Modular defibrillator architecture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11077311-B2
Application number	US-201816146112-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2018
Priority date	Oct 2, 2017
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

Several defibrillators, defibrillator architectures, defibrillator components and methods of operating defibrillators are described. In one aspect, a modular defibrillator architecture is described. A base unit provides a fully functional defibrillator. The functionality of the base unit can be supplemented by attaching an interface unit to the base unit or by connecting a smartphone the base unit. Such devices provide connectivity as well as a screen for displaying supplementary graphics and/or videos which are useful to support both emergency and maintenance & monitoring activities. In some embodiments a battery pack may also or alternatively be coupled to the base unit to prolong the unit's shelf life before recharging or replacement of its batteries is required. If necessary the base unit can be powered from a connected external device such as a mobile communication device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A defibrillator comprising:
a defibrillator controller;
a capacitor unit configured to store and discharge sufficient energy to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient;
charging circuitry configured to charge the capacitor unit to a voltage suitable for delivery of the defibrillation shock;
discharge circuitry suitable for discharging the capacitor unit to deliver the defibrillation shock;
a first connector suitable for electrically coupling the defibrillator to an interface unit that includes a connectivity module that facilitates wireless communication with a remote server, wherein the defibrillator controller is configured to cause status messages to be sent to the interface unit via the first connector when the interface unit is electrically coupled to the defibrillator via the first connector, whereby the status messages can be conveyed from the defibrillator to the remote server by way of the interface unit; and
a second connector suitable for electrically coupling an external device to the defibrillator, the external device being different than the interface unit, the second connector being configured to facilitate communications between the defibrillator controller and the external device and to receive power from the external device.

2. A defibrillator as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
a battery configured to power the defibrillator and to provide power for charging the capacitor unit; and
a battery charging controller electrically connected to the second connector and configured to charge the battery using power drawn from the external device through the second connector; and
a bypass circuit configured to provide power received from the external device to the charging circuitry without passing through the battery charging controller to facilitate charging the capacitor unit when the external device is connected to the defibrillator via the second connector during charging of the capacitor unit.

3. A defibrillator as recited in claim 1 , wherein the defibrillator controller is further configured to cause status messages to be sent to the external device via the second connector when the interface unit is electrically coupled to the defibrillator via the first connector, whereby the status messages can also be conveyed from the defibrillator to the remote server by way of the external device.

4. A defibrillator as recited in claim 1 wherein the external device is a cellular phone or other mobile communication device.

5. A defibrillator as recited in claim 1 wherein the second connector is selected from the group consisting of:
a USB connector; and
a lightning connector.

6. A defibrillator as recited in claim 5 wherein the first connector or the second connector is a USB connector selected from the group consisting of: a USB-C connector; a USB 2.0 connector; a USB 3.0 connector; a USB 3.1 connector; a USB mini connector; and a micro USB connector.

7. A defibrillator as recited in claim 1 further comprising a third connector suitable for electrically coupling a second external device to the defibrillator, the third connector being distinct from the first connector and the second connector and being configured to receive power from the second external device that can be used to help charge the capacitor unit.

8. A modular defibrillator system comprising a defibrillator as recited in claim 1 and the interface unit, the interface unit being mounted on and detachably attached to the defibrillator such that the defibrillator and the interface unit together form a portable system, wherein the interface unit is not required for the defibrillator to operate properly.

9. A modular defibrillator system as recited in claim 8 wherein the interface unit includes a complementary connector that engages the first connector when the interface unit is physically attached to the defibrillator.

10. A defibrillator comprising:
a capacitor unit configured to store and discharge sufficient energy to deliver a defibrillation shock to a patient;
charging circuitry configured to charge the capacitor unit to a voltage suitable for delivery of the defibrillation shock;
discharge circuitry suitable for discharging the capacitor unit to deliver the defibrillation shock;
a first connector suitable for electrically coupling the defibrillator to an interface unit that includes an associated display and includes wireless communication capabilities; and
a second connector suitable for electrically coupling the defibrillator to an external device that has an associated display and includes wireless communication capabilities, the external device being different than the interface unit; and
a defibrillator controller, the defibrillator controller being configured to facilitate communications with the interface unit when the interface unit is physically attached to the defibrillator and to facilitate communications with the external device when the external device is connected to the defibrillator; and
wherein the defibrillator controller is further configured to cause first selected information to be transmitted from the defibrillator to the interface unit through the first connector that influences information displayed on the interface unit display when the interface unit is electrically coupled to the defibrillator via the first connector, and to cause second selected information to transmitted from the defibrillator to the interface unit through the first connector when the interface unit is electrically coupled to the defibrillator via the first connector such that the second information can be forwarded from the interface unit to a remote server, and to cause third selected information to be transmitted by the defibrillator to the external device through the second connector that influences information displayed on the external device display when the external device is electrically coupled to the defibrillator via the second connector, and to cause fourth selected information to be transmitted by the defibrillator to the external device through the second connector when the external device is electrically coupled to the defibrillator such that the fourth information can be forwarded from the external device to the remote server.

11. A defibrillator as recited in claim 10 further comprising:
a battery configured to power the defibrillator and to provide power for the charging of the capacitor unit; and
a battery charger configured to charge the battery using power drawn from the external device.

12. A defibrillator as recited in claim 11 wherein the defibrillator is configured to draw power from the external device at selected times and can selectively utilize the drawn power to both (a) supply supplemental charging power during charging of the capacitor unit; and (b) supply power to the battery charger to facilitate recharging the defibrillator battery.

13. A defibrillator as recited in claim 11 further comprising an inductive charging receptor configured to receive power from the external device, wherein the battery charger and charging circuitry are both electrically coupled to the inductive charging receptor to facilitate receiving power from the external device.

14. A defibrillator as recited in claim 10 wherein the defibrillator is configured such that the defibrillator will not utilize any control instructions from the attached interface unit or any other external device during emergency use of the defibrillator.

15. A defibrillator as recited in claim 10 wherein the external device is a cellular phone or other mobile communication device that includes:
a defibrillator sup

Assignees

• Revive Solutions Inc
• Avive Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Beyer Rory M
• Andrews Gordon Moseley P

Classifications

• H02J7/927

  with introduction of pulses during the charging process · CPC title

• H02J7/865

  Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply (H02J7/50 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/855

  with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery · CPC title

• H02J7/731

  specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries (H02J7/751 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/94

  in response to battery current · CPC title