AED Shock Switch Self-Diagnosis and Alternate Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) lack a mechanism to detect failures in manually activated components, such as the shock switch, until a user interacts with them during a rescue, leading to potential delays in shock delivery.
Innovation Solution
A programmable system that prompts the user to interact with a manual mechanical interface, monitors the outcome, and identifies an alternate interface to initiate the shock if the primary interface fails to deliver the shock within a given time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual shock switch is used in semi-automatic AED, then the device requires user interaction to deliver shock, but the switch cannot be tested by autonomous self-tests leading to undetected damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis by monitoring whether the expected outcome (shock delivery) occurs after the user activates the shock switch. If the shock is not delivered within the expected time frame, the system automatically identifies the switch as potentially damaged and switches to an alternate activation method, enabling the device to self-detect and self-correct without external intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares an alternate shock activation path in advance, before the switch failure is detected. When the primary switch is activated but fails to deliver the shock, the system immediately transitions to the pre-prepared alternate method (such as automatic shock delivery or alternative button), ensuring continuous operational capability without requiring manual reconfiguration.
2Reliability
If autonomous self-testing is implemented in AED, then circuit continuity and functionality can be tested, but manually actuated components like the shock switch remain untestable
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the shock delivery outcome to assess switch functionality. After the user activates the shock switch, the system monitors whether the shock was actually delivered within the expected time window. This feedback mechanism allows the autonomous system to infer the operational status of the manual switch without requiring direct electrical testing of the mechanical component.
3Reliability
If the shock switch is damaged undetected, then the AED may fail during rescue, but adding testing mechanisms increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-diagnosis by monitoring whether the expected outcome (shock delivery) occurs after the user activates the shock switch. If the shock is not delivered within the expected time frame, the system automatically identifies the switch as potentially damaged and switches to an alternate activation method, enabling the device to self-detect and self-correct without external intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A semi-automated AED with a second shock switch. In an illustrative embodiment, programming running on the AED after prompting a user of the AED to push a shock switch looks to see if an event associated with pushing the shock switch, such as the delivery of a shock, has occurred. If the event being monitored for has not occurred within a given time, the user is prompted to push another button to initiate the event.