Modular Defibrillator Base and Pod Power Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current defibrillator/monitor systems are cumbersome and inefficient, with limitations in capturing patient data, reliability due to electrical contact issues, and challenges in battery charging, particularly in emergency situations where rapid response is critical, and there are concerns about patient confidentiality and data integrity.
Innovation Solution
A modular external defibrillator system comprising a base with a defibrillator module and a detachable patient monitoring pod that shares power and communicates patient data wirelessly or through a tethered connection, allowing for independent operation of the pod with battery management and charging, ensuring efficient data collection and transfer while maintaining patient confidentiality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a paramedic carries a traditional defibrillator/monitor system, then complete patient monitoring and defibrillation capabilities are available, but the equipment weight increases and response time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent but complementary components: a portable monitoring pod that can be carried by the paramedic, and a base unit that remains at the ambulance station. The pod contains essential monitoring functions and can operate independently, while the base provides additional capabilities and data storage. This segmentation allows the paramedic to carry only the lightweight pod for rapid response while maintaining complete monitoring capabilities when connected to the base.
2Loss of information
If electrical contacts are used to connect the pod and base, then data transfer is possible, but reliability decreases due to contact contamination and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical electrical contact system with a wireless communication system. The pod and base communicate data wirelessly using radio frequency transmission, eliminating physical connectors entirely. This substitution removes the reliability issues associated with electrical contacts (contamination, misalignment, wear) while maintaining robust data transfer capability. The wireless communication protocol ensures reliable data exchange even in the presence of environmental interference.
3Speed
If the pod operates independently with its own battery, then mobility and response time improve, but battery management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the battery management functions of both the pod and base into a unified system. When the pod is docked with the base, their power systems are combined, allowing the larger base battery to supplement the pod's battery. This merging simplifies battery management by providing a single point of control and eliminating the need for separate charging routines. The system automatically manages power distribution and charging between the two units, reducing operational complexity while maintaining the pod's independence and mobility.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular external defibrillator system in embodiments of the teachings may include one or more of the following features: (a) a base containing a defibrillator module to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient, (b) a patient parameter monitoring pod connectable to a patient via patient lead cables to collect patient data, the patient data including at least one patient vital sign, (c) a power supply sharing link between the base and the pod, the pod receiving power from the base via the power sharing link, the pod being operable to collect patient data without receiving power from the base, and (d) an external battery charger, the battery charger interrogating the batteries to determine battery information used for battery charging, the battery information including at least one of charging voltage, charging current, and charge time.