Defibrillator Timer for Elapsed Time-Based Treatment Protocol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing defibrillators face delays in administering shock therapy due to time-consuming processes and lack of flexibility in determining whether CPR or defibrillation should be prioritized, which can be detrimental in emergency situations, especially when time is critical and costs are a concern.
Innovation Solution
A defibrillator with a timer function that calculates the elapsed time between the onset of a patient's emergency and the device's activation, allowing for immediate determination of the appropriate treatment protocol, either CPR or defibrillation, based on set thresholds, and enabling quick selection of a shock protocol when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex ECG analysis is used to determine treatment protocol, then treatment accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential decision-making factor from complex ECG analysis and isolates it as a separate, simple parameter: elapsed time. By removing the need for complex real-time ECG interpretation and replacing it with a straightforward timer function, the device achieves treatment protocol determination without requiring sophisticated analysis algorithms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adequate treatment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, complex ECG analysis systems with a simple, low-cost timer function. The timer is a basic electronic component that is inexpensive to implement and requires minimal processing power. This substitution achieves the same functional goal (determining treatment protocol) at a fraction of the cost and complexity of full ECG analysis systems.
2Measurement precision
If complex ECG analysis is used to determine treatment protocol, then treatment accuracy is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex ECG analysis systems with a simple, low-cost timer function. The timer is a basic electronic component that is inexpensive to implement and requires minimal processing power. This substitution achieves the same functional goal (determining treatment protocol) at a fraction of the cost and complexity of full ECG analysis systems.
3Measurement precision
If CPR protocol is delayed to perform ECG analysis first, then treatment accuracy is improved, but response time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the time measurement action preliminarily and continuously from the moment the defibrillator is activated. Rather than initiating time measurement only when ready to make a decision, the system has been continuously tracking elapsed time throughout the activation period. This preliminary accumulation of time data eliminates any delay between activation and protocol determination, as the critical parameter is already known when the decision point is reached.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential decision-making factor from complex ECG analysis and isolates it as a separate, simple parameter: elapsed time. By removing the need for complex real-time ECG interpretation and replacing it with a straightforward timer function, the device achieves treatment protocol determination without requiring sophisticated analysis, thereby eliminating time delays associated with complex processing.
4Measurement precision
If defibrillation shock is delayed to perform analysis and charging, then treatment accuracy is improved, but survival rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the time measurement action preliminarily and continuously from the moment the defibrillator is activated. Rather than initiating time measurement only when ready to make a decision, the system has been continuously tracking elapsed time throughout the activation period. This preliminary accumulation of time data eliminates any delay between activation and protocol determination, as the critical parameter is already known when the decision point is reached.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential decision-making factor from complex ECG analysis and isolates it as a separate, simple parameter: elapsed time. By removing the need for complex real-time ECG interpretation and replacing it with a straightforward timer function, the device achieves treatment protocol determination without requiring sophisticated analysis, thereby eliminating time delays associated with complex processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are provided for determining a defibrillation treatment protocol in an external defibrillator using a measurement of elapsed time. The present invention provides a defibrillator with a timer function. Upon activation of the defibrillator, an internal timer begins to run. By closely associating the activation of the defibrillator with the onset of the patient's attack, and by making allowances for inherent time differences between these events, the timer provides a measure of the elapsed time between the onset of the patient's emergency and the presentation of the defibrillator at the patient's side. Using this measure of elapsed time, the defibrillator determines an appropriate treatment therapy, such as CPR or defibrillation therapy.