Abstract: The invented system includes a beacon affixed to the object subject to loss and a tracker held by the owner of the lost object, the tracker repeatedly, electronically ‘interrogating’ the beacon with a radio frequency (RF) signal, the beacon repeatedly responding to the interrogation, and the tracker effectively triangulating to determine the lost object's nominal location by a measure of distance and direction. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the tracker includes one or more antenna each coupled with a power amplifier to determine in real time the distance and direction of the beacon from the tracker. In this embodiment, the tracker indicates both distance and direction of the object-affixed beacon to the tracker-holding owner via a simple color-coded light array. In one embodiment of the invention, the invented antenna of which there is one (or more) includes a helically wound conductor of elliptical cross section disposed around the hollow interior surface of a hollow mandrel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying electrodes attached to a defibrillator and adjusting patient therapy delivered by a defibrillator in response thereto.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided for storing one or more electrode pads such as a defibrillator electrode pad. The cartridge includes a housing having a rigid portion, a storage space disposed within the housing, and a storage-space opening that allows one to remove/insert the electrode pad or pads from/into the storage space. Because it has a housing with a rigid portion, such a cartridge can better protect one or more electrode pads from handling damage. Furthermore, one can construct the cartridge such that it is attachable to a medical device such as an AED. This allows an operator to carry or store the medical device, cartridge, and one or more electrode pads as a single unit. In addition, one can construct the cartridge such that the one or more electrode pads can be pre-connected to the medical device. This can eliminate connecting the one or more electrode pads to the medical device during an emergency.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering defibrillation therapy to a patient. Specifically, an external defibrillators or automatic or semi-automatic external defibrillator (AEDs) is described. The defibrillator is automatically activated or inactivated by, for example, inserting or removing an object, such as a plug or a pin, into a receptacle within the defibrillator housing.

Abstract: A cartridge is provided for storing one or more electrode pads such as a defibrillator electrode pad. The cartridge includes a housing having a rigid portion, a storage space disposed within the housing, and a storage-space opening that allows one to remove/insert the electrode pad or pads from/into the storage space. Because it has a housing with a rigid portion, such a cartridge can better protect one or more electrode pads from handling damage. Furthermore, one can construct the cartridge such that it is attachable to a medical device such as an AED. This allows an operator to carry or store the medical device, cartridge, and one or more electrode pads as a single unit. In addition, one can construct the cartridge such that the one or more electrode pads can be pre-connected to the medical device. This can eliminate connecting the one or more electrode pads to the medical device during an emergency.

Abstract: A method of using a measuring instrument of unknown calibration in such a way as to correct the calibration. The method includes taking a measurement with the instrument, storing the measurement in a data storage medium, and correcting the measurement at a later time based on a determination of the amount of error in the measuring instrument. The method may also be used to remove error that is present as a result of inaccuracies that are present in the data gathering instrument. This method can be used in a write variety of instruments that are used to take measurements, but is particularly useful for medical instruments.

Abstract: A method of using a measuring instrument of unknown calibration, the method including taking a measurement with the instrument; storing the measurement in a data storage medium; and correcting the measurement at a later time based on a determination of the amount of error in the measuring instrument. In a specific embodiment, this invention also relates to methods of gathering event data and removing error that may have been present as a result of inaccuracies in the event gathering instrument.

Abstract: A method of indicating operational status of an electronic device, the device providing an indication of device operational status as a result of a self-test, the method including the following steps: monitoring an environmental condition; changing an indication of device operational status from a first indication to a second indication if the monitored environmental condition changes from a first condition to a second condition, this changing step being performed without performing a self-test. In certain embodiments, the monitored environmental condition is a monitored temperature, the first condition is a first temperature and the second condition is a second temperature. The electronic device may be battery-operated, in which case the self-test is a battery capacity test.

Abstract: A method of indicating operational status of an electronic device, the device providing an indication of device operational status as a result of a self-test, the method including the following steps: monitoring an environmental condition; changing an indication of device operational status from a first indication to a second indication if the monitored environmental condition changes from a first condition to a second condition, this changing step being performed without performing a self-test. In certain embodiments, the monitored environmental condition is a monitored temperature, the first condition is a first temperature and the second condition is a second temperature. The electronic device may be battery-operated, in which case the self-test is a battery capacity test.

Abstract: A method of indicating operational status of an electronic device, the device providing an indication of device operational status as a result of a self-test, the method including the following steps: monitoring an environmental condition; changing an indication of device operational status from a first indication to a second indication if the monitored environmental condition changes from a first condition to a second condition, this changing step being performed without performing a self-test. In certain embodiments, the monitored environmental condition is a monitored temperature, the first condition is a first temperature and the second condition is a second temperature. The electronic device may be battery-operated, in which case the self-test is a battery capacity test.

Abstract: A method of maintaining an electronic device, the method including the steps of monitoring ambient an environmental condition such as temperature or humidity; monitoring a self-test initialization criterion; performing an automatic device self-test if the self-test criterion is met and if the environmental condition is within a predetermined range; and not performing the automatic device self-test if the self-test criterion is met but the environmental condition is outside the predetermined range. In a preferred embodiment, the device is an external defibrillator.

Abstract: A method of maintaining an electronic device, the method including the steps of monitoring ambient an environmental condition such as temperature or humidity; monitoring a self-test initialization criterion; performing an automatic device self-test if the self-test criterion is met and if the environmental condition is within a predetermined range; and not performing the automatic device self-test if the self-test criterion is met but the environmental condition is outside the predetermined range. In a preferred embodiment, the device is an external defibrillator.