External defibrillator

Abstract

A variety of arrangements and methods relating to a defibrillator are described. In one aspect of the invention, a defibrillator includes two paddles that each include a defibrillator electrode covered in a protective housing. The two paddles are sealed together using a releasable seal to form a paddle module such that the housings of the paddles form the exterior of the paddle module. An electrical system including at least a battery and a capacitor is electrically coupled with the paddles. The battery is arranged to charge the capacitor. The capacitor is arranged to apply a voltage at the defibrillator electrodes, which generates an electrical shock for arresting a cardiac arrhythmia.

1 . A portable defibrillator comprising:
 two pads electrically connected to each other, each pad including a defibrillator electrode, the defibrillator electrode including a plurality of electrically conductive protrusions; and   an electrical system coupled with the two pads, the electrical system including at least a battery and a capacitor, the battery arranged to charge the capacitor, the capacitor arranged to apply a voltage at the defibrillator electrodes, thereby delivering an electrical shock suitable for arresting a cardiac arrhythmia.   
     
     
         2 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 each pad is a paddle with a protective housing that covers the corresponding defibrillator electrode, the two paddles sealed together using a releasable seal to form a paddle module, the housings of the paddles cooperating to form the exterior of the paddle module; and   the pluralities of electrically conductive protrusions are unexposed and disposed within the paddle module.   
     
     
         3 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrically conductive protrusions includes at least 100 sharp protrusions arranged to penetrate skin of a person, thereby facilitating current flow through the person. 
     
     
         4 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of electrically conductive protrusions has a diameter of less than 33 gauge on the Stubs scale. 
     
     
         5 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 2  wherein the plurality of protrusions have a sterilization assurance level (SAL) of approximately 10-3 or less. 
     
     
         6 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of protrusions extend out of an electrically conductive base plate and have a bristle-like arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 a total volume of the capacitor is less than 400 cubic centimeters; and   the electrical system is arranged to apply a maximum voltage of no more than 1400 volts at the defibrillator electrodes.   
     
     
         8 . A portable defibrillator comprising:
 two pads electrically connected directly to each other, each pad including a defibrillator electrode, the defibrillator electrode including a plurality of electrically conductive protrusions; and   an electrical system coupled with the two pads, the electrical system including at least a battery and a capacitor, the battery arranged to charge the capacitor, the capacitor arranged to apply a voltage at the defibrillator electrodes, thereby delivering an electrical shock suitable for arresting a cardiac arrhythmia.   
     
     
         9 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 8 , wherein:
 each pad is a paddle with a protective housing that covers the corresponding defibrillator electrode, the two paddles sealed together using a releasable seal to form a paddle module, the housings of the paddles cooperating to form the exterior of the paddle module; and   the pluralities of electrically conductive protrusions are unexposed and disposed within the paddle module.   
     
     
         10 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of electrically conductive protrusions includes at least 100 sharp protrusions arranged to penetrate skin of a person, thereby facilitating current flow through the person. 
     
     
         11 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of electrically conductive protrusions has a diameter of less than 33 gauge on the Stubs scale. 
     
     
         12 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 9  wherein the plurality of protrusions have a sterilization assurance level (SAL) of approximately 10-3 or less. 
     
     
         13 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of protrusions extend out of an electrically conductive base plate and have a bristle-like arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 9 , wherein:
 a total volume of the capacitor is less than 400 cubic centimeters; and   the electrical system is arranged to apply a maximum voltage of no more than 1400 volts at the defibrillator electrodes.   
     
     
         15 . A portable defibrillator comprising:
 two pads electrically connected to each other, each pad including a defibrillator electrode, the defibrillator electrode including a plurality of electrically conductive protrusions; and   an electrical system partially incorporated within each pad, the electrical system including at least a battery and a capacitor, the battery arranged to charge the capacitor, the capacitor arranged to apply a voltage at the defibrillator electrodes, thereby delivering an electrical shock suitable for arresting a cardiac arrhythmia.   
     
     
         16 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 15 , wherein:
 each pad is a paddle with a protective housing that covers the corresponding defibrillator electrode, the two paddles sealed together using a releasable seal to form a paddle module, the housings of the paddles cooperating to form the exterior of the paddle module; and   the pluralities of electrically conductive protrusions are unexposed and disposed within the paddle module.   
     
     
         17 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of electrically conductive protrusions includes at least 100 sharp protrusions arranged to penetrate skin of a person, thereby facilitating current flow through the person. 
     
     
         18 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of electrically conductive protrusions has a diameter of less than 33 gauge on the Stubs scale. 
     
     
         19 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 16  wherein the plurality of protrusions have a sterilization assurance level (SAL) of approximately 10-3 or less. 
     
     
         20 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of protrusions extend out of an electrically conductive base plate and have a bristle-like arrangement. 
     
     
         21 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 16 , wherein:
 a total volume of the capacitor is less than 400 cubic centimeters; and   the electrical system is arranged to apply a maximum voltage of no more than 1400 volts at the defibrillator electrodes.   
     
     
         22 . The portable defibrillator of  claim 1  further comprising an external power module that is coupled to the two pads, the external power module having a portion of the electrical system in the external power module, wherein the combination of the two pads and the external power module deliver the electrical shock suitable for arresting a cardiac arrhythmia. 
     
     
         23 . A portable defibrillator comprising:
 two or more pads electrically connected to each other, each pad including a defibrillator electrode, the defibrillator electrode including a plurality of electrically conductive protrusions; and   an electrical system partially incorporated within each pad, the electrical system including at least a battery and a capacitor, the battery arranged to charge the capacitor, the capacitor arranged to apply a voltage at the defibrillator electrodes, thereby delivering an electrical shock suitable for arresting a cardiac arrhythmia.