Detecting loss of full skin contact in patient electrodes

Abstract

Patient electrodes, patient monitors, defibrillators, wearable defibrillators, software and methods may warn when an electrode stops being fully attached to the patient's skin. A patient electrode includes a pad for attaching to the skin of a patient, a lead coupled to the pad, and a contact detector that can change state, when the pad does not contact fully the skin of the patient. When the detector changes state, an output device may emit an alert, for notifying a rescuer or even the patient.

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A host device adapted to be used with an electrode having an electrode lead, a pad adapted to contact the skin of a patient and a contact detector, the host device comprising:
 a support structure adapted to be worn by the patient, the electrode lead being coupled to the support structure;   a defibrillator coupled to the support structure;   an electrode port adapted to receive the electrode lead;   a module adapted to measure an ECG of the patient through the electrode port when the electrode lead is received in the electrode port;   a sense port adapted to receive a sense signal from the contact detector; and   an output device adapted to emit an alert if it is determined from the sense signal that the pad does not contact fully the skin of the patient.   
     
     
         68 . The host device of  claim 67 , in which
 the sense signal is wireless.   
     
     
         69 . The host device of  claim 68 , in which
 the electrode further has an RFID tag,   the sense port is an RFID reader adapted to interrogate the RFID tag, and   the sense signal is received as backscatter from the interrogated RFID tag.   
     
     
         70 . The host device of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 a processor adapted to determine from the sense signal whether the electrode does not contact fully the skin of the patient.   
     
     
         71 . The host device of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 a memory, and   in which an entry is made in the memory if it is determined that the electrode does not contact fully the skin of the patient.   
     
     
         72 . The host device of  claim 67 , further comprising:
 a module adapted to measure a physiological parameter of the patient other than the patient's ECG.   
     
     
         73 . The host device of  claim 67 , in which
 the defibrillator is adapted to transmit an electrical defibrillation pulse through the electrode port.   
     
     
         74 . The host device of  claim 67 , in which
 the alert is emitted electronically.   
     
     
         75 . The host device of  claim 67 , in which
 the output device is coupled to the support structure.   
     
     
         76 . The host device of  claim 67 , in which
 the output device is coupled to the support structure such that the output device is positioned on a shoulder of the patient when the support structure is worn by the patient.   
     
     
         77 . The host device of  claim 67 , in which
 the output device is coupled to the support structure such that the output device is positioned near a shoulder of the patient when the support structure is worn by the patient.   
     
     
         78 . A host device adapted to be used with an electrode having an electrode lead, a pad adapted to contact the skin of a patient, a contact detector and an RFID tag, the host device comprising:
 an electrode port adapted to receive the electrode lead;   a module adapted to measure an ECG of the patient through the electrode port;   an RFID reader adapted to interrogate the RFID tag, and to receive a sense signal from the contact detector as backscatter from the interrogated RFID tag; and   an output device adapted to emit an alert if it is determined from the sense signal that the pad does not contact fully the skin of the patient.   
     
     
         79 . The host device of  claim 78 , further comprising:
 a processor adapted to determine from the sense signal whether the electrode does not contact fully the skin of the patient.   
     
     
         80 . The host device of  claim 78 , further comprising:
 a memory, and   in which an entry is made in the memory if it is determined that the electrode does not contact fully the skin of the patient.   
     
     
         81 . The host device of  claim 78 , further comprising:
 a module adapted to measure a physiological parameter of the patient other than the patient's ECG.   
     
     
         82 . The host device of  claim 78 , further comprising:
 a support structure adapted to be worn by the patient, the electrode lead being coupled to the support structure.   
     
     
         83 . The host device of  claim 78 , further comprising:
 a defibrillator.   
     
     
         84 . The host device of  claim 78 , further comprising:
 a defibrillator adapted to transmit an electrical defibrillation pulse through the electrode port.   
     
     
         85 . The host device of  claim 78 , in which
 the alert is emitted electronically.   
     
     
         86 . A host device adapted to be used with an electrode having an electrode lead, a pad adapted to contact the skin of a patient and a contact detector, the host device comprising:
 an electrode port adapted to receive the electrode lead;   a module adapted to measure an ECG of the patient through the electrode port;   a sense port adapted to receive a sense signal from the contact detector; and   an output device adapted to emit an alert if it is determined from the sense signal that the pad does not contact fully the skin of the patient.   
     
     
         87 . The host device of  claim 86 , in which
 the sense signal is wireless.   
     
     
         88 . The host device of  claim 86 , further comprising:
 a processor adapted to determine from the sense signal whether the electrode does not contact fully the skin of the patient.   
     
     
         89 . The host device of  claim 86 , further comprising:
 a memory, and   in which an entry is made in the memory if it is determined that the electrode does not contact fully the skin of the patient.   
     
     
         90 . The host device of  claim 86 , further comprising:
 a module adapted to measure a physiological parameter of the patient other than the patient's ECG.   
     
     
         91 . The host device of  claim 86 , further comprising:
 a support structure adapted to be worn by the patient, the electrode lead being coupled to the support structure.   
     
     
         92 . The host device of  claim 86 , further comprising:
 a defibrillator.   
     
     
         93 . The host device of  claim 86 , further comprising:
 a defibrillator adapted to transmit an electrical defibrillation pulse through the electrode port.   
     
     
         94 . The host device of  claim 86 , in which
 the alert is emitted electronically.