Authentication of shock therapy deferral

Abstract

The current technology relates to a shock deferral unit that is portable by an ambulatory patient. The shock deferral unit has a bi-directional communication device configured to receive a notification of an impending shock from a defibrillator and configured to send an instruction to defer the impending shock to the defibrillator. An authentication interface is configured to receive authentication data from a user. A user instruction interface is configured to receive the instruction to defer the impending shock from the user. An authentication device is configured to authenticate the user based on the authentication data and instruct the bi-directional communication device to send the instruction to defer a shock upon authentication and receipt of the instruction to defer the shock.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A shock deferral system comprising:
 a bi-directional communication device configured to receive a wireless notification of an impending shock from an implanted defibrillator and configured to wirelessly send an instruction to defer the impending shock to the implanted defibrillator;   a user interface configured to:
 display the notification of the impending shock, 
 receive the instruction to defer the impending shock from a user, wherein the user touches the user interface to provide the instruction to defer, 
 receive biometric authentication data from the user, 
 authenticate the user based on the biometric authentication data, and 
 instruct the bi-directional communication device to send the instruction to defer, for a deferral time, the impending shock upon authentication and receipt of the instruction to defer the impending shock, 
   wherein the shock deferral system is wearable by, manually holdable by, pocketable by the user, or a combination of these.   
     
     
         21 . The shock deferral system of  claim 20 , further comprising a wrist strap configured to secure the bi-directional communication device and the user interface to a wrist of the user. 
     
     
         22 . The shock deferral system of  claim 21 :
 wherein the user interface comprises an impedance sensor comprising a first electrode contacting skin of the wrist of the user and a second electrode contacting the user when the user touches the user interface to provide the instruction to defer,   wherein the user interface receives the biometric authentication data when the user touches the user interface to provide the instruction to defer, wherein the biometric authentication data is impedance at least partially through a body of the user.   
     
     
         23 . The shock deferral system of  claim 21 , wherein the user interface comprises a fingerprint sensor, wherein the fingerprint sensor receives the biometric authentication data when the user touches the user interface with a finger to provide the instruction to defer, wherein the biometric authentication data comprises fingerprint information. 
     
     
         24 . The shock deferral system of  claim 21 , wherein the user interface comprises a camera configured to record an image of a portion of the user containing the biometric authentication data, wherein the image is of one of an iris, a face, a hand, an ear, skin, and a fingerprint of the user. 
     
     
         25 . The shock deferral system of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a defibrillator interface unit comprising the bi-directional communication device and a wrist strap configured to secure the defibrillator interface unit to a wrist of the user; and   a smart phone comprising the user interface.   
     
     
         26 . The shock deferral system of  claim 25 , wherein the smart phone comprises a fingerprint sensor, wherein the fingerprint sensor receives the biometric authentication data when the user touches the user interface with a finger to provide the instruction to defer, wherein the biometric authentication data comprises fingerprint information. 
     
     
         27 . The shock deferral system of  claim 25 , wherein the smart phone comprises a camera configured to record an image of a portion of the user containing the biometric authentication data, wherein the image is of one of an iris, a face, a hand, an ear, skin, and a fingerprint of the user. 
     
     
         28 . The shock deferral system of  claim 20 :
 wherein the shock deferral system is wearable by the user;   wherein the user interface comprises an impedance sensor comprising a first electrode contacting skin of the user and a second electrode contacting the user when the user touches the user interface to provide the instruction to defer,   wherein the user interface receives the biometric authentication data when the second electrode contacts the user when the user touches the user interface to provide the instruction to defer, wherein the biometric authentication data is impedance at least partially through a body of the user.   
     
     
         29 . The shock deferral system of  claim 28 , wherein the shock deferral system is wearable on a wrist of the user or adherable to skin of the user. 
     
     
         30 . The shock deferral system of  claim 20 , wherein the user interface comprises a fingerprint sensor, wherein the fingerprint sensor receives the biometric authentication data when the user interface receives the instruction to defer from the touch of the user, wherein the biometric authentication data comprises fingerprint data. 
     
     
         31 . The shock deferral system of  claim 20 , wherein the user interface comprises a camera configured to record an image of a portion of the user containing the biometric authentication data, wherein the image is of one of an iris, a face, a hand, an ear, skin, and a fingerprint of the user. 
     
     
         32 . The shock deferral system of  claim 20 , wherein the bi-directional communication device is a radio. 
     
     
         33 . The shock deferral system of  claim 20 , wherein the bi-directional communication device is configured to relay one or more physiological measurements sensed by the implanted defibrillator to the user interface. 
     
     
         34 . A shock deferral system comprising:
 a defibrillator configured to sense user physiological measures, communicate a notification of impending shock, and deliver shock therapy; and   a bi-directional communication device configured to receive a wireless notification of an impending shock from an implanted defibrillator and configured to wirelessly send an instruction to defer the impending shock to the implanted defibrillator;   a user interface configured to:
 display the notification of the impending shock, 
 receive the instruction to defer the impending shock from a user, wherein the user touches the user interface to provide the instruction to defer, 
 receive biometric authentication data from the user, 
 authenticate the user based on the biometric authentication data, and 
 instruct the bi-directional communication device to send the instruction to defer, for a deferral time, the impending shock upon authentication and receipt of the instruction to defer the impending shock, 
   wherein the shock deferral system is wearable by, manually holdable by, pocketable by the user, or a combination of these.   
     
     
         35 . The shock deferral system of  claim 34 , wherein the user interface is configured to receive the biometric authentication data from the user and send the instruction to defer shock within a 60-second time period. 
     
     
         36 . The shock deferral system of  claim 34 , wherein the user interface is configured to authenticate the user each time the shock deferral system receives the notification of impending shock from the defibrillator. 
     
     
         37 . A method comprising:
 receiving a wireless notification of impending shock therapy from an implanted defibrillator at a user interface, wherein the user interface is wearable by, manually holdable by, pocketable by a user, or a combination of these;   displaying the notification of the impending shock therapy on the user interface;   receiving an instruction from the user to defer the impending shock therapy through the user interface, wherein the user touches the user interface to provide the instruction to defer;   receiving biometric authentication data from the user;   authenticating the user based on the biometric authentication data, and   sending the received instruction to the implanted defibrillator to defer, for a deferral time, the impending shock therapy upon authentication.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising entering a training mode comprising soliciting the user for the biometric authentication data absent a notification of impending shock therapy. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein sending the received instruction to the implanted defibrillator is through radio frequency.