Abstract: A distributed beamforming communication system including independent aerial nodes forming an antenna array is described. Described herein is a distributed beamforming array which utilizes independent aerial relay nodes or platforms (i.e. no strict control of relay node position, no communication between the relay nodes, and no coordinated transmission among the relay nodes) to form a distributed beamforming antenna.

Abstract: A distributed beamforming communication system including independent aerial nodes forming an antenna array is described. Described herein is a distributed beamforming array which utilizes independent aerial relay nodes or platforms (i.e. no strict control of relay node position, no communication between the relay nodes, and no coordinated transmission among the relay nodes) to form a distributed beamforming antenna.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to management of information from a plurality of emergency medical devices, such as automated external defibrillators, and associated docking stations. The medical devices and docking stations may communicate with one another and with a remote unit. The managed information includes information pertaining to authorized access and maintenance, inspection indications and inspection certifications. In general, an authorized user can access the emergency medical device without activating alarms that would accompany an emergency. The authorized user can further use the user input interface to enter an inspection certification, which records the inspection, the maintenance performed, the date the device is returned to service, and so forth.

Abstract: In general, the invention is directed to management of information from a plurality of emergency medical devices, such as automated external defibrillators, and associated docking stations. The medical devices and docking stations may communicate with one another and with a remote unit. The managed information includes information pertaining to authorized access and maintenance, inspection indications and inspection certifications. In general, an authorized user can access the emergency medical device without activating alarms that would accompany an emergency. The authorized user can further use the user input interface to enter an inspection certification, which records the inspection, the maintenance performed, the date the device is returned to service, and so forth.

Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for managing health care protocols with a device that may be brought to the site of a patient in need of medical assistance. The device, which may comprise, for example, a defibrillator or a patient monitor, selects a protocol as a function of patient data and presents information pursuant to the protocol to assist an operator attending to the patient. The invention further includes techniques for customizing protocols.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a pacemaker pulse in an electrocardiogram signal (ECG signal) from characteristic artifacts introduced into said ECG signal by the filtering process to allow identification and removal of the pacemaker pulse from the ECG signal. Upon detection of the pacemaker event, the amplitude threshold used in the detection of the QRS complex is raised to a higher level following the pacemaker pulse so that the characteristic artifacts do not exceed the threshold. The amplitude threshold is decayed to the normal QRS threshold level over a time interval determined in accordance with the characteristics of the filter which introduced the artifacts so that the artifacts will remain below the amplitude threshold. This technique is desired since prior art techniques requiring removal of the pacemaker pulse and any artifacts associated with the pacemaker pulse before QRS complex detection also remove any QRS complexes occurring in the blanking window.

Abstract: A method for determining a dominant heart rate from a series of beat triggers representative of a mixed series of normal heart beats and non-arrhythmic activities, with the beat triggers being determined at a specific sampling rate defining sample intervals, comprising the steps of: framing a window to include a portion of the series of beat triggers and to be beat-aligned with a first beat trigger and a last beat trigger, the window thereby defining a plurality of trigger intervals for respective adjacent beat triggers, with each trigger interval containing a plurality of the sample intervals existing between the respective adjacent beat triggers; summing the windowed sample intervals; for each of the trigger intervals, computing a weight factor based upon the ratio of the summed windowed sample intervals to the number of sample intervals within that trigger interval; grouping the trigger intervals according to the weight factors; computing the percentage of the window that each group of weight factors const