IP Library Granted Patent US 12,629,529
Granted Patent B2
US 12,629,529 · App. 17/246,510 · Granted May 19, 2026

Wearable cardioverter defibrillator care system with health and emotional companion accessory

Inventors: Traci Umberger (Kirkland, WA); Krystyna Szul (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: WEST AFFUM HOLDING DAC
A61N1/3904A61N1/37282A61N1/3925G06N3/02G06N20/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,629,529
App. No.
17/246,510
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wearable cardioverter defibrillator system supported with a customizable, goal-oriented, companion device. Functionality can be tailored to the goal for a user type. For a patient, the companion device can improve compliance with wear or prescription. Goals can include emotional support, or a specific health, including activity, support. The goal-oriented companion device can receive and process information using machine learning techniques, and interface with a user and other systems and devices.

Claims (37)

1 . A method of using a user support companion device with a Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD) system, the method comprising:

generating a profile of a user of the user support companion device from initial input data, wherein the initial input data includes at least a patient condition or clinical input data of the user using the WCD system, the user support companion device including a virtual companion implemented using one or more machine learning methods, wherein the virtual companion is a customizable avatar;

receiving a goal for the user of the user support companion device, wherein the goal comprises a WCD wear time corresponding to a minimum daily amount of time the user has worn the WCD system;

receiving, from the WCD system, data indicative of the WCD wear time, the data comprising user input data and/or data generated by the WCD system;

determining, from the received data, a metric of a progress of the user toward the goal;

determining whether the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal; and

responsive to a determination that the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal, communicating with the user using the virtual companion to motivate the user to take an action for achieving the goal, wherein the communication is based, at least in part, on the generated profile.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal further includes:

using, by the one or more machine learning methods, information in the received data that is indicative of whether the user took the action communicated to the user in a previous communication by the virtual companion that is based on artificial intelligence to motivate the user to take the action.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal comprises computing, by applying the one or more machine learning methods, that output data associated with the WCD wear time in the received data is inconsistent with projected output data.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal comprises determining whether the received data indicates the user has not worn the WCD system for a predetermined duration.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal comprises determining one or more of: no data is received by the user support companion device from the WCD, data transfer between the user support companion device and the WCD system is interrupted, data is not received by a remote station from the user support companion device, and the received data is determined to be noisy by one or more of the WCD system, the user support companion device, and/or the remote station.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the received data includes data indicative of one or more activities performed by the user.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual companion is configured, based on the generated profile, to interact with the user using a cheerful remark.

8 . A wearable system, comprising:

a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD); and

a user support companion device comprising:

means for implementing a virtual companion using one or more machine language methods, wherein the virtual companion is a customizable avatar;

means for generating a profile of a user of the user support companion device from initial input data, wherein the initial input data includes at least a patient condition or clinical input data of the user;

means for receiving a goal for the user of the wearable system, wherein the goal comprises a WCD wear time corresponding to a minimum daily amount of time the user has worn the WCD;

means for receiving, from the WCD, data indicative of the WCD wear time, the data comprising user input data and/or data generated by the WCD;

means for determining, from the received data, a metric of a progress of the user toward the goal;

means for determining when the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal; and

means for, responsive to a determination that the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal, communicating with the user using the virtual companion to take an action for achieving the goal, wherein the communication is based, at least in part, on the generated profile.

9 . The wearable system of claim 8 , wherein the means for determining when the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal further includes:

applying the one or more machine language methods to information in the received data that is indicative of whether the user took the action communicated to the user in a previous communication by the virtual companion to motivate the user to take the action.

10 . The wearable system of claim 8 , wherein the means for determining when the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal comprises computing, by applying the one or more machine language methods, that output data associated with the WCD wear time in the received data is inconsistent with projected output data.

11 . The wearable system of claim 8 , wherein the means for determining when the metric is indicative of the user not meeting the goal comprises determining one or more of: no data is received by the user support companion device from the WCD, data transfer between the user support companion device and the WCD is interrupted, data is not received by a remote station from the user support companion device, and the received data is determined to be noisy by one or more of the WCD, the user support companion device, and/or the remote station.

12 . The wearable system of claim 8 , wherein the data generated by the WCD includes data indicative of one or more activities performed by the user.

13 . The wearable system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual companion is configured, based on the generated profile, to interact with the user using a cheerful remark.

14 . The wearable system of claim 8 , wherein the avatar is customized, using the one or more machine language methods, based on previous responses of the user to interactions with the avatar.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual companion is configured, based on the generated profile, to interact with the user using a remark that is tailored based on preferences of the user.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual companion is configured, based on the generated profile, to interact with the user using a joke.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual companion is configured, based on the generated profile, to interact with the user using a game.

18 . The wearable system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual companion is configured, based on the generated profile, to interact with the user using a remark that is tailored based on preferences of the user.

19 . The wearable system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual companion is configured, based on the generated profile, to interact with the user using a joke.

20 . The wearable system of claim 8 , wherein the virtual companion is configured, based on the generated profile, to interact with the user using a game.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 4, 2023
From: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS DESIGNATED ACTIVITY COMPANY
To: PERCEPTIVE CREDIT HOLDINGS IV, LP
Reel/Frame 065116/0049 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2022
From: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS CORP.
To: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS DAC
Reel/Frame 060389/0694 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2021
From: KESTRA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS CORP.
Reel/Frame 057836/0715 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2021
From: SZUL, KRYSTYNA; UMBERGER, TRACI S.
To: KESTRA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 056197/0326 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63069627 · Aug 24, 2020
Related Publication 20220054850A1 · Feb 24, 2022
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