Electrode delivery system

1. An automatic external defibrillator configured to deliver electrical pulses and/or shocks to a heart of a patient during a cardiac emergency, the defibrillator comprising:

a housing supporting an electrical connector; and

a pair of defibrillation electrode pads supported on the housing, wherein each of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads is pre-connected to the electrical connector of the housing, and wherein a hydrogel layer of each defibrillation electrode pad is configured to contact the housing in such a manner so as to reduce a moisture vapor transmission rate thereof.

2. The defibrillator according to claim 1 , wherein an electrode receiving surface is defined on an outer surface of the housing, and wherein each defibrillation electrode pad is adhered to the electrode receiving surface of the housing.

3. The defibrillator according to claim 2 , wherein the electrode receiving surface of the housing is coated with a release material.

4. The defibrillator according to claim 1 , wherein, for each of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads, the housing includes:

a two-part fastener member selectively securing each of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads to the housing, wherein a first part of the two-part fastener is secured to the housing and a second part of the two-part fastener is secured to a backing layer of each electrode pad.

5. The defibrillator according to claim 4 , wherein each defibrillation electrode pad includes a backing layer, a substrate overlying the backing layer, a hydrogel overlying the substrate and a liner overlying the hydrogel.

6. An automatic external defibrillator configured to deliver electrical pulses and/or shocks to a heart of a patient during a cardiac emergency, the defibrillator comprising:

a housing supporting an electrical connector, a battery and high voltage circuitry; and

a pair of contact pads supported in a surface of the housing;

a pair of defibrillation electrode pads supported on the housing, wherein each of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads is pre-connected to the electrical connector of the housing, and wherein each defibrillation electrode pad is in electrical communication with the battery and the high voltage circuitry;

wherein the defibrillator is automatically activated by a separation of at least one of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads from the housing; and

wherein a hydrogel layer of each defibrillation electrode pad is retained by the housing in such a manner so as to reduce a moisture vapor transmission rate thereof,

wherein each contact pad is electrically connected to the connector of the housing by a respective electrical connector, and wherein each electrode pad of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads is disposed on a surface of the housing so as to be in contact with a respective contact pad.

7. The defibrillator according to claim 6 , wherein the defibrillator is configured to perform checks of an impedance of the electrode pads when the electrode pads are in contact with the contact pads.

8. The defibrillator according to claim 6 , wherein the defibrillator is configured to automatically power-up upon a separation of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads from the contact pads.

9. The defibrillator according to claim 6 , wherein the defibrillator is configured to automatically power-up upon a separation of at least one of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads from the contact pads.

10. The defibrillator according to claim 9 , wherein an impedance reading by the contact pads is changed upon the separation of at least one of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads from the contact pad resulting in the automatic power-up of the defibrillator.

11. An automatic external defibrillator configured to deliver electrical pulses and/or shocks to a heart of a patient during a cardiac emergency, the defibrillator comprising:

a housing supporting an electrical connector;

a pair of defibrillation electrode pads supported on the housing, wherein each of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads is pre-connected to the electrical connector of the housing, and wherein a hydrogel layer of each defibrillation electrode pad is retained by the housing in such a manner so as to reduce a moisture vapor transmission rate thereof;

a pair of spaced apart brackets extending from the housing; and

a release liner sized to extend across the space defined by the pair of brackets,

wherein the brackets are configured to retain the release liner in close proximity to the housing, and wherein each defibrillation electrode pad is adhered to a surface of the release liner.

12. An automatic external defibrillator configured to deliver electrical pulses and/or shocks to a heart of a patient during a cardiac emergency, the defibrillator comprising:

a housing supporting an electrical connector;

a pair of defibrillation electrode pads supported on the housing, wherein each of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads is pre-connected to the electrical connector of the housing, and wherein a hydrogel layer of each defibrillation electrode pad is retained by the housing in such a manner so as to reduce a moisture vapor transmission rate thereof; and

a carrier flap having a side edge connected to the housing, wherein an electrode pad of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads is adhered to a surface of a respective side of the carrier flap.

13. The defibrillator according to claim 12 , wherein the housing includes a hinge connecting the side edge of the carrier flap to the housing.

14. The defibrillator according to claim 12 , wherein the housing includes a clamp connecting the side edge of the carrier flap to the housing.

15. An automatic external defibrillator configured to deliver electrical pulses and/or shocks to a heart of a patient during a cardiac emergency, the defibrillator comprising:

a housing supporting an electrical connector;

a pair of defibrillation electrode pads supported on the housing, wherein each of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads is pre-connected to the electrical connector of the housing, and wherein a hydrogel layer of each defibrillation electrode pad is retained by the housing in such a manner so as to reduce a moisture vapor transmission rate thereof; and

a pair of contact pads supported in a surface of the housing, each contact pad is electrically connected to the connector of the housing by a respective electrical connector,

wherein each electrode pad of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads is adhered to a surface of the housing so as to be in contact with a respective contact pad.

16. The defibrillator according to claim 15 , wherein the defibrillator is configured to perform checks of an impedance of the electrode pads when the electrode pads are in contact with the contact pads.

17. The defibrillator according to claim 15 , wherein the defibrillator is configured to automatically power-up upon a separation of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads from the contact pads.

18. The defibrillator according to claim 15 , wherein the defibrillator is configured to automatically power-up upon a separation of at least one of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads from the contact pads.

19. The defibrillator according to claim 18 , wherein an impedance reading by the contact pads is changed upon the separation of at least one of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads from the contact pad resulting in the automatic power-up of the defibrillator.

20. An automatic external defibrillator configured to deliver electrical pulses and/or shocks to a heart of a patient during a cardiac emergency, the defibrillator comprising:

a housing supporting an electrical connector;

a release liner supported on a surface of housing; and

a pair of defibrillation electrode pads supported on the housing, wherein each of the pair of defibrillation electrode pads is pre-connected to the electrical connector of the housing, and wherein a hydrogel layer of each defibrillation electrode pad is retained by the housing in such a manner so as to reduce a moisture vapor transmission rate thereof,

wherein the pair of defibrillation electrode pads includes an apex electrode and a sternum electrode adhered to a surface of the release liner, wherein the apex electrode includes a tab that projects from a perimeter of the release liner.

21. The defibrillator according to claim 20 , wherein the sternum electrode includes a tab, and wherein the tab of the sternum electrode is exposed following a separation of the apex electrode from the release liner.

22. The defibrillator according to claim 21 , wherein the release liner is slidably supported on the surface of the housing, wherein as the tab of the apex electrode is pulled in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of the release liner, the release liner is slid in the direction of the pull and separated from the apex electrode.

23. The defibrillator according to claim 22 , wherein when the apex electrode is separate from the release liner, the tab of the sternum electrode is exposed.