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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic defibrillating appartus are well known in the art. It is
recognized that when the heart of a person goes into fibrillation, a
discharge of a predetermined amount of electrical energy into the chest of
the patient may stop the fibrillation. In accordance with conventional
practice electrodes are provided which are placed on the chest of the
patient. A capacitor in the apparatus is charged until a predetermined
number of watt-seconds of energy is stored. A meter on the apparatus
indicates when this predetermined quantity of electrical energy has been
stored, and the doctor or technician may then close a switch to discharge
the capacitor into the body of the patient whereby, hopefully, to stop
fibrillation of the heart. Additional charges subsequently may be
discharged into the body of the patient if the first discharge does not
stop fibrillation. Such an electric discharge can have other beneficial
effects on a patient, such as restarting a heart which has stopped for one
reason or another.
In all previous defibrillating apparatus with which we are familiar it has
been necessary for the doctor or technician to observe a meter on the
apparatus to determine when the capacitor has charged to the requisite
extent. Thus, the doctor or technician must monitor the apparatus, while
at the same time watching the patient for various medical signs, and
simultaneously properly positioning the electrodes on the chest of the
patient.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS
In accordance with the present invention it is an object to provide
defibrillating apparatus in which indicating means is provided on the
electrodes for indicating when the capacitor has been charged to the
proper extent.
More particularly, it is an object to provide defibrillating electrodes
having neon indicator lamps thereon which glow when the capacitor has
reached the proper level.
In accordance with the present invention electrodes are provided with
handles to be grasped by the hands of the operator, there being provided
push buttons which are lighted by the neon ready-light on the handles,
whereby the operator need not visually monitor the defibrillating
apparatus, but can watch the patient and cannot miss seeing the neon
ready-lights come on. There may be neon ready-lights on each of a pair of
electrodes, with push button switches in each electrode handle. However,
it is contemplated by the present invention that there might be only one
push button switch, with both handles having neon ready-lights, or with
there being only a neon ready-light in the push button on the handle
having the switch.
It is further within the contemplation of the present invention to use
snap-in electrodes so that different sizes might be used for adults and
for children.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND DETAILED SPECIFICATION
The present invention will be understood best with reference to the
following drawings when taken in connection with the accompanying
specification, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan, somewhat schematic view of apparatus constructed in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the electrode of the
present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side view of an adult size electrode; and
FIG. 4 is a similar side view of a child size electrode.
Turning now in greater particularity to the drawings, a patient 10 is seen
lying on a suitable support 12 which may be a bed, cot, stretcher, etc.
Defibrillating apparatus is illustrated at 14, and will be understood to
be generally conventional in nature, including a rectifier circuit for
converting alternating current energy from an outlet to direct current of
suitable voltage for charging a capacitor in the apparatus. Other types of
power supplies might be used for portable equipment, and all of this is
known to those skilled in the art. Flexible leads 16 extend from the
apparatus 14 to electrodes 18 held in the hands 20 of an operator, such as
a doctor or technician, with the active elements of the electrodes pressed
against the chest of the patient 10.
As will be apparent from FIG. 1, it is substantially impossible for the
apparatus 14 to be close enough to the patient for the operator to observe
both closely at the same time. Furthermore, defibrillation or restarting
of a stopped heart must often be accomplished in the dark, or in a poorly
lit location which makes visual observation of the defibrillating
apparatus 14 difficult or impossible.
One of the electrodes 18 is shown in considerable detail in FIG. 2 and
comprises a plastic or other insulating hollow handle 22 having a
transparent or translucent push button 24 reciprocably mounted in the
upper end thereof. The top portion of the push button 24 as indicated at
26 is removable, and a neon bulb 28 is suitably mounted within the push
button, as by threading into a socket 30 with the center contact of the
bulb engaging a center contact 31 mounted below the threaded socket. The
center contact 31 is connected to a wire 32, while the socket 30 is
connected to a wire 34, the wires 34 and 32 comprising a portion of one of
the cables 16. As will be understood, the wires 32 and 34 are connected to
the opposite sides of the capacitor which is charged in the apparatus 14.
Another wire 36 in the cable 16 leads to a switch 38 having a reciprocal
plunger 40 which is spring urged upwardly, and which presses against the
underside of the push button 26 for depression thereby.
A separable portion 42 of the electrode handle mounts a metal socket 44
having a center cylindrical opening 46 having a snap ring 48 therein. The
handle portion 42 upon mounting the socket 44 may be cemented or fused in
place and need not thereafterwards be separable. The socket 44 is
connected by a wire 50 to the opposite side of the switch 38 from the wire
36.
A metallic stem 52 has an annular groove 54 therein, and is received in a
bore 56 of the handle portion 42 and also in the bore 46 of the socket 44,
the snap ring 48 snapping into the groove 54 to hold the stem 52 in place.
A metallic electrode disc 58 is fixed to the outer end of the stem 52 and
is spaced from an insulating disc 60 integral with the handle portion 42.
As may be seen by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, the disc may be relatively large
as indicated at 58 in FIG. 3, or it may be smaller as indicated at 58a in
FIG. 4. The reason for this is that there are optimum positions on the
chest of a patient for positioning of the electrode discs, and the larger
discs as in FIG. 3 are most efficient for positioning on the chest of an
adult whereas such discs could not be properly positioned on the chest of
a child without contacting one another and shorting out the discharge.
Thus, the larger disc and stem are snapped out of the handle and the
smaller disc and stem are snapped in for use with a child.
As will now be understood, when the defibrillating apparatus 14 is turned
on the capacitor will charge. When the desired charge level is reached,
corresponding to a predetermined number of watt-seconds energy, the neon
ready-lights 28 will both glow. Since they glow, they are readily seen by
the operator, such as a doctor or technician who may be watching the
patient's face for other vital signs. The operator then simply depresses
both push buttons with his thumbs, providing the patient with the
necessary direct current shock to stop fibrillation, or to restart a
stopped heart, etc. It is not necessary for the operator to take his eyes
from the face of the patient to see the lighted push buttons indicating
where his thumb should be pushed. The push buttons are discernable to
anyone in the area indicating that the capacitor is charged, and that
everyone should keep his hands away except for the operator. Furthermore,
the neon ready-lights are readily discernable in the dark, and may even
help to locate the electrodes in a poorly lit area, such perhaps as in an
ambulance, or in a combat field.
By having two duplicate electrodes, each with a push button, a certain
safety factor is introduced in that both push buttons must be depressed.
Synchronization of the depression is not important, but the second must be
depressed before the first is released. Economies of manufacture may be
obtained by utilizing only one switch, although it is preferable to retain
both neon bulbs for location of the electrodes. Obviously, the neon bulb
associated with the electrode which does not have a switch can also be
eliminated for reasons of economy but this is undesirable as it detracts
from the findability of the electrodes in a dark environment, and it
detracts from the ability of the operator properly to position the
electrodes on the chest without taking his eyes from the face of the
patient.
The specific example of the invention as herein shown and described is for
illustrative purposes. Various changes in structure will no doubt occur to
those skilled in the art, and will be understood as forming a part of the
present invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.
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