IP Library Granted Patent US 12,233,253
Granted Patent B2
US 12,233,253 · App. 17/508,637 · Granted Feb 25, 2025

Wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) with bystander voice interaction

Inventor: Joseph L. Sullivan (Kirkland, WA)
Assignee: West Affum Holdings DAC
A61N1/046A61N1/0484A61N1/3904A61N1/3987
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,233,253
App. No.
17/508,637
Granted
Feb 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, an example wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system implementing the disclosed techniques includes a support structure, the support structure configured to be worn by a subject. The WCD system also includes a consciousness detection module configured to determine whether the subject wearing the support structure is unconscious. The WCD system further includes an interactive bystander module configured to, responsive to a determination that the subject wearing the support structure is unconscious, generate a first voice prompt inquiring as to a presence of a bystander.

Claims (36)

1. A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system comprising:

a support structure, the support structure configured to be worn by a subject;

a consciousness detection module configured to determine whether the subject wearing the support structure is unconscious; and

an interactive bystander module configured to:

responsive to a determination that the subject wearing the support structure is unconscious, generate a first voice prompt inquiring as to a presence of a bystander;

responsive to a determination of the presence of the bystander, generate a voice inquiry asking the bystander to indicate whether the bystander is willing to assist the subject wearing the support structure; and

responsive to a determination that the bystander is not willing to assist the subject wearing the support structure, generate a second voice prompt inquiring as to a presence of another bystander.

2. The WCD system of claim 1 , wherein the first voice prompt informs of a medical condition being experienced by the subject wearing the support structure.

3. The WCD system of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the presence of the bystander is based on an audible response from the bystander.

4. The WCD system of claim 1 , wherein the interactive bystander module is further configured to, responsive to a determination that the bystander is willing to assist the subject wearing the support structure, generate a third voice prompt asking the bystander to indicate whether emergency medical personnel has been contacted.

5. The WCD system of claim 4 , wherein the interactive bystander module is further configured to, responsive to a determination that the emergency medical personnel has not been contacted, generate a fourth voice prompt asking the bystander to contact the emergency medical personnel.

6. The WCD system of claim 4 , wherein the interactive bystander module is further configured to, responsive to a determination that the emergency medical personnel has not been contacted, cause the WCD system to contact the emergency medical personnel.

7. The WCD system of claim 4 , wherein the interactive bystander module is further configured to, responsive to a determination that the emergency medical personnel has been contacted, cause the WCD system to not contact the emergency medical personnel.

8. The WCD system of claim 1 , wherein the interactive bystander module is further configured to, responsive to a determination that the bystander is willing to assist the subject wearing the support structure, generate a fifth voice prompt asking the bystander to indicate whether the subject wearing the support structure is conscious or unconscious.

9. The WCD system of claim 8 , wherein the interactive bystander module is further configured to, responsive to a determination that the subject wearing the support structure is conscious based on an audible response from the bystander, cause the WCD system to abort or suspend a shock delivery process.

10. The WCD system of claim 1 , wherein the interactive bystander module is further configured to, responsive to a determination that the bystander is willing to assist the subject wearing the support structure:

cause the WCD system to determine a medical condition of the subject wearing the support structure; and

generate one or more voice messages providing instructions to the bystander on how to perform a medical procedure based on the determined medical condition of the subject wearing the support structure.

11. The WCD system of claim 1 , wherein the determination that the subject wearing the support structure is unconscious is based on detection of a slurred response to a prompt to the subject wearing the support structure to indicate whether the subject is experiencing a medical condition.

12. The WCD system of claim 1 , wherein the determination that the subject wearing the support structure is unconscious is based on detection of a lack of motion of the subject wearing the support structure for a predetermined duration.

13. A method for interacting with a bystander to render assistance to a subject wearing a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD), the method comprising:

determining, by the WCD, whether the subject wearing the WCD is unconscious;

responsive to a determination that the subject wearing the WCD is unconscious, generating, by the WCD, a first voice prompt inquiring as to a presence of the bystander;

responsive to a determination of the presence of the bystander, generating a voice inquiry asking the bystander to indicate whether the bystander is willing to assist the subject wearing the WCD; and

responsive to a determination that the bystander is not willing to assist the subject wearing the WCD, generating a second voice prompt inquiring as to a presence of another bystander.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first voice prompt informs of a medical condition being experienced by the subject wearing the WCD.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, responsive to a determination that the bystander is willing to assist the subject wearing the WCD, generating, by the WCD, a third voice prompt asking the bystander to indicate whether emergency medical personnel has been contacted.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, responsive to a determination that the bystander is willing to assist the subject wearing the WCD:

determining, by the WCD, a medical condition of the subject wearing the WCD; and

generating, by the WCD, one or more voice messages providing instructions to the bystander on how to perform a medical procedure based on the determined medical condition of the subject wearing the WCD.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

prompting, by the WCD, the subject wearing the WCD to indicate whether the subject is experiencing a medical condition;

receiving, by the WCD, an audible response from the subject; and

determining, by the WCD, that the audible response from the subject is a slurred response,

wherein the determination that the subject wearing the WCD is unconscious is based on the determination that the audible response from the subject is the slurred response.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining, by the WCD, a lack of motion of the subject wearing the WCD for a predetermined duration, wherein the determination that the subject wearing the WCD is unconscious is based on the determination of the lack of motion of the subject wearing the WCD for the predetermined duration.

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 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 16, 2021
From: PHYSIO-CONTROL DEVELOPMENT CO., LLC
To: WEST AFFUM HOLDINGS CORP.
Reel/Frame 058130/0959 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2021
From: SULLIVAN, JOSEPH L.
To: KESTRA MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 057898/0950 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63111957 · Nov 10, 2020
Related Publication 20220143388A1 · May 12, 2022
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