Wearable cardiac defibrillator system with dual conductive fluids

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016235995-A1
Application number	US-201615135462-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2016
Priority date	Jan 23, 2013
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In embodiments, a wearable cardiac defibrillator system includes an energy storage module configured to store a charge. Two electrodes can be configured to be applied to respective locations of a patient. One or more reservoirs can store one or more conductive fluids. Respective fluid deploying mechanisms can be configured to cause the fluids to be released from one or more of the reservoirs, which decreases the impedance at the patient location, and decreases discomfort for the patient. In some embodiments an impedance is sensed between the two electrodes, and the stored charge is delivered when the sensed impedance meets a discharge condition. In some embodiments, different fluids are released for different patient treatments. In some embodiments, fluid release is controlled to be in at least two doses, with an intervening pause.

First claim

1 - 79 . (canceled)

80 . A wearable defibrillator system, comprising:
a support structure configured to be worn by a patient; an energy storage module configured to store a charge; a processor configured to make a determination as to whether the patient needs one of a first electrical therapy and a second electrical therapy distinct from the first electrical therapy; electrodes coupled with the support structure, configured to be applied to the patient at respective patient locations and to deliver the stored charge at the patient locations for administering the needed one of the first electrical therapy and the second electrical therapy; a first reservoir coupled to the support structure and configured to store a first fluid; a first fluid deploying mechanism configured to cause at least some of the first fluid to be released from the first reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations if the determination is that the first electrical therapy is needed; a second reservoir coupled to the support structure and configured to store a second fluid different from the first fluid; and a second fluid deploying mechanism configured to cause at least some of the second fluid to be released from the second reservoir and be deployed near at least one of the patient locations if the determination is that the second electrical therapy is needed.

81 . The system of claim 80 , in which
the first electrical therapy is defibrillation and the second electrical therapy is pacing.

82 . The system of claim 80 , further comprising:
a fluid retention structure attached to at least one of the electrodes, and in which the fluid soaks the fluid retention structure by a capillary effect.

83 . The system of claim 80 , further comprising:
an impedance measurement circuit configured to sense an impedance between the two electrodes, and in which the stored charge is delivered after the sensed impedance meets a discharge condition.

84 . The system of claim 83 , in which
the discharge condition is that the sensed impedance has a value below a first threshold.

85 . The system of claim 83 , in which
the discharge condition is that the sensed impedance has a value that changes less than a threshold in a given amount of time.

86 . The system of claim 83 , in which
the discharge condition is that a timeout threshold has lapsed, since causing at least some of the fluid to be released.

Assignees

• West Affum Holdings Corp

Inventors

• Piha Daniel Ralph
• Sullivan Joseph Leo
• Foshee Jr Phillip Dewey
• Finch Daniel Peter
• Banville Isabelle
• Gustavson Laura Marie
• Cowan Kenneth Frederick
• Nova Richard C
• Buchanan Robert Reuben
• Szul Krystyna
• Kavounas Gregory T

Classifications

• A61N1/3625

  External stimulators · CPC title

• A61N1/046

  Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation · CPC title

• A61N1/3918 Primary

  characterised by shock pathway, e.g. by electrode configuration · CPC title

• A61N1/3904

  External heart defibrillators [EHD] · CPC title

• A61N1/0496

  characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives · CPC title