Wearable cardiac defibrillator system sounding to bystanders in patient's own voice

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9352166-B2
Application number	US-201414525165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2014
Priority date	Mar 19, 2014
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

A wearable cardiac defibrillator (“WCD”) system may include a support structure that a patient can wear, an energy storage module that can store an electrical charge, and a discharge circuit that can discharge the electrical charge through the patient so as to shock him or her, while the patient is wearing the support structure. Embodiments may actively take into account bystanders, both to protect them from an inadvertent shock, and also to enlist their help. In some embodiments, the WCD system includes a speaker system and a memory. Prompts have been saved in advance in the patient's own voice, and stored in the memory. In case of an emergency, the prompts may be played by the speaker system in the patient's own voice, and heard by a bystander.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system, comprising:
a support structure configured to be worn by a patient;
an energy storage module configured to be coupled to the support structure and to store an electrical charge;
a discharge circuit configured to be coupled to the energy storage module and configured to discharge the electrical charge through the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient;
a memory configured to store at least one data file encoding a sound recorded in the voice of the patient; and
a speaker system coupled to the support structure and configured to output a transmitted sound that includes the sound recorded in the voice of the patient.

2. The WCD system of claim 1 , in which
the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to say: “CLEAR”, “YES”, “ALL CLEAR”, “NO”, or “WAIT”.

3. The WCD system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a microphone configured to sense the voice of the patient, and
in which the sensed voice becomes the recorded sound.

4. The WCD system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface configured to input the data file, and
in which the inputted data file becomes stored in the memory.

5. The WCD system of claim 1 , in which
the memory is further configured to store another data file encoding another sound in a voice other than the voice of the patient, and
the transmitted sound further includes the other sound.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs which, when executed by at least one processor a wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system, the WCD system including a support structure configured to be worn by a patient, a power source, an energy storage module configured to be coupled to the support structure, to be charged from the power source and to store an electrical charge, a discharge circuit configured to be coupled to the energy storage module, a measurement circuit, a speaker system coupled to the support structure and a memory, they result in operations comprising:
storing in the memory at least one data file encoding a sound recorded in the voice of the patient;
rendering, by the measurement circuit, a physiological input from a physiological signal of the patient while the patient is wearing the support structure;
determining from the physiological input whether or not a shock condition is met and, if met, controlling the discharge circuit to discharge the electrical charge through the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient; and
outputting, via the speaker system, a transmitted sound that includes the sound recorded in the voice of the patient after it is determined that the shock condition is met and before the discharge circuit is controlled to discharge the electrical charge through the patient.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , in which
the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to not touch the patient.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , in which
the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to not remove the support structure from the patient.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , in which
the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to say: “CLEAR”, “YES”, “ALL CLEAR”, “NO”, or “WAIT”.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , in which
the WCD system further includes a microphone, and
storing is performed by sensing the patient's voice via the microphone and recording it.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , in which
the WCD system further includes a user interface, and
storing is performed by inputting the data file via the user interface.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 6 , in which when the one or more programs are so executed, they result in the operations to further comprise:
storing another data file encoding another sound in a voice other than the voice of the patient, and
in which the transmitted sound further includes the other sound.

13. A method for a wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system, the WCD system including a support structure configured to be worn by a patient, a power source, an energy storage module configured to be coupled to the support structure, to be charged from the power source and to store an electrical charge, a discharge circuit configured to be coupled to the energy storage module, a measurement circuit, a processor, a speaker system coupled to the support structure and a memory, the method comprising:
storing in the memory at least one data file encoding a sound recorded in the voice of the patient;
rendering, by the measurement circuit, a physiological input from a physiological signal of the patient while the patient is wearing the support structure;
determining, by the processor, from the physiological input whether or not a shock condition is met and, if met, controlling the discharge circuit to discharge the electrical charge through the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient; and
outputting, via the speaker system, a transmitted sound that includes the sound recorded in the voice of the patient after it is determined that the shock condition is met and before the discharge circuit is controlled to discharge the electrical charge through the patient.

14. The method of claim 13 , in which
the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to not touch the patient.

15. The method of claim 13 , in which
the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to not remove the support structure from the patient.

16. The method of claim 13 , in which
the sound recorded in the voice of the patient further communicates a request to say: “CLEAR”, “YES”, “ALL CLEAR”, “NO”, or “WAIT”.

17. The method of claim 13 , in which
the WCD system further includes a microphone, and
storing is performed by sensing the patient's voice via the microphone and recording it.

18. The method of claim 13 , in which
the WCD system further includes a user interface, and
storing is performed by inputting the data file via the user interface.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
storing another data file encoding another sound in a voice other than the voice of the patient, and
in which the transmitted sound further includes the other sound.

20. A wearable cardiac defibrillator (WCD) system, comprising:
a support structure configured to be worn by a patient;
a power source;
an energy storage module configured to be coupled to the support structure, to be charged from the power source and to store an electrical charge;
a discharge circuit coupled to the energy storage module, the discharge circuit controllable to discharge the electrical charge so as to cause a shock to be delivered to the patient while the support structure is worn by the patient;
a memory configured to store at least one data file encoding a sound recorded in the voice of the patient that communicates a request to not touch the patient; and
a speaker system coupled to the support structure and configured to output a transmitted sound that includes the sound recorded in the voice of the patient.

21. The WCD system of claim 20 , further comprising:
a user interface configured to in

Assignees

• West Affum Holdings Corp

Inventors

• Sullivan Joseph L
• Finch David Peter
• Foshee Jr Phillip Dewey
• Banville Isabelle
• Nova Richard C
• Szul Krystyna
• Finney Daniel
• Gustavson Laura Marie
• Kavounas Gregory T

Classifications

• A61N1/3904

  External heart defibrillators [EHD] · CPC title

• A61N1/39044

  in combination with cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR] therapy · CPC title

• A61N1/39046

  User protection from shock · CPC title

• A61B5/4836

  Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods (A61B5/0036 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61N1/3993 Primary

  User interfaces for automatic external defibrillators · CPC title