IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,303,705
Granted Patent B2
US 12,303,705 · App. 18/530,806 · Granted May 20, 2025

Water resistant wearable medical device

Inventors: Thomas E Kaib (Irwin, PA); Shane S Volpe (Saltsburg, PA); John G Clark (Pittsburgh, PA)
Assignee: ZOLL Medical Corporation
A61N1/3968A61N1/046A61N1/0476A61N1/0484A61N1/3987A61N1/3993A61N1/3925
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,303,705
App. No.
18/530,806
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wearable medical device configured to monitor a patient for cardiac arrhythmias includes a water-resistant belt, ECG sensing electrodes, and therapy electrodes discrete from the ECG sensing electrodes. At least some of the ECG sensing electrodes and therapy electrodes are disposed on one or more common adhesive backings configured to be adhesively attached to the patient's torso. The wearable medical device also includes an elongated cable, including a removable connector, and a control unit configured to be removably electrically coupled to the electrodes via the removable connector. The control unit is configured to monitor a sensed ECG of the patient, and responsive to a detection of cardiac arrhythmia, provide at least one defibrillating pulse to at least one of the therapy electrodes. The control unit is housed in a waterproof case formed from a waterproof material that is sealed to prevent ingress of water during operation in a wet environment.

Claims (39)

1. A wearable medical device configured to monitor a patient for cardiac arrhythmias, comprising:

a water-resistant belt configured to be worn by the patient;

a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes configured to sense an ECG of the patient;

a plurality of therapy electrodes discrete from the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and configured to provide at least one defibrillating shock to a body of the patient,

wherein at least some of the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and the plurality of therapy electrodes are disposed on one or more common adhesive backings configured to be adhesively attached to the patient's torso;

an elongated cable comprising a removable connector; and

a control unit configured to be removably electrically coupled to the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and the plurality of therapy electrodes via the removable connector of the elongated cable, configured to

monitor the sensed ECG of the patient, and

responsive to a detection of cardiac arrhythmia of the patient, provide at least one defibrillating pulse of energy to at least one of the plurality of therapy electrodes,

wherein the control unit is housed in a waterproof case formed from a waterproof material that is sealed to prevent ingress of water during operation of the wearable medical device in a wet environment.

2. The wearable medical device of claim 1 , further comprising a connection pod electrically coupled to the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and the plurality of therapy electrodes.

3. The wearable medical device of claim 2 , wherein the elongated cable is electrically coupled to the connection pod and the connection pod is configured to be removably electrically coupled to the control unit via the removable connector.

4. The wearable medical device of claim 2 , wherein the connection pod is configured to be water-resistant or waterproof.

5. The wearable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of therapy electrodes are configured to be disposed on opposing lateral sides of the patient's torso.

6. The wearable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of therapy electrodes are configured to be disposed on a front of the patient's torso at spaced apart positions.

7. The wearable medical device of claim 1 , wherein at least one ECG sensing electrode from the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a therapy electrode from the plurality of therapy electrodes are disposed on each common adhesive backing.

8. The wearable medical device of claim 7 , wherein a pair of ECG sensing electrodes from the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and the therapy electrode from the plurality of therapy electrodes are disposed on each common adhesive backing.

9. The wearable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the removable connector is waterproof.

10. The wearable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the waterproof case comprises one or more openings, and wherein the one or more openings are sealed to prevent ingress of water.

11. The wearable medical device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more openings are sealed with one or more O-rings.

12. The wearable medical device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more openings are sealed with an elastomer sealant.

13. The wearable medical device of claim 1 , wherein joints of the waterproof case are sealed with a waterproof sealant.

14. The wearable medical device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit further comprises one or more patient responsiveness buttons by which the patient can indicate that the patient is conscious.

15. The wearable medical device of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface pod configured to wirelessly communicate with the control unit.

16. The wearable medical device of claim 15 , wherein the user interface pod further comprises one or more patient responsiveness buttons by which the patient can indicate that the patient is conscious.

17. The wearable medical device of claim 16 , wherein the user interface pod is configured to be held in the patient's hand.

18. A wearable medical device configured to monitor a patient for cardiac arrhythmias, comprising:

a water-resistant belt configured to be worn by the patient;

a plurality of combined ECG/therapy electrodes, wherein each combined ECG/therapy electrode comprises

a common adhesive backing configured to be adhesively attached to the patient's torso,

at least one ECG sensing electrode configured to sense an ECG of the patient and disposed on the common adhesive backing, and

a therapy electrode configured to provide at least one defibrillating shock to a body of the patient and disposed on the common adhesive backing;

an elongated cable comprising a removable connector; and

a control unit configured to be removably electrically coupled to the plurality of combined ECG/therapy electrodes via the removable connector of the elongated cable, configured to

monitor the sensed ECG of the patient, and

responsive to a detection of cardiac arrhythmia of the patient, provide at least one defibrillating pulse of energy to at least one of the therapy electrodes,

wherein the control unit is housed in a waterproof case formed from a waterproof material that is sealed to prevent ingress of water during operation of the wearable medical device in a wet environment.

19. The wearable medical device of claim 18 , wherein each combined ECG/therapy electrode comprises a pair of ECG sensing electrodes configured to sense the ECG of the patient and disposed on the common adhesive backing.

20. The wearable medical device of claim 18 , further comprising a user interface pod configured to wirelessly communicate with the control unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 11, 2023
From: KAIB, THOMAS E; VOLPE, SHANE S; CLARK, JOHN G
To: ZOLL MEDICAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065823/0363 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 17447489 · Sep 13, 2021
Continuation 16549571 · Aug 23, 2019
Continuation 15918542 · Mar 12, 2018
Continuation 15791686 · Oct 24, 2017
Continuation 15295726 · Oct 17, 2016
Continuation 14703996 · May 5, 2015
Division 13311427 · Dec 5, 2011
Provisional Application 61423874 · Dec 16, 2010
Related Publication 20240123245A1 · Apr 18, 2024
References Cited (245)
US 4094310A · McEachern et al. · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4432368A · Russek · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4632122A · Johansson et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4698848A · Buckley · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4928690A · Heilman et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4978926A · Zerod et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 5062834A · Gross et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5078134A · Heilman et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5176380A · Evans et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5330505A · Cohen · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5348008A · Bornn et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5353793A · Bornn · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5357696A · Gray et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5365932A · Greenhut · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5472453A · Alt · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5544661A · Davis et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5564429A · Bornn et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5662689A · Elsberry et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5716380A · Yerkovich et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5718242A · McClure et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5738102A · Lemelson · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5741306A · Glegyak et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5758443A · Pedrazzini · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5792190A · Olson et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5929601A · Kaib et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5944669A · Kaib · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6016445A · Baura · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6045503A · Grabner et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6065154A · Hulings et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6097982A · Glegyak et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6097987A · Milani · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6148233A · Owen et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6169387B1 · Kaib · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6169397B1 · Steinbach et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6253099B1 · Oskin et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6280461B1 · Glegyak et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6390996B1 · Halperin et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6406426B1 · Reuss et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6666830B1 · Lehrman et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6681003B2 · Linder et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6690969B2 · Bystrom et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6790178B1 · Mault et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6804554B2 · Ujhelyi et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6827695B2 · Palazzolo et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6865413B2 · Halperin et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6908437B2 · Bardy · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6944498B2 · Owen et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6990373B2 · Jayne et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7074199B2 · Halperin et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7108665B2 · Halperin et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7118542B2 · Palazzolo et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7122014B2 · Palazzolo et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7149579B1 · Koh et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7177684B1 · Kroll et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7220235B2 · Geheb et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7277752B2 · Matos · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7295871B2 · Halperin et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7340296B2 · Stahmann et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7427921B2 · Van Woudenberg · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7453354B2 · Reiter et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7476206B2 · Palazzolo et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7488293B2 · Marcovecchio et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7702390B1 · Min · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7810172B2 · Williams · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7831303B2 · Rueter et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7974689B2 · Volpe et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8121683B2 · Bucher et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8140154B2 · Donnelly et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8271082B2 · Donnelly et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8369944B2 · Macho et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8600486B2 · Kaib et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8649861B2 · Donnelly et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8676313B2 · Volpe et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8706215B2 · Kaib et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8904214B2 · Volpe et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8909335B2 · Radzelovage · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9008801B2 · Kaib et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9135398B2 · Kaib et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9186089B2 · Mazar et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9283399B2 · Donnelly et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9398859B2 · Volpe et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9427564B2 · Kaib et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9579516B2 · Kaib et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9737262B2 · Donnelly et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9782578B2 · Kaib et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9827434B2 · Kaib et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9937355B2 · Kaib et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9955938B2 · Kaib · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10130823B2 · Kaib et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10271791B2 · Donnelly et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10463867B2 · Kaib · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10582858B2 · Volpe et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11141600B2 · Kaib · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11883678B2 · Kaib · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20020107435A1 · Swetlik et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030009648A1 · Doing et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030023277A1 · Owen et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030032988A1 · Fincke · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030055460A1 · Owen et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030095648A1 · Kaib et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030149462A1 · White et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030158593A1 · Heilman et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030174049A1 · Beigel et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030195567A1 · Jayne et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030212311A1 · Nova et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030233129A1 · Matos · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040007970A1 · Ma et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040049233A1 · Edwards · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040143297A1 · Ramsey, III · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050049515A1 · Misczynski et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050131465A1 · Freeman et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060017575A1 · McAdams · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060036292A1 · Smith et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060085049A1 · Cory et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060129067A1 · Grajales et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060178706A1 · Lisogurski et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060220809A1 · Stigall et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060264776A1 · Stahmann et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060270952A1 · Freeman et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070073120A1 · Li et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070118056A1 · Wang et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070129769A1 · Bourget et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070161913A1 · Farrell et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070169364A1 · Townsend et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070239220A1 · Greenhut et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070265671A1 · Roberts et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070299474A1 · Brink · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080004536A1 · Baxi et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080015454A1 · Gal · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080030656A1 · Watson et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080031270A1 · Tran et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080033495A1 · Kumar · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080045815A1 · Derchak et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080046015A1 · Freeman et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080058884A1 · Matos · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080221631A1 · Dupelle · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080249591A1 · Gaw et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080287770A1 · Kurzweil et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080306560A1 · Macho et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080306562A1 · Donnelly et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080312520A1 · Rowlandson et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080312709A1 · Volpe et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090073991A1 · Landrum et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076336A1 · Mazar et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076340A1 · Libbus et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076341A1 · James et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076342A1 · Amurthur et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076343A1 · James et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076344A1 · Libbus et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076345A1 · Manicka et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076346A1 · James et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076348A1 · Manicka et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076349A1 · Libbus et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076350A1 · Bly et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076363A1 · Bly et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076364A1 · Libbus et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076397A1 · Libbus et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076405A1 · Amurthur et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076410A1 · Libbus et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090076559A1 · Libbus et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090082691A1 · Denison et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090093687A1 · Telfort et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090138059A1 · Ouwerkerk · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090177100A1 · Ternes · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090234410A1 · Libbus et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090264792A1 · Mazar · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090275848A1 · Brockway et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090287120A1 · Ferren et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090292194A1 · Libbus et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100056881A1 · Libbus et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100069735A1 · Berkner · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100076513A1 · Warren et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100076533A1 · Dar et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100083968A1 · Wondka et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100179438A1 · Heneghan et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100234715A1 · Shin et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100234716A1 · Engel · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100295674A1 · Hsieh et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100298899A1 · Donnelly et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100312297A1 · Volpe et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110022105A9 · Owen et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110077728A1 · Li et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110196220A1 · Storm · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110288604A1 · Kaib et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110288605A1 · Kaib et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120011382A1 · Volpe et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120112903A1 · Kaib et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120144551A1 · Guldalian · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120146797A1 · Oskin et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120150008A1 · Kaib et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120158074A1 · Hall · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130325078A1 · Whiting et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130325096A1 · Dupelle et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140163334A1 · Volpe et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140371806A1 · Raymond et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150039053A1 · Kaib et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150217121A1 · Subramanian et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150231403A1 · Kaib et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160143585A1 · Donnelly et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160296125A1 · Volpe et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170143977A1 · Kaib et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CA 2476443A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
CN 101031334 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 101443075 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 101657229A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
CN 101848677 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
DE 2644236 · 1981 [cited by applicant]
EP 0295497 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
EP 0335356 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
EP 1642616 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
EP 1455640 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
EP 1720446 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP S6368135 · 1988 [cited by applicant]
JP 5115450 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
JP H1028679 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
JP H11319119 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002102361 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002514107 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002200059 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002534231 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2004538066 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006136707 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007531592 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008302228 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009510276 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009518057 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010508128 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010530114 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 200002484 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO 2004054656 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO 2004067083 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005082454 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006050235 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007019325 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007057169 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007077997 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2008137286 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009034506 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010014497 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010025432 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015127466 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
O'Keeffe et al., “Reproducibility and responsiveness of quality of life assessment and six minute walk test in elderly heart failure patients,” Heart (1998) 80: 377-382. [cited by applicant]
Harnett, P.R. et al., “A Survey and Comparison of Laboratory Test Methods for Measuring Wicking”, Textile Research Journal, Jul. 1984. [cited by applicant]
De Bock et al., “Captopril treatment of chronic heart failure in the very old,” J. Gerontol. (1994) 49: M148-M152. [cited by applicant]
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, vol. 166, pp. 111-117 (2002), American Thoracic Society, ATS Statement: Guidelines for the Six-Minute Walk Test, available at https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/p… [cited by applicant]