Abstract:
A lifesaving kit is disclosed. The kit includes a body that can be attached to a cellular phone. A compartment is disposed on the body and contains an article of medical paraphernalia. The compartment has a closed condition and an open condition. An electronics system is configured to provide instructions on how to utilize the medical paraphernalia. A method of using the lifesaving kit is also disclosed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/757,761 filed Apr. 23, 2013 entitled THE GOOD SAMARITAN A DIGITAL LIFESAVING KIT, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a medical device, and more particularly to a medical kit that provides instructions to an operator on how to administer medical aid. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Emergency and medical personnel can be summoned in the United States to respond to an emergency situation by dialing “9-1-1” from any telephone. Although every effort is taken to minimize response time to the emergency situation, an appreciable amount of time may pass between the moment the initial call is made and when the emergency and medical personnel actually arrive at the scene of the emergency situation. The treatment window for certain health conditions (e.g., stroke) can be very small and it can be important to immediately administer medical aid while waiting for the emergency and medical personnel. However, the average person may not be knowledgeable about how to respond to various emergency situations. 
         [0004]    Therefore, what is needed is a system that can help the average person administer medical aid while waiting for the arrival of emergency and medical personnel. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    One aspect of the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for providing medical aid. The apparatus includes a body configured to be attached to a cellular phone. At least one compartment is disposed on the body and contains at least one article of medical paraphernalia. The at least one compartment has a closed condition and an open condition. An electronics system is configured to provide instructions on how to utilize the at least one article of medical paraphernalia. 
         [0006]    Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for providing medical aid. The method includes the step of providing a kit that is attachable to a cellular phone and includes an article of medical paraphernalia stored in a compartment. The kit further includes an electronics system that is configured to provide instructions on how to utilize the at least one article of medical paraphernalia. The method further includes the steps of identifying a medical emergency, contacting emergency services, activating the kit, retrieving the article of medical paraphernalia from the compartment, providing instructions through the electronics system, and administering medical aid by following the instructions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a lifesaving kit constructed in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a view of the kit of  FIG. 1  mounted to a cellular phone; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a view of the kit of  FIG. 1  with compartments open to show the contents contained therein; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a detail view of part of the kit of  FIG. 1  focusing on a single compartment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a plastic mouth guard in a folded condition; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the plastic mouth guard of  FIG. 5  in an unfolded condition; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a view of the plastic mouth guard of  FIG. 5  being used on a patient; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of electrical components of the kit of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a flow diagram showing a method of using the kit of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Definitions 
         [0018]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. 
         [0019]    In the context of the present disclosure, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” can include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” as used herein, can specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0020]    As used herein, the term “and/or” can include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
         [0021]    As used herein, phrases such as “between X and Y” and “between about X and Y” can be interpreted to include X and Y. 
         [0022]    As used herein, phrases such as “between about X and Y” can mean “between about X and about Y.” 
         [0023]    As used herein, phrases such as “from about X to Y” can mean “from about X to about Y.” 
         [0024]    It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on,” “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting,” etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly on,” “directly attached” to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature. 
         [0025]    Spatially relative terms, such as “under,” “below,” “lower,” “over,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms can encompass different orientations of the apparatus in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the apparatus in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. 
         [0026]    It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a “first” element discussed below could also be termed a “second” element without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. The sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the claims or figures unless specifically indicated otherwise. 
       System 
       [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  a lifesaving kit  100  according to one example embodiment is shown. The kit  100  includes a substantially rectangular shaped body  102  with five compartments  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 . In one aspect, the body  102  is adapted to be secured to an external surface of a cellular phone  50  (see  FIG. 2 ). However, it will be appreciated that the body  102  can be integrally formed into the external case of the cellular phone. The  102  body can be any other suitable shape, although it is preferable for the body  102  to substantially mimic the overall shape of the cellular phone  50  so as to avoid adding unnecessary bulk to the cellular phone  50 . 
         [0028]    The five compartments  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the body  102 . Each of the compartments  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  is substantially cuboid shaped and extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. It will be appreciated that fewer or greater compartments can be provided. Additionally, it will be appreciated that each compartment can have any other suitable shape that allows the compartment to contain desired medical paraphernalia. The compartments can be replaceable such that each compartment can be removed from the body  102  and replaced with a new compartment once the contents of the original compartment has been used. Each of the compartments  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  is provided with a cover  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122  that selectively closes the respective compartment. In the example embodiment each of the covers  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122  is pivotably attached to the body  102 . However, the covers can have any other suitable connection mechanism that allows for closure of the respective compartment. For example, the covers can be slidably attached to the body, be manufactured out of a frangible material that allows the cover to be broken, or be connected by perforations that allow the entire cover to be detached from the body. The medical paraphernalia can be pivotably attached to the body for movement between an undeployed condition and a deployed condition, as is the case with the epinephrine pen (discussed below). Each of the covers  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122  is provided with indicia  124  that identify the contents of the respective compartment  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 . The indicia  124  can be words, letters, numbers, symbols, or any other suitable marking. 
         [0029]    Each of the compartments  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  contain medical paraphernalia that can be used to administer medical aid to a patient experiencing a medical emergency. In the example embodiment the first compartment  104  contains a disposable plastic mouth guard  126  that can be used when performing the cardiopulmonary resuscitation technique. The second compartment  106  contains aspirin  128  that can be given to a patient that is showing signs of a suspected stroke or heart attack. The third compartment  108  contains glucose packets  130  that can be given to a patient that is showing signs of low glucose levels. The fourth compartment  110  is provided for storing any personal medications  132 , vitamins, etc. that are taken by the owner of the cellular phone  50  to which the lifesaving kit  100  is attached. The fifth compartment  112  stores an epinephrine pen  134  that can be used on a patient showing signs of an allergic reaction that compromises the air pathway. The epinephrine pen  134  is pivotably attached to the body  102  for pivotable movement between an undeployed condition ( FIG. 1 ) and a deployed condition ( FIG. 3 ). In the undeployed condition the epinephrine pen  132  is positioned such that there exists no chance of the epinephrine pen being administered (i.e., the needle of the epinephrine pen is covered). In the deployed condition the epinephrine pen  132  is positioned such that the epinephrine pen can be administered (i.e., the needle of the epinephrine pen is exposed). Each of the compartments  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  can be provided with sensors  136  (see  FIG. 8 ) that sense when a particular compartment is opened. Although the example embodiment is arranged for the compartments to contain a mouth guard, aspirin, glucose packets, and an epinephrine pen, it will be appreciated that the compartments can be stocked with any other desired medical paraphernalia. 
         [0030]    The body  102  is further provided with a power button  138  and a speaker  140 . The power button  138  is arranged to conceal the speaker  140  when the kit  100  is inactive. The power button  138  can be depressed to actuate the lifesaving kit  100  to provide instructions on how to administer aid once one of the compartments  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  is opened by an operator. The power button  138  is configured such that depressing the power button  138  causes the power button  138  to move relative to the body  102  to reveal the speaker  140 . It will be appreciated that the power button  138  can be provided adjacent to the speaker  140  such that the speaker  140  is always revealed. Additionally, it will be appreciated that the speaker  140  can be replaced with a display that shows written text, pictographs, etc. that instruct an operator how to administer aid. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , various electrical components of the lifesaving kit  100  are schematically shown. Additionally, communication between various electrical components of the kit  100 , as well as the communication between the kit  100  and the cellular phone  50  is also schematically shown. The lifesaving kit  100  includes instructions that are saved on an electronic memory  142 . The instructions relate to using the contents of the compartments  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  to administer aid to a patient suffering from a medical emergency. A central processing unit  144  is in communication with the electronic memory  142 . The central processing unit  144  retrieves a particular set of instructions from the electronic memory  142  based on which of the compartments  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  is opened as determined by the sensors  136 . The central processing  144  unit relays the instructions to the speaker  140 . The speaker  140  transforms the instructions into a corresponding auditory instruction that can be heard by an operator. The kit  100  includes a power source  146  that provides electrical power to the electrical components. A communication line  148  is provided for providing communication between the lifesaving kit  100  and the cellular phone  50 . The communication line  148  can be a hard line connection or a wireless connection. The lifesaving kit  100  can also include a programmable alarm  149  that provides an hourly, daily, etc. reminder of when to take the personal medications  132  stored in the fourth compartment  110 . It will be appreciated that other electrical arrangements can be provided. For example, the lifesaving kit  100  can be arranged such that power source of the cellular phone provides electrical power to the lifesaving kit  100 . As another example, the lifesaving kit  100  can be arranged such that the lifesaving kit uses the speaker of the cellular phone to provide the auditory instructions to the operator. As yet another example, the lifesaving kit  100  can be arranged such that the instructions are stored on the electronic memory of the cellular phone. As yet even another example, the lifesaving kit  100  can be arranged such that the instructions are retrieved from the Internet upon activation of the kit. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the disposable plastic mouth guard  126  provided in the first compartment  104  is shown. The mouth guard  126  has a folded configuration ( FIG. 5 ) and an unfolded configuration ( FIG. 6 ). The mouth guard  126  is provided with a plurality of centrally located apertures  127 . In use, the mouth guard  126  is removed from the first compartment  104  and manipulated to the unfolded configuration. Then, the unfolded mouth guard  126  is placed flat against the mouth of the patient requiring CPR such that the apertures  127  are aligned with the mouth of the CPR recipient. CPR can then be administered. The arrangement of the mouth guard  126  prevents direct skin to skin contact while still allowing air to pass from the person administering CPR to the patient receiving CPR via the apertures  127 . 
       Method of Use 
       [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a flow diagram explaining one exemplary use of the lifesaving kit is shown. At step  902  a medical emergency situation arises. For the purposes of this explanation, the medical emergency will be a patient who requires CPR due to drowning. At step  904 , an operator contacts emergency services by dialing “9-1-1” or other appropriate emergency telephone number. At step  906 , the operator activates the lifesaving kit by depressing the power button. At step  908 , the operator opens the compartment that is appropriate for the medical emergency situation that has occurred. In the current example, the operator opens the first compartment  104  and retrieves the mouth guard  126 . At step  910 , the lifesaving kit provides verbal instructions via the speaker  140  on how to administer aid using the medical paraphernalia removed from the compartment based on which compartment has been opened by the operator. At step  912 , the operator administers aid as instructed by the lifesaving kit  100  until emergency services arrive. 
         [0034]    Although the above described use of the lifesaving kit is in regard to using the mouth guard to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, it is understood that a substantially similar process can be used to administer aid using one of the four other compartments, albeit with slight modifications. For example, if the medical emergency at step  902  is a stroke, then at step  908  the user will open the second compartment  106  and remove the aspirin contained therein. Then, at step  910 , the lifesaving kit provides verbal instructions via the speaker on how to administer aid to the person suffering the stroke. 
         [0035]    From the above description of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. For example, the lifesaving kit can include an interface that allows an operator to specifically select the type of medical emergency encountered instead of relying on the opening of a particular compartment and the sensors. As another example, the lifesaving kit can include an interface that provides the estimated time until emergency services arrive. As yet another example, the lifesaving kit can be provided with a GPS tracker that assists the medical personnel in determining the precise location of the patient. Such improvements, changes, and modifications are within the skill of the art and are intended to be covered by the appended claims. All patents and patent applications identified herein are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.