Patent ID: 7272441

Claim:
A method of controlling an external defibrillator configured to supply a defibrillation shock to a patient, comprising the steps of: obtaining and analyzing a physical parameter from the patient, while CPR therapy is not being administered, to determine whether the patient should be treated with a defibrillation shock; obtaining a viability index from the physical parameter and comparing the viability index to a predetermined threshold to identify whether a heart condition treatable initially with a defibrillation shock is indicated or whether a heart condition treatable initially with CPR therapy is indicated and comparing the viability index to a predetermined CPR therapy threshold to determine a recommended CPR therapy period; indicating that CPR therapy should be administered for the recommended CPR therapy period, and charging an energy storage device for at least a portion of the predetermined CPR therapy period; and discharging the energy storage device to thereby supply the defibrillation shock to the patient, after the predetermined CPR therapy period.