An apparatus for mechanical stimulating of the heart comprising a girdle provided to be stretched over the chest of a human body and carrying power means arranged to mechanically treat said chest in a rhythmical sequence thereby stimulating the heart whereby according to the invention the bloodstream from the heart is directed towards the brain by means of a further girdle provided to be stretched over the body in the level of the abdomen and provided with means arranged to be extended and to exert a thrust against the abdomen intended to cause a compression of aorta abdominalis.
A mechanical pacemaker for impacting on the outside of the chest to provide cardiac stimulation in which impact means drive an impact surface in discrete impacts against the chest, with circuitry to actuate the impact means in response to the electrical output of a cardiac monitor.
A mechanical cardiac resuscitator which applies rhythmic pressure to a patient's chest in order to restore heart beat is provided with a control which may sound an alarm or turn off the resuscitator if the point of impact on the patient deviates from a predetermined area. In one form a conductive sheet disposed on the patient cooperates with electric contacts disposed on the plunger of the resuscitator.
A device is described for performing mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The device comprises a housing which in use is secured to the chest of a patient, the housing and securing means providing inelastic encirclement of the patient's chest. Pneumatically operated pressing means projects from the housing to bear on the patient's breast bone and suitable valving is contained in the housing to apply cyclic displacement of the pressing means.
A resuscitation device having a specific frame design with an integrated hydraulic plunger frame which is adapted to be strapped over a patient's chest. The frame is designed with two protruding arms stretching towards the patient's armpits. The frame includes flexible straps coiled onto spring biased rotatable reels. The straps end in respective armpit stays which are looked into recesses in a back support. The plunger of the frame stops against a limiting means which limits the travel of the plunger automatically according to the size of the patient's chest.
An active compression/decompression CPR device capable of providing both complete cardiopulmonary support and cardiopulmonary assistance includes two or more thoracic compressors, preferably inflatable bladders, positioned so that the chest can first be flattened and compressed, increasing the pressure in the chest, and then circularized and decompressed, decreasing the pressure in the chest. When inflatable bladders are used, they can be surrounded with a rigidifying vest which resists outward bladder expansion. Compression and decompression can be performed along with abdominal compression, and the device is capable of shifting between support and assist modes when the patient's condition so requires. Also described is a method of compressing and then decompressing a patient's thorax by applying anterior and/or posterior pressure to the thorax, so as to compress the thorax and increase pressure therein, relieving that pressure, and then applying lateral pressure to the thorax to decompress and relieve pressure in the thorax, and then relieving the lateral pressure.
