Abstract: Defibrillator electrodes having an identification element and a circuit which indicates to an AED the weight range of the patient being rescued. When the AED detects the presence of pediatric electrodes, it may select a different set of voice prompts that are specifically suited to a pediatric patient and/or it may select a pediatric dosage of electricity for the therapeutic shock.

Abstract: An automated external programmable defibrillator (AED) with the ability to perform operational self-tests, determine whether a patient is undergoing cardial defibrillation, deliver an electrical defibrillation pulse, store data pertaining to the self-tests. Certain operational parameters are alterable by software installable in a computer. The operational parameters include second defibrillation shock energy value, the maximum shocks to be delivered during a rescue, whether the same energy will be delivered to the patient upon conversion to a shockable rhythm, whether the AED will automatically convert to daylight savings time, whether an electrode test will occur during the self-test, and whether ambient sound will be recorded during a rescue.

Abstract: A defibrillator battery pack comprises a housing having a first set of battery cells having an upper set and a lower set of cells and a second set of battery cells connected in parallel with one of the upper or the lower sets of the first set of battery cells. The first set of battery cells is used for charging a capacitor bank of a defibrillator. The second set of battery cells cannot be used for charging and is only used for developing a nominal 5 volts to drive a microprocessor and other circuitry components of an electrical control system of the defibrillator. This arrangement increases the life of the battery pack in the lower voltage range, which is advantageous for operating the microprocessor. This arrangement also maintains the intelligence of the electrical control system because the battery cells supplying power to the microprocessor will always fail after, and not before, failure of the battery cells supplying power for charging the capacitor bank.

Abstract: A fail-safe safety circuit for a portable automated external defibrillator allows earlier charging of capacitors. In turn, the earlier charging of the capacitors allows quicker release of a defibrillation shock than prior art method of automatically detecting the appropriateness of administering a defibrillation shock and subsequently preparing the shock.

Abstract: A system for automatically synchronizing, isolated clocks is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the internal clock of an automated external defibrillator (AED) or an external defibrillator (ED) is integrated with a radio broadcast to receive standard time. The system may also include a mechanism for synchronizing the clock or a computer tracking the time of emergency calls such as 911. Further, the system enables synchronization between the AED or ED internal clock and the 911 clock such that response times can be accurately determined.

Abstract: The present invention is an external defibrillator which controls and manages the formation of defibrillation waveforms. The waveforms are dynamically adjusted and created to be consistent with a myocardial cell response waveform. Dynamic tilt calculations based on time slices and corresponding functions based on best-fit models are used to generate the waveforms. The waveforms are dynamically adjusted to compensate for changes in resistance due to changes in the voltage during delivery of the waveform. The waveforms include a first and a second phase and are formed with minimal delay therebetween.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimal transchest external defibrillation waveform which, when applied through a plurality of electrodes positioned on a patient's torso will produce a desired response in the patient's cardiac cell membranes. The method includes the steps of providing a quantitative model of a defibrillator circuit for producing external defibrillation waveforms, the quantitative model of a patient includes a chest component, a heart component, a cell membrane component and a quantitative description of the desired cardiac membrane response function. Finally, a quantitative description of a transchest external defibrillation waveform that will produce the desired cardiac membrane response function is computed. The computation is made as a function of the desired cardiac membrane response function, the patient model and the defibrillator circuit model.

Abstract: A method of generating and applying a defibrillation shock of the present invention includes first applying a defibrillation shock pulse to a patient with an initial predetermined amount of energy not based on a patient-dependent electrical parameter, and while monitoring a patient-dependent electrical parameter. Next, patient transthoracic impedance is determined based on the patient-dependent electrical parameter. Finally, a subsequent predetermined amount of energy is applied to the patient based on the patient transthoracic impedance calculated above and while monitoring the patient-dependent electrical parameter. Subsequent defibrillation shock pulses are applied using a patient impedance based on the patient-dependent electrical parameter observed during the most recent defibrillation shock. In this manner, an optimal combination of charged voltage and the maximum allowed current (under the AAMI defibrillation waveform standard) is applied for a patient's given transthoracic impedance.

Abstract: An automated external defibrillator automatically performs periodic self-tests on a daily and weekly basis. Self-test failures are identified by a watchdog timer which is reset upon activation of each periodic self-test. If the watchdog timer times out a maintenance indication is activated. The timeout period of the watchdog timer is non-repeating and non-periodic (typically 30 hrs.). Tested functions include the presence and interconnection of defibrillator electrodes, battery charge state, and the operability of the high voltage circuit. Visual and audible indicators are actuated to alert an operator if faults are identified. A record of each self-test is stored in memory, and can be subsequently retrieved through a communications port.

Abstract: The AED of the present invention has a housing and a removable power supply, contained within its own power supply case, that is connected to a circuit for generating a defibrillation pulse. The circuit is electrically connectale to a pair of electrodes for delivering the defibrillation pulse. the AED further includes a temperature sensing device that is mounted inside the power supply case and connected to the power supply. The temperature sensing device senses the temperature in the power supply case and enables the adjustment of the operating parameters of the AED according to the sensed temperature.

Abstract: A circuit detectable arrangement of electrodes and a package thereof are provided so that the presence of a fresh package of electrodes can be detected by a device and can be distinguished from electrodes that have been used or tampered with. A first electrode is disposed on an electrically non-conductive liner, a second electrode is disposed on an electrically non-conductive liner, and an electrical connector is provided between the first and second electrodes for electrically completing a circuit connecting the lead wire of the first electrode to the lead wire of the second electrode. An electrode package is also provided including the first and second electrodes therein. Within the package, the first and second electrodes are provided adjacent to one another with their backing layers generally parallel to one another and with a loop formed in the electrical connector.

Abstract: An automated external defibrillator which automatically performs self-tests on a daily and weekly basis. Tested functions include the presence and interconnection of defibrillator electrodes, battery charge state and the operability of the high voltage circuit. Visual and audible indicators are actuated to alert an operator if faults are identified. A record of each self-test is stored in memory, and can be subsequently retrieved through a communications port.

Abstract: A portable automated external defibrillator (AED) configured for use with a packaged pair of defibrillator electrodes of the type electrically coupled to one another within the package and having lead wires extending from the package and an electrical connector on the ends of the lead wires. The AED includes a case with an electrode compartment configured to hold the packaged electrodes, and an openable lid for enclosing the compartment. Electrode terminals configured for electrical interconnection to the electrical connector of the electrodes, a speaker and an LED display are positioned within the electrode compartment. An operator-actuated rescue switch and a rescue LED display are positioned on the outside of the case. A high voltage circuit generates defibrillation pulses and applies the pulses to the electrode terminals. The operation of the AED is controlled by a digital control system. Rescue mode operation of the AED is initiated when the lid is opened.

Abstract: A system for automatically correcting data of recorded times from a plurality isolated clocks is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment a computer implemented software is used to download recorded time data from an automatic external defibrillator (AED). The computer also includes an internal clock synchronized with a 911 emergency call time tracking clock. On the initiation of the download, the computer compares its internal clock with the clock on the AED and calculates a correction or adjustment factor. Recorded event data, representing AED intervention times, are downloaded from the AED's memory bank and the software computes a corrected response time using the calculated adjustment factor. This corrected response time is then stored in the AED.

Abstract: An external defibillator including an operator interface and a high voltage circuit responsive to a controller for producing monophasic waveform defibrillation pulses and/or biphasic waveform defibrillation pulses. The controller can implement a biphasic waveform test protocol by causing the high voltage circuit to sequentially generate one or more biphasic waveform defibrillation pulses before generating monophasic waveform defibrillation pulses in response to sequential actuations of the operator interface during a patient rescue.

Abstract: A circuit detectable arrangement of a plurality of medical electrodes is provided with each electrode having an electrically nonconductive backing layer, a layer of electrically conductive adhesive disposed on the backing layer and a lead wire extending therefrom and electrically connected with the conductive adhesive. More specifically, a first electrode is disposed on an electrically nonconductive liner, a second electrode is disposed on an electrically nonconductive liner, and an electrical connector is provided between the first and second electrodes for electrically completing a circuit connecting the lead wire of the first electrode to the lead wire of the second electrode. Preferably, the backing layers of the first and second electrodes each include a conductor portion, and the electrical connector is connected between the conductor portion of the backing layer of the first electrode and the conductor portion of the backing layer of the second electrode.

Abstract: An automated external defibrillator which automatically performs self-tests on a daily and weekly basis. Tested functions include the presence and interconnection of defibrillator electrodes, battery charge state and the operability of the high voltage circuit. Visual and audible indicators are actuated to alert an operator if faults are identified. A record of each self-test is stored in memory, and can be subsequently retrieved through a communications port.