Integrated resuscitation

Abstract

A resuscitation system for use by a rescuer for resuscitating a patient, comprising at least two high-voltage defibrillation electrodes, a first electrical unit comprising circuitry for providing resuscitation prompts to the rescuer, a second electrical unit separate from the first unit and comprising circuitry for providing defibrillation pulses to the electrodes, and circuitry for providing at least one electrical connection between the first and second units. In another aspect, at least two electrical therapy electrodes adapted to be worn by the patient for extended periods of time, circuitry for monitoring the ECG of the patient, an activity sensor adapted to be worn by the patient and capable of providing an output from which the patient's current activity can be estimated, and at least one processor configured for estimating the patient's current activity by analyzing the output of the activity sensor, analyzing the ECG of the patient, and determining whether electrical therapy should be delivered to the electrodes.

1 . A resuscitation system for use by a rescuer for resuscitating a patient, comprising: 
 at least two high-voltage defibrillation electrodes;    a first electrical unit comprising circuitry for providing resuscitation prompts to the rescuer;    a second electrical unit separate from the first unit and comprising circuitry for providing defibrillation pulses to the electrodes; and    circuitry for providing at least one electrical connection between the first and second units.    
   
   
       2 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the two electrodes and the first unit are built into a defibrillation electrode pad assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the defibrillation electrodes are detachable from the defibrillation electrode pad assembly.  
   
   
       4 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the first unit is separate from the two electrodes, and connected to the two electrodes by one or more cables.  
   
   
       5 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the first unit is capable of functioning and providing the resuscitation prompts without being electrically connected to the second unit.  
   
   
       6 . The resuscitation system of  claim 5  wherein the first unit comprises a source of electrical power and a processor.  
   
   
       7 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the first unit has circuitry for monitoring at least one physiological parameter of the patient.  
   
   
       8 . The resuscitation system of  claim 7  wherein the parameter is an ECG signal.  
   
   
       9 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the resuscitation prompts comprise CPR prompts.  
   
   
       10 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the circuitry for providing at least one electrical connection between the first and second units comprises at least one cable.  
   
   
       11 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the circuitry for providing at least one electrical connection between the first and second units comprises at least one wireless connection.  
   
   
       12 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the second unit is connected directly to the defibrillation electrodes by one or more cables that carry the defibrillation pulses to the electrodes.  
   
   
       13 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the circuitry for providing at least one electrical connection between the first and second units comprises at least one cable for delivering the defibrillation pulses to the first unit, from where they are delivered to the electrodes.  
   
   
       14 . The resuscitation system of  claim 8  wherein the ECG signal is detected using the defibrillation electrodes.  
   
   
       15 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the first unit comprises a speaker for providing the resuscitation prompts.  
   
   
       16 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the resuscitation prompts comprise spoken and visual prompts.  
   
   
       17 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  wherein the first unit comprises a microphone and circuitry for storing sounds recorded during use of the unit.  
   
   
       18 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  further comprising an electrode pad assembly supporting the defibrillation electrodes and a handle attached to the electrode pad assembly for providing an upward lifting force on the chest.  
   
   
       19 . The resuscitation system of  claim 18  wherein the handle comprises a flexible sheet material.  
   
   
       20 . The resuscitation system of  claim 18  wherein the handle comprises a substantially rigid material.  
   
   
       21 . A resuscitation system for resuscitating a patient, comprising: 
 at least two electrical therapy electrodes adapted to be worn by the patient for extended periods of time;    circuitry for monitoring the ECG of the patient;    an activity sensor adapted to be worn by the patient and capable of providing an output from which the patient's current activity can be estimated; and    at least one processor configured for estimating the patient's current activity by analyzing the output of the activity sensor, analyzing the ECG of the patient, and determining whether electrical therapy should be delivered to the electrodes.    
   
   
       22 . The resuscitation system of  claim 21  wherein the processor is configured for estimating whether the patient is moving.  
   
   
       23 . The resuscitation system of  claim 22  wherein the activity sensor comprises an accelerometer, and the processor is configured for integrating the output of the accelerometer to provide an estimate of velocity and/or displacement.  
   
   
       24 . The resuscitation system of  claim 21  wherein the processor is configured to process the output of the activity sensor and use the result of the processing to modify at least one threshold in a technique used for determining a physiological status of patient.  
   
   
       25 . The resuscitation system of  claim 24  wherein the physiological status comprises determining a risk of impending heart attack or cardiac arrest.  
   
   
       26 . The resuscitation system of  claim 21  wherein the resuscitation system includes a speaker for issuing spoken prompts to the patient, and the processor decides on the nature of the spoken prompt based on the estimated current activity of the patient.  
   
   
       27 . The resuscitation system of  claim 21  wherein the patient's current activity comprises estimating the orientation of the patient.  
   
   
       28 . The resuscitation system of  claim 27  wherein estimating the orientation of the patient comprises determining whether the patient lying on his back.  
   
   
       29 . The resuscitation system of  claim 21  wherein the electrodes are defibrillation electrodes and the electrical therapy comprises a defibrillation pulse.  
   
   
       30 . The resuscitation system of  claim 1  further comprising 
 an activity sensor adapted to be worn by the patient and capable of providing an output from which the patient's current activity can be estimated; and    at least one processor configured for estimating the patient's current activity by analyzing the output of the activity sensor.    
   
   
       31 . The resuscitation system of  claim 30  wherein the at least one processor is located in the first unit.  
   
   
       32 . The resuscitation system of  claim 31  wherein at least some of the resuscitation prompts delivered by the first unit are dependent on the estimated current activity of the patient.  
   
   
       33 . The resuscitation system of  claim 32  wherein the current activity comprises whether the patient is lying on his back, and at least one resuscitation prompt issued when the patient is not on his back is an instruction to roll the patient on their back prior to beginning CPR.  
   
   
       34 . A resuscitation system for resuscitating a patient, comprising: 
 at least two electrical therapy electrodes adapted to be worn by the patient for extended periods of time;    circuitry for monitoring the ECG of the patient;    an activity sensor adapted to be worn by the patient and capable of providing an output from which the patient's current activity can be estimated; and    at least one processor configured for estimating the patient's current activity by analyzing the output of the activity sensor, analyzing the ECG of the patient, and determining whether the patient has an elevated probability of cardiac arrest.    
   
   
       35 . The resuscitation system of  claim 34  wherein the processor is configured for determining whether the patient's current activity includes increased physical activity.  
   
   
       36 . The resuscitation system of  claim 34  wherein the processor is configured for determining an activity level parameter representative of the patient's activity level.  
   
   
       37 . The resuscitation system of  claim 36  wherein the decision of an elevated probability of cardiac arrest is based on the activity level parameter and a parameter derived from the patient's ECG.  
   
   
       38 . The resuscitation system of  claim 36  wherein the decision of an elevated probability of cardiac arrest is based on the activity level parameter and a measurement of blood pressure.  
   
   
       39 . The resuscitation system of  claim 34  wherein the system further comprises the capability of delivering at least one test pulse through the electrodes at a time based, at least in part, on an estimate of the patient's current activity, wherein the test pulse is of a type configured to produce a ventricular premature beat (VPB).  
   
   
       40 . The resuscitation system of  claim 39  wherein the time based on an estimate of the patient's current activity is shortly after waking in the morning.  
   
   
       41 . The resuscitation system of  claim 40  wherein prior to delivering the test pulse the system issues a prompt to the patient requesting administration of the test pulse and the system waits for the patient to indicate his consent to administration of the test pulse.