AED Shock Button Indicator for Battery Status and Miniaturization

Solution Overview

Problem

The increase in indicators for providing information in automated external defibrillators (AEDs) leads to increased size and weight, hindering miniaturization and weight reduction efforts while maintaining usability.

Innovation Solution

An automated external defibrillator with an indicator that changes its visual aspect to provide both readiness for defibrillation and battery level information, reducing the need for dedicated battery level indicators by integrating the functionality into the shock button.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the number of indicators is increased to provide more information, then usability is improved, but size and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveusabilityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The indicator integrated into the shock button performs multiple functions: it indicates both the readiness for defibrillation and the remaining battery level. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated indicators, thereby reducing the overall number of indicators while maintaining comprehensive information provision for improved usability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The functionality of a dedicated battery level indicator is merged with the existing shock button indicator. By combining these functions into a single indicator component, the patent reduces the total number of indicators required, which directly contributes to size and weight reduction while preserving all necessary information display capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If the number of indicators is increased to provide more information, then usability is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveusabilityVSAvoidsize

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The indicator integrated into the shock button performs multiple functions: it indicates both the readiness for defibrillation and the remaining battery level. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated indicators, thereby reducing the overall number of indicators while maintaining comprehensive information provision for improved usability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The functionality of a dedicated battery level indicator is merged with the existing shock button indicator. By combining these functions into a single indicator component, the patent reduces the total number of indicators required, which directly contributes to size and weight reduction while preserving all necessary information display capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12605558B2Automated external defibrillator

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 NIHON KOHDEN CORP

AI summary

An automated external defibrillator (AED) includes: a battery configured to supply electric power to the AED; an indicator configured to visually provide predetermined information related to the AED and a remaining level of the battery; and an indicator controller configured to change a visual aspect of the indicator according to the remaining level.