Patent Application
20080015475
The resuscitation device of the present invention, generally 10, is comprised of a manually compressible and resiliently expandable bag 12 that is constructed of an elastomer shell 14 having a generally uniform thickness. A breathable gas chamber 16 has a volume capacity to inflate the lungs of a human patient when bag 12 is sufficiently compressed. Bag 12 is preferably manufactured in a range of sizes to fully inflate the lungs of infants, children and adults.
Shell 14 includes at least one integral thin-walled compressible region and preferably two integral thin-walled compressible regions 18 and 20. These regions each have a wall, 22 and 24 respectively. The walls 22 and 24 have less resilience than the average resilience of shell 14 and a smaller thickness than the generally uniform thickness of shell 14. A user compresses bag 12 by squeezing compressible regions 18 and 20 towards each other. Since compressible regions 18 and 20 are softer and less resilient, it very difficult for the user to over inflate the patients lung when compression of bag 12 takes place via compressible regions 18 and 20. It is preferred that compressible regions are circular detents that are of sufficient size to allow for placement of an adult responder's finger tips.
The invention further includes a breathable facial mask 26 that is communicable with breathable gas chamber 16. Preferably, a breathable gas manometer 38 is connectable between a breathable gas outlet 28 of bag breathable gas chamber 16 and facial mask 26. A suitable breathable gas manometer for use with the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,049 to Ratner and is incorporated in its entirety herein.
Moreover, an oxygen supply line 32 is a breathable gas conduit between a medical oxygen source 30 and bag breathable gas chamber 16. An oxygen collection bladder 36 is communicable with a breathable gas inlet 34 through which breathable gas enters breathable gas chamber 16. Bladder 36 collects oxygen from medical gas source 30. It is preferred that breathable gas inlet 34 also be partially open to ambient air so that the pure oxygen collected by bladder 36 will be mixed with ambient air before being delivered to the patient during the compression of bag 12.
In operation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation device 10, a rescue person will first interface the patient with the bag by way of facemask 26. The rescuer will need to establish that facemask 26 is sealed onto the patient's face covering the patient's nose and mouth. The rescuer will then grasp the shell, placing his or her thumb and forefinger on thin walled compressible regions 18 and 20 and firmly squeeze the bag. Air will be expelled through breathable gas outlet 28 into facial mask 26. Once sufficiently compressed, the rescuer will release bag 12 to allow it to restore under its own resiliency, thereby pulling more breathable gas through shell inlet 34 and into breathable gas chamber 16. The rescuer will alternately compress and release shell 14 in like fashion at a normal breathing rate until the patient's breathing is restored or until advanced breathing equipment is made available to the patient. If bag 12 is optionally equipped with an oxygen source 30, line 32 and collection bladder 36, the rescuer will turn on oxygen source 30 to enrich the breathable gas oxygen content.
Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. Such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly with the scope of the following claims.
