Integrated Resuscitation

Abstract

A resuscitation system that includes at least two defibrillation electrodes configured to be applied to the exterior of the chest of a patient for delivering a defibrillation shock, a source of one or more ECG signals from the patient, a defibrillation circuit for delivering a defibrillation shock to the defibrillation electrodes, a control box that receives and processes the ECG signals to determine whether a defibrillation shock should be delivered or whether CPR should be performed, and that issues instructions to the user either to deliver a defibrillation shock or to perform CPR, wherein the determination of whether CPR should be performed and the instructions to perform CPR can occur at substantially any point during a rescue.

1 . A resuscitation system comprising: 
 at least two defibrillation electrodes configured to be applied to the exterior of the chest of a patient for delivering a defibrillation shock;    a source of one or more ECG signals from the patient;    a defibrillation circuit for delivering a defibrillation shock to the defibrillation electrodes;    a control box that receives and processes the ECG signals to determine whether a defibrillation shock should be delivered or whether CPR should be preformed, and that issues instructions to the user either to deliver a defibrillation shock or to perform CPR;    wherein the determination of whether CPR should be performed and the instructions to perform CPR can occur at substantially any point during a rescue.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the control box includes a user operable control for initiating delivery of a defibrillation shock, and the instructions to deliver a defibrillation shock include instructions to activate the user operable control.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the user operable control is a button configured to be pushed by the user.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the determination of whether CPR should be performed and the instructions to perform CPR can occur before a determination to deliver any defibrillation shock.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the source of the ECG signals is the defibrillation electrodes.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the defibrillation circuit is contained in the control box.