Defibrillator Electrode Identification System

Abstract

An electrode identification system ( 1 ) for defibrillators, comprising an electrode plug ( 2 ) adapted for connection to at least one electrode having a first pair of conducting contacts ( 6, 8 ), an identification element ( 10 ) connected between the first pair of conducting contacts, a second pair of conducting contacts ( 12, 14 ) for connection to the electrode, and a housing ( 16 ) providing a cavity ( 18, 20 ) which substantially encases the first and second pairs of conducting contacts and the identification element and an aperture through which ends of the first and second pairs of conducting contacts extend, a defibrillator socket ( 3 ) adapted for connection to a defibrillator and adapted for connection to an electrode plug having a first pair of conducting contacts ( 24, 26 ) for connection to the first pair of conducting contacts of the electrode plug, a second pair of conducting contacts ( 28, 30 ) for connection to the second pair of conducting contacts of the electrode plug and for connection to the defibrillator, and a housing ( 32 ) providing a cavity ( 34, 36 ) which substantially encases the first and second pairs of conducting contacts and an aperture through which ends of the first and second pairs of conducting contacts extend, and an electrode identification unit ( 4 ) adapted for connection to a defibrillator socket having a circuit comprising contacts for connection to the first pair of conducting contacts of the electrode plug via the first pair of conducting contacts of the defibrillator socket, a signal detector ( 42 ) connected to the circuit which detects a signal from the identification element of the electrode plug, and a processor ( 44 ) which uses a measure of the signal to determine an identification characteristic of the identification element of the electrode plug and from this identifies a category of the electrode connected to the electrode plug.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a voltage signal from a first connection to an electrode unit associated with a defibrillator, wherein the voltage signal is based in part on an identification element in the electrode unit;   determining, based on the voltage signal, a type of electrode associated with the electrode unit;   determining, based on the type of electrode associated with the electrode unit, a defibrillation voltage to output; and   causing a defibrillation voltage to be output via a second connection to the electrode unit, the second connection being distinct from the first connection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode unit comprises:
 a pair of conducting contacts; and   a cavity which encases the pair of conducting contacts and the identification element connected between the pair of conducting contacts.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification element comprises a resistor having a resistance value that identifies the type of electrode associated with the electrode unit. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification element comprises an encased identification element having a resistor with a resistance value that identifies the type of electrode associated with the electrode unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the identification element is encased in a cavity of the electrode unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode unit comprises:
 a first pair of conducting contacts;   the identification element connected between the first pair of conducting contacts, wherein the identification element comprises a resistor having a resistance value that identifies a type of an electrode;   a second pair of conducting contacts, distinct from the first pair of conducting contacts, configured for connection to the electrode; and   an electrode unit housing.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the electrode unit housing comprises:
 the first pair of conducting contacts;   the second pair of conducting contacts; and   the identification element.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrode unit housing comprises a first aperture through which ends of the first pair of conducting contacts and the second pair of conducting contacts extend. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a defibrillator socket is configured for connection to the defibrillator and configured for connection to the electrode unit, the defibrillator socket comprising:
 a third pair of conducting contacts configured for connection to the first pair of conducting contacts;   a fourth pair of conducting contacts, distinct from the third pair of conducting contacts, configured for connection to the second pair of conducting contacts and configured for connection to the defibrillator; and   a defibrillator socket housing containing the third pair of conducting contacts, the fourth pair of conducting contacts, and a second aperture through which ends of the third pair of conducting contacts and the fourth pair of conducting contacts extend.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a computer-readable storage device storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a voltage signal from a first connection to an electrode unit, wherein the voltage signal is based in part on an identification element in the electrode unit; 
 determining, based on the voltage signal, a type of electrode associated with the electrode unit; 
 determining, based on the type of electrode associated with the electrode unit, a defibrillation voltage to output; and 
 causing a defibrillation voltage to be output via a second connection to the electrode unit, the second connection being distinct from the first connection. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electrode unit comprises:
 a pair of conducting contacts; and   a cavity which encases the pair of conducting contacts and the identification element connected between the pair of conducting contacts.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the identification element comprises a resistor having a resistance value that identifies the type of electrode associated with the electrode unit. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the identification element comprises an encased identification element having a resistor with a resistance value that identifies the type of electrode associated with the electrode unit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the encased identification element is encased in a cavity of the electrode unit. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the electrode unit comprises:
 a first pair of conducting contacts, wherein the identification element is connected between the first pair of conducting contacts, wherein the identification element comprises a resistor having a resistance value that identifies a type of an electrode;   a second pair of conducting contacts, distinct from the first pair of conducting contacts, configured for connection to the electrode; and   an electrode unit housing.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the electrode unit housing comprises:
 the first pair of conducting contacts;   the second pair of conducting contacts; and   the identification element.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the electrode unit housing comprises a first aperture through which ends of the first pair of conducting contacts and a second pair of conducting contacts extend. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein a defibrillator socket is configured for connection to the electrode unit, the defibrillator socket comprising:
 a third pair of conducting contacts configured for connection to the first pair of conducting contacts;   a fourth pair of conducting contacts, distinct from the third pair of conducting contacts, configured for connection to the second pair of conducting contacts; and   a defibrillator socket housing containing the third pair of conducting contacts, the fourth pair of conducting contacts, and a second aperture through which ends of the third pair of conducting contacts and the fourth pair of conducting contacts extend.