Medical device docking station

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12320136-B2
Application number	US-202418422894-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2024
Priority date	Mar 27, 2020
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A docking station for a medical device is described. In some examples, the docking station includes a frame and a base plate coupled to the frame. At least a portion of the base plate is coupled to a lower portion of the frame. In some examples, an electronic connector of the docking station is configured to couple to the medical device and to provide power to the medical device when the medical device is docked to the docking station. In some examples, a docking mechanism is coupled to an upper portion of the frame and configured to retain the medical device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a defibrillator; and
a docking station for the defibrillator, the docking station comprising:
a base plate configured to contact a base of the defibrillator and to support the defibrillator when the defibrillator is docked to the docking station; and
an electronic connector integrated with the base plate,
wherein, when the defibrillator is docked to the docking station, a mating electronic connector of the defibrillator connects to the electronic connector to establish an electrical connection, and
wherein the defibrillator is configured to:
detect an imminent disconnection of the defibrillator from the electronic connector; and
perform an operation in response to detecting the imminent disconnection and prior to an interruption of the electrical connection.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the mating electronic connector comprises a plurality of electrical contacts;
an electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts is shorter than remaining electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;
when the defibrillator is being removed from the docking station, a second electrical connection between the electrical contact and a corresponding electrical contact of the electronic connector is interrupted before electrical connections between the remaining electrical contacts and corresponding electrical contacts of the electronic connector are interrupted; and
the defibrillator is configured to detect the imminent disconnection by sensing an interruption of the second electrical connection.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein performing the operation comprises completing a data transfer.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the defibrillator comprises a touchscreen configured to display at least a first user interface when the defibrillator is docked to the docking station and a second user interface when the defibrillator is removed from the docking station; and
performing the operation comprises switching to the second user interface.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the first user interface is catered to monitoring or treating a patient being transported in an emergency vehicle; and
the second user interface is catered to monitoring or treating the patient at a rescue scene.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the base plate comprises positioning guides comprising at least a first positioning guide and a second positioning guide;
each positioning guide is configured to mate with a corresponding cavity defined in the base of the defibrillator, thereby positioning the defibrillator relative to the base plate; and
a first shape of the first positioning guide is different than a second shape of the second positioning guide.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the docking station further comprises a frame; and
the base plate is coupled to the frame at a lower portion of the frame.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the frame is C-shaped.

9. A medical device comprising:
a first electronic connector positioned on a back of the medical device; and
a base configured to be supported by a base plate of a docking station when the medical device is docked to the docking station,
wherein, when the medical device is docked to the docking station, the first electronic connector connects to a second electronic connector integrated with the base plate of the docking station, and
wherein the medical device is configured to:
detect an imminent disconnection of the medical device from the second electronic connector; and
perform an operation in response to detecting the imminent disconnection.

10. The medical device of claim 9 , wherein:
the first electronic connector comprises a plurality of electrical contacts;
an electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts is smaller than remaining electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts;
when the medical device is being removed from the docking station, an electrical connection between the electrical contact and a corresponding electrical contact of the second electronic connector is interrupted before electrical connections between the remaining electrical contacts and corresponding electrical contacts of the second electronic connector are interrupted; and
the medical device is configured to detect the imminent disconnection by sensing an interruption of the electrical connection.

11. The medical device of claim 9 , wherein performing the operation comprises altering a configuration of the medical device.

12. The medical device of claim 9 , wherein performing the operation comprises performing multiple operations comprising:
storing data in memory; and
preventing the data from being overwritten until the data is transferred for processing.

13. The medical device of claim 9 , further comprising a touchscreen configured to display at least a first user interface when the medical device is docked to the docking station and a second user interface when the medical device is removed from the docking station, wherein performing the operation comprises switching to the second user interface.

14. The medical device of claim 9 , wherein the medical device is a defibrillator.

15. The medical device of claim 9 , further comprising cavities defined in the base and configured to receive positioning guides of the base plate, wherein the positioning guides have different shapes.

16. A method comprising:
establishing, by a medical device, an electrical connection based on a connection between an electronic connector of a docking station and a mating electronic connector of the medical device;
detecting, by the medical device, an imminent disconnection of the medical device from the electronic connector; and
performing, by the medical device, an operation in response to the detecting and prior to an interruption of the electrical connection.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the performing comprises completing a data transfer.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the performing comprises providing an indication that a data transfer is about to be interrupted.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the performing comprises switching from displaying a first user interface via a touchscreen of the medical device to displaying a second user interface via the touchscreen.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the mating electronic connector comprises a plurality of electrical contacts;
an electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts is shorter than remaining electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts; and
the detecting comprises sensing, by the medical device, an interruption of a second electrical connection between the electrical contact and a corresponding electrical contact of the electronic connector.

Assignees

• Physio Control Inc

Inventors

• Curtin Barry D
• Hamilton Alexander
• Edmonson Kristina
• Andrews David
• Alviar Christopher G
• Clark Neal Stanley
• Danziger Benjamin
• Egbert Christopher William
• Fouts Jason
• Malone Matthew
• Berndt Joshua
• Suwandana Brigitta M
• Brummett Jeremy Edward

Classifications

• H02J7/731

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

• H01R33/765

  the terminal pins having a non-circular disposition · CPC title

• H01R2201/26

  for vehicles · CPC title

• H01R2201/12

  for medicine and surgery · CPC title

• H01R13/631

  for engagement only · CPC title