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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A resuscitation system comprising separate units for use for resuscitating a patient, comprising:
 a first unit comprising an electrode pad assembly and adapted to be worn by the patient for long term monitoring of a condition of the patient by the resuscitation system; and   a second unit separate from the first unit and comprising an energy delivery unit, the energy delivery unit comprising circuitry for providing at least one of defibrillation and pacing pulses to the patient via at least two high-voltage defibrillation electrodes;   wherein the at least two high-voltage defibrillation electrodes are operatively connected to the energy delivery unit and adapted to be worn by the patient for extended periods of time.   
     
     
         26 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , comprising circuitry for providing an electrical connection between the first unit and the second unit. 
     
     
         27 . The resuscitation system of  claim 26 , wherein the electrical connection between the first unit and the second unit comprises a cable that connects the first unit to the second unit. 
     
     
         28 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , wherein the second unit is configured to be mechanically detachable from the first unit. 
     
     
         29 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit comprises circuitry for enabling wireless communication of patient data. 
     
     
         30 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , wherein the second unit is connected directly to at least one of the least two high-voltage defibrillation electrodes to provide the defibrillation pulses to the electrodes. 
     
     
         31 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit comprises an output for providing at least one of audible and visual prompts. 
     
     
         32 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit comprises a speaker for providing audible prompts. 
     
     
         33 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , comprising a microphone and associated circuitry for receiving and storing sounds from the patient during use of the system. 
     
     
         34 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , wherein the first unit and the second unit are configured to be supported by the patient for a long period of time. 
     
     
         35 . The resuscitation system of  claim 34 , wherein at least the second unit is configured to be small and light and configured to be continuously worn by the patient. 
     
     
         36 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit comprises one or more buttons for receiving user input. 
     
     
         37 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , comprising a phonocardiogram for listening to the sound of the patient's heart. 
     
     
         38 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , wherein the phonocardiogram comprises a microphone and an amplifier. 
     
     
         39 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , comprising a pulse detection system configured to detect one or more pulses in the patient. 
     
     
         40 . The resuscitation system of  claim 39 , wherein the pulse detection system comprises a pulse oximetry system. 
     
     
         41 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , wherein the energy delivery unit comprises a charge storage capacitor for storing charge to be delivered to the patient. 
     
     
         42 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , comprising an adhesive configured to attach one or more electrodes of the resuscitation system to the patient. 
     
     
         43 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , comprising a conductive adhesive gel disposed on one or more electrodes of the resuscitation system. 
     
     
         44 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , comprising an activity sensor adapted to be worn by the patient. 
     
     
         45 . The resuscitation system of  claim 44 , wherein the activity sensor is configured to provide an output from which the patient's current activity can be estimated. 
     
     
         46 . The resuscitation system of  claim 44 , comprising at least one processor configured for estimating the patient's current activity by analyzing the output of the activity sensor. 
     
     
         47 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , comprising one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) for indicating a status of the resuscitation system. 
     
     
         48 . The resuscitation system of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit is configured to detect a cardiac event and send a message to an external location on detecting the cardiac event. 
     
     
         49 . A resuscitation system comprising separate units for use for resuscitating a patient comprising:
 a first unit comprising at least one defibrillation electrode configured to be held against a patient's skin for an extended period of time; and   a second unit separate from the first unit and comprising circuitry for processing therapy functions and providing defibrillation pulses to the at least one defibrillation electrode;   wherein the first unit and second unit are electrically connected by a cable;   wherein the first unit and the second unit are configured to be supported by the patient for long periods of time and configured for long term monitoring of an ECG of the patient.   
     
     
         50 . The resuscitation system of  claim 49 , comprising circuitry for providing an electrical connection between the first unit and the second unit, and wherein the electrical connection between the first unit and the second unit comprises a cable that connects the first unit to the second unit. 
     
     
         51 . The resuscitation system of  claim 49 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit comprises an output for providing at least one of audible and visual prompts. 
     
     
         52 . The resuscitation system of  claim 51 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit comprises a speaker for providing audible prompts. 
     
     
         53 . The resuscitation system of  claim 49 , comprising a microphone and associated circuitry for receiving and storing sounds from the patient during use of the system. 
     
     
         54 . The resuscitation system of  claim 49 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit comprises one or more buttons for receiving user input. 
     
     
         55 . The resuscitation system of  claim 49 , comprising a phonocardiogram for listening to the sound of the patient's heart. 
     
     
         56 . The resuscitation system of  claim 49 , wherein the phonocardiogram comprises a microphone and an amplifier. 
     
     
         57 . The resuscitation system of  claim 49 , comprising an adhesive configured to attach one or more electrodes of the resuscitation system to the patient. 
     
     
         58 . The resuscitation system of  claim 49 , comprising a conductive adhesive gel disposed on one or more electrodes of the resuscitation system. 
     
     
         59 . The resuscitation system of  claim 49 , comprising at least on processor and an activity sensor, wherein the activity sensor is adapted to be worn by the patient and configured to provide an output from which the patient's current activity can be estimated, and wherein the at least one processor is configured for estimating the patient's current activity by analyzing the output of the activity sensor. 
     
     
         60 . A resuscitation system comprising separate units for use for resuscitating a patient comprising:
 at least two defibrillation electrodes;   a first unit comprising at least one of the at least two defibrillation electrodes, wherein the at least one of the at least two defibrillation electrodes is configured to be held against a patient's skin for an extended period of time; and   a second unit separate from the first unit and comprising circuitry for processing therapy functions and configured to provide defibrillation pulses to the defibrillation electrodes;
 wherein the first unit is separate from the second unit and electrically connected to the second unit by a cable; 
 wherein at least the first unit is configured to be supported by the patient for long periods of time and configured for long term monitoring of an ECG of the patient; 
   wherein a second electrical unit comprises an energy delivery unit that is configured to provide at least one of defibrillation and pacing pulses to the patient via the at least two high-voltage defibrillation electrodes; and   an output device coupled to one of the first unit and second unit for providing an audible alarm.   
     
     
         61 . The resuscitation system of  claim 60 , comprising circuitry for providing an electrical connection between the first unit and the second unit, and wherein the electrical connection between the first unit and the second unit comprises a cable that connects the first unit to the second unit. 
     
     
         62 . The resuscitation system of  claim 60 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit comprises a speaker for providing the audible alarm. 
     
     
         63 . The resuscitation system of  claim 60 , comprising a microphone and associated circuitry for receiving and storing sounds from the patient during use of the system. 
     
     
         64 . The resuscitation system of  claim 60 , wherein at least one of the first unit and the second unit comprises one or more buttons for receiving user input. 
     
     
         65 . The resuscitation system of  claim 60 , comprising a phonocardiogram for listening to the sound of the patient's heart. 
     
     
         66 . The resuscitation system of  claim 60 , wherein the phonocardiogram comprises a microphone and an amplifier. 
     
     
         67 . The resuscitation system of  claim 60 , comprising an adhesive configured to attach one or more electrodes of the resuscitation system to the patient. 
     
     
         68 . The resuscitation system of  claim 60 , comprising a conductive adhesive gel disposed on one or more electrodes of the resuscitation system. 
     
     
         69 . The resuscitation system of  claim 60 , comprising at least one processor and an activity sensor, wherein the activity sensor is adapted to be worn by the patient and configured to provide an output from which the patient's current activity can be estimated, and wherein the at least one processor is configured for estimating the patient's current activity by analyzing the output of the activity sensor.