Medical device with automatic start-up upon contact to patient tissue

摘要

Methods and devices for monitoring and/or treating patients comprise a switch to automatically start-up the device when the device contacts tissue. By automatically starting up the device, the device may be installed without the clinician and/or user turning on the device, such that the device can be easy to use. In many embodiments, the device comprises startup circuitry with very low current and/or power consumption, for example less than 100 pA. The startup circuitry can detect tissue contact and turn on circuitry that is used to monitor or treat the patient.

主权项

1. A device for monitoring or treating a patient, the device comprising: a battery; circuitry configured to at least one of monitor or treat the patient, the circuitry comprising a processor; at least two electrodes configured to couple to tissue of the patient; a first switch coupled to the at least two electrodes, the battery and the circuitry, and wherein the first switch is configured to detect tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes and connect the battery to the circuitry in response to tissue coupling to the at least two electrodes; and a shunt switch coupled to the first switch and controlled by the processor to minimize parasitic current through the at least two electrodes coupled to the tissue detection circuitry, wherein the processor is configured to open the shunt switch at regular intervals to determine if the device has been removed from the patient.