US5735879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrotherapy method for external defibrillators
Assignee: Philips North America LLC
•
Filing: 1997-02-20
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Granted: 1998-04-07
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Expires: 2017-02-20
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides an external defibrillator and defibrillation method that automatically compensates for patient-to-patient impedance differences in the delivery of electrotherapeutic pulses for defibrillation and cardioversion. In a preferred embodiment, the defibrillator has an energy source that may be discharged through electrodes on the patient to provide a biphasic voltage or current pulse. In one aspect of the invention, the first and second phase duration and initial first phase amplitude are predetermined values. In a second aspect of the invention, the duration of the first phase of the pulse may be extended if the amplitude of the first phase of the pulse fails to fall to a threshold value by the end of the predetermined first phase duration, as might occur with a high impedance patient. In a third aspect of the invention, the first phase ends when the first phase amplitude drops below a threshold value or when the first phase duration reaches a threshold time value, whichever comes first, as might occur with a low to average impedance patient. This method and apparatus of altering the delivered biphasic pulse thereby compensates for patient impedance differences by changing the nature of the delivered electrotherapeutic pulse, resulting in a smaller, more efficient and less expensive defibrillator.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradford E. Gliner
- 👤 Thomas D. Lyster
- 👤 Clinton S. Cole
- 👤 Daniel J. Powers
- 👤 Carlton B. Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/38; A61N1/39; A61N1/3925; A61N1/3937; A61N1/3906; A61N1/3912
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for applying electrotherapy to a patient from a source external to the patient, the method comprising the following steps: placing two electrodes on a patient, the electrodes being electrically connected in a first polarity to an energy source external to the patient; charging the energy source to an energy level corresponding to a first start amplitude; discharging the energy source across the electrodes measuring a patient impedance during the discharge step; adjusting a discharge parameter based on the measured patient impedance; reversing the polarity of connection of the energy source to the electrodes to a second polarity; and discharging the energy source across the electrodes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for applying electrotherapy to a patient from a source external to the patient, the method comprising the following steps: placing two electrodes on a patient, the electrodes being electrically connected in a first polarity to an energy source external to the patient; charging the energy source to an energy level corresponding to a first start amplitude; discharging the energy source across the electrodes measuring a patient impedance during the discharge step; adjusting a discharge parameter based on the measured patient impedance; reversing the polarity of connection of the energy source to the electrodes to a second polarity; and discharging the energy source across the electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the discharge parameter is discharge duration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the discharge parameter is first end amplitude.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for applying electrotherapy to a patient through electrodes external to a patient, the electrodes being electrically connected in a first predetermined polarity to an energy source charged to an initial level, the method comprising the following step: discharging the energy source across the electrodes until the end of a predetermined time period and until an electrical unit measured across the electrodes decays to a predetermined terminal level.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for applying electrotherapy to a patient through electrodes external to a patient, the electrodes being electrically connected in a first predetermined polarity to an energy source charged to an initial level, the method comprising the following step: discharging the energy source across the electrodes until the end of a predetermined time period and until an electrical unit measured across the electrodes decays to a predetermined terminal level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the following steps after the first discharging step: reversing the polarity of connection of the energy source to the electrodes to a second polarity; and discharging the energy source across the electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the discharging step in the reversed polarity continues for a second predetermined time period.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the discharging step in the reversed polarity continues until an electrical unit measured across the electrodes decays to a second predetermined terminal level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the duration of the discharging step in the reversed polarity is a function of the duration of the first discharging step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the energy source is a voltage source and the measured electrical unit is voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the voltage source comprises a capacitor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for applying electrotherapy to a patient through electrodes external to a patient, the electrodes being electrically connected in a first predetermined polarity to an energy source, the method comprising the following steps: (1) charging the energy source to an initial level; (2) discharging the energy source across the electrodes; (3) reversing the polarity of connection of the energy source to the electrodes to a second polarity and repeating steps (1) and (2) for successive electrotherapy applications to the same patient.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for applying electrotherapy to a patient through electrodes external to a patient, the electrodes being electrically connected in a first predetermined polarity to an energy source, the method comprising the following steps: (1) charging the energy source to an initial level; (2) discharging the energy source across the electrodes; (3) reversing the polarity of connection of the energy source to the electrodes to a second polarity and repeating steps (1) and (2) for successive electrotherapy applications to the same patient.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for applying electrotherapy to a patient through electrodes external to the patient, the electrodes being connected in a polarity to an energy source, the method comprising the following steps: (1) charging the energy source to an initial level; (2) discharging the energy source across the electrodes; (3) reversing the polarity of connection of the energy source to the electrodes; (4) discharging the energy source across the electrodes; and (5) repeating steps (1)-(4) for successive electrotherapy applications to the same patient without first changing the polarity set previously in step (3), thereby alternating the initial polarity of successive waveforms.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
100 words
A method for applying electrotherapy to a patient through electrodes external to the patient, the electrodes being connected in a polarity to an energy source, the method comprising the following steps: (1) charging the energy source to an initial level; (2) discharging the energy source across the electrodes; (3) reversing the polarity of connection of the energy source to the electrodes; (4) discharging the energy source across the electrodes; and (5) repeating steps (1)-(4) for successive electrotherapy applications to the same patient without first changing the polarity set previously in step (3), thereby alternating the initial polarity of successive waveforms.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for applying electrotherapy to a patient through electrodes connected to an energy source, the method comprising the following steps: discharging the energy source across the electrodes to deliver electrical energy to the patient in a waveform having a first phase and a second phase; monitoring a patient-dependent electrical parameter during the discharging step; adjusting waveform tilt based on a value of the monitored electrical parameter.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for applying electrotherapy to a patient through electrodes connected to an energy source, the method comprising the following steps: discharging the energy source across the electrodes to deliver electrical energy to the patient in a waveform having a first phase and a second phase; monitoring a patient-dependent electrical parameter during the discharging step; adjusting waveform tilt based on a value of the monitored electrical parameter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the adjusting step comprises discharging the energy source across the electrodes until the end of a predetermined time period and until the monitored electrical parameter reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the electrical parameter is energy source voltage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the electrical parameter is energy source current.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the second phase has a duration which is a function of first phase duration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the discharging step comprises discharging the energy source across the electrodes to deliver electrical energy to the patient in a truncated exponential biphasic waveform.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-06 | 2001-10-06 | 2002-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-06 | 2005-10-06 | 2006-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-06 | 2009-10-06 | 2010-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |