Multi-sensory alarm for a wearable cardiac defibrillator
Inventors
Breske, Pamela F. • Engman, Zoie R. • Edworthy, Judy R. • Hall, Amanda K.
Assignees
West Affum Holdings DAC • Stryker Corp • Kestra Medical Technologies Inc
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Publication Number
US-11198015-B2
Publication Date
2021-12-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
In one embodiment, a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is described. The WCD includes a support structure that may be worn by a patient. A processor is coupled to the support structure. The wearable cardioverter defibrillator also includes a discharge circuit configured to discharge a stored electrical charge through a body of the patient, the discharge circuit in communication with the processor. The processor may be configured to detect an event occurring at the WCD and determine a severity of the event occurring at the WCD. The processor may activate a multi-sensory alarm based at least in part on the determined event severity.
Core Innovation
A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) detects an event occurring at the WCD, determines a severity of the event, and determines an urgency of an alert based at least in part on the determined event severity. The processor activates a first multi-sensory alarm based at least in part on the determined event severity, and activates a second multi-sensory alarm based on the urgency of the alert.
The WCD includes multi-sensory outputs that provide attention-gaining patient alarms intended to enable override of therapy in case of misdiagnosis. The disclosure addresses alarm modalities and modality combinations using at least first and second multi-sensory alarms, including visual, audible, and haptic alarm outputs.
Patient interaction is integrated via a patient alert button with a patient input button, where indication of patient input is detected and the activated second multi-sensory alarm is adjusted based on the urgency of the alert. The alarm output presentation is supported by communications and output components, including a communication device with visual output, audible output, and haptic output, and associated monitor, screen/light, audio output, and haptic motor elements.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover a WCD architecture that combines event detection and severity/urgency determination with severity- and urgency-based activation of multiple multi-sensory alarms, together with patient-alert-button interaction to adjust alarm output based on urgency. The claim set includes multiple inventive features.
Event severity and alert urgency based multi-sensory alarm activation
A processor configured to detect an event occurring at the WCD, determine a severity of the event occurring at the WCD, determine an urgency of an alert based at least in part on the determined event severity, activate the first multi-sensory alarm based at least in part on the determined event severity, and activate the second multi-sensory alarm based on the urgency of the alert.
Patient alert button with urgency-based adjustment of second multi-sensory alarm
A patient alert button coupled to the support structure, the patient alert button comprising a patient input button and at least one of multi-sensory outputs, where the processor detects indication of patient input from the patient input button and adjusts the activated second multi-sensory alarm based on the urgency of the alert.
Discharge circuit for discharging stored electrical charge through the patient body
A discharge circuit configured to discharge a stored electrical charge through a body of the patient, the discharge circuit in communication with the processor.
First multi-sensory alarm and second multi-sensory alarm
A plurality of multi-sensory alarms comprising at least a first multi-sensory alarm and a second multi-sensory alarm.
Communication device outputs for multi-sensory alarms
At least one communication device in communication with the processor, the communication device including a visual output, an audible output, and a haptic output.
Second multi-sensory alarm activated at patient alert button and adjusted there
Activate a second multi-sensory alarm at the patient alert button based on the urgency of the alert, detect indication of patient input from the patient input button, and trigger adjustment of the activated second multi-sensory alarm at the patient alert button based on the urgency of the alert.
Across the independent claims, coverage centers on event detection with severity and urgency determination, activation of first and second multi-sensory alarms with severity- and urgency-based behavior, and a patient alert button that detects patient input and adjusts the second multi-sensory alarm based on alert urgency.
Stated Advantages
Enables override of therapy in case of misdiagnosis by providing attention-gaining alarms.
Documented Applications
Wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) use between ICD recommendation and implantation, where attention-gaining patient alarms are needed to enable override of therapy in case of misdiagnosis.
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