WCD system prioritization of alerts based on severity and/or required timeliness of user response
Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (“WCD”) system design in which a WCD implements an alert prioritization scheme to provide the patient with feedback in an order that is less likely to cause confusion. Different conditions (e.g., device status, equipment condition, or physiologic condition) are prioritized based on an analysis of severity of the condition and timeliness of user action needed. The prioritization scheme defines what alert, if any, is presented to the user by the WCD system as a result of various conditions. Generally stated, an alert for the highest priority condition currently detected is presented to the user and maintained until that condition either changes or becomes surpassed in the prioritization scheme.
1. A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system for a patient, comprising:
an electrode;
a support structure configured to be worn by the patient so as to maintain the electrode on the patient;
an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge that can be discharged via the electrode so as to deliver a shock to the patient when an ECG signal indicates that treatment is warranted;
one or more sensors configured to detect a plurality of conditions wherein the plurality of conditions comprises at least a condition of whether the electrode is in sufficient contact with the patient and whether the WCD is in need of service; and
a processor configured to:
prioritize each condition in the plurality of conditions based on an analysis of a severity of each condition and a timeliness of remedying action needed,
issue a first alert corresponding to a highest priority condition in the plurality of conditions, wherein if the electrode is not in sufficient contact with the patient and the WCD is in need of service, the condition that the electrode is not in sufficient contact with the patient is a higher priority than the condition that the WCD is in need of service; and
defer any other alert for any other condition in the plurality of conditions until the highest priority condition has been remedied.
2. The WCD system recited in claim 1 , wherein the WCD further comprises a display screen upon which the alert is shown.
3. The WCD system recited in claim 2 , wherein the display screen is located on a periphery of an electronics module of the WCD such that the display screen is visible to the patient when the WCD is being worn.
4. The WCD system recited in claim 1 , wherein the display screen shows only the first alert of a plurality of possible alerts wherein each of the plurality of possible alerts corresponds to a respective condition in the plurality of conditions.
5. The WCD system recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensors detect physiological parameters and system parameters, the physiological parameters comprising information about the patient's vital statistics, and the system parameters comprising information about the WCD other than the patient's vital statistics.
6. The WCD system recited in claim 5 , wherein the sensors further monitor environmental conditions, the environmental conditions including a movement of the WCD system.
7. The WCD system recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to issue a second alert upon a determination that the first alert has been remedied.
8. The WCD system recited in claim 7 , wherein the second alert is issued after another analysis of a current plurality of conditions identified by the sensors after the first alert has been remedied and another analysis of the severity of each condition and the timeliness of remedying action needed for each condition in the current plurality of conditions.
9. The WCD system recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to issue a second alert upon a determination that a new condition has a higher priority than the condition corresponding to the first alert.
10. The WCD system recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conditions comprises a queue of conditions identified by the sensors, each condition being associated with a state of either a system parameter or a physiological parameter, the system parameter being associated with either the WCD or the environment in which the WCD operates, the physiological parameter being associated with vital statistics of the patient.
11. The WCD system recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conditions further comprises a condition whether service of the WCD is required before the WCD can be placed in operation, and further wherein the condition that service of the WCD is required is a higher priority than the condition that the electrode is not in sufficient contact with the patient.
12. The WCD system recited in claim 1 , wherein the configuration to detect a plurality of conditions comprises a configuration to identify an indication of a condition of the plurality of conditions.
13. The WCD system recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine when the ECG signal indicates that treatment is warranted by:
receiving the ECG signal from an ECG sensor; and
analyzing the ECG signal to detect a shockable heart arrhythmia.
14. The WCD system recited in claim 13 , wherein in response to the detection of the shockable heart arrythmia, the processor causes the energy storage module to discharge the electrical charge via the electrode to deliver a shock to the patient.
15. The WCD system recited in claim 13 , wherein the electrode comprises the ECG sensor.
16. The WCD system recited in claim 13 , wherein the display screen shows only the first alert of a plurality of possible alerts wherein each of the plurality of possible alerts corresponds to the condition in a plurality of conditions.
17. The WCD system recited in claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to issue a second alert upon a determination that the first alert has been remedied.
18. The WCD system recited in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of conditions further comprises a condition whether service of the WCD is required before the WCD can be placed in operation, and further wherein the condition that service of the WCD is required is a higher priority than the condition that the electrode is not in sufficient contact with the patient.