Emergency monitor-defibrillator with telemedicine capability and remote activation

1. An external defibrillator system configured for use by a local rescuer in cooperation with a remote rescuer to assist a patient, the local rescuer capable of carrying the external defibrillator system and of attaching electrodes to the patient, the external defibrillator system comprising:

an energy storage module configured to store an electrical charge;

a defibrillation port configured such that the electrodes can be electrically coupled to the defibrillation port by the local rescuer;

a sensor configured to measure a physiological parameter of the patient, and to generate a patient value in response to the measured physiological parameter;

a communication module configured to transmit the patient value to another device via a communication network, the communication module further configured to receive from the communication network an incoming message, the incoming message generated by the remote rescuer responsive to perceiving the patient value from the other device, the incoming message containing an encoded discharge instruction;

a processor configured to:

decode the discharge instruction from the incoming message, and

cause, responsive to the decoded discharge instruction, the stored electrical charge to be guided via the defibrillation port and via the coupled electrodes to the patient.

2. The external defibrillator system of claim 1 , in which

the patient value is a value of an ECG signal or an impedance signal.

3. The external defibrillator system of claim 1 , in which

the physiological parameter is one of the patient's peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, end-tidal carbon dioxide, non-invasive blood pressure, tissue oxygen saturation, temperature, a regional oxygen saturation index, and an invasive pressure.

4. The external defibrillator system of claim 1 , in which

the communication module is configured to thus transmit the patient value automatically responsive to the patient value exceeding a threshold.

5. The external defibrillator system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a processor configured to determine whether the incoming message was received in response to the transmitted patient value, and

if it is not so determined, the stored electrical charge is not so guided.

6. The external defibrillator system of claim 5 , in which

the communication module is configured to transmit an outgoing message to the other device,

the outgoing message contains the patient value in encoded form,

the outgoing message contains a send key code,

the incoming message contains a return key code, and

the determination is performed by comparing the return key code to the send key code.

7. The external defibrillator system of claim 6 , in which

the send key code is generated as a hash of the patient value.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, at least one of the one or more programs including a protocol, in which, when the one or more programs are executed by an external defibrillator system that includes a processor that is configured to operate according to the protocol, an energy storage module, a defibrillation port configured such that electrodes can be electrically coupled to the defibrillation port, a sensor, and a communication module, they result in operations comprising:

storing an electrical charge in the energy storage module;

measuring, by the sensor, a physiological parameter of the patient;

generating a patient value in response to the measured physiological parameter;

transmitting, by the communication module, the patient value to another device via a communication network;

receiving via the communication network an incoming message, the incoming message containing an encoded discharge instruction, the incoming message generated by a remote human rescuer responsive to the remote rescuer perceiving the patient value from the other device;

decoding the discharge instruction from the incoming message; and

causing, responsive to the decoded discharge instruction, the stored electrical charge to be guided via the defibrillation port and via the coupled electrodes to the patient, but

in which the stored protocol does not become altered responsive to the incoming message.

9. The medium of claim 8 , in which

the patient value is a value of an ECG signal or an impedance signal.

10. The medium of claim 8 , in which

the physiological parameter is one of the patient's peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, end-tidal carbon dioxide, non-invasive blood pressure, tissue oxygen saturation, temperature, a regional oxygen saturation index, and an invasive pressure.

11. The medium of claim 8 , in which

the patient value is transmitted automatically responsive to the patient value exceeding a threshold.

12. The medium of claim 8 , in which when the one or more programs are so executed, they result in the operations to further comprise:

determining whether the incoming message was received in response to the transmitted patient value, and

in which if it is not so determined, the stored electrical charge is not caused to be so guided.

13. The medium of claim 12 , in which

the communication module transmits an outgoing message to the other device,

the patient value is encoded in the outgoing message,

the outgoing message includes a send key code,

the incoming message includes a return key code, and

the determination is performed by comparing the return key code to the send key code.

14. The medium of claim 13 , in which

the send key code is generated as a hash of the patient value.

15. A method for an external defibrillator system that includes an energy storage module, a defibrillation port configured such that electrodes can be electrically coupled to the defibrillation port, a sensor, and a communication module, the method comprising:

storing an electrical charge in the energy storage module;

measuring, by the sensor, a physiological parameter of the patient;

generating a patient value in response to the measured physiological parameter;

transmitting, by the communication module, the patient value to another device via a communication network;

receiving via the communication network an incoming message, the incoming message generated by a remote human rescuer responsive to the remote rescuer perceiving the patient value from the other device, the incoming message containing an encoded discharge instruction;

decoding the discharge instruction from the incoming message; and

causing, responsive to the decoded discharge instruction, the stored electrical charge to be guided via the defibrillation port and via the coupled electrodes to the patient.

16. The method of claim 15 , in which

the patient value is a value of an ECG signal or an impedance signal.

17. The method of claim 15 , in which

the physiological parameter is one of the patient's peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, end-tidal carbon dioxide, non-invasive blood pressure, tissue oxygen saturation, temperature, a regional oxygen saturation index, and an invasive pressure.

18. The method of claim 15 , in which

the patient value is transmitted automatically responsive to the patient value exceeding a threshold.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining whether the incoming message was received in response to the transmitted patient value, and

in which if it is not so determined, the stored electrical charge is not caused to be so guided.

20. The method of claim 19 , in which

the communication module transmits an outgoing message to the other device,

the patient value is encoded in the outgoing message,

the outgoing message includes a send key code,

the incoming message includes a return key code, and

the determination is performed by comparing the return key code to the send key code.

21. The method of claim 20 , in which

the send key code is generated as a hash of the patient value.