Automated external defibrillator (AED) with context-sensitive help

Abstract

A defibrillator system is disclosed including an operational state input, a user-operated information request input, and a user guidance output. The defibrillator system can be implemented as an AED, a manual defibrillator, or as a defibrillator trainer. The defibrillator system further utilizes the state and request inputs to determine a context-sensitive rescue information which is provided to the output.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have been available for public use for several years, and have proven effective at treating Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). SCA kills about 250,000 Americans a year and is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Untreated SCA usually results in death in a very short time, and survival rates for SCA decline by about 10% for every minute defibrillation treatment is delayed. Because most EMS or other medical response cannot reach the scene of SCA within a very few minutes, it is important for witnesses or bystanders to be able to apply defibrillation treatment as quickly as possible, whenever a defibrillator is available. [0002] Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is often performed concurrent with AED use. CPR is a combination of artificial respiration and artificial circulation that keeps oxygenated blood flowing to the brain during cardiac arrest. The effectiveness of CPR is highly dependent on the proficiency o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The apparatus and methods of the present invention are the result of the inventors' discovery that the interaction between defibrillator and user is significantly enhanced by dynamically modifying the sestet of rescue information based on the progress of the rescue. The present inventors have further discovered that a user improves the likelihood of performing a successful rescue if the user retains some control over the delivery of the guidance; i.e. the help prompting should be optional and not

Problems solved by technology

SCA kills about 250,000 Americans a year and is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Untreated SCA usually results in death in a very short time, and survival rates for SCA decline by about 10% for every minute defibrillation treatment is delayed.

Many people receive CPR training each year, but most, even emergency responders, have not maintained their proficiency.

Rescuers may find it difficult to recall these procedures, especially during high stress rescue situations and as standards evolve.

The problems of minimal traini

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