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: 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.

Abstract: A medical device can include a housing, an energy storage module within the housing to store an electrical charge, and a defibrillation port to guide via electrodes the stored electrical charge to a person in need of medical assistance. The medical device can also include a processor to perform a patient signal analysis on an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal corresponding to the person and further determine, based on a result of the patient signal analysis, whether post-shock transcutaneous pacing should be performed on the person.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

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.

Abstract: 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.

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.

Abstract: In embodiments, a WCD system includes electrodes with which it senses an ECG signal of the patient. A processor may detect sequential peaks within the ECG signal, measure durations of time intervals between the peaks, including between non-sequential peaks, and identify a representative duration that best meets a plausibility criterion. The plausibility criterion may be that the representative duration is the one that occurs the most often, i.e. is the mode. Then a heart rate can be computed from a duration indicated by the representative duration and, if the heart rate meets a shock condition, the WCD system may deliver a shock to the patient. An advantage can be that the representative duration can be close to a good R-R interval measurement of a patient, notwithstanding noise in the ECG signal that is in the shape of peaks.

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.

Abstract: 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.

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.

Abstract: A medical device can include a housing, an energy storage module within the housing to store an electrical charge, and a defibrillation port to guide via electrodes the stored electrical charge to a person in need of medical assistance. The medical device can also include a processor to perform a patient signal analysis on an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal corresponding to the person and further determine, based on a result of the patient signal analysis, whether post-shock transcutaneous pacing should be performed on the person.

Abstract: A superior wearable cardioverter defibrillator is disclosed. Embodiments provide one or more remote sensors (e.g., ECG electrodes) that are separable from the rest of the WCD system, which holds the defibrillation electrodes on the body and may also hold a preamplifier for the electrodes. This feature enables ECG electrodes (or other physiological sensors) to be more securely affixed to the patient's body without adversely affecting the patient's desire to don the rest of the WCD.

Abstract: Systems, devices, software and methods are provided, for making a decision as to whether to administer an electric shock to a patient. The decision can be made differently, depending on whether the patient has already been shocked or not.

Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator system includes a support structure that a patient can wear. The system also includes electrodes that contact the patient, and define two or more channels from which ECG signals are sensed. A processor may evaluate the channels by analyzing their respective ECG signals, to determine which contains less noise than the other(s). The analysis can be by extracting statistics from the ECG signals, optionally after first processing them, and then by comparing these statistics. These statistics may include tall peak counts, amplitudes of peaks compared to historical peak amplitudes, signal baseline shift, dwell time near a baseline, narrow peak counts, zero crossings counts, determined heart rates, and so on. Once the less noisy signal is identified, its channel can be followed preferentially or to the exclusion of other channels, for continuing monitoring and/or determining whether to shock the patient.

Abstract: Medical devices, software and methods are provided, for making a decision as to whether to pause patient chest compression treatment in connection with administering electric shock therapy to the patient. The decision is made depending whether signal spikes identified in the ECG data are determined to be QRS complexes, or merely likely impulsive artifact caused by the chest compressions.

Abstract: An external defibrillator system such as a WCD is also capable of providing transthoracic pacing and drug delivery (e.g., pain-reducing drugs and/or a sedatives) to a patient. The drug(s) may be included in the therapy electrode electrolyte and dispensed for defibrillation, cardioversion and/or pacing therapy. Alternatively, the drug(s) may be stored in a separate reservoir and dispensed during pacing therapy. The drug(s) may be dispensed to a patient after a successful defibrillation therapy. The pacing therapy may be delivered a set time-period after the drug(s) were dispensed. A relatively small electric current may be delivered to the area of the patient on which the drug(s) were dispensed to facilitate drug absorption.

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.

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. First aspects and second aspects may be detected from the physiological inputs. An aggregated first aspect may be generated from the detected first aspects, and an aggregated second aspect may be generated from the detected second aspects. An aggregate analysis score may be determined from the aggregated first aspect and the aggregated second aspect. A shock/no shock determination may be made depending on whether or not the aggregate analysis score meets an aggregate shock criterion. Accordingly, such a WCD system can make shock/no shock determinations by aggregating aspects of multiple patient parameters. Accordingly, multiple inputs are considered in making the shock/no shock determination.