Patent ID: 8527044

Claim:
An external defibrillator comprising: a housing; a lid coupled to the housing, the lid movable between a closed position in which the lid covers at least a portion of a surface of the housing and an open position; an electrode package located over the surface of the housing and beneath the lid when the lid is in the closed position, wherein the electrode package remains in its position over the surface of the housing while the lid is moved into the open position and when the lid is in the open position until the electrode package is removed from its position over surface of the housing by an operator, and wherein the electrode package is not held against a lower surface of the lid, the electrode package including a handle comprising an opening and actuatable by the operator by slipping at least one finger through the opening to open the electrode package; and an initiator useable by the operator to initiate delivery of therapy to a patient by the defibrillator, the initiator located on the surface of the housing, wherein the initiator is located beneath the electrode package when the electrode package remains in its position over the surface of the housing when the lid is in the open position, wherein the electrode package becomes accessible by the operator upon moving the lid into the open position, and the initiator is accessible by the operator only upon removing the electrode package from its position over the surface of the housing.