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Publication Number
US-12318621-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
A wearable medical device is provided for monitoring the cardiac health of a patient, for example, for indications of cardiac anomalies, where the device includes ECG sensors in electrical contact with the patient's body, therapy electrodes for providing electrical therapy to the patient's heart, and a control unit having at least one touch control with force sensor disposed on its housing for contacting with a finger. Signals from the touch control may be analyzed to identify force application below a first force threshold and at or above a second force threshold below the first force threshold, and, responsive to detecting such application of force, user input may be registered. User inputs to the at least one touch control may be used to delay therapy by the therapy electrodes.
Core Innovation
The wearable medical device provides treatment to a patient responsive to monitoring the patient and includes a plurality of electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors configured to be in electrical communication with a body of the patient, and a plurality of therapy electrodes configured to provide electrical therapy to a heart of the patient. A control unit in communication with the ECG sensors and therapy electrodes detects, via the ECG sensors, an indication of a cardiac anomaly in the patient and provides a patient notification regarding commencement of the treatment in response to detecting the indication.
After providing the patient notification, the device monitors over a predetermined period of time signals from two or more touch controls configured to be concurrently contactable with respective fingers of the patient. The touch controls include a first touch control comprising a force sensor and a second touch control comprising a force-activated switch, and the force sensor is analyzed to identify a force value below a first threshold level of force and at or above a second threshold level of force.
The control unit analyzes a second signal from the force-activated switch to identify actuation of the force-activated switch and delays the treatment responsive to detecting actuation of the force-activated switch of the second touch control and application of the force value at the first touch control. A corresponding method monitors and provides treatment by receiving monitoring signals from the ECG sensors, detecting the cardiac anomaly, providing patient notification, then monitoring touch-control signals over the predetermined period of time using the same force-value threshold analysis and force-activated switch actuation detection to delay treatment.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims: clm-00001 and clm-00015. Across these independent claims, the inventive concept centers on ECG-derived cardiac-anomaly detection with patient notification, followed by predetermined-period monitoring of concurrently contactable touch controls that include a force sensor and a force-activated switch, where force thresholds and switch actuation cause delaying the treatment.
Wearable ECG monitoring and therapy electrodes responsive to cardiac anomaly
A wearable medical device comprising plurality of ECG sensors, plurality of therapy electrodes, and a control unit configured to detect an indication of a cardiac anomaly and provide a patient notification regarding commencement of the treatment in response to detecting the indication.
Concurrent force sensor and force-activated switch touch controls for threshold-based delay
After providing the patient notification, the control unit monitors over a predetermined period of time signals from two or more touch controls concurrently contactable with respective fingers, including a first touch control with a force sensor and a second touch control with a force-activated switch.
Force value threshold analysis and switch actuation detection
Monitoring comprises analyzing a first signal from the force sensor to identify a force value below a first threshold level of force and at or above a second threshold level of force, and analyzing a second signal from the second touch control to identify actuation of the force-activated switch.
Therapy delay responsive to coincident switch actuation and threshold-applied force
Responsive to detecting actuation of the force-activated switch of the second touch control and application of the force value at the first touch control, the control unit delays the treatment.
Both independent claims center on ECG-derived cardiac-anomaly detection with patient notification, followed by predetermined-period monitoring of concurrently contactable touch inputs that include a force sensor and a force-activated switch, where force-sensor threshold conditions and switch actuation cause delaying the treatment.
Stated Advantages
Patient notification is provided regarding commencement of the treatment before monitoring touch controls and potentially delaying treatment.
Treatment can be delayed responsive to intentional user input detected through concurrent touch-control actuation and force-threshold conditions.
Documented Applications
Providing treatment to a patient in a wearable medical device responsive to monitoring, including detecting a cardiac anomaly and providing cardiac-related electrical therapy while using touch controls to delay treatment after patient notification.
Monitoring and providing treatment using ECG sensors to detect an indication of cardiac anomaly, providing patient notification, then monitoring two or more touch controls with a force sensor and a force-activated switch to delay treatment.
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