External defibrillator with shock activated by cessation of precordial compressions
A defibrillator having a pair of electrodes for delivering an artifact-compensated defibrillation shock and a method thereof is provided. The defibrillator can be deployed rapidly while administering a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the patient. Upon detection of an end of the CPR operation, a correlation signal indicative of signal corruption is detected and analyzed rapidly to determine an appropriate energy level discharged across the pair of electrodes. Thereafter, a notification signal is sent to the user of the defibrillator prior to delivering the defibrillation shock to the patient. The artifact-compensated defibrillation shock is delivered if for a predetermined period of time no movement is detected.
1. A method for applying electrotherapy in an automatic external defibrillator having a high voltage energy source, an ECG detector, and a CPR therapy module, the method comprising the steps of:
prompting a start of a CPR therapy interval;
detecting an indication of CPR cessation; and,
arming the AED for electrotherapy shock based on the detecting step.
2. The electrotherapy method of claim 1 , wherein the arming step is complete in less than about 10 seconds from detection of the indication.
3. The electrotherapy method of claim 1 , wherein the indication is based upon a predetermined end of the CPR therapy interval.
4. The electrotherapy method of claim 3 , wherein the arming step includes initiating a charging of the high voltage energy source prior to the predetermined end of the CPR therapy interval.
5. The electrotherapy method of claim 3 , wherein the arming step includes completing a charging of the high voltage energy source prior to the predetermined end of the CPR therapy interval.
6. The electrotherapy method of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
obtaining an ECG signal from the ECG detector prior to the end of the CPR therapy interval; and
determining whether the ECG signal is corrupted by CPR activity, wherein the arming step is further based on determining an uncorrupted ECG signal.
7. The electrotherapy method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of CPR cessation includes a signal generated by CPR activity.
8. The electrotherapy method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
obtaining an ECG signal from the ECG detector prior to the CPR cessation;
determining whether the ECG signal is uncorrupted by CPR activity; wherein the arming step is further based on the determining step.
9. A defibrillator comprising:
a CPR prompting system arranged to prompt a start of a CPR delivery interval;
a detector arranged to detect a signal indicating a cessation of CPR delivery;
an energy delivery unit arranged to provide a defibrillation shock;
a charging circuit arranged to charge the energy delivery unit; and,
a controller arranged to (i) control the charging circuit to charge the energy delivery unit and (ii) arm the energy delivery unit for providing the defibrillation shock at a desired charge level, in response to the signal indicating the cessation of CPR delivery.
10. The defibrillator of claim 9 wherein an interval between receiving the signal and charging the energy delivery unit is less than about 10 seconds.
11. The defibrillator of claim 9 , wherein the signal further includes a completion signal indicating an end of a predetermined CPR delivery interval.
12. The defibrillator of claim 11 , wherein the controller activates the charging circuit prior to the end of the predetermined CPR delivery interval.
13. The defibrillator of claim 12 , wherein the controller controls the charging circuit to charge the energy source to a final value prior to the end of the predetermined CPR delivery interval.
14. The defibrillator of claim 9 , wherein the detector is also arranged to detect an ECG rhythm signal.
15. The defibrillator of claim 9 , wherein the signal includes a component indicative of CPR motion.
16. The defibrillator of claim 15 , further comprising:
an ECG detector arranged to obtain an ECG signal prior to the cessation of CPR, wherein the controller further charges the energy delivery unit responsive to a detection of a shockable ECG rhythm.