Patents by Inventor David P. Finch
David P. Finch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20220022767Abstract: A Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD) system comprises an electrode assembly with a permeable ECG electrode and a moisture barrier. In some embodiments, the moisture barrier is configured to reduce drying out of the permeable ECG electrode to improve performance of the WCD system. In a further enhancement, some embodiments of the electrode assembly also include a pillow structure positioned on a non-skin-contacting surface of the electrode assembly to comfortably reduce movement artifact or noise in the received ECG signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2018Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Dallas E. Meeker, Kiah Lesher, Douglas K. Medema, Robert R. Buchanan, Zoie R. Engman, Phillip D. Foshee, JR., David P. Finch
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Publication number: 20210370079Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (“WCD”) system design in which a WCD implements an alert prioritization scheme to provide the patient with feedback in an order that is less likely to cause confusion. Different conditions (e.g., device status, equipment condition, or physiologic condition) are prioritized based on an analysis of severity of the condition and timeliness of user action needed. The prioritization scheme defines what alert, if any, is presented to the user by the WCD system as a result of various conditions. Generally stated, an alert for the highest priority condition currently detected is presented to the user and maintained until that condition either changes or becomes surpassed in the prioritization scheme.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2020Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Zoie R. Engman, Pamela F. Breske, David P. Finch, Erick M. Roane
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Publication number: 20210361961Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) having a processor configured to receive a signal indicating a position and/or movement of the ambulatory patient while the ambulatory patient is wearing the support structure receive the ECG signal, determine from an ECG signal whether a shock criterion is met, determine a confirmation time period and/or a response time period based on the position and/or movement of the ambulatory patient, determine from the ECG signal whether the shock criterion is met after the confirmation time period has elapsed, cause the user interface to generate the shock alert signal based on the shock criterion determined after the confirmation time period has elapsed, and control the discharge circuit to discharge the stored electrical charge when a predetermined time period has elapsed after the shock alert signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Phillip D. Foshee, JR., David P. Finch, Pamela Breske, Laura M. Gustavson, Joseph L. Sullivan, Jaeho Kim
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Publication number: 20210339031Abstract: In embodiments, a Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD) system includes a support structure for the patient to wear, and components that the support structure maintains on the patient's body. The components include a defibrillator, associated electrodes, and so on. The defibrillator can operate in a WCD mode while the patient wears the support structure. The defibrillator can further operate in a different, AED mode, during which time the patient need not wear a portion of the support structure, or even the entire support structure. Sometimes the AED mode is a type of a fully automatic AED mode. Other times the AED mode is a type of a semi-automated AED mode, where an attendant is present to administer the shock; at such times, the patient may not even need to have electrodes attached. This way the patient is more comfortable for a longer time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Brian D. Webster, Zoie R. Engman, Phillip D. Foshee, JR., David P. Finch, Joseph L. Sullivan, Gregory T. Kavounas
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Patent number: 11160990Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) comprises a plurality of electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes, a right-leg drive (RLD) electrode, and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact the patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a preamplifier coupled to the ECG electrodes and the RLD electrode to obtain ECG data from the patient as one or more ECG vectors, a processor to receive ECG data from the preamplifier and an abort signal from a user interface, an isolation barrier to isolate the preamplifier from the processor, and a high voltage subsystem to provide a defibrillation voltage to the patient through the defibrillator electrodes in response to a shock signal received from the processor. A shock is provided when an abort signal is not received within a predetermined time period of a shock criterion being met. Less than one false alarm occurs every ten patient-days.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: November 2, 2021Assignee: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS CORP.Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, David P. Finch, Douglas K. Medema, Robert R. Buchanan, Garrett M. Kotlarchik, Jaeho Kim, Kenneth F. Cowan
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Publication number: 20210308475Abstract: In embodiments, a Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system is configured to be worn by an ambulatory patient. The WCD system includes a main user interface (UI) output device that can output an image, sound or vibration as a main message about a condition of the patient or the WCD system. The patient may further carry a peripheral device that can also output an image, sound or vibration as a peripheral message about the condition. The peripheral message may mirror the main message at least in part, amplify it, and so on. The availability of the peripheral message provides the patient with the opportunity to better perceive the main message, and the flexibility to receive and react to it discreetly, learn more about the condition, and so on.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Zoie Engman, Aaron Piazza, Christoffer Peter Hart Hansen, David P. Finch, Laura M. Gustavson, Erik L. Schneider, Erick Roane, Amanda K. Hall
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Patent number: 11083906Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) having a processor configured to receive a signal indicating a position and/or movement of the ambulatory patient while the ambulatory patient is wearing the support structure receive the ECG signal, determine from an ECG signal whether a shock criterion is met, determine a confirmation time period and/or a response time period based on the position and/or movement of the ambulatory patient, determine from the ECG signal whether the shock criterion is met after the confirmation time period has elapsed, cause the user interface to generate the shock alert signal based on the shock criterion determined after the confirmation time period has elapsed, and control the discharge circuit to discharge the stored electrical charge when a predetermined time period has elapsed after the shock alert signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS CORP.Inventors: Phillip D. Foshee, David P. Finch, Pamela Breske, Laura M. Gustavson, Joseph L. Sullivan, Jaeho Kim
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Patent number: 11065463Abstract: In embodiments, a Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD) system includes a support structure for the patient to wear, and components that the support structure maintains on the patient's body. The components include a defibrillator, associated electrodes, and so on. The defibrillator can operate in a WCD mode while the patient wears the support structure. The defibrillator can further operate in a different, AED mode, during which time the patient need not wear a portion of the support structure, or even the entire support structure. Sometimes the AED mode is a type of a fully automatic AED mode. Other times the AED mode is a type of a semi-automated AED mode, where an attendant is present to administer the shock; at such times, the patient may not even need to have electrodes attached. This way the patient is more comfortable for a longer time.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Brian D. Webster, Zoie Engman, Phillip D. Foshee, Jr., David P. Finch, Joseph L. Sullivan, Gregory T. Kavounas
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Publication number: 20210210208Abstract: In one embodiment, a WCD is described. The WCD includes a support structure configured to be worn by a patient and a processor coupled to the support structure. The WCD also includes an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge and in communication with the processor. The WCD also includes a discharge circuit coupled to the energy storage module, the discharge circuit in communication with the processor and configured to discharge the stored electrical charge through a body of the patient. The processor is configured to detect an event at the WCD, classify the detected event, and determine an alarm onset time of the detected event based at least in part on the event classification. The processor is further configured to issue the alarm after the alarm onset time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Zoie R. Engman, David P. Finch, Joseph L. Sullivan, Erick M. Roane, Pamela F. Breske
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Patent number: 11040214Abstract: In embodiments, a Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system is configured to be worn by an ambulatory patient. The WCD system includes a main user interface (UI) output device that can output an image, sound or vibration as a main message about a condition of the patient or the WCD system. The patient may further carry a peripheral device that can also output an image, sound or vibration as a peripheral message about the condition. The peripheral message may mirror the main message at least in part, amplify it, and so on. The availability of the peripheral message provides the patient with the opportunity to better perceive the main message, and the flexibility to receive and react to it discreetly, learn more about the condition, and so on.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Zoie Engman, Aaron Piazza, Christoffer Peter Hart Hansen, David P. Finch, Laura M. Gustavson, Erik L. Schneider, Erick Roane, Amanda K. Hall
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Patent number: 10957453Abstract: In one embodiment, a WCD is described. The WCD includes a support structure configured to be worn by a patient and a processor coupled to the support structure. The WCD also includes an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge and in communication with the processor. The WCD also includes a discharge circuit coupled to the energy storage module, the discharge circuit in communication with the processor and configured to discharge the stored electrical charge through a body of the patient. The processor is configured to detect an event at the WCD, classify the detected event, and determine an alarm onset time of the detected event based at least in part on the event classification. The processor is further configured to issue the alarm after the alarm onset time.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Zoie R. Engman, David P. Finch, Joseph L. Sullivan, Erick M. Roane, Pamela F. Breske
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Publication number: 20210077819Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system includes a support structure that the patient may wear, and one or more sensors that may acquire patient physiological signals, such as ECG and others. A processor of the WCD system may determine diagnostics from the patient physiological signals. These diagnostics include a six-second ECG portion, heart rates as histograms, heart rates against QRS width, heart rate trends, clinical event counters, diagnostics relating to heart rate variability and about the atrial arrhythmia burden of the patient. In some embodiments, the WCD system includes a user interface with a screen that displays these diagnostics. In some embodiments, the WCD system exports these diagnostics for viewing by a different screen. When viewed, these diagnostics permit more detailed analysis of the state of the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Laura M. Gustavson, David P. Finch, Joseph L. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20210052227Abstract: In one embodiment, a method to differentiate between causes of noise in an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. The method connecting to at least one sensing electrode and obtaining the ECG signal from the at least one sensing electrode. The method also includes detecting noise on the ECG signal and detecting ancillary conditions. The method also includes associating the noise on the ECG signal with at least one of the ancillary conditions and providing an actionable indication to a patient associated with the noise on the ECG signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2020Publication date: February 25, 2021Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Zoie R. Engman, Joseph L. Sullivan, David P. Finch
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Publication number: 20210050111Abstract: In one embodiment, a WCD is described. The WCD includes a support structure configured to be worn by a patient and a processor coupled to the support structure. The WCD also includes an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge and in communication with the processor. The WCD also includes a discharge circuit coupled to the energy storage module, the discharge circuit in communication with the processor and configured to discharge the stored electrical charge through a body of the patient. The processor is configured to detect an event at the WCD, classify the detected event, and determine an alarm onset time of the detected event based at least in part on the event classification. The processor is further configured to issue the alarm after the alarm onset time.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2019Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Zoie R. Engman, David P. Finch, Joseph L. Sullivan, Erick M. Roane, Pamela F. Breske
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Patent number: 10857371Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system includes a support structure that the patient may wear, and one or more sensors that may acquire patient physiological signals, such as ECG and others. A processor of the WCD system may determine diagnostics from the patient physiological signals. These diagnostics include a six-second ECG portion, heart rates as histograms, heart rates against QRS width, heart rate trends, clinical event counters, diagnostics relating to heart rate variability and about the atrial arrhythmia burden of the patient. In some embodiments, the WCD system includes a user interface with a screen that displays these diagnostics. In some embodiments, the WCD system exports these diagnostics for viewing by a different screen. When viewed, these diagnostics permit more detailed analysis of the state of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Laura M. Gustavson, David P. Finch, Joseph L. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20200230428Abstract: Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (“WCD”) system design in which a WCD implements an alert prioritization scheme to provide the patient with feedback in an order that is less likely to cause confusion. Different conditions (e.g., device status, equipment condition, or physiologic condition) are prioritized based on an analysis of severity of the condition and timeliness of user action needed. The prioritization scheme defines what alert, if any, is presented to the user by the WCD system as a result of various conditions. Generally stated, an alert for the highest priority condition currently detected is presented to the user and maintained until that condition either changes or becomes surpassed in the prioritization scheme.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Zoie R. Engman, Pamela F. Breske, David P. Finch, Erick M. Roane
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Publication number: 20200114156Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) comprises a support structure to be worn by a patient, an energy storage module to store an electrical charge, a discharge circuit coupled to the energy storage module, a measurement circuit, a user interface that includes a speaker, and a processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: West Affum Holdings Corp.Inventors: Phillip D. Foshee, JR., David P. Finch, Laura M. Gustavson, Nikolai Korsun, Joseph L. Sullivan, Gregory T. Kavounas
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Publication number: 20200069953Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) comprises a plurality of electrocardiography (ECG) electrodes and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact the patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a preamplifier coupled to the ECG electrodes to obtain ECG data from the patient. a processor to receive the ECG data from the preamplifier, and a high voltage subsystem to provide a defibrillation voltage to the patient through the plurality of defibrillator electrodes in response to a shock signal received from the processor. In a first power mode of a range of power modes the preamplifier is configured to perform low-fidelity ECG acquisition and the processor is configured to perform simple arrythmia detection analysis, and in a second mode of the range of power modes the preamplifier is configured to perform high-fidelity ECG acquisition and the processor is configured to perform complex arrythmia detection analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: David P. Finch, Erick M. Roane, Kenneth F. Cowan, Derek J. Valleroy, Gregory T. Kavounas
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Patent number: 10500403Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (“WCD”) system may output a loud sound after detecting and validating a shockable cardiac arrhythmia. In such embodiments, however, the WCD system might not sound a loud alarm before validating the arrhythmia thoroughly, i.e. for a longer time, thus giving the arrhythmia a further chance to self-terminate. The WCD system may thus detect more robustly the cardiac arrhythmias that do not self-terminate quickly. Such arrhythmias that self-terminate quickly may occur from likely harmless events occurring multiple times in the daily life of the patient, such as the patient becoming “winded” from climbing stairs. In embodiments the WCD system may notify the patient only discreetly, or even not at all. The lack of sounding such a loud alarm responsive to such events reduces the overall number of times in which the patient experiences unwanted attention by others, embarrassment, loss of privacy and dignity, and so on.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS CORP.Inventors: Phillip D. Foshee, Jr., David P. Finch, Laura M. Gustavson, Nikolai Korsun, Joseph L. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20190366110Abstract: In one embodiment, a carrying case for a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is described. The carrying case includes a container with a front wall, a rear wall, and a gusset coupling the front wall and the rear wall. The carrying case also includes each of the front wall and rear wall including multiple fabric layers. The carrying case also includes two connection points inset from an edge of the rear wall. The carrying case also includes an adjustable strap removably coupled to the connection points, the adjustable strap configured to be worn in various configurations on a body of a patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2019Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Garett M. Kotlarchik, Kiah Lesher, Phillip D. Foshee, JR., Daniel J. Finney, David P. Finch