Defibrillator with retractable cable

An apparatus for using automatically retractable cables with a defibrillator. The Apparatus provides (a) a defibrillator comprising a power source electrically connected between a first wire and a second wire; and (b) an automatic rotatable housing automatically retracting the first wire and the second wire wound around the rotatable housing. A circular spring can also be used to exert rotational force on the rotatable housing and connect the cables to the power source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to using a circular housing with a retractable cable for use with a defibrillator. Using such a housing provides a more convenient way for operators of defibrillators to utilize the cables as well as store the cables when operation is complete.

2. Description of the Related Art

Current defibrillators utilize cables in order to apply electric energy to a shock a patient's heart and monitors a patient's vital signs. Typically these cables are stored in a pouch, which means that the operator must manually collect the cable when operation is complete and place the cable in some type of collection device on the defibrillator, such as an internal pouch. This procedure is conducive to tangling of the cables, which can also cause damage to the cables.

Therefore, what is needed is an easy, neat, and non-damaging way for an operator of a defibrillator to extract the defibrillator cables from a defibrillator and replace them when operation of the defibrillator is completed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an improved defibrillator, which allows for easy application and retraction of the defibrillator cables.

It is another aspect of the present invention to use circular spring(s) to power defibrillator cables, providing a more reliable apparatus.

The above aspects can be attained by a system that provides a defibrillator comprising a defibrillator comprising a power source providing an electrical current between a first wire and a second wire; and first circular rotatable housing connected to the defibrillator and automatically receiving the first wire wound around the first circular rotatable housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides for a defibrillator which implements an automatically retractable cable in a circular housing, allowing an operator to automatically retract the cable when operation of the defibrillator is complete by pressing a button on a braking device.

Other retractable cable devices (not used with defibrillators, but for example vacuum cleaners), have numerous disadvantages. One such device may operate by manually winding an electrical cable with an electrical outlet plug at one end around a hook type device. The cable consists of two twisted wires, and the ends of each wire (at the opposite end than the plug) are connected to a disc in the middle of the housing. The outside of the disc contains two electrical conductive grooves or tracks, one connected to each wire. Two “runners” on the outside of the disc contact each groove (or track) and connect to terminals inside the device receiving the power from the electrical outlet. In this way, the cable can be pulled, the disc can rotate, and the runners on the outside of the disc remain in contact with the wires, which receive power from the plug.

However, the type of devices described above have numerous disadvantages. These devices contain moving parts, which can wear on the contacts. Also the runners may over use become misaligned from the grooves, providing no power to the device at all. Also, either the track or runner may wear over time. If the wearing is sufficient, then power again may not be provided across this track/runner junction to the paddles. When using a life-saving device such as a defibrillator, there is no room for a malfunctioning device.

In order to improve deficiencies in the above described devices, the present invention uses a spring-loaded apparatus utilizing a circular spring in order to provide an improved and more reliable device.

FIG. 1illustrates a circular housing for a retractable cable, in one embodiment of the present invention.

A circular housing100is used to receive a cable (not illustrated). A receiving unit102receives the cable wound around the receiving unit102.

FIG. 2illustrates a cable used for a defibrillator, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The cable200comprises a first wire202and a second wire204. A first portion206of the first wire202and a first portion208of the second wire202are fused or clamped together, even though both wires are insulated. A second portion210of the first wire202and a second portion212of the second wire204are separate. The first wire202and second wire204carry opposite charges to be applied to a patients chest. These portions are separate so that a first paddle214and a second paddle216can be applied at different parts of the patient's chest. The length of the first portion of the first wire, the first portion of the second wire, the second portion of the first wire, and the second portion of the second wire can all be set arbitrarily, although typically the length of the first portions of both wires are equal, and typically the length of the second portions of both wires are equal.

FIG. 3illustrates a circular housing for a retractable cable, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

A circular housing300comprises a first circular spring302. As stated above, a cable (not pictured) comprises a first wire (not pictured) and a second wire (not pictured). The cable wraps around the circular housing300and into a receiving unit304. A first end306of the circular spring302is located in the middle310of the circular housing300. A second end (not pictured) of the circular spring302is connected through a hole (not pictured) in the circular housing300to an end of the first wire (not pictured).

When the cable is pulled, the circular housing300rotates in a first direction, which causes the first circular spring302to store energy. When the cable is released, the stored energy in the first circular spring302causes the circular housing300to rotate in an opposite direction, pulling the cable towards the circular housing300and winding the cable around the circular housing300. A first cap314attaches into a middle310of the circular housing300, keeping the first end306of the circular spring302in the middle310of the circular housing300. The first cap314can be attached in any conventional way, for example snapping onto a receiving part, or by using an adhesive.

A first electrical connector (not pictured) connects the first end306of the circular spring302to a first terminal on a power source (not pictured). In this way, the power source is connected to the first wire through the first circular spring302. If this circular spring is considered as a typical tape measure with the tape wound-up inside its housing, then there are two ends to the tape measure: one that is at the outer edge of the housing and one that remains in the center of the housing. When the tape measure is in its rolled up position, there is also a distinct top and bottom face to the tape. Unlike the tape measure, the circular spring of the present invention is not pulled out of its housing. Instead, the end of the circular spring that is at the center is allowed to expand and contract slightly when our cable is extracted and retracted. This occurs because this end of the circular spring is attached to the center of the plastic housing that holds the paddle cables and thus rotates when the cables are extracted. This rotation results in the expansion and contraction of the circular spring.

Power to one paddle through the plastic housing is provided by connecting a copper wire from the end of the spring that remains at the center of the device to the paddle cable which is wrapped up in the housing. This copper wire could be either fused or clamped along the bottom portion of this spring end. Since this end of the spring is also attached to the center of the plastic housing, the copper wire connecting the paddle cable and this end of the spring does not twist when the cable is extracted. This is on account that all of the above pieces (cable, housing, wire and this end of the spring) rotate as one when the cable is extracted.

Power to the defibrillator through the plastic housing would use the opposite end of the spring, which is further away from the center of the device. A separate copper wire would be clamped or fused to this end of the spring and would protrude out from the top face of the spring. Since this portion of the spring is attached to stationary plastic cap and thus does not rotate, this copper wire can directly extend out of the top face of the cap and to the defibrillator.

The second paddle, cables, and spring mechanism would be setup similarly, but only on the other side of the plastic housing. The two paddle cables would wind up along the center of the mechanism and in between the two circular springs. Both springs are, thus, used to retract these two paddle cables. For ease of storage, these two paddle cables could be molded into one cable, but the wires would still have to be insulated from each other.

While not pictured, on an opposite side of the circular housing300, a second circular spring is present which operates in the same manner as the first circular spring302the second circular spring connects the second wire to a second terminal on the power source.

Since the first wire and the second wire are attached at first portions of these wires, having two springs increases the force applied to the cable (or first wire and second wire) when they are retracted.

Both springs are insulated from each other, and a divider can be used to separate the springs from each other. The divider can be the circular housing300which holds the wrapped cables.

Any conventional braking device318can be used to allow the cable (first wire and second wire) to be pulled outward from the circular housing300, but not automatically retracted in the reverse direction. A button on the braking device (not pictured) is pressed, which releases a locking mechanism and allows the circular springs to automatically retract the cable.

One implementation of a braking device can be implemented by using a tear-shaped plastic or rubber stopper, which is in constant contact with the plastic housing which rotates when the cables are extracted or retracted. This stopper is spring-loaded into position from the plastic housing and allows the housing to easily rotate in the extraction direction. Because of its tear like shape, rotation in the retraction direction is much more difficult until a button is pushed to release the spring. The stopper is then released from the housing and the circular springs are allowed to retract the cables.

The stopper is typically pressed by a spring, which restricts the housing from rotating in the retraction direction. When the spring is released by pressing of the button (or any other release mechanism), the stopper is released, allowing the circular springs to retract the cables.

FIG. 4illustrates a defibrillator with a retractable cable, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Left cable401and right cable403are wrapped around the rotatable housing405. Left cable401and right cable403are used to apply a charge to paddles407and409, respectively Note left cable401and right cable403are insulatedly fused together except at two parts. The first part where the left cable401and right cable403are separated is at a breaking point402of the left cable401and right cable403so that the left paddle407and right paddle409can be separated. The second part where the left cable401and the right cable403are separated is an opposite end of the breaking point402so the left cable401can be connected to a different location than the right cable403(to be discussed below).

A left circular spring411is housed in a left housing413. The left circular spring serves two purposes. One purpose is to apply a rotational force to the rotatable housing405so that the rotatable housing405automatically retracts (when a braking mechanism, not illustrated inFIG. 4, is not applied). Another purpose of the left circular spring411is to electrically connect left cable401with a power source416in the defibrillator414.

The left cable401runs through an opening415in the rotatable housing405, through a left cap417, and electrically connects to the left circular spring411. The left cap417typically connects the rotatable housing405to the left spring housing413and rotates with a center of the left circular spring411. The left circular spring411contains a bottom opening419so that the left cable401can connect to the power source416.

A right circular spring421is housed in a right housing423. The right circular spring421serves the same purpose as the left circular spring411. The right cable403runs through an opening425in the rotatable housing405, through a right cap427, and electrically connects to the right circular spring421. The right cap427typically connects the rotatable housing405to the right spring housing423and rotates with a center of the right circular spring421. The right circular spring421contains a bottom opening430so that the right cable403can connect to the power source416.

The rotatable housing405rotates with the left cap417and the right cap427when then left cable401and/or the right cable403is pulled, winding both the left circular spring411and the right circular spring421. Note that due to the nature of circular springs, their centers will rotate while their outsides will typically stay stationary. Outsides (i.e. an end point or a perimeter) of the left circular spring411and the right circular spring421may also be physically attached to a bottom of each respective housing, fixing the outsides of the springs411,421into place. Thus a center of both circular springs411,421is able to rotate with the caps417,427and the rotatable housing406, while an end portion (or perimeter) of the circular springs411,421is able to remain stationary. Note the left housing413and the right housing423remains stationary. Left housing413and right housing423is mounted onto the defibrillator414. For example, the left housing413and the right housing423can be snapped or screwed onto the defibrillator414. Note that of course left cable401and right cable403, and all of their respective electrical connections, remain insulated from each as to not short circuit the electrical potential between paddles407,409.

This configuration allows the power source416of the defibrillator414to power the paddles407,409using circular springs411,421. This provides more a more reliable system, since no runners or grooves are required which can become worn and bent. The problem of misalignment of the conducting apparatus is solved. Using a rotatable housing with a defibrillator is also is beneficial over the prior art in that no manual collection of the cables is required.

Other variations of the invention including using only one circular spring instead of two, and connecting the remaining defibrillation cable by conventional methods.