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 paddles, each paddle including a protective housing and a defibrillator electrode within the protective housing;   a connecting structure that electrically and physically connects the two paddles to each other; and   an 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 to facilitate delivering an electrical shock suitable for arresting a cardiac arrhythmia, a part of the electrical system being disposed within the housing of each paddle.   
     
     
         2 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the two paddles are sealed together using a releasable seal to form a paddle module such that the defibrillator electrodes of the paddles are unexposed and the housings of the paddles cooperate to form an exterior of the paddle module. 
     
     
         3 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting structure includes a sheet-like section with a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first surface of the connecting structure having instructions on using the defibrillator, the paddles and the sheet being arranged such that the first surface of the connecting structure faces in a direction substantially opposite that of a conductive surface of the paddles when the connecting structure is substantially fully extended and arranged substantially flat between the paddles. 
     
     
         4 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the releasable seal is frangible. 
     
     
         5 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the releasable seal involves at least one selected from the group consisting of: a tape, an adhesive, a water resistant seal and a pin. 
     
     
         6 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the connecting structure is folded and positioned directly between the defibrillator electrodes of the two paddles; and   the connecting structure is arranged to unfold when the two paddles are unsealed and pulled away from one another.   
     
     
         7 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 2 , wherein;
 each paddle in the sealed paddle module includes a recess, the recesses of the paddles cooperating to form a cavity in the paddle module; and   the connecting structure is positioned within the cavity.   
     
     
         8 . The portable defibrillator of  claim 1 , wherein each defibrillator electrode includes a plurality of electrically conductive protrusions. 
     
     
         9 . A portable defibrillator comprising:
 two paddles, each paddle including a protective housing and a defibrillator electrode, with at least one battery, at least one capacitor and control circuitry within the protective housing;   a connecting structure that electrically and physically connects the two paddles to each other; and   an electrical system with the batteries arranged to charge the capacitors, the capacitors arranged to apply a voltage at the defibrillator electrodes to facilitate delivering an electrical shock suitable for arresting a cardiac arrhythmia.   
     
     
         10 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the two paddles are sealed together using a releasable seal to form a paddle module such that the defibrillator electrodes of the paddles are unexposed and the housings of the paddles cooperate to form an exterior of the paddle module. 
     
     
         11 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the connecting structure includes a sheet-like section with a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first surface of the connecting structure having instructions on using the defibrillator, the paddles and the sheet being arranged such that the first surface of the connecting structure faces in a direction substantially opposite that of a conductive surface of the paddles when the connecting structure is substantially fully extended and arranged substantially flat between the paddles. 
     
     
         12 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the releasable seal is frangible. 
     
     
         13 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the releasable seal involves at least one selected from the group consisting of: a tape, an adhesive, a water resistant seal and a pin. 
     
     
         14 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 10 , wherein:
 the connecting structure is folded and positioned directly between the defibrillator electrodes of the two paddles; and   the connecting structure is arranged to unfold when the two paddles are unsealed and pulled away from one another.   
     
     
         15 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 10 , wherein;
 each paddle in the sealed paddle module includes a recess, the recesses of the paddles cooperating to form a cavity in the paddle module; and   the connecting structure is positioned within the cavity.   
     
     
         16 . The portable defibrillator of  claim 9 , wherein each defibrillator electrode includes a plurality of electrically conductive protrusions. 
     
     
         17 . A portable defibrillator comprising:
 two paddles, each paddle including a protective housing, with a defibrillator electrode, at least one battery, at least one capacitor and control circuitry within the protective housing;   a connecting structure that electrically and physically connects the two paddles to each other; and   an electrical system with the batteries arranged to charge the capacitors, the capacitors arranged to apply a voltage at the defibrillator electrodes to facilitate delivering an electrical shock suitable for arresting a cardiac arrhythmia.   
     
     
         18 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the two paddles are sealed together using a releasable seal to form a paddle module such that the defibrillator electrodes of the paddles are unexposed and the housings of the paddles cooperate to form an exterior of the paddle module. 
     
     
         19 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the connecting structure includes a sheet-like section with a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first surface of the connecting structure having instructions on using the defibrillator, the paddles and the sheet being arranged such that the first surface of the connecting structure faces in a direction substantially opposite that of a conductive surface of the paddles when the connecting structure is substantially fully extended and arranged substantially flat between the paddles. 
     
     
         20 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the releasable seal is frangible. 
     
     
         21 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the releasable seal involves at least one selected from the group consisting of: a tape, an adhesive, a water resistant seal and a pin. 
     
     
         22 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 18 , wherein:
 the connecting structure is folded and positioned directly between the defibrillator electrodes of the two paddles; and   the connecting structure is arranged to unfold when the two paddles are unsealed and pulled away from one another.   
     
     
         23 . The portable defibrillator as recited in  claim 18 , wherein;
 each paddle in the sealed paddle module includes a recess, the recesses of the paddles cooperating to form a cavity in the paddle module; and   the connecting structure is positioned within the cavity.   
     
     
         24 . The portable defibrillator of  claim 17 , wherein each defibrillator electrode includes a plurality of electrically conductive protrusions.