Medical Equipment Messaging

Abstract

Systems and techniques for providing text-based communications from medical equipment such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are described herein.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An automated external defibrillator comprising:
 a computing device configured to determine one or more of i) deployment of the automated external defibrillator, ii) application of one or more electrodes of the automated external defibrillator, and iii) discharge of the automated external defibrillator; and   a communication unit configured to:
 automatically send, from the automated external defibrillator, a text message upon detecting one or more of i), ii), and iii); and 
 receive, by the automated external defibrillator, a text message responsive to the sent text message. 
   
     
     
         22 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 21 , comprising a self-test unit configured to perform one or more self-tests of the automated external defibrillator. 
     
     
         23 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more self-tests are performed at regular time-based intervals. 
     
     
         24 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more self-tests are performed monthly. 
     
     
         25 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 23 , wherein the communication unit is configured to send, from the automated external defibrillator, a text message that includes information related to the one or more self-tests each time the self-test is performed. 
     
     
         26 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 25 , wherein a failure in the automated external defibrillator is identified based on one or more of the text messages that include information related to the one or more self-tests not being sent according to the regular time-based intervals. 
     
     
         27 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 26 , wherein the failure comprises inadequate charge in a battery of the automated external defibrillator. 
     
     
         28 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 22 , wherein the communication unit is configured to send, from the automated external defibrillator, one or more text messages including information related to the one or more self-tests. 
     
     
         29 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more text messages including information related to the one or more self-tests are sent to a server. 
     
     
         30 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 28 , wherein the one or more text messages including information related to the one or more self-tests are sent to a servicing center. 
     
     
         31 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 28 , wherein the information related to the one or more self-tests includes information associated with results of the one or more self-tests. 
     
     
         32 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 21 , comprising a memory configured to store an identifier of a secured wireless network and a network passcode for the secured wireless network. 
     
     
         33 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 32 , wherein the network passcode comprises a network passcode required to gain access to the secured wireless network. 
     
     
         34 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 32 , wherein the communication unit is configured to establish a connection with the secured wireless network by accessing the stored network passcode for the secured wireless network. 
     
     
         35 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 32 , wherein the text message is sent via the secured wireless network. 
     
     
         36 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 32 , wherein the text message responsive to the sent text message is received via the secured wireless network. 
     
     
         37 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 21 , wherein the communication unit is configured to automatically send a first text message upon deployment of the automated external defibrillator, a second text message upon one or more of the electrodes being applied, and a third text message upon discharge of the automated external defibrillator. 
     
     
         38 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 37 , wherein the received text message is response to at least one of the first, second, and third text messages. 
     
     
         39 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 21 , comprising a global positioning unit configured to determine a location associated with the automated external defibrillator, wherein the communication unit is configured to send a text message that includes information related to the location associated with the automated external defibrillator. 
     
     
         40 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 21 , comprising a memory configured to store a location associated with the automated external defibrillator, wherein the communication unit is configured to send a text message that includes information related to the location associated with the automated external defibrillator. 
     
     
         41 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 21 , comprising a camera configured to receive image information, wherein the communication unit is configured to send a message that includes the image information. 
     
     
         42 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 21 , wherein the received text message includes a question directed to a user of the automated external defibrillator. 
     
     
         43 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 42 , wherein the communication unit is configured to send, from the automated external defibrillator, a user generated text message responsive to the received text message. 
     
     
         44 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 21 , wherein the received text message includes information related to a status of incoming emergency medical assistance. 
     
     
         45 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 44 , wherein the received text message includes an indication that emergency medical assistance is en route to the automated external defibrillator. 
     
     
         46 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 21 , wherein the received text message includes a treatment instruction. 
     
     
         47 . The automated external defibrillator of  claim 21 , wherein the received text message is received from an emergency response entity. 
     
     
         48 . A method comprising:
 detecting one or more of i) deployment of an automated external defibrillator, ii) application of one or more electrodes of the automated external defibrillator, and iii) discharge of the automated external defibrillator;   automatically sending, from the automated external defibrillator, a text message upon detecting one or more of i), ii), and iii); and   receiving, by the automated external defibrillator, a text message responsive to detecting one or more of i), ii), and iii).   
     
     
         49 . A computer program product comprising computer-readable instructions tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage device, the instructions executable by one or more processing devices to perform operations comprising:
 detecting one or more of i) deployment of an automated external defibrillator, ii) application of one or more electrodes of the automated external defibrillator, and iii) discharge of the automated external defibrillator;   automatically sending, from the automated external defibrillator, a text message upon detecting one or more of i), ii), and iii); and   receiving, by the automated external defibrillator, a text message responsive to detecting one or more of i), ii), and iii).