Patents by Inventor Joseph L. Sullivan

Joseph L. Sullivan 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).

  • WEARABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR COMPONENTS DISCARDING ECG SIGNALS PRIOR TO MAKING SHOCK/NO SHOCK DETERMINATION
    Publication number: 20160220832
    Abstract: Components of wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) systems, software, and methods are provided. A WCD system includes a support structure that a patient can wear and electrodes that can capture at least two of the patient's ECG signals. A component includes an energy storage module that can store an electrical charge, a discharge circuit, and a processor that can make a shock/no shock determination, and cause the discharge circuit to discharge the stored charge, if the determination is to shock. In some embodiments, the processor discards at least one of the ECG signals prior to making the shock/no shock determination. The determination can be made from the remaining one or more ECG signals. In some embodiments, the processor makes an aggregate shock/no shock determination from two or more of the ECG signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, Robert P. Marx, JR., David P. Finch
  • External defibrillator electrode, method and system for reducing ECG artifact
    Patent number: 9387317
    Abstract: An electrode for use with an external defibrillator for a patient includes a first combination circuit including a circuit node electrically coupled to an adapter for coupling to the defibrillator. The circuit node is further coupled to a monitoring node defined by a monitoring segment of a first pad of the electrode and to a therapy node defined by a therapy segment of the first pad of the electrode. The therapy segment is electrically insulated from the monitoring segment. The first combination circuit further includes a capacitor coupled between the circuit node and the therapy node. The electrode of this disclosure hence provides additional solutions for reducing ECG artifact during the operation of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Physio-Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Eugene Stickney, Joseph L Sullivan, Gary Debardi
  • FILTERING PATIENT SIGNAL ALSO FOR VENTILATION ARTIFACTS
    Publication number: 20160166206
    Abstract: In embodiments, an external medical device is intended to care for a patient. If it receives an input that signifies that ventilation artifact is present in a signal of the patient, it transmits a corrective signal responsive to the received input. In further embodiments, a patient signal is received, which is generated from a patient while the patient is or was receiving chest compressions at a frequency Fc, and also receiving ventilations at frequency Fv. At least one filter mechanism may be applied to the patient signal to substantially remove artifacts at a) frequency Fc, b) a higher harmonic of frequency Fc, and c) a third frequency substantially equaling frequency Fc plus or minus frequency Fv, while substantially passing other frequencies between them. As a result, the patient signal can be cleaner, for diagnosing the patient's state more accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, Robert G. Walker
  • Wearable cardiac defibrillator system sounding to bystanders in patient's own voice
    Patent number: 9352166
    Abstract: A wearable cardiac defibrillator (“WCD”) system may include a support structure that a patient can wear, an energy storage module that can store an electrical charge, and a discharge circuit that can discharge the electrical charge through the patient so as to shock him or her, while the patient is wearing the support structure. Embodiments may actively take into account bystanders, both to protect them from an inadvertent shock, and also to enlist their help. In some embodiments, the WCD system includes a speaker system and a memory. Prompts have been saved in advance in the patient's own voice, and stored in the memory. In case of an emergency, the prompts may be played by the speaker system in the patient's own voice, and heard by a bystander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS CORP.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, Jr., Isabelle Banville, Richard C. Nova, Krystyna Szul, Daniel Finney, Laura Marie Gustavson, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Wearable cardiac defibrillator system emitting CPR prompts
    Patent number: 9339663
    Abstract: A wearable cardiac defibrillator (“WCD”) system may include a support structure that a patient can wear, an energy storage module that can store an electrical charge, and a discharge circuit that can discharge the electrical charge through the patient so as to shock him or her, while the patient is wearing the support structure. Embodiments may actively take into account bystanders, both to protect them from an inadvertent shock, and also to enlist their help. In some embodiments the WCD system includes a speaker system that transmits a sound designed to assist a bystander to perform CPR. Optionally CPR chest compressions received by the patient can be further detected, and feedback can be given. In embodiments, a WCD system may include a user interface that can be controlled to output CPR prompts tailored to a skill level of the bystander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: West Affum Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, Jr., Isabelle Banville, Richard C. Nova, Krystyna Szul, Daniel Finney, Laura Marie Gustavson, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Filtering patient signal also for ventilation artifacts
    Patent number: 9295427
    Abstract: In embodiments, an external medical device is intended to care for a patient. If it receives an input that signifies that ventilation artifact is present in a signal of the patient, it transmits a corrective signal responsive to the received input. In further embodiments, a patient signal is received, which is generated from a patient while the patient is or was receiving chest compressions at a frequency Fc, and also receiving ventilations at frequency Fv. At least one filter mechanism may be applied to the patient signal to substantially remove artifacts at a) frequency Fc, b) a higher harmonic of frequency Fc, and c) a third frequency substantially equaling frequency Fc plus or minus frequency Fv, while substantially passing other frequencies between them. As a result, the patient signal can be cleaner, for diagnosing the patient's state more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Physio-Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, Robert G. Walker
  • WEARABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR (WCD) SYSTEM INFORMING PATIENT THAT IT IS VALIDATING JUST-DETECTED CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA
    Publication number: 20160082277
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (“WCD”) system may output an opening human-perceptible indication, after detecting a shockable cardiac arrhythmia but before validating it. This may succeed in informing the patient that the WCD system is working, and in particular analyzing a just-detected cardiac arrhythmia. The information may give comfort and confidence to the patient who may be conscious, and be experiencing only ventricular tachycardia but not ventricular fibrillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Phillip D. Foshee, JR., David P. Finch, Laura M. Gustavson, Nikolai Korsun, Joseph L. Sullivan, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • WEARABLE CARDIAC DEFIBRILLATOR SYSTEM DIAGNOSING DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON MOTION
    Publication number: 20160074667
    Abstract: Embodiments of a WCD system include a measurement circuit that can render a physiological input from the patient. Such WCD systems may also receive a motion detection input that reveals whether a motion event has been detected by a motion detector. In some embodiments, a value becomes assigned to a motion level parameter in response to any motion event detected or not, and the rhythm analysis can be based on the physiological input and on the assigned value. In some embodiments, a rhythm analysis of the physiological input may be performed in different manners, depending on whether or not a motion event has been detected. In some embodiments, a different shock/no shock criterion may be applied to the rhythm analysis, depending on whether or not a motion event has been detected. The patient may receive an electrical shock according to a shock/no shock determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, Robert P. Marx, JR., Zhong Qun Lu
  • System and method for electrocardiogram analysis and optimization of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and therapy delivery
    Patent number: 9283400
    Abstract: The system and method provide for electrocardiogram analysis and optimization of patient-customized cardiopulmonary resuscitation and therapy delivery. An external medical device includes a housing and a processor within the housing. The processor can be configured to receive an input signal for a patient receiving chest compressions and to select at least one filter mechanism and to apply the filter mechanism to the signal to at least substantially remove chest compression artifacts from the signal. A real time dynamic analysis of a cardiac rhythm is applied to adjust and integrate CPR prompting of a medical device. Real-time cardiac rhythm quality is facilitated using a rhythm assessment meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: PHYSIO-CONTROL, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, Ronald Eugene Stickney, Robert G. Walker, Daniel Piraino, Isabelle Banville, Fred Chapman
  • CPR CHEST COMPRESSION MACHINE STOPPING TO DETECT PATIENT RECOVERY
    Publication number: 20160067140
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present concept are directed to CPR chest compression machines that include a sensor to detect a parameter about a patient, such as an indication of patient recovery, and include a processor that determines whether to cease series of successive compressions on the patient in response to the detected parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: Physio Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Isabelle L. Banville, Fred W. Chapman, Joseph L. Sullivan, Steven Duke
  • WEARABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR (WCD) SYSTEM MAKING SHOCK/NO SHOCK DETERMINATIONS FROM MULTIPLE PATIENT PARAMETERS
    Publication number: 20160067514
    Abstract: In embodiments, a WCD system includes one or more transducers that may sense patient parameters from different parts of the patient's body, and thus render physiological inputs from those parameters. Individual analysis scores may be determined from the physiological inputs, and an aggregate analysis score may be determined from the individual analysis scores. A shock/no shock determination may be made depending on whether or not the aggregate analysis score meets an aggregate shock criterion. Accordingly, multiple inputs are considered in making the shock/no shock determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph L. Sullivan
  • FILTERING PATIENT SIGNAL ALSO FOR VENTILATION ARTIFACTS
    Publication number: 20160051202
    Abstract: In embodiments, an external medical device is intended to care for a patient. If it receives an input that signifies that ventilation artifact is present in a signal of the patient, it transmits a corrective signal responsive to the received input. In further embodiments, a patient signal is received, which is generated from a patient while the patient is or was receiving chest compressions at a frequency Fc, and also receiving ventilations at frequency Fv. At least one filter mechanism may be applied to the patient signal to substantially remove artifacts at a) frequency Fc, b) a higher harmonic of frequency Fc, and c) a third frequency substantially equaling frequency Fc plus or minus frequency Fv, while substantially passing other frequencies between them. As a result, the patient signal can be cleaner, for diagnosing the patient's state more accurately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, Robert G. Walker
  • Filtering patient signal also for ventilation artifacts
    Patent number: 9204845
    Abstract: In embodiments, an external medical device is intended to care for a patient. If it receives an input that signifies that ventilation artifact is present in a signal of the patient, it transmits a corrective signal responsive to the received input. In further embodiments, a patient signal is received, which is generated from a patient while the patient is or was receiving chest compressions at a frequency Fc, and also receiving ventilations at frequency Fv. At least one filter mechanism may be applied to the patient signal to substantially remove artifacts at a) frequency Fc, b) a higher harmonic of frequency Fc, and c) a third frequency substantially equaling frequency Fc plus or minus frequency Fv, while substantially passing other frequencies between them. As a result, the patient signal can be cleaner, for diagnosing the patient's state more accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Physio-Control, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, Robert G. Walker
  • CPR chest compression machine stopping to detect patient recovery
    Patent number: 9198826
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present concept are directed to CPR chest compression machines that include a sensor to detect a parameter about a patient, such as an indication of patient recovery, and include a processor that determines whether to cease series of successive compressions on the patient in response to the detected parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PHYSIO-CONTROL, INC.
    Inventors: Isabelle L. Banville, Fred W. Chapman, Joseph L. Sullivan, Steven Duke
  • WEARABLE CARDIOVERTER DEFIBRILLATOR COMPONENTS DISCARDING ECG SIGNALS PRIOR TO MAKING SHOCK/NO SHOCK DETERMINATION
    Publication number: 20150328472
    Abstract: Components of wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) systems, software, and methods are provided. A WCD system includes a support structure that a patient can wear and electrodes that can capture at least two of the patient's ECG signals. A component includes an energy storage module that can store an electrical charge, a discharge circuit, and a processor that can make a shock/no shock determination, and cause the discharge circuit to discharge the stored charge, if the determination is to shock. In some embodiments, the processor discards at least one of the ECG signals prior to making the shock/no shock determination. The determination can be made from the remaining one or more ECG signals. In some embodiments, the processor makes an aggregate shock/no shock determination from two or more of the ECG signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, Robert P. Marx, JR., David P. Finch
  • REDUCING ELECTROCARDIOGRAM ARTIFACTS DURING AND POST CPR
    Publication number: 20150313493
    Abstract: A portable medical device having improved ECG trace display and reporting. Embodiments implement features to ameliorate artifacts created by virtue of attempting to eliminate compression artifacts due to mechanical compression devices. Other embodiments additionally implement features to seek to detect the occurrence of ROSC while chest compressions are ongoing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventor: Joseph L. Sullivan
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTROCARDIOGRAM ANALYSIS AND OPTIMIZATION OF CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION AND THERAPY DELIVERY
    Publication number: 20150297107
    Abstract: The system and method provide for electrocardiogram analysis and optimization of patient-customized cardiopulmonary resuscitation and therapy delivery. An external medical device includes a housing and a processor within the housing. The processor can be configured to receive an input signal for a patient receiving chest compressions and to select at least one filter mechanism and to apply the filter mechanism to the signal to at least substantially remove chest compression artifacts from the signal. A real time dynamic analysis of a cardiac rhythm is applied to adjust and integrate CPR prompting of a medical device. Real-time cardiac rhythm quality is facilitated using a rhythm assessment meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, Ronald Eugene Stickney, Robert G. Walker, Daniel Piraino, Isabelle Banville, Fred Chapman
  • WEARABLE CARDIAC DEFIBRILLATOR SYSTEM SOUNDING TO BYSTANDERS IN PATIENT'S OWN VOICE
    Publication number: 20150290469
    Abstract: A wearable cardiac defibrillator (“WCD”) system may include a support structure that a patient can wear, an energy storage module that can store an electrical charge, and a discharge circuit that can discharge the electrical charge through the patient so as to shock him or her, while the patient is wearing the support structure. Embodiments may actively take into account bystanders, both to protect them from an inadvertent shock, and also to enlist their help. In some embodiments, the WCD system includes a speaker system and a memory. Prompts have been saved in advance in the patient's own voice, and stored in the memory. In case of an emergency, the prompts may be played by the speaker system in the patient's own voice, and heard by a bystander.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, Jr., Isabelle Banville, Richard C. Nova, Krystyna Szul, Daniel Finney, Laura Marie Gustavson, Gregory T. Kavounas
  • Wearable Defibrillator With A Multivector Shock Waveform
    Publication number: 20150283390
    Abstract: A transthoracic defibrillator for external defibrillation comprises at least three electrodes configured to be attached to the thorax of a patient to establish at least two electrical paths across the thoracic cavity and through the heart of the patient. In addition, a defibrillator circuit contained in a defibrillator housing has the capability to deliver a different defibrillation waveform across each of the at least two electrical paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sullivan, Isabelle Banville, Richard C. Nova
  • WEARABLE CARDIAC DEFIBRILLATOR SYSTEM EMITTING CPR PROMPTS
    Publication number: 20150265845
    Abstract: A wearable cardiac defibrillator (“WCD”) system may include a support structure that a patient can wear, an energy storage module that can store an electrical charge, and a discharge circuit that can discharge the electrical charge through the patient so as to shock him or her, while the patient is wearing the support structure. Embodiments may actively take into account bystanders, both to protect them from an inadvertent shock, and also to enlist their help. In some embodiments the WCD system includes a speaker system that transmits a sound designed to assist a bystander to perform CPR. Optionally CPR chest compressions received by the patient can be further detected, and feedback can be given. In embodiments, a WCD system may include a user interface that can be controlled to output CPR prompts tailored to a skill level of the bystander.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph L.. Sullivan, David Peter Finch, Phillip Dewey Foshee, JR., Isabelle Banville, Richard C. Nova, Krystyna Szul, Daniel Finney, Laura Marie Gustavson, Gregory T. Kavounas