Abstract:
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus includes an automated external defibrillator including at least one display. The apparatus also includes a support mechanism for supporting the automated external defibrillator. The support mechanism includes a stand connected to a hinge that is connected to the automated external defibrillator. The hinge is capable of placing the stand in a deployed position for supporting the automated external defibrillator during operation and is capable of placing the stand in a stowed position for storing the automated external defibrillator.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/941,292, filed on Feb. 18, 2014 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates generally to a support mechanism for a portable defibrillator such as a stand for an automated external defibrillator (AED). 
     BACKGROUND 
     Sudden health problems such as sudden cardiac arrest and injuries caused by accidents kill thousands of people and cause permanent injury every year. Fast and competent care to resuscitate such victims of these problems can be essential to positive outcomes in such situations. For example, it is said that the chance of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest falls by ten percent for every minute of delay in providing effective treatment. 
     Resuscitation treatments for patients suffering from cardiac arrest generally include clearing and opening the patient&#39;s airway, providing rescue breathing for the patient, and applying chest compressions to provide blood flow to the victim&#39;s heart, brain, and other vital organs. If the patient has a shockable heart rhythm (ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia), resuscitation also may include defibrillation therapy using an AED, for example. Along with such action, an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal for the patient may be electronically captured, displayed, and monitored, so that rescuers can determine when the patient&#39;s heart has returned to normal or near-normal operation, and determine when the heart exhibits a shockable rhythm. About half of patients who suffer ventricular fibrillation (VF) have a recurrence of VF within minutes of successful VF conversion, which may then require reconversion. Patient odds of survival fall with repeated VF recurrence during resuscitation. 
     Survivability of a cardiac arrest patient may often depend being able to efficiently deploy an AED for use during an emergency. Similar to other types of emergency equipment used in these situations, reducing the time needed to deploy the equipment may factor into the successful treatment of the patient. Valuable time may be further lost as an AED is positioned in a less-than-optimum environment (e.g., harsh terrain and weather, stressful conditions, etc.), during which the emergency personnel could have been treating the patient with the AED. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, an apparatus includes an automated external defibrillator that includes at least one display. The apparatus also includes a support mechanism for supporting the automated external defibrillator. The support mechanism includes a stand connected to a hinge that is connected to the automated external defibrillator. The hinge is capable of placing the stand in a deployed position for supporting the automated external defibrillator during operation and is capable of placing the stand in a stowed position for storing the automated external defibrillator. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein a first angle is formed between the stand and the automated external defibrillator when in the deployed position. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein a second angle is formed between the stand and the automated external defibrillator when in the stowed position. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein the hinge places the stand in the deployed position absent an external force being applied to the stand. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein the hinge places the stand in the stowed position when an external force is applied to the stand. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein the stand is configured to receive the external force from a portion of a storage container. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein the hinge is spring loaded and places the stand in the stowed position absent an external forces being applied to the stand. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein the hinge is spring-loaded and places the stand in the deployed position when an external force is applied to the stand. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein the hinge is spring-loaded and places the stand in the stowed position when the apparatus is placed on its back. 
     In another aspect, an apparatus includes an automated external defibrillator including at least one display. The apparatus also includes a support mechanism for supporting the automated external defibrillator that includes a stand capable of assisting the supporting of the automated external defibrillator during operation. The support mechanism also includes a spring-loaded hinge that is connected to the stand and the automated external defibrillator. The spring-loaded hinge is capable of placing the stand in a deployed position for supporting the automated external defibrillator during operation and is also capable of placing the stand in a stowed position for storing the automated external defibrillator. The spring-loaded hinge places the stand in the deployed position absent an external force being applied to the stand. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein a first angle is formed between the stand and the automated external defibrillator when in the deployed position. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein a second angle is formed between the stand and the automated external defibrillator when in the stowed position. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle. 
     The aforementioned apparatus, wherein the spring-loaded hinge places the stand in the stowed position when the apparatus is placed on its back. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an AED stowed in an accessible wall cabinet; 
         FIG. 2( a )-( d )  illustrates the AED with a stand deployed and stowed to provide support assistance; 
         FIG. 3( a )-( c )  illustrates the deployment and stowed position of the AED stand. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  presents an AED  100  located in an accessible wall cabinet  102 . The AED  100  may be any type of automated external defibrillator from any manufacturer that is capable of being positioned in the accessible wall cabinet  102 . For example, AED  100  may be the AED Plus II®, AED Plus® or AED Pro® manufactured by ZOLL Medical Corporation of Chelmsford, Mass. The volume that contains the AED  100  within the wall cabinet  102  can generally be considered as having a rectangular box shape; however, other the storage volume shapes may be employed. In this example, the body shape of the AED  100  generally conforms to this shape of the cabinet&#39;s interior. As such, the body of the AED  100  can be considered as having a rectangular box shape. While such a conforming shape may be easily receivable by the container, this shape of the AED  100  may present disadvantages when removed for use. For example, removed from the wall cabinet  102  and deployed at an emergency scene (e.g., positioned next to a victim on a floor, the AED  100  may topple over since the device is taller (in the vertical direction) than being long or wide (in either horizontal direction). When stowed, sidewalls of the wall cabinet  102  assist to maintain the AED  100  upright, however, when deployed external from the cabinet the sidewalls can no longer help the AED remain upright. Such stability issues may become exacerbated if the AED  100  needs to be deployed in less than optimum conditions (e.g., an uneven surface, a slick surface, harsh weather conditions, etc.). Further, presentation of information by the AED  100  (e.g., from one or more incorporated displays) may be hindered if the AED is unable to maintain its operational position while a patient is being treated at an emergency situation. 
       FIG. 2( a )-( c )  presents a support mechanism that is incorporated into an AED to assist maintaining the deployed position of the AED. As illustrated in  FIG. 2( a ) , an AED  200  has been removed from being stowed in a wall container or other type of container (e.g., a shipping box, storage container, etc.) and stands substantially upright on a surface  202 . In this example, the AED is positioned off from vertical (e.g., 5°, 10°, 20°, etc.) due to a tilt provided by the support mechanism. Along with improving the positional stability, the introduced tilt may assist emergency personnel with viewing the information being presented by the AED  200 . 
     To improve the upright positional stability of the AED  200 , one or more techniques may be employed by the support mechanism. Referring to  FIG. 2( b ) , a support mechanism  204  is incorporated into the lower back portion of the AED  200 . In this example, the support mechanism  204  is connected to the AED  200  and engages a portion of the surface  202  upon which the AED  200  rests upon. Along with assisting with supporting the AED  200 , the support mechanism  204  is also moveable for attaining multiple positions (e.g., a deployed position, a stowed position, etc.). With this capability, the support mechanism  204  may be placed into a stowed position to allow the AED  200  to conform to the shape of the storage volume of a container (e.g., the wall container  102 ) and be placed into a position to help stabilize the AED  200  when deployed. The support mechanism  204  may also be placed in a stowed position based upon other conditions. For example, when laid upon its back (e.g., so the display of the AED  200  is presented upward to a viewer), the weight of the AED produces a force that causes the support mechanism  204  to retract and be placed in a stowed position. 
     The support mechanism  204  may include one or more members for performing these capabilities, for example, one or more stands may be connected to the AED  200  for engaging a variety of surface types. Further the shape, form, etc., of the support mechanism (or the included members) may be designed for providing such capabilities. For example, a support member may include telescoping portions that extend to stabilize the position of the AED and retract to conform to a container volume. 
     One or more connection techniques may also be utilized for securing the support mechanism  204  to the AED  200 . For example, one or more hinges may be included in the support mechanism for connecting to the AED  200 . 
     In some arrangements, the support mechanism may be placed into one position due to one or more forces experienced by the support mechanism. For example, the support mechanism may normally be held in one position (e.g., a deployed position) and an applied force is needed move the support mechanism into another position (e.g., a stowed position). Being naturally held in the deployed position, the support mechanism  204  may be designed to automatically return to this position if the force holding it in another position is released. For example, due to the interior shape of a container (e.g., the wall cabinet  102 ) a sidewall of the container may exert a force and hold the support mechanism of the AED in a stowed position. Upon removing the AED from the container, the force provided by the sidewall would be released and the support mechanism is allowed to return to its nature position (e.g., a deployed position). Such a force may also be provided by the AED itself. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2( c ) , placed on its back, the weight of the AED  200  causes a force to be produced that retracts the support mechanism  204  and places it into a stowed position. Lifting the AED off of its back (e.g., for upright placement), the support mechanism would return to its deployed position. One or more type of techniques may be employed for holding a support mechanism in one position (e.g., a deployed position) until a force is applied to place the support mechanism in another position (e.g., a stowed position). For example, one or more springs may be included in the support mechanism (e.g., a spring loaded hinge) that produce a force for holding the mechanism in one position (e.g., a deployed position). Similar to the use of one or more springs, other force providing mechanism may be employed. 
     For one possible arrangement,  FIG. 2( d )  shows a mechanical stand  206  included in the support mechanism  204 , which can assist the supporting of the AED  200  to maintain its upright position. In this example, the stand  206  extends from the lower back portion of the AED  200  such that a predefined angle is formed between the surface  202  and the AED. In some arrangements, this angle may be adjustable by the user or self-adjusted by the spring (e.g., for different types of surfaces, terrains, etc.). Alternatively, the angle may be fixed by the manufacturer for some types of AEDs. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3( a )-( c )  a series of images are shown in which the AED  200  has been positioned face down to demonstrate the angular range of a support mechanism.  FIG. 3( a )  presents a side view of the AED  200  lying face down on a surface. Similar to  FIG. 2( c ) , the support mechanism includes the stand  206 , although multiple stands or different types of support members may be included in the support mechanism and utilized. In  FIG. 3( a ) , the stand  206  is in a deployed position and an angle is formed between the stand and the AED  200 . In this example, a spring is used in concert with a hinge (e.g., a spring loaded hinge) to position and hold the stand  206  in the deployed position absent any force being applied external from the AED  200 . 
     In  FIG. 3( b ) , the image of the AED  200  has been rotated 90° (to provide another viewing perspective) and a finger  300  is shown applying an external force to the end of the stand  206 , thereby causing the stand to be placed into another position. As illustrated, the stand  206  is moved in a downward direction and is placed in a stowed position. Generally, the angle between the stand  206  and the AED  200  is reduced or even eliminated (e.g., the angle is reduced to 0°) by applying the force. The inner sidewall of a container (e.g., the wall container  102 ) may apply a similar force to the stand  206  and reduce the angle between the stand and the AED such that the stowed AED better conforms to the shape of the inner volume of the container. Similarly, with brief reference to  FIG. 2( c ) , placed upon its back, the weight of the AED  200  may cause a force that reduces or eliminates the angle and places (e.g., retracts) the stand  206  into a stowed position. 
     Once the external force is removed, energy stored in the spring-loaded hinge (connecting the stand  206  and the AED  200 ) returns that stand to the deployed position by expanding the angle between the stand and the AED. As illustrated in  FIG. 3( c ) , the force applied by the finger  300  is reduced and the stand  206  returns to its deployed position and the angle between the stand and AED  200  returns to its predefined value. As such, if the AED  200  is removed from a container (e.g., the wall container  102 ), the force applied by a sidewall is removed and the stand  206  relatively quickly moves into its deployed position. As such, an emergency professional can remove the AED  200  from a container and place the device in an upright and stable position on various types of surfaces. Further based upon the angular travel allowed by the spring-loaded hinge, the angle between the stand  206  and the rest of the AED  200  can adjust to the contour of the surface without excessive focus from the emergency professional. 
     In some arrangements, the support mechanism may provide other functionality. For example, operations of the AED may depend upon the position of the support mechanism, for example, the AED may not operate (e.g., turn on) unless the support mechanism is in a proper position (e.g., deployed, stowed, etc.). 
     If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be performed in a different order and/or concurrently with each other. Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the above-described functions may be optional or may be combined. 
     Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims. 
     It is also noted herein that while the above describes example embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations and modifications which may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.