Portable device for sensing cardiac function and automatically delivering electrical therapy.

摘要

A patient-worn harness or vest (10) protects at-risk patients from the possibly fatal results of heart arrhythmias. The harness or vest incorporates sensing electrodes (22) for monitoring heart condition, a microprocessor (116) and memory (118) for processing signals received from the sensing electrodes and comparing same with patient's data, and skin-contacting pulsing electrodes (32) for applying electrical pulses to the patient's chest wall responsive to signals received from the microprocessor. The electrodes include automatic tightening and electrolyte gel release mechanisms (72, 76) for reducing impedance at the electrode-skin interface. A servicing subsystem (12) is provided for the harness or vest and may be used to interface with the harness or vest and also to communicate with remote health care personnel through a suitable telephone link.