Interactive first aid information system

Abstract

In general, the invention is directed to techniques for determining appropriate first aid and applying first aid that is appropriate. A first aid system receives patient status information from an input device or a sensor, and presents first aid information as a function of the received patient status information. The first aid system may be incorporated with an external defibrillator. The first aid system may acquire patient status information through an interaction with an operator, in which the first aid system asks the operator to supply patient status information. In one embodiment of the invention, the operator may supply patient status information by touching a diagram representing at least a portion of a human body.

1 . A medical device comprising:
 an electrical source to generate electrotherapy;   at least two electrodes coupleable to the electrical source to deliver the electrotherapy to a patient; and   at least one output device to present first aid information distinct from information about delivering electrotherapy.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , in which the electrotherapy comprises defibrillation therapy. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , in which the output device comprises at least one of a touch screen, an LCD display, an LED display, an OLED display, a CRT display, an electroluminescent display, a plasma display, or a synthetic speech module. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a compartment to hold a first aid supply. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising an input device to receive patient status information. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 5 , in which the input device comprises at least one of a touch screen, a button, a keyboard, a voice recognition module, or a pointing tool. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to receive patient status information. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 7 , in which the sensor comprises at least one of an ECG monitor, an oxygen sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a respiratory sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a set of electrodes, or a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication module. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 9 , in which the communication module is configured to summon emergency medical personnel. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising an alarm module to generate an alarm. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory to store the first aid information. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory to store patient status information. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one output device outputs the patient status information stored in the memory. 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 1 , in which the first aid information comprises first aid information about chest pain. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 directing a person to apply at least one defibrillation electrode to a conscious patient;   measuring an electrocardiogram of the patient via the defibrillation electrode; and   presenting first aid information distinct from information about delivering electrotherapy as a function of the measurement.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 generating an interrogation as a function of the measurement;   receiving a response to the interrogation; and   presenting the first aid information as a function of the response.   
     
     
         18 . An medical device comprising:
 at least one output device; and   a processor configured to direct a person to apply a defibrillation electrode to a conscious patient via the output device, measure an electrocardiogram of the patient via the defibrillation electrode, and present first aid information distinct from information about delivering electrotherapy as a function of the measurement via the output device.   
     
     
         19 . The medical device of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one input device, wherein the processor is further configured to generate an interrogation via the output device as a function of the measurement, receive a response to the interrogation via the input device, and present the first aid information via the output device as a function of the response.