and a second waveform phase to a pair of electrodes. The external defibrillator has a first capacitive component, a first inductive component, a first truncating switch, and waveform control circuitry. The waveform control circuitry of the defibrillator controls the first and second truncating switches such that the duration of the second phase waveform delivered by the second charge storage component is greater than the duration of the first phase waveform delivered by the first charge storage component.
摘要:
The AED of the present invention has a housing and a removable power supply, contained within its own power supply case, that is connected to a circuit for generating a defibrillation pulse. The circuit is electrically connectale to a pair of electrodes for delivering the defibrillation pulse. the AED further includes a temperature sensing device that is mounted inside the power supply case and connected to the power supply. The temperature sensing device senses the temperature in the power supply case and enables the adjustment of the operating parameters of the AED according to the sensed temperature.
摘要:
A force sensor, for use in combination with an automated electronic defibrillator (AED), includes a first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is spaced apart from the first conductive layer such that no electrical communication occurs between the first and second conductive layers. An electrical communication device is provided for establishing electrical communication between the first and second conductive layers responsive to the application of a force to said electrical communication means. A method of prompting a rescuer in the application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a victim includes the steps of:sensing a force applied by the rescuer to the victim's sternum;sensing an interval between successive applications of force to the victim's sternum;comparing the force applied by the rescuer to the victim's sternum to a standard of force known to effect resuscitation;providing a prompt to the rescuer that prompts the rescuer to vary the force delivered to approximate the force that is known to effect resuscitation;comparing the interval between successive applications of force to the victim's sternum to a standard interval known to effect resuscitation; andproviding a prompt to the rescuer that prompts the rescuer to vary the interval of force application to approximate the interval that is known to effect resuscitation.
摘要:
A defibrillator battery pack comprises a housing having a first set of battery cells having an upper set and a lower set of cells and a second set of battery cells connected in parallel with one of the upper or the lower sets of the first set of battery cells. The first set of battery cells is used for charging a capacitor bank of a defibrillator. The second set of battery cells cannot be used for charging and is only used for developing a nominal 5 volts to drive a microprocessor and other circuitry components of an electrical control system of the defibrillator. This arrangement increases the life of the battery pack in the lower voltage range, which is advantageous for operating the microprocessor. This arrangement also maintains the intelligence of the electrical control system because the battery cells supplying power to the microprocessor will always fail after, and not before, failure of the battery cells supplying power for charging the capacitor bank.
摘要:
A method of generating and applying a defibrillation shock of the present invention includes first applying a defibrillation shock pulse to a patient with an initial predetermined amount of energy not based on a patient-dependent electrical parameter, and while monitoring a patient-dependent electrical parameter. Next, patient transthoracic impedance is determined based on the patient-dependent electrical parameter. Finally, a subsequent predetermined amount of energy is applied to the patient based on the patient transthoracic impedance calculated above and while monitoring the patient-dependent electrical parameter. Subsequent defibrillation shock pulses are applied using a patient impedance based on the patient-dependent electrical parameter observed during the most recent defibrillation shock. In this manner, an optimal combination of charged voltage and the maximum allowed current (under the AAMI defibrillation waveform standard) is applied for a patient's given transthoracic impedance.