Patent ID: 12257205

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As disclosed herein, examples are directed preventing infections in non-sterile air-circulating medical devices. Examples are directed to different configurations that may be used to either prevent or reduce a risk of a device from being contaminated with pathogens during operation.

FIG.1is a front view of the CPR device100ofFIG.1, also showing a representation of a patient101within the CPR device100. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, the mechanical CPR device100may include additional components not shown inFIG.1. As illustrated inFIG.1, a CPR device100may include a support structure102and a central unit103, which may also be referred to herein as a hood. The support structure102may include a support leg104and a base member105. The support leg104and the base member105meet at a junction106between the support leg104and the base member105.

The central unit103may be configured to deliver CPR chest compressions to the patient101. The central103may include, for example, a motor-driven piston121configured to contact the patient's chest to provide the CPR chest compressions. Examples of the disclosure, however, are not limited to a motor-driven piston121, and a compression mechanism may include compression arms, such as one or more rigid or semi-rigid arms and/or a compression element and belt combination. The central unit103may also include a number of electronic components to drive the motor-driven piston121or any other type of chest compression mechanism used.

The base member, or back plate,105may be configured to be placed underneath the patient101, for example when the patient101is lying on the patient's back.

The support leg104may be configured to support central unit103at a distance from the base member105. For example, if the base member105is underneath the patient101, who is lying on the patient's back, then the support leg104may support the central unit103at a sufficient distance over the base member105to allow the patient101to lay within a space between the base member105and the central unit103, while positioning the central unit103over the patient's chest.

FIG.2illustrates a block diagram of the central unit103. The central unit103may include, a number of different components, such as a chest compression mechanism200, an electric motor202, a controller204, a communication unit206, a battery charger208, a battery210, a user control panel212, a speaker214, and a fan216. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, many other types of components may also be included in the central unit103.

The controller204may be in electrical communication with the chest compression mechanism200. The chest compression mechanism200may include a driver configured to drive the compression mechanism200to cause the compression mechanism200to perform compressions to a chest of patient. The controller204provides instructions to the chest compression mechanism200to operate the chest compression mechanism200at a number of different rates, depths, heights, and duty cycles.

The controller204may include a processor, which may be implemented as any processing circuitry, such as, but not limited to, a microprocessor, an application specific integration circuit (ASIC), programmable logic circuits, etc. The controller204may further include a memory coupled with the processor. Memory can include a non-transitory storage medium that includes programs configured to be read by the processor and be executed upon reading. The processor is configured to execute instructions from memory and may perform any methods and/or associated operations indicated by such instructions. Memory may be implemented as processor cache, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), solid state memory, hard disk drive(s), and/or any other memory type. Memory acts as a medium for storing data, such as event data, patient data, etc., computer program products, and other instructions.

Controller204may further include a communication module128. Communication module128may transmit data to a post-processing module130. Alternately, data may also be transferred via removable storage such as a flash drive. While in module130, data can be used in post-event analysis. Such analysis may reveal how the CPR machine was used, whether it was used properly, and to find ways to improve future sessions, etc.

Communication unit206may further communicate with other devices. Communication between communication unit206and other device could be direct, or relayed through a tablet or a monitor-defibrillator.

The controller204may be located separately from the chest compression mechanism200and may communicate with the chest compression mechanism200through a wired or wireless connection134. The controller204also electrically communicates with a user control panel212. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, the controller204may also be in electronic communication with a variety of other devices, such as, but not limited to, another communication device, another medical device, etc.

The chest compression mechanism200may include one or more sensors configured to transmit information to controller204. For example, chest compression mechanism200can include a physiological parameter sensor for sensing a physiological parameter of a patient and to output a physiological parameter sensor signal that is indicative of a dynamic value of the parameter. The physiological parameter can be an Arterial Systolic Blood Pressure (ABSP), a blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), a ventilation measured as End-Tidal CO2 (ETCO2), a temperature, a detected pulse, etc. In addition, this parameter can be what is detected by defibrillator electrodes that may be attached to patient, such as ECG and impedance.

Operations of the mechanical CPR device100may be effectuated through the user control panel212. The user control panel212may be external to or integrated with a display. For example, in some examples, the user control panel212may include physical buttons located on the CPR device100, while in other examples, the user control panel212may be a touch-sensitive feature of a display. The user control panel212may be located on the mechanical CPR device100, or may be located on a remote device, such as a smartphone, tablet, PDA, and the like, and is also in electronic communication with the controller204.

During a CPR session of compressions, controller204can generate or receive an instruction (either pre-programmed or customized based on any parameters or other data) to drive the compression mechanism200to administer a chest compression. All of the electrical components of the CPR device100can generate heat as they CPR device100operates. To reduce the internal temperature of the central unit103, the central unit103can also include an air intake218and an exhaust220. The fan216turns on when an internal temperature of the central unit103reaches a first pre-determined temperature, such as, but not limited to, 40 degrees Celsius and can stop when the internal temperature is below a second pre-determined temperature, such as, but not limited to, 30 degrees Celsius. The fan216can pull air in from the atmosphere through the air intake218. The air can circulate through the central unit103and can exit the central unit103through the exhaust220.

As mentioned above, however, this air may be contaminated and may contain pathogens. As the air exits through the exhaust220, the infected air may be dispersed into the atmosphere and infect people surrounding the CPR device, such as a caregiver. While CPR device100is illustrated inFIGS.1and2, examples of the disclosure are not limited to this particular CPR device and may be used with any CPR device that includes an air intake218and an exhaust220for cooling electronics.

In some examples, as illustrated inFIGS.3and4, an air deflector device300may be included with the CPR device100. The air deflector device300can attach to the support structure102. As illustrated inFIG.3, the air deflector device can have a “C” shape and may attach to one side of the CPR device100along the support structure102. The air deflector device300can block air from the attached side of the support structure from entering the air intake218. While a “C” shape air deflector device300is shown inFIG.3, the air deflector device300can be any shape that can attached to a support structure102of the CPR device100.

The air deflector device300can have an air intake path302and an exhaust path304. The air intake path302and the exhaust path304can define an opening306which can accommodate a plunger308of the chest compression mechanism200. The opening306can allow the plunger to operate without interference from the air deflector device. The edges310of the air deflector device300may protrude upwards, such as perpendicular from a surface, to prevent air in the air intake path302from mixing with the air in the exhaust path304.

The air deflector device300can attach to the support mechanism to direct air from the air intake path302and the exhaust path304away from a head of a patient. That is, the air intake path302and the exhaust path304are directed toward the feet of a patient. In some examples, the air deflector device300may also be angled or otherwise tilted in a downward direction.

The air deflector device300can prevent or reduce potentially contaminated air from a patient from entering the central unit103through the air intake218.

The air deflector device300may be permanently attached and integrated with the CPR device100in some examples. In other examples, the air deflector device300may be removable from the CPR device100and either be cleaned or disposed after use.

In some examples, rather than an air deflector device, the CPR device100may attach to one or more hoses, tubing, or other conduit to receive air and/or exhaust air in or from the central unit103away from a rescue scene. For example, in some examples, as illustrate inFIG.5, a hose500may be connected to the air intake218and/or the exhaust220. The hose500may connect to the air intake218and/or the exhaust220using any known connection means, such as any known tube or pipe fitting, threaded means, etc.

WhileFIG.5illustrates a hose500connected to both the air intake218and the exhaust220, examples of the disclosure are not limited to this configuration. The hose500may be connected to only one of the air intake218or the exhaust220in some configurations.

For example, the CPR device100may be used in an ambulance while transporting a patient. A hose500may be connected to the exhaust220and be placed outside a window of the ambulance, so air exhausted from the CPR device100is exhausted outside the ambulance. Alternatively or additionally, a hose500may be connected to the air intake218and the opposite end out a window, such as a window opposite the hose500if connected to the exhaust220. Then air from outside the ambulance may be used to cool the electronics in the central unit103and may be exhausted either outside the ambulance or within the ambulance itself.

Since the air is directed into the central unit103from outside the ambulance, then any pathogens within the air of the ambulance are not drawn into the central unit103. The use of the CPR device100with one or more hoses500attached is not limited to an ambulance environment. Such an example may also be implemented in a medical facility and the hoses500may either be connected to a venting system or clean air system in the facility to either eject air to or receive air from.

Additionally or alternatively to the examples discussed above with respect toFIGS.1-5, in some examples, the interior of the central unit103may include one or more disinfectant devices600. The disinfectant device600may be included anywhere within the central unit103, but for ease of discussion and illustration, is shown inFIG.6to be located near the exhaust220. The disinfectant device600, however, may be placed anywhere in the air flow path of the central unit103, including near the fan216or the air intake218. That is, the disinfectant device600may disinfect the air prior to entering the airflow path of the central unit103through the air intake218, prior to exiting the central unit103through the exhaust220, and/or anywhere else in the air flow path of the central unit103.

The disinfectant device600may be any device that can disinfect and/or filter the air to remove pathogens. For example, in some configurations, the disinfectant device600may be a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This filter may filter out pathogens in the air path so they are not sent out into the atmosphere around the CPR device100.

The disinfectant device600may be an ultra-violet (UV) light or infrared (IR) radiator that can disinfect the interior of the central unit103, as well as the air within the central unit103, in some configurations. In some configurations, multiple disinfectant devices600of different or same types may be provided in the central unit103.

In some configuration, an interior or airflow path of the central unit103may be lined with an antibacterial surface, such as silver, copper, etc. This may be in addition or alternative to the various examples provided above. In other configurations, the entire central unit103may be released from the support legs104and replaced with a new, clean central unit103after each use. The old central unit103may be stored for an extended period of time to disinfect or may be cleaned with disinfectant.

Additionally or alternatively to the examples discussed above, the central unit103may also include a detection device602, such as an optical sensing device, which may monitor either the intake and/or exhaust air quality. The detection device602can be coupled to the controller204. If the detection device602detects that the intake and/or exhaust air quality does not predetermined requirements, then the detection device602can output a signal to the controller204which can further generate a signal to alert the caregiver that the central unit103has been contaminated, either through the speaker214or a connected display device.

Examples of the disclosure are not limited to a CPR device, as shown inFIG.1. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, the examples discussed above may be implemented in any medical device which circulates air. Other medical devices can be a defibrillator, a monitor, a monitor-defibrillator, a ventilator, a capnography device, or any other medical device. Each of these medical devices may have electronic devices that require cooling. Any of the examples discussed above may be included in or with the medical device to prevent a caregiver or patient from potentially inhaling or otherwise being exposed to contaminated air or fluids.

In some examples, a cleanable and/or removable cooling system may be provided to prevent contaminated fluids from entering a medical device.FIG.7is a block diagram of a medical device700which includes a cooling device702, which may be removable in some configurations. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, the medical device700may include additional components not shown inFIG.7, such as various ports, displays, user inputs, etc. The medical device700can be any medical device that has electronic components, such as, but not limited to, a CPR device, a defibrillator, a monitor, a monitor-defibrillator, a ventilator, a capnography device, or any other medical device.

The medical device700includes an interior having one or more electronic components704which are coupled to a hot plate706. The hot plate706can then abut or connect to a cooling device702which is separated and sealed off from the interior of the medical device700including the one or more electrical components. During operation of the medical device700, as the one or more electrical components become heated, the heat may transfer to hot plate706, which can then be cooled by the cooling device702. The interior of the medical device700can be sealed from the cooling device702.

After use, the cooling device702can be cleaned to remove any pathogens and/or removed and replaced with a new cooling device702for the next use. In such an example, the interior of the medical device700housing the electrical components is not contaminated during use of the medical device700, since the interior is sealed from any sort of pathogens.

FIG.8illustrates an example of a cooling device702which may be included with or otherwise attached to a medical device700. The cooling device may snap on or attach in other ways, such as by screws, to the medical device700so that the cooling device702abuts the hot plate706.

The cooling device702include an air flow path that has an air intake800and an exhaust802. The air flow path may also include a fan804that can begin to circulate air once an internal temperature of the interior of the medical device700reaches a first predetermined temperature. The fan804may turn off when the internal temperature of the interior of the medical device700is below a second predetermined temperature, similar to the fan216discussed above. The air flow path may also include a heat sink806which can transfer heat from the hot plate706to a fluid medium, which in the example shown inFIG.8would be air, where the heat is dissipated away from the medical device700. The heat sink806may include a number of fins808, which are plates which extend perpendicular to a face of the cooling device700. Air or other fluid can flow through the fins808to transfer the heat from the one or more electrical components away from the medical device700.

The fan804included in the cooling device702may be a waterproof fan that can be cleaned with a solution to remove any potential pathogens. In some examples, the cooling device702may also include a disinfectant device600, discussed above. The disinfectant device600may disinfect any air or fluid that either enters or exits the air flow path to prevent any potential pathogens from being distributed in the atmosphere surrounding the medical device700.

Additionally or alternatively, the air flow path of the medical device700may be coated with an antibacterial coating, such as, but not limited to, silver or copper.

In some examples, a fluid may be used as a cooling device attached to a medical device. For example,FIG.9illustrates a CPR device100, similar to CPR device100discussed above. As such, similar components are not discussed with respect toFIG.9. Rather than having an air intake and exhaust, as illustrated inFIG.2, the electronic components of the CPR device100may be attached to a hot plate902or other device to absorb the heat from the components.FIG.9only illustrates the hot plate902, but as will be understood by one skilled in the art, the electrical components of the central unit103would be coupled to the hot plate902in this example. To transfer the heat away from the electrical components, fluid may be pumped through tubing, conduit, or another type of transfer device to absorb the heat and move the heat away from the electrical components.

For example, the CPR device100illustrated inFIG.9includes tubing900which can surround the support legs104and/or the base member105. InFIG.9, the tubing900is shown surrounding both the base member105and the support legs104. The tubing900may be continuous or may connect to or otherwise interact with a reservoir of fluid. Although not shown, a pump may be included to pump the fluid through the tubing. In such a configuration, the tubing may also act as a warming device for a patient. The pump, similar to the fans discussed above, may turn on and move fluid through the system when an internal temperature of the central unit103reaches a predetermined temperature.

In the example illustrated inFIG.9, contaminated air and body fluids cannot enter any internal components of the CPR device100and the entirety of the CPR device can be cleaned to remove any potential pathogens before use on another patient.

Examples may operate on a particularly created hardware, on firmware, digital signal processors, or on a specially programmed general purpose computer including a processor operating according to programmed instructions. The terms “controller” or “processor” as used herein are intended to include microprocessors, microcomputers, ASICs, and dedicated hardware controllers. One or more aspects may be embodied in computer-usable data and computer-executable instructions, such as in one or more program modules, executed by one or more computers (including monitoring modules), or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types when executed by a processor in a computer or other device. The computer executable instructions may be stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such as a hard disk, optical disk, removable storage media, solid state memory, RAM, etc. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various examples. In addition, the functionality may be embodied in whole or in part in firmware or hardware equivalents such as integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and the like. Particular data structures may be used to more effectively implement one or more aspects of the disclosed systems and methods, and such data structures are contemplated within the scope of computer executable instructions and computer-usable data described herein.

The previously described versions of the disclosed subject matter have many advantages that were either described or would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill. Even so, all of these advantages or features are not required in all versions of the disclosed apparatus, systems, or methods.

Additionally, this written description makes reference to particular features. It is to be understood that the disclosure in this specification includes all possible combinations of those particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or example, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in the context of other aspects and examples.

Also, when reference is made in this application to a method having two or more defined steps or operations, the defined steps or operations can be carried out in any order or simultaneously, unless the context excludes those possibilities.

Furthermore, the term “comprises” and its grammatical equivalents are used in this application to mean that other components, features, steps, processes, operations, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” or “which comprises” components A, B, and C can contain only components A, B, and C, or it can contain components A, B, and C along with one or more other components.

Also, directions such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “right,” and “left” are used for convenience and in reference to the views provided in figures. But the [what] may have a number of orientations in actual use. Thus, a feature that is vertical, horizontal, to the right, or to the left in the figures may not have that same orientation or direction in actual use.

Although specific examples have been illustrated and described for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the invention should not be limited except as by the appended claims.