Defibrillators

Abstract

Defibrillators are provided that include a graphical user interface to assist a caregiver in administering resuscitation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A defibrillator comprising: 
 electrodes configured to be attached to a patient, to acquire data indicative of the patient's heart rhythm and to deliver a defibrillating shock if appropriate;    a defibrillator control box connected to the electrodes; and    on a portion of the defibrillator control box, a series of graphics configured to prompt a caregiver to perform a sequence of steps appropriate for treating a victim of suspected cardiac arrest.    
     
     
         2 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to check the patient for responsiveness.  
     
     
         3 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to call for emergency assistance.  
     
     
         4 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to open the patient's airway.  
     
     
         5 . The defibrillator of  claim 4  wherein the picture illustrates how to open the patient's airway.  
     
     
         6 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to check the patient for signs of circulation.  
     
     
         7 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to attach the electrodes to the patient.  
     
     
         8 . The defibrillator of  claim 7  wherein the picture illustrates where the electrodes should be attached.  
     
     
         9 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to stand clear of the patient.  
     
     
         10 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to press a treatment button to cause the defibrillator to administer a defibrillating shock.  
     
     
         11 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to perform CPR.  
     
     
         12 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include pictures illustrating procedures for chest compressions and rescue breathing.  
     
     
         13 . The defibrillator of  claim 10  wherein the picture includes a heart symbol indicating the location of the treatment button.  
     
     
         14 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  further comprising a treatment button configured to be pressed by the caregiver to cause the defibrillator to administer a defibrillating shock.  
     
     
         15 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  further including a light source associated with each of the graphics in the series.  
     
     
         16 . The defibrillator of  claim 15  further comprising electronics configured to sequentially illuminate the light sources.  
     
     
         17 . The defibrillator of  claim 16  wherein the graphics include one or more pictures selected from the group consisting of: a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to check the patient for responsiveness; a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to call for emergency assistance; a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to open the patient's airway; a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to check the patient for signs of circulation; a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to attach the electrodes to the patient; a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to stand clear of the patient; and a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to perform CPR.  
     
     
         18 . The defibrillator of  claim 16  wherein the graphics include a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to press a treatment button to cause the defibrillator to administer a defibrillating shock.  
     
     
         19 . The defibrillator of  claim 16  further comprising electronics configured to measure the time elapsed from the time at which the caregiver turned the power on to activate the defibrillator, and at least some of the light sources are sequentially illuminated based on the elapsed time.  
     
     
         20 . The defibrillator of  claim 16  further comprising electronics configured to be preprogrammed with times for the illumination of the light sources, the times being based on a predetermined algorithm.  
     
     
         21 . The defibrillator of  claim 19  or  20  wherein the graphics include one or more pictures selected from the group consisting of: a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to check the patient for responsiveness; a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to call for emergency assistance; a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to open the patient's airway; a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to check the patient for signs of circulation; a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to attach the electrodes to the patient; a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to stand clear of the patient; and a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to perform CPR.  
     
     
         22 . The defibrillator of  claim 16  further comprising electronics configured to acquire data from the electrodes, and at least some of the light sources are sequentially illuminated based on the data acquired from the electrodes.  
     
     
         23 . The defibrillator of  claim 16  wherein at least some of the light sources are sequentially illuminated based on the time elapsed from the time at which a shock was last delivered to the patient.  
     
     
         24 . The defibrillator of  claim 15  wherein the light sources comprise LEDs.  
     
     
         25 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  further comprising electronics configured to provide audio prompts to the caregiver.  
     
     
         26 . The defibrillator of  claim 25  wherein the audio prompts are associated with the series of graphics and are given sequentially to guide the caregiver through the sequence of steps.  
     
     
         27 . The defibrillator of  claim 15  further comprising electronics configured to provide audio prompts to the caregiver.  
     
     
         28 . The defibrillator of  claim 27 , further comprising electronics configured to sequentially illuminate the light sources, wherein the audio prompts are associated with the series of graphics and with the sequential illumination of the light sources, to guide the caregiver through the sequence of steps.  
     
     
         29 . The defibrillator of  claim 26  or  28  further comprising electronics configured to measure the time elapsed from the time at which the caregiver turned the power on to activate the defibrillator, and at least some of the audio prompts are timed to occur based on the elapsed time.  
     
     
         30 . The defibrillator of  claim 26  or  28  further comprising electronics configured to acquire data from the electrodes, and at least some of the audio prompts are timed to occur based on the data acquired from the electrodes.  
     
     
         31 . The defibrillator of  claim 26  or  28  wherein at least some of the audio prompts are timed to occur based on the time elapsed from the time at which a shock was last delivered to the patient.  
     
     
         32 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the graphics are provided on a cover portion of the defibrillator control box.  
     
     
         33 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the graphics are provided on the outside of the cover portion of the defibrillator.  
     
     
         34 . The defibrillator of  claim 33  wherein the graphics on the cover portion include a picture indicating that the cover should be removed from the defibrillator.  
     
     
         35 . The defibrillator of  claim 33  wherein the cover portion includes a space provided for local emergency information.  
     
     
         36 . The defibrillator of  claim 35  wherein the cover portion includes a window behind which a card bearing local emergency information can be placed.  
     
     
         37 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the graphics are provided in the form of backlit, translucent images.  
     
     
         38 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the graphics are provided in the form of an electronic display.  
     
     
         39 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the graphics are provided in the form of a decal.  
     
     
         40 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  further comprising buttons, associated with at least some of the graphics, which, when pressed, cause more detailed audio prompts related to the associated graphic to be output by the defibrillator.  
     
     
         41 . A system for prompting a caregiver in a resuscitation sequence for a patient who may be suffering from cardiac arrest, comprising 
 electrodes constructed to acquire data, indicative of the heart rhythm of the patient and indicative of whether the electrodes are properly placed on the patient,    a defibrillator control box, connected to the electrodes, constructed to analyze data received from the electrodes and to measure the time elapsed since the defibrillator control box was activated by the caregiver and/or since the last shock was delivered to the patient; and    a user interface constructed to display information concerning the appropriate step of the resuscitation sequence to be performed by the caregiver at a particular time, based on the data received from the electrodes and the elapsed time.    
     
     
         42 . A defibrillator comprising: 
 electrodes configured to be attached to a patient, to acquire data indicative of the patient's heart rhythm and to deliver a defibrillating shock if appropriate;    a defibrillator control box connected to the electrodes;    a treatment button configured to be pressed by a caregiver to deliver a defibrillating shock, the location of the treatment button being indicated by a heart symbol; and    electronics configured to cause the heart symbol to be temporarily illuminated if a shock is advised based on ECG analysis performed by the defibrillator control box.    
     
     
         43 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include one or more pictures indicating that the caregiver should place a passive airway support under the shoulders of the patient.  
     
     
         44 . The defibrillator of  claim 1  wherein the graphics include a picture configured to prompt the caregiver to check to see if the patient is breathing.  
     
     
         45 . The defibrillator of  claim 20  wherein the algorithm takes into account one or more of the following items of data: (a) the time elapsed from the time at which the previous light source in the sequence was first illuminated, and/or (b) the time elapsed from the last time a shock was delivered to the patient, and/or (c) the results of ECG analysis.  
     
     
         46 . The defibrillator of  claim 26  or  28  further comprising electronics configured to be preprogrammed with times for the generation of the audio prompts, the times being based on a predetermined algorithm.  
     
     
         47 . The defibrillator of  claim 46  wherein the algorithm takes into account one or more of the following items of data: (a) the time elapsed from the time at which the previous light source in the sequence was first illuminated, and/or (b) the time elapsed from the last time a shock was delivered to the patient, and/or (c) the results of ECG analysis.