MODULAR DEFIBRILLATOR ARCHITECTURE
Several defibrillators, defibrillator architectures, defibrillator components and methods of operating defibrillators are described. In one aspect, a modular defibrillator architecture is described. A base unit provides a fully functional defibrillator. The functionality of the base unit can be supplemented by attaching an interface unit to the base unit or by connecting a smartphone the base unit. Such devices provide connectivity as well as a screen for displaying supplementary graphics and/or videos which are useful to support both emergency and maintenance & monitoring activities. In some embodiments a battery pack may also or alternatively be coupled to the base unit to prolong the unit's shelf life before recharging or replacement of its batteries is required. If necessary the base unit can be powered from a connected external device such as a mobile communication device.
1 . A defibrillator interface unit adapted to be attached to a base defibrillator unit that is fully functional without the defibrillator interface unit, the defibrillator interface unit comprising:
a housing configured to be attached to the base defibrillator unit to provide a portable modular defibrillator that combines the base defibrillator unit and the defibrillator interface unit;
a display screen exposed on an exterior surface of the defibrillator interface unit;
a processor configured to receive communications from a defibrillator controller on the base defibrillator unit when the defibrillator interface unit is attached to the base defibrillator unit, the processor being configured to cause the display of at least one of textual and graphic information on the display screen during selected emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator in response to communications received from the defibrillator controller and to cause the display of information on the display screen during selected non-emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator;
a communications module configured to facilitate communication between the defibrillator interface unit and one or more remote servers using a communications protocol; and
a power storage unit that powers the defibrillator interface unit; and
wherein the processor, and at least portions of the communications module and the power storage unit are contained within the housing; and
wherein the defibrillator interface unit does not send any control instructions to the base defibrillator unit during the emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator and is not required for operation of the base defibrillator unit, and
wherein the defibrillator interface unit is not a general purpose mobile phone, tablet computer or personal computer.
2 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to periodically receive defibrillator status information from the base defibrillator unit and to cause the communications module to periodically transmit the defibrillator status information to one or more of the remote servers.
3 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 2 wherein the defibrillator status information is received from the base defibrillator unit and transmitted to the one or more of the remote servers once each day.
4 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising a GNSS sensor, wherein the defibrillator interface unit is configured to determine a location of the defibrillator interface unit using the GNSS sensor and to report the location of the defibrillator interface unit to at least a selected one of the one or more remote servers.
5 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the communications module facilitates at least one of cellular and WiFi communications.
6 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the housing is configured to be removably attached to the base defibrillator unit.
7 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to cause the synchronization of the display of the at least one of textual and graphic instructions on the display screen with audio instructions provided by the base defibrillator unit during the emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator.
8 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising an interface unit battery that powers the defibrillator interface unit, and wherein the defibrillator interface unit is configured to not draw any power from any power storage unit on the base defibrillator unit when the defibrillator interface unit is attached to the base defibrillator unit.
9 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the defibrillator interface unit has no substantial function other than to be used in conjunction with a base defibrillator unit.
10 . A defibrillator interface unit adapted to be attached to a base defibrillator unit that is fully functional without the defibrillator interface unit, to provide a portable modular defibrillator that combines the base defibrillator unit and the defibrillator interface unit, the defibrillator interface unit comprising:
a processor configured to receive communications from the base defibrillator unit when the defibrillator interface unit is attached to the base defibrillator unit during both emergency and non-emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator;
a communications module configured to facilitate communication between the defibrillator interface unit and one or more remote servers using a communications protocol; and
wherein the defibrillator interface unit does not send any control instructions to the base defibrillator unit during the emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator and is not required for operation of the base defibrillator unit.
11 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 10 further comprising:
a first connector externally exposed on the defibrillator interface unit and adapted to engage a complimentary connector on the base defibrillator unit when the defibrillator interface unit is attached to the base defibrillator unit to electrically connect the defibrillator interface unit to the base defibrillator unit; and
an interface unit battery that is configured to be recharged via power received through the first connector while the defibrillator interface unit is attached to the base defibrillator unit without drawing any power from any power storage unit on the base defibrillator unit.
12 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 10 wherein the defibrillator interface unit does not draw any power from the base defibrillator unit during operation of the portable modular defibrillator.
13 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 10 wherein the processor is further configured to act upon at least some of the communications received from the base defibrillator unit during emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator received communications by:
causing first selected information to be transmitted to at least a selected one of the one or more remote servers via the communications module during the emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator; and
causing second selected information to be presented to an operator of the portable modular defibrillator by the defibrillator interface unit during the emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator.
14 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 10 wherein the defibrillator interface unit does not alter the function of the base defibrillator unit during the emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator.
15 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 11 wherein the defibrillator interface unit is configured to supply power from the interface unit battery to the base defibrillator unit via the first connector.
16 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 1 configured to receive defibrillator software updates from the remote server and to transmit the software updates to the base defibrillator unit for installation on the base defibrillator unit.
17 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
a first connector externally exposed on the interface unit housing and adapted to engage a complimentary connector on the base defibrillator unit when the interface unit housing is attached to the base defibrillator unit to electrically connect the defibrillator interface unit to the base defibrillator unit; and
wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the defibrillator controller on the base defibrillator unit through the first connector when the defibrillator interface unit is attached to the base defibrillator unit.
18 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 17 wherein the defibrillator interface unit is configured to receive self-test information from the base defibrillator unit and to report the self-test information to a selected one or more of the remotely located server(s).
19 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 17 wherein during use of the portable modular defibrillator in the emergency mode, the processor acts upon at least some of the communications received from the base defibrillator unit by both:
causing first selected information to be transmitted to at least a selected one of the one or more remote servers via the communications module during the emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator; and
causing second selected information to be presented to an operator of the portable modular defibrillator on the display screen during the emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator.
20 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to act upon at least some of the communications received from the base defibrillator unit by causing selected information to be (i) transmitted to at least a selected one of the one or more remote servers via the communications module during the use of the portable modular defibrillator in the emergency mode, or (ii) presented to an operator of the portable modular during the use of the portable modular defibrillator in the emergency mode.
21 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 17 wherein the first connector additionally facilitates the transfer of power between the defibrillator interface unit and the base unit.
22 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 21 wherein the first connector includes at least two communication line contacts, a power line contact and a ground line contact.
23 .- 24 . (canceled)
25 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 17 further comprising memory, and a defibrillator app stored in the memory, the defibrillator app containing programmed instructions that are executable on the processor.
26 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 25 wherein the defibrillator app is configured to cause graphic instructions to be displayed on the display screen during use of the base defibrillator unit that supplement audio instructions provided by the base defibrillator unit.
27 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 26 , wherein during emergency use of the portable modular defibrillator, the processor is arranged to:
receive an instruction state identifier from the defibrillator controller;
retrieve a graphic instruction corresponding to the instruction state identifier from memory of the defibrillator interface unit; and
cause the retrieved graphic instruction to be displayed on the display screen to facilitate the synchronized display of the graphic instructions on the display screen.
28 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 10 further comprising a GNSS sensor, wherein the defibrillator interface unit is configured to determine a location of the defibrillator interface unit using the GNSS sensor and to report the location of the defibrillator interface unit to at least a selected one of the one or more remote servers.
29 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 14 wherein during an emergency, the base defibrillator interface unit is used in the same way regardless of whether defibrillator interface unit is attached to the base defibrillator unit.
30 . A defibrillator interface unit as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
a GNSS sensor, wherein the defibrillator interface unit is configured to determine a location of the defibrillator interface unit using the GNSS sensor and to report the location of the defibrillator interface unit to at least a selected one of the one or more remote servers; and
an interface unit battery that powers the defibrillator interface unit, and wherein the defibrillator interface unit is configured to not draw any power from any power storage unit on the base defibrillator unit when the defibrillator interface unit is attached to the base defibrillator unit; and
wherein the housing is configured to be removably attached to the base defibrillator unit and has no substantial function other than to be used in conjunction with a base defibrillator unit.