Defibrillation Electrode with Non-Volatile Memory for Energy Level Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing defibrillators often require trained operators to manually adjust settings, leading to reluctance among lay providers to use AEDs due to fear of misapplication, and there is a need to ensure appropriate energy levels are maintained across different defibrillation events, especially between pediatric and adult patients.
Innovation Solution
A defibrillation electrode with a non-volatile memory element and circuitry to store and indicate the energy level of shocks delivered, allowing for consistent energy settings to be maintained across different defibrillation systems, including automatic querying and adjustment of energy levels based on previous applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of defibrillator settings is required, then treatment can be customized for different patients, but operator complexity increases and intimidates lay providers
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode pad performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting patient parameters (impedance, weight category) and pre-configuring the optimal defibrillation energy settings before the shock is delivered. This eliminates the need for manual adjustment during the emergency, resolving the contradiction between customization and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The defibrillator system performs self-service by automatically querying the electrode pad for patient-specific parameters and autonomously selecting the appropriate energy level without requiring operator intervention. The system serves itself by making intelligent decisions based on the electrode's measurements, thus reducing operator complexity while maintaining treatment adaptability.
2Reliability
If energy levels are manually set by operators, then treatment can be tailored to patient needs, but errors in setting may occur leading to inappropriate energy delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode pad provides real-time feedback to the defibrillator about patient-specific parameters such as impedance and weight category. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically adjust energy levels based on actual patient conditions, ensuring treatment accuracy while eliminating the burden of manual setting by the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual system of operator-based energy level setting with an automated electronic system. The defibrillator automatically queries the electrode pad, processes the impedance data, and electronically determines the appropriate energy level, substituting human judgment with an automated decision-making system that reduces errors and operator burden.
3Productivity
If defibrillation settings are not automatically transferred between devices, then each device must be manually configured, but this causes delays and increases risk of incorrect settings
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode pad serves multiple functions: it acts as both the defibrillation electrode and a patient parameter sensor that stores patient-specific data. This universal electrode design enables automatic data transfer between different defibrillator devices, ensuring setting consistency while improving treatment speed by eliminating manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode pad acts as an intermediary device that mediates between different defibrillator systems. It stores patient-specific parameters and automatically communicates this information to subsequent defibrillators, ensuring consistent energy level settings across device transitions without requiring manual intervention, thus improving both speed and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems of applying treatment to a subject experiencing cardiac distress. In one example, there is provided a defibrillation electrode. The defibrillation electrode includes a non-volatile memory element and a circuit configured to store an indication of a level of energy delivered to a subject during the application of a defibrillation shock to the subject in the non-volatile memory element.