Patent ID: 6088616
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A method of monitoring and altering an operating parameter of an automated external defibrillator (AED) in the field, the AED being designed for performing a rescue intervention on a patient and having a case for housing a power supply, the power supply being electrically connected to a microprocessor and a circuit for generating a defibrillation pulse, the circuit being electrically connectable to a pair of electrodes that are applied to the patient to deliver the defibrillation pulse to the patient, the AED further having an internal program memory and a circuitry to monitor the patient's heart rhythm to determine whether the patient's heart is undergoing a shockable rhythm, said internal program memory and said circuitry to monitor the patient's heart rhythm in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the method comprising:communicatively coupling an exterior computer comprising an information storage medium to the microprocessor of the AED in the field, the computer and the information storage medium being disposed operationally exterior to said case and being selectively communicatively couplable to the microprocessor of the AED;initiating a program installed in the information storage medium;monitoring the operating parameter stored in a microprocessor program; andaltering the operating parameter as desired.