Defibrillator/monitor system having a pod with leads capable of wirelessly communicating

1 . A modular external defibrillator system, comprising:

a base containing a defibrillator module;

a pod having a patient parameter module with patient lead cables attachable to a patient to collect at least one patient vital sign, the pod operable at a distance from the base; and

a communications link between the pod and the base to carry the at least one vital sign from the pod to the base, the defibrillator module adapted to deliver a defibrillation shock to the patient based on the at least one vital sign, wherein the communications link is a wireless communications link.

2 . The defibrillator system of claim 1 , wherein the communications link is provided by both a wireless communications link and a direct electrical connection between the pod and the base.

3 . The defibrillator system of claim 1 , wherein a direct electrical connection between the pod and the base serves as an alternate communications link to the wireless communications link.

4 . The defibrillator system of claim 1 , wherein the base includes an interconnect module to detect whether the communications link is wired or wireless.

5 . The defibrillator system of claim 1 , wherein the pod includes an interconnect module to detect whether the communications link is wired or wireless.

6 . The defibrillator system of claim 1 , wherein the base may be set in advance life support mode or automatic external defibrillator mode.

7 . The defibrillator system of claim 1 , wherein the defibrillator module functions as an automatic external defibrillator.

8 . The defibrillator system of claim 1 wherein the base includes a monitor to visually display the at least one vital signs.

9 . The defibrillator system of claim 8 , wherein the communications link is provided by both a wireless communications link and a direct electrical connection between the pod and the base.

10 . The defibrillator system of claim 8 , wherein a direct electrical connection between the pod and the base serves as an alternate communications link to the wireless communications link.

11 . The defibrillator system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one patient vital sign monitored by the pod include at lease one of ECG data, non-invasive blood pressure data, pulse oximeter data, capnography data and respiratory data, invasive blood pressure readings, and patient temperature data.

12 . The defibrillator system of claim 8 , wherein the base monitor visually displays at least one of multi-lead ECG data, non-invasive blood pressure data, pulse oximeter data, capnography data, invasive blood pressure readings, and patient temperature data.

13 . The defibrillator system of claim 8 , wherein the pod includes a monitor to visually display patient data.

14 . The defibrillator system of claim 13 , wherein the pod monitor area visually displays one or more of ECG data, non-invasive blood pressure data, pulse oximeter data, capnography data, invasive blood pressure readings, and patient temperature data.

15 . The cardiac therapy system of claim 8 , wherein the base includes a data interpretation module which analyzes the patient vitals signs to form interpretive statements on the patient's cardiac or respiratory condition.

16 . An external cardiac therapy system, comprising:

a base containing a cardiac therapy module adapted to deliver an electrical cardiac therapy to a patient;

a first pod having a patient parameter module with patient leads attachable to the patient to collect patient data; the pod being releasably mounted in the base and operable at a distance from the base; and

a communications link between the first pod and the base to wirelessly transfer the patient data from the first pod to the base, the base having a display area to visually display the patient data.

17 . The cardiac therapy system of claim 16 , wherein the base has formed therein a recess to receive the first pod.

18 . The cardiac therapy system of claim 17 further comprising a second pod wherein the recess can releasably hold the first pod and the second pod.

19 . The cardiac therapy system of claim 18 , wherein the first pod and the second pod monitor different vital signs.

20 . A modular cardiac therapy system, comprising:

a base containing a cardiac therapy module adapted to deliver an electrical cardiac therapy to a patient;

a pod having a patient parameter module with patient lead cables attachable to the patient to collect patient vital signs, the pod operable at a distance from the base;

a communications link between the pod and the base to carry the patient vital signs from the pod to the base, the base having a monitor area to visually display the patient vital signs; and

a docking station to house the base in a releasable manner, the base operable when housed by the docking station or at a distance from the docking station.

21 . The cardiac therapy system of claim 20 , wherein the base mounts the pod in a releasable manner.

22 . The cardiac therapy system of claim 20 , wherein the docking station provides power to recharge batteries within the base and power the base.

23 . The cardiac therapy system of claim 20 , wherein the docking station provides power to recharge a battery within the pod.

24 . A modular external defibrillator system comprising:

a defibrillator module capable of delivering a defibrillating shock to a patient,

a patient monitor module including:

a sensor for detecting a patient parameter;

a communication link through which the patient monitoring module communicates;

the patent monitoring module and defibrillator module being operable without a direct electrical connection therebetween.