Devices and methods for cooling an electro-mechanical chest compression device. A blower or fan forces air through the device and a metal foil distributes heat. The temperature of the device and the patient is measured and the processor controls the operation of the device based on the measured temperature.

A lightweight electro-mechanical chest compression device. The device is provided with a motor, a brake, a drive spool, a control system, and a metal channel beam to brace the device and guide a compression belt. The belt is provided in a belt cartridge that attaches to the channel beam. In use, the belt is secured around the patient and to the drive spool. The motor tightens the belt by turning the drive spool. The electro-mechanical chest compression device weighs less than 30 pounds when fully assembled with its power source.

The invention relates to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation apparatus comprising: a device having a piston for compressing the sternum; and a device for thoracic constriction having a chest band for fastening and constricting the chest when the piston compresses a patient's chest, characterized in that the length of the chest band can be adjusted according to the size of the patient's chest. The apparatus further includes a protection pad to be attached to the chest when the chest band is tightened, thereby easily adjusting the length of the chest band according to the size of the patient's chest and protecting the patient's chest when it is compressed.

A system applies cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a recipient. An automated controller is provided together with a compression device which periodically applies a force to a recipient's thorax under control of the automated controller. A band is adapted to be placed around a portion of the torso of the recipient corresponding to the recipient's thorax. A driver mechanism shortens and lengthens the circumference of the band. By shortening the circumference of the band, radial forces are created acting on at least lateral and anterior portions of the thorax. A translating mechanism may be a bladder provided for translating the radial forces to increase the concentration of anterior radial forces acting on the anterior portion of the thorax. The driver mechanism may comprise a tension device for applying a circumference tensile force to the band. The driver mechanism may comprise an electric motor, a pneumatic linear actuator, or a contracting mechanism defining certain portions of the circumference of the band. The contracting mechanism may comprise plural fluid-receiving cells linked together along the circumference of the band. The width of each of the fluid-receiving cells becomes smaller as each cell is filled with a fluid. This causes the contraction of the band and a resulting shortening of the circumference of the band.

The present invention relates generally to a support structure for fixating a patient to a treatment unit, and especially to a support structure for fixating the patient to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation unit. An embodiment of the support structure (10) comprises a back plate (100) for positioning behind said patient's back posterior to said patient's heart and a front part (200) for positioning around said patient's chest anterior to said patient's heart. Further, the front part (200) can comprise two legs (210, 220), each leg (210, 220) having a first end (212, 222) pivotably connected to at least one hinge (230, 240) and a second end (214, 224) removably attachable to said back plate (100). Said front part (200) can further be devised for comprising a compression/decompression unit (300) arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient's chest when said front part (200) is attached to said back plate (100).