Defibrillator Decision Support Module Workflow Graph
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current external defibrillators lack effective decision support systems to guide users in administering timely and appropriate defibrillation shocks during Ventricular Fibrillation (VF), leading to delayed interventions and reduced survival rates due to the complexity of procedures and the need for trained medical personnel.
Innovation Solution
The development of a decision support module integrated into external defibrillators that models workflows as a graph of interdependent tasks, including event viewing, protocol assistance, smart messaging, and reference material lookup, to guide users through defibrillation procedures, providing configuration files for task execution and data storage, and enabling the construction and execution of dependency graphs for task completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If external defibrillators are designed to be simple and portable, then ease of operation is improved, but decision support capabilities and procedure guidance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a decision support module as an intermediary between the user and the defibrillation procedure. This module includes a workflow engine that processes clinical data, a protocol library that stores expert guidelines, and a guidance interface that presents recommended actions. The intermediary translates complex medical decision-making into simplified step-by-step instructions, maintaining portability while enhancing decision support capabilities.
2Reliability
If defibrillation procedures require trained medical personnel, then treatment accuracy is improved, but availability to non-medical personnel deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the defibrillator automatically performs ECG analysis, rhythm detection, and shock delivery decisions. The device monitors the patient's cardiac rhythm continuously, automatically identifies ventricular fibrillation, and guides non-medical users through the defibrillation process without requiring their medical training. This automation maintains treatment accuracy while dramatically improving accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms where the decision support module continuously monitors the patient's response to treatment and adjusts guidance accordingly. The workflow engine processes ongoing clinical data, compares it against protocol criteria, and provides dynamic feedback to the user about the next appropriate actions. This closed-loop feedback ensures treatment accuracy matches that of trained personnel while enabling non-medical user operation.
3Reliability
If defibrillation shock is delayed, then device portability is maintained, but survival rate deteriorates rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading comprehensive defibrillation protocols and algorithms into the device's memory before use. The workflow engine is pre-configured with clinical decision rules, and the protocol library contains expert guidelines for various cardiac arrhythmias. When a cardiac arrest is detected, the system immediately activates the pre-loaded workflows without requiring real-time medical expert consultation, thereby eliminating delays while maintaining treatment quality.
Data Source
AI summary
Work flows are modeled as a graph of interdependent tasks to be performed. The tasks to be performed are set by a task file module configured to enable interactions between tasks and including modules for event viewing, protocol assistance, smart messaging, smart indices, reference material lookup. A decision support manager module is configured to construct data and model profiles for storage in a data and model profile bank, events for storage in a decision support events bank, and protocols for storage in a decision support protocol bank. Configuration files are provided to specify a configuration for execution of one of the tasks. Data entered through a user interface or from a network via a wireless or wired communication module may define task files in the task files module, configuration files in the configuration files module, as well as data, events, and protocols to be used for a defibrillation procedure. A decision support manager module is configured to construct a dependency graph of tasks as specified in at least one of the configuration files and to execute the dependency graph.