Defibrillator electrodes and date code detector circuit

Abstract

A package of defibrillator electrodes having a date indication element and a circuit for determining a date of manufacture of medical electrodes within the package is provided. Specifically, by the circuit and package design of the present invention, the presence of a fresh package of electrodes can be detected. A circuit detectable package of medical electrodes is provided including first and second electrodes within the package. An electrical interconnection means is provided between the first and second electrodes for electrically completing a circuit connecting the lead wire of the first electrode to the lead wire of the second electrode, and includes a date identification element which when subjected to an applied voltage by way of the lead wires generates a measurable affect representative of the manufacturing period of the defibrillator electrodes. The date identification element may comprise a passive element, a value of which represents a date and can be measured. An example is a resistor of predetermined value, the value of which represents a specific manufacturing period, such as a month. A date detection circuit is provided as part of a digital control system of an automated external defibrillator to be used with a packaged pair of such electrodes. The date detection circuit determines whether the electrodes are older than the expiration period based upon the detected manufacturing period and a real time clock connected with a processor.