Patent ID: 6108578
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
An external defibrillator, comprising:a power supply;electrodes coupled to the power supply and operable to deliver a defibrillating shock to a patient;electronic circuitry coupled to the electrodes and operable to measure parameters of the patient's heart rhythm via the electrodes; andcontrol circuitry coupled to the electronic circuitry and the power supply and operable to determine whether the patient's heart rhythm is shockable based on the measured parameters and to arm the power supply for energizing the electrodes if the patient's heart rhythm is shockable, the control circuitry being configurable for a device-use condition by adjustment of one of the following variables:the absolute contribution of one of the parameters to the heart-rhythm determination,the predetermined value to which one of the parameters is compared during the heart-rhythm determination, orthe relative contribution of one of the parameters to the heart-rhythm determination with respect to the contribution of another of the parameters to the heart-rhythm determination.