The invention is an apparatus for increasing intrathoracic pressure for resuscitating cardiac arrest patients. The apparatus comprises a flexible, substantially inelastic belt wrapped around the patient's chest and attached to a force converter. The force converter converts a downwardly directed force into a chestward resultant, which depresses the sternum, and two belt tightening resultants. The force converter comprises a pair of arm assemblies, each having a pair of spaced arms, which are pivotably mounted to a base. The base is positioned near the patient's sternum and the ends of the belt attach to one end of each arm assembly. The opposite, handle ends of the arm assemblies are depressed toward the chest causing tightening of the belt and compression of the chest cavity.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/573,465 filed Dec. 15, 1995, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,637 on Apr. 14, 1998.
An electrical and manual pressing device of automatic air blowing for first-aid cardiopulmonary resuscitation comprises pressing unit, an air storage tank, a control chamber, air levels, and a sucking disk. The device has the following functions: filling the air by way of electrical actuation or manual pressing, offering a great deal of air, maintaining a constant pressing force against the heart, quickly fixing the sucking disk at a proper pressing position based on the size of the bust line, checking a breathing reaction of the patient by way of the air level, checking the heart beat by way of the stethoscope, offering oxygen or the fresh air after the heat beat restoring by way of the pumping ball.
Portable, lightweight manually actuated CPR device for performing enhanced external thoracic massage. When applied to the victim, the device is used to perform chest, or chest and abdominal compression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The device provides mechanical force advantage over manually-performed external thoracic massage and permits performing multiple, repeatable and controlled compression/decompression cycles in rapid succession. The system requires less physical strength and endurance than the traditional external thoracic massage, and can be used by persons who otherwise are not strong enough to perform effective CPR. The device can be used with external ECG and defibrillation electrodes and equipment, is lightweight and portable, and can be used by both professional and lay rescuers.
Devices, methods, and software implementing those methods for providing communicating external chest compression (ECC) devices and defibrillation (DF) devices, where the ECC and DF devices can be physically separate from each other. Both ECC and DF devices are able to operate autonomously, yet able to communicate with and cooperate with another device when present. Some ECC and DF devices are adapted to be physically and/or electrically coupled to each other. One ECC device includes a backboard, a chest compression member, a communication module, controller, and at least one sensor, electrode lead or electrode. One DF device includes a defibrillator module, a controller, and a communication module that can communicate with the ECC communication module. The communicating ECC and DF devices may deliver ECC, pacing, defibrillation, ventilation, and cooling therapies, and may deliver instructions to human assistants, in a coordinated and cooperative fashion.
