Stryker Corporation
ENHANCED DEFIBRILLATION SHOCK DECISIONS

Abstract:

Defibrillators providing enhanced recommendations of whether to administer a defibrillation shock to patients are described. An example defibrillator determines an analysis factor, such as whether a patient has previously exhibited high-amplitude or "coarse" ventricular fibrillation (VF) during a particular time period. The defibrillator generates a shock index based on an electrocardiogram (ECG) of the patient and determines whether the patient is exhibiting a shockable rhythm by comparing the shock index to a threshold. The defibrillator generates the shock index and/or the threshold based on the analysis factor. The defibrillator outputs a recommendation based on the determination of whether the patient is exhibiting the shockable rhythm.