Limiting acceleration of a medical device dropped to the location of an emergency medical event

Inventors

Giacometti, Paolo • Butler, Gideon • Reilly, George

Assignees

Zoll Medical Corp

Abstract

In an illustrative embodiment, systems and apparatus for limiting acceleration of medical equipment dropped to a location of an emergency medical event include one or more protection elements for protecting the medical equipment against impact forces that may damage the equipment. The protection elements may include one or more elements configured to reduce acceleration of the medical equipment while dropping to the location. The protection elements may include one or more elements configured to absorb impact forces to reduce the forces realized by the medical equipment. The medical equipment may be dropped to the location by an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an apparatus for limiting force of impact on a medical device dropped to a location of an emergency medical event. The apparatus includes an external case at least partially surrounding or integrated with the medical device, and a plurality of impact dampening elements coupled to the external case, configured to transform from a deflated state to an inflated state while the medical device is dropped to the location.

In the deflated state, the plurality of impact dampening elements is in a compact form, and in the inflated state the plurality of impact dampening elements expands to buffer the force acting on the medical device upon impact at the location. The transformation to the inflated state includes analyzing one or more sensor signals to identify a downward pointing side of the external case, and selectively inflating a portion of the plurality of impact dampening elements corresponding to the downward pointing side.

The invention further includes transforming the at least one impact dampening element by holding a pull cord when dropping the medical device to the location. The pull cord is configured to activate inflation of the at least one impact dampening element and to release from the external case when pulled. Processing circuitry can monitor sensor signals including g-force sensor signals and can activate inflation upon detecting at least a threshold g-force, and a failure state defaults to inflating all airbags.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provided includes two independent claims, each covering an apparatus for limiting impact on a dropped medical device in an emergency medical event, with multiple impact dampening elements that inflate from a compact state, and selective inflation based on identification of a downward side of an external case. Across the independent claims and noted dependent refinements, the claim set emphasizes sensor-signal analysis for directionality, and activation mechanisms including pull-cord release. Main inventive features are extracted below for each independent claim.

Taken together, the independent claims are directed to impact-force limiting for a dropped medical device using an external case and impact dampening elements that inflate from a compact deflated state to an inflated buffering state during the drop. Both independent claims require selective inflation based on identifying a downward pointing side from sensor signals, and one independent claim further requires pull-cord activation and release.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications