Abstract: A patient monitoring system comprises a support structure comprising a garment configured to be worn by a patient, a plurality of patient parameter electrodes configured to contact the patient's skin when the patient is wearing the garment, a patient monitoring device configured to receive one or more patient parameters via the plurality of patient parameter electrodes when the patient is wearing the garment, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a likelihood whether the garment has been changed or washed after a predetermined period of use by the patient, and provide an indication regarding garment change or wash status based on the likelihood that the garment has been changed or washed.

Abstract: A wearable medical device comprising monitoring circuitry to monitor one or more patient parameters of a patient and defibrillation circuitry to provide one or more defibrillation shocks to the patient responsive to a control signal from the monitoring circuitry. The defibrillation circuitry comprises a defibrillation capacitor to provide energy for the one or more defibrillation shocks. The wearable medical device also comprises a power source to provide power to the monitoring circuitry and the defibrillation circuitry. The power source comprises a low current power source (LCPS) to provide power to the monitoring circuitry, and a high current power source (HCPS) to provide power to the defibrillation circuitry.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a wearable medical device system includes a processor configured to determine whether a patient requires electrical therapy to be provided via a plurality of therapy electrodes, the electrical therapy comprising discharging at least a portion of a stored electrical charge from an energy storage module, and if so, cause a fluid deploying mechanism to deploy a portion of the stored fluid to an interface between at least two therapy electrodes and the patient's skin prior to providing the electrical therapy, the deployed portion of fluid adapted to decrease the impedance measured by an impedance measurement circuit, and cause the fluid deploying mechanism to deploy an additional portion of fluid in response to the impedance measured by the impedance measurement circuit increasing above a threshold during the electrical therapy.

Abstract: A Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system is configured to be worn by a patient who carries a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device has a user interface that is configured to enable the patient to enter wireless inputs. The WCD system includes a communication module that is configured to establish a local comlink with the mobile communication device. The WCD system also includes a tethered action unit that has a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs. The WCD system can perform some of its functions in response to the action inputs or to the wireless inputs. Since the wireless inputs can be provided from the mobile communication device instead of the action unit, the patient is less likely to attract attention when entering them, and thus exhibit better compliance.

Abstract: A method for a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system comprises sensing one or more patient parameters from different parts of a body of the patient by the one or more transducers, obtaining a plurality of physiological inputs from the sensed one or more patient parameters, detecting first aspects from each of at least some of the physiological inputs, generating an aggregated first aspect from at least two of the detected first aspects, determining an aggregate analysis score from the aggregated first aspect, and determining whether the aggregate analysis score meets an aggregate shock criterion. The electrical charge is discharged within six minutes from when it is determined that the aggregate shock criterion is met, otherwise the electrical charge is not discharged for at least 19 minutes from when it is determined that the aggregate shock criterion is not met.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In embodiments, an external defibrillator has an electrical circuit with a special output stage for the high-voltage defibrillation pulse. The output stage includes switches that can turn on for delivering the pulse, and off during all other times. The output stage also includes a diverting resistance to divert electrical current that could leak into the patient while a capacitor is being charged. An optional detector may notify if a component is malfunctioning. An advantage can be that an external defibrillator may be created according to embodiments that uses, in its output stage, semiconductor switches instead of relays. As semiconductor switches weigh less and occupy less volume than relays, an external defibrillator according to embodiments may have less weight and volume. Especially in wearable defibrillator applications, less weight means less effort to carry and less volume means easier concealment under clothing.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments directed to security methods applied to connections between components in a distributed (networked) system including medical and non-medical devices, providing secure authentication, authorization, patient and device data transfer, and patient data association and privacy for components of the system.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wearable medical device, such as a Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator, which includes one or more sensors and a processor coupled to the one or more sensors. The processor is configured to record patient-specific information derived from signals output by the one or more sensors while the wearable medical device is being worn and to execute an algorithm to analyze the recorded information, the algorithm being based on data collected from multiple different persons. The processor is further configured to perform an artificial intelligence analysis of the recorded information, to update the algorithm with update information derived from the artificial intelligence analysis of the derived information, and to use the updated algorithm to analyze subsequent signals output by the one or more sensors while the wearable medical is being worn. The disclosed techniques result in a more patient-specific approach, which results in fewer false alarms.

Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system comprises a plurality of patient parameter electrodes and a plurality of defibrillator electrodes to contact a patient's skin when the WCD is delivering therapy to the patient, a processor to receive one or more patient parameters from the one or more patient parameter electrodes, an energy storage device to store a charge to provide electrical therapy to the patient via the plurality of defibrillator electrodes, and a non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor to obtain a blood pressure measurement of the patient and to provide the blood pressure measurement to the processor. The processor is to determine whether to provide electrical therapy to the patient based on the one or more patient parameters during an episode, and to obtain the blood pressure measurement from the NIBP monitor during the episode.

Abstract: A wearable medical includes a walking detector module with a motion sensor that is configured to detect when the patient is walking or running. In embodiments, a parameter (referred to herein as a “Bouncy” parameter) is determined from Y-axis acceleration measurements. In some embodiments, the Bouncy parameter is a measurement of the AC component of the Y-axis accelerometer signal. This detection can be used by the medical device to determine how and/or whether to provide treatment to the patient wearing the medical device. For example, when used in a WCD, the walking detector can prevent “false alarms” because a walking patient is generally conscious and not in need of a shock.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is described. The WCD includes a support structure worn by a patient. A processor is coupled to the support structure. The WCD also includes a discharge circuit coupled to an energy storage module, the discharge circuit configured to discharge the stored electrical charge through a body of the patient. The wearable cardioverter defibrillator also includes a user interface housing at least one sensor and responsive to changes in device orientation. The processor is configured to detect a motion at the user interface and determine when the motion is patient-activated. When the motion is patient-activated, the processor determines a direction of rotation. The processor determines an orientation of a display at the user interface based on the direction of rotation and orients the display at the user interface to appear upright to the patient.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method to track cardiac health of a patient is described. The method includes communicating, via a mobile device, to a cardiac device worn by the patient, wherein the cardiac device includes at least one sensor. The method also includes receiving cardiac device data from the cardiac device and filtering the cardiac device data based at least in part on patient logic rules. The method includes pushing the cardiac device data to one or more personnel based at least in part on the patient logic rules.

Abstract: A wearable medical system configured to be worn by a person, comprising a support structure configured to be worn by the person, a monitoring device configured to monitor at least one physiological parameter of the person, wherein the at least one physiological parameter includes an electrocardiogram (ECG) reading of the person, an electrode coupled to the support structure, an energy storage device configured to store an electric charge for use in delivering a shock to the person through the electrode, and a biasing mechanism comprising at least one of an inflatable device, a hydraulic device, an electromagnetic device, and/or a screw gun device, the biasing mechanism configured to transition from the unbiased state to the biased state responsive to a value of the at least one physiological parameter reaching a threshold. The electrode is more movable with respect to the person's body in the unbiased state than the biased state.

Abstract: A Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system is configured to be worn by a patient who carries a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device has a user interface that is configured to enable the patient to enter wireless inputs. The WCD system includes a communication module that is configured to establish a local comlink with the mobile communication device. The WCD system also includes a tethered action unit that has a user interface configured to enable the patient to enter action inputs. The WCD system can perform some of its functions in response to the action inputs or to the wireless inputs. Since the wireless inputs can be provided from the mobile communication device instead of the action unit, the patient is less likely to attract attention when entering them, and thus exhibit better compliance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method to track the cardiac health of a patient is described. The method includes connecting to at least one motion sensor configured to sense movement of a patient and receiving motion data from the at least one motion sensor. The method further includes monitoring an activity level of the patient based at least in part on the motion data and detecting a change in the activity level of the patient based at least in part on the motion data. The method also includes altering a monitoring status of the cardiac health of the patient for a predetermined period of monitoring time based at least in part on the change in activity level.

Abstract: A heart rate (HR) monitor for use in a medical device configurable to measure a patient's ECG such as, for example, a WCD system. Embodiments can include an ECG sensor and a processor configured with classification criteria to classify a received ECG signal into one of a plurality of ECG rhythm types each with a corresponding algorithm to determine the patient's heart rate. The processor uses the classification criteria to identify the ECG signal's type and determine a heart rate of the patient using the corresponding algorithm. The HR monitor is configurable to avoid overcounting of erroneous measurements of R-R intervals that can result from large T-waves and/or bigeminy by comparing the mean of even R-R intervals with the mean of odd R-R intervals. If the means are significantly different double counting or bigeminy is indicated and the HR calculation is adjusted accordingly.