Patent Application
20230157926
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
In battlefield situations, personnel can receive injuries necessitating immediate application of CPR. Applying CPR, though, can put medical personnel at risk. There are current systems directed to machine applied CPR, e.g., automatic, machine exerted compression-release downward-upward displacement of a surface of a subject's chest, e.g., aligned with the subject's sternum. The machine applied CPR can provide significant advantages, statistically, over human-applied CPR. Such advantages can include automatic control of the magnitude, displacement, and periodicity of the force to most likely effect an appropriate contraction-expansion of the subject's heart chambers for forcing a certain blood flow within the subject. Current systems, though, can require medical personnel to exert significant effort, and incur substantial risk from exposure while doing so. Such efforts can include lifting the subject into and properly positioning the subject within a space above a supporting backboard and under an automatic CPR compression applicator attached above the backboard.
In an embodiment, an example portable system for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of a human can include a frame, an inflation actuated soft gripper device, supported by the frame, configured to receive an inflation gas at an operative pressure and, in response, change form to a deployed grip state that accommodates and grips a human torso. The example portable system for CPR of a human can include a pressure applicator device, which can be configured to receive an actuator power and a CPR control signal and, in response, concurrent with the deployed grip state, cyclically extend and retract a pressure applicator, along an axis. The example portable system for CPR of a human can include the CPR pressure applicator device being supported by the frame in a configuration enabling alignment of the axis with a sternum of the human torso.
In another embodiment, an example portable modular system for CPR of a human can include a first module hub housing and, removably attached to the first hub housing, a second module hub housing, and an inflation actuated soft gripper device, supported by the first module hub housing, configured to receive an inflation gas at an operative pressure and, in response, change form to a deployed grip state that accommodates and grips a human torso. The example portable modular system for CPR can also include a CPR pressure applicator device, supported by the second module hub housing, configured to receive an actuator power and a CPR control signal and, in response, concurrent with the deployed grip state, cyclically extend and retract a pressure applicator, in a movement along an axis, the axis being in an alignment with a sternum of the human torso.
In another embodiment, an example portable modular system for CPR of a human can include a housing, and an inflation actuated soft gripper, supported by the housing, configured to receive an inflation gas and, in response to inflation to an operative pressure, to change shape to a deployed grip state that accommodates and grips a human torso. The example portable modular system for CPR of a human can also include a CPR cycling pressure device, supported by the housing, configured to receive an actuator power and a CPR control signal and, in response, concurrent with the deployed grip state, actuate a reciprocating, cyclic CPR movement of a pressure applicator, along an axis in an alignment with a sternum of the human torso.
In another embodiment, an example portable modular system for CPR of a human can include a frame, an inflation actuated soft gripper, supported by the frame, having a non-inflated form state when not inflated and configured to respond to inflation by an inflation gas to an operative pressure, by changing from the non-inflated form state to deployed grip form state, the deployed grip form state having a configuration that extends around and grips a human torso. The example portable modular system for CPR of a human can include a CPR cycling pressure device, supported by the housing, configured to receive an actuator power and a CPR control signal and, in response, concurrent with the deployed grip form state, actuate a CPR movement of a pressure applicator, along an axis in an alignment with a sternum of the human torso.
Other features and aspects of various embodiments will be understood from reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features, or to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims.
In the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. The drawings are generally not drawn to scale unless specified otherwise or illustrating schematic structures or flowcharts. As used herein, the words “a,” “an” and the like generally carry a meaning of “one or more,” unless stated otherwise. For brevity, “modular remote” is alternatively recited as “ML.” It will be understood that “ML” as used herein has no intrinsic meaning; it is simply a reduced letter count recitation of “modular remote.”
In an example application, one or more modular remote (ML) CPR systems according to an embodiment can be assembled, e.g., at a staging area, by simple, no tools required, attachment of a hub-configured soft gripper module to a hub-configured CPR compression module. The assembled ML CPR system can include a controller, either as another attached hub or implemented in one or each of CPR compression module and soft gripper module. The controller can include life signs monitor functions. The system can be operated by one person
A system according to one or more embodiments can include a soft gripper module implemented on a first hub and a CPR pressure application module implemented on a second hub. The soft gripper module can include a bladder support mounted to the first hub, and an inflatable bladder that can be secured to the bladder support. The inflatable bladder can include an inflation gas port that can be configured to receive and to route to an interior of the inflation bladder an inflation gas at an inflation pressure. The inflation gas can correspondingly change an interior surface pressure within the inflatable bladder. The inflatable bladder can be configured to extend, in a bilateral wrapping or pincer manner accommodating a human torso, in response to the interior surface pressure exceeding a threshold. The CPR pressure application module can include a second hub, which can be coupled to the first hub, and mounted to the second hub a CPR cyclic pressure driver that can in turn be coupled to a CPR pressure applicator. The CPR pressure applicator can include a contact surface configured, e.g., have a surface area and contour, for contacting a human chest. The CPR cyclic pressure driver can be configured to cyclically extend and retract the CPR pressure applicator. Example implementations of the CPR cyclical pressure driver are described in further detail in subsequent paragraphs.
The inflation gas can, for example, be compressed air that can be provided, e.g., by a portable compressed air tank. In an aspect, the compressed air tank can be implemented as an inflation gas module, e.g., as a compressed air canister within another attachment hub.
In the above-described implementation where the soft gripper module uses a first hub and the CPR pressure module uses a second hub, an embodiment can include the first hub as a main hub and the second hub as an attachment hub. An example implementation according to this embodiment is described in greater detail in reference to
Various embodiments' technical feature of main hub—attachment hub provides numerous secondary features. One is enablement of field-configurable combinations of attachments, and spare attachments. Another is ease of field repair, e.g., when a component becomes contaminated and needs to be replaced. Still another is a ready availability of different sized tools, for example, for patients of various builds. Another of the provided features is adaptability, e.g., via attachment of new components or sensors, to perform a task additional to or other than CPR.
In one or more implementations the main hub can include a main hub housing. The main hub housing can include a main hub perimeter face or can include a plurality of main hub perimeter faces. The main hub housing can be implemented as a main hub polygon housing, for example, a main hub hexagonal housing. One or more implementations can provide or incorporate a stub and tube configuration. Features of a stub and tube configuration can include, but are not limited to, enablement of ready attachment and detachment of, for example, an assortment of different types of attachment hubs. The stub-and-tube configuration can include a hub-to-hub connection system that can be structured to provide, in an aspect, an interference fit. The connection system can configure the interference fit as a firm, friction-based connection between two parts without the use of an additional fastener.
In an aspect, tubes in the main hub can house one end of a connector, e.g., a female end of a USB-C, configured to can attach with a corresponding end, e.g., a male end of a USB-C, housed in the stub on the attachment hubs. Secondary technical features of this connection system include, for example and without limitation, allowance of the main hub to communicate with the specific attachment that it is connected to.
In an implementation, one or more of the faces of the main hub housing can include a hub-to-hub receiving and attachment structure, and the attachment hubs can include a corresponding attachment housing hub-to-hub engagement and attachment structure. The hub-to-hub engagement and attachment structure can be configured to align with, engage and attach to the hub-to-hub receiving and attachment structure of the main hub. In an aspect, the above-described connector ends can be configured to removably connect to the main hub communication cable connector in association with an engagement and attachment of the hub-to-hub engagement and attachment structure to the hub-to-hub receiving and attachment structure.
In one example implementation, the hub-to-hub receiving and attachment structures, or hub-to-hub engagement and attachment structures, or both, can include magnets that can that guide the main hub and attachment hub together and provide additional force to keep the two hubs together. One example can include two neodymium magnets that guide the main hub and attachment hub together and provide additional force to keep the two components together.
Embodiments can provide, through their modular architecture and structural features in accordance with this disclosure, a scalable robotics soft gripper that can grasp a victim or other subject, e.g., a test person, (hereinafter, collectively, “subject”) by or around the sides of the subject's body, with gripping force and gripping structure sufficient to stabilize the system while administering the CPR compression. In description of embodiments, “stabilize” can encompass, for example, stabilizing the CPR pressure module against excess movement relative to the subject's body, e.g., movement due to reactive force against the CPR pressure module, opposite the CPR compression force the CPR pressure module applies to the subject. It will be understood that “by or around the sides,” as used herein in describing embodiments, except where indicated explicitly or by context to be otherwise, encompasses by pressure on or against the subject's lateral sides, by pressure on or against portions of the subject's lateral sides and peripheral areas of the subject's back.
Various features of the modular remote CPR system according to various embodiments are as described in more detail in paragraphs and, as will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the pertinent arts upon reading this disclosure, include but are not limited to mechanically secure attachment through, low cost, low complexity, durable, cooperative attachment structures. Features and benefits also include, modular configurability, and light weight, which can provide further benefits, such as a CPR system that can be easily brought to and rapidly utilized in a not fully controlled environment. Further features include, as provided by various structural features of the gas inflation actuated soft gripping module, a strong yet soft grasping force, as described in more detail in later sections of this disclosure.
The
In an embodiment, the main hub module 102 can include a main hub housing 108, the CPR cyclical pressure applicator module 104 can include, e.g., can be structured with components mounted to, a first attachment hub housing 110, and the gas inflation actuated soft gripper module 106 can include, e.g., can be structured with components secured to a second attachment hub housing 112. As described in more detail later in this disclosure, e.g., in reference to
In embodiment, as visible in
An example implementation of the hub-to-hub receiving and attachment structure 114 can include a plurality of main hub housing magnets 116. The main hub housing magnets 116, in an embodiment, can be structured as protruding magnets, or can be embedded within non-magnetic protruding structures. In such embodiments, the engagement and attachment structures of hub housing of attachment modules, e.g., the engagement and attachment structures 118 of the hub housing 110 of the CPR cyclical pressure applicator module 104 and the engagement and attachment structures 120 of the housing 112 of the gas inflation actuated soft gripper module 106, can be configured with recesses or receptacles and, disposed in or proximal to the recesses or receptacles, can include corresponding magnets, which can be referenced as attachment hub housing magnets, with polarities oriented to attract the main hub housing magnets 116. The main hub housing magnets 116 and the attachment hub housing magnets can, in other words, have mutual alignment, and can have complementary polarity configurations to provide magnetic attractive coupling. The projection implementation of the main hub housing magnets 116 can, in a similar manner, be arranged to provide mutual alignment, locations matching locations of the attachment hub housing magnets, and vise-versa. Projections can therefore be complementary projections, in relation to receptacles formed in the attachment hub housings. Stated differently, the hub-to-hub receiving and attachment structure 114 and engagement and attachment structures 118 of the hub housing 110 of the CPR cyclical pressure applicator module 104 can be formed with cooperative mechanical structure, and structure 114 and the engagement and attachment structures 120 of the housing 112 of the gas inflation actuated soft gripper module 106. Also, for purposes of description, the hub-to-hub receiving and attachment structure 114, the engagement and attachment structure 118, and the engagement and attachment structure 120 can be collectively referenced as housing hub-to-hub attachment structure and as housing hub-to-hub attachment structures.
In an embodiment, the CPR cyclical pressure applicator module 104 can include a CPR pressure applicator element 122, which can be configured, e.g., structured to have cooperative mechanical interface with a movement guide, for movability aligned with a CPR pressure exertion axis such as the
The gas inflation actuated soft gripper module 106 includes an air inflatable soft gripper 124, which can include a soft gripper arm connector hub 126 that can be secured, e.g., mounted, bolted, to the second attachment hub housing 112 on which or in which the gas inflation actuated soft gripper module 106 is implemented.
Shown in a non-inflated state, the air inflatable soft gripper 124 can include two air inflatable gripper arms, shown as a first air inflatable gripper arm 126A and a second air inflatable gripper arm 126B that can connect to the soft gripper arm connector hub 126. As described in more detail later in this disclosure, the
In an embodiment, the first air inflatable gripper arm 126A and the second air inflatable gripper arm 126B can include a plurality of individual gas-inflatable cells, such as the examples represented as first arm bladder cells 132A and second arm bladder cells 132B, collective referenced as “air bladder cells 132. In an embodiment, the air bladder cells 132 can be respectively shaped, and structured, to expand with a particular varying three-dimension form in response to activation gas. The expansion, and effects thereof can be obtained by assigning particular thicknesses and position-varying profiles of thickness to position.
The
In an implementation, an internal power supply 140 and a controller 142 (shown in
In another embodiment, a direct-connect, remote modular CPR system can be implemented by certain adaptations of the system 100 CPR cyclical pressure applicator module 104, or the system 100 gas inflation actuated soft gripper module 106, or both. An example adaptation can include replacing, in the CPR cyclical pressure applicator module 104, one or more of the engagement-attachment connectors with structure of the main hub attachment structure, while maintaining the gas inflation actuated soft gripper module 106. The replacement structure can include protruding magnets 116 or other structure as described above, e.g., but not limited to, magnets disposed in protruding non-magnetic material. An example adaptation can also include modifying one among or both the CPR cyclical pressure applicator module 104 and the gas inflation actuated soft gripper module 106, to carry resources for remote modular CPR system 200A support functions, described as carried for the system 100 by the main hub module 102, i.e., batteries, power supply, processing resources, and various controller functionalities.
In an embodiment, the structure formed by the removable attachment of the attachment hub housing 224 to the main hub housing 220 can be referenced as a frame. An example remote modular CPR system can be formed on the described frame by mounting to the frame an inflation actuated soft gripper device, such as operative structures of the CPR cyclical pressure applicator module 104, and a soft gripper device, such as operative structure of the gas inflation actuated soft gripper module 106, that is configured to receive an inflation gas at an operative pressure and, in response, change form to a deployed grip state that accommodates and grips a human torso. The CPR pressure applicator device of the above-described example remote modular CPR system, e.g., the CPR cyclical pressure applicator module 104 can, as described above in reference to
Systems embodying described features of the direct-connect, remote modular may have some differences, e.g., in mission flexibility and in some operational metrics, (e.g., possibly due to some reduction of battery volume) in comparisons with implementations of the system 100. However, there may be some features for some applications, such as a reduction in the population of modules.
In an embodiment, one or more power sources, e.g., batteries, one or more power supplies, e.g., voltage converters and regulators, controller resources, e.g., computer devices with digital and user interface resources can be included in, a controller resource which can be included in, or mounted to implementations of the example remote modular CPR system.
In an embodiment, an air inflation soft gripper module can implement the first inflatable gripper arm and second inflatable gripper arm to include respective air bladder cells that can be supported, for the first inflatable gripper arm, by a first arm underside base and, by the second inflatable gripper, by a second arm underside base. The first air inflatable gripper arm can include first arm elastic structure forming a plurality of first arm bladder cells, attached to the first arm underside base, which enclose respective portions of the first arm internal volume. In an embodiment, the first arm bladder cells can be distributed to provide, when not inflated, a first arm interspacing between respective exterior surfaces of adjacent first arm bladder cells. The embodiments can include further configuration of the distribution of the first arm air bladder cells to effectuate, when inflated to the operative pressure, particular contacts between the respective exterior surfaces of adjacent first arm bladder cells. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the distribution, as well as the respective shape(s), thicknesses, and dimensions of the first arm air bladder cells can be configured to provide particular contact that exert particular first arm lateral forces. Such configuration can be selected such that the lateral forces have configurations, e.g., magnitudes, directions, and distributions that collectively force particular time evolution and end state as to dimension, shape, and orientation. The time evolution and end state can be configured to provide desired, safe, effective gripping of a human.
In embodiments, the second arm inflatable gripper arm can be similarly configured, for similar operation and purposes. Such embodiments can include, for example, elastic structure enclosing the second arm internal volume by a plurality of second arm bladder cells, connected to the second arm underside base. The second arm bladder cells can be shaped, dimensioned, and distributed to provide, when not inflated, a second arm interspacing between respective exterior surfaces of adjacent second arm bladder cells and, when inflated, to attain second arm contacts between the respective exterior surfaces of adjacent second arm bladder cells. The second arm contacts can exert respective second arm lateral forces that sum to a second arm net force, which effectuates, at the operative pressure, expansion of the second inflatable gripper arm to the deployed state.
Referring to
Referring to
In an embodiment, the first gas-inflatable gripper arm 604A can include, as first arm bladder cells, a plurality of first arm hollow fins 608A. The first arm hollow fins 608A can be formed by respective pairs of elastic material fin walls. The fin wall form outward facing surfaces paced apart by fin thickness W1, extend up from the first arm gas distribution base 606A, and have end walls that, in combination, enclose respective compartments of the first arm internal volume. The second gas-inflatable gripper arm 604B can include, as second arm bladder cells, a plurality of second arm hollow fins 608B, formed by respective pairs of elastic material fin walls as described above for the first arm hollow fins 608A, i.e., pairs of elastic material fin walls shaving outward facing walls paced apart by fin thickness W1, extending upward from the second arm gas distribution base 606B, and enclosing respective compartments of the second arm internal volume.
In an embodiment the gas inflation deployable soft gripper device 600 can include a first internal inflation port 610A, from an interior of the soft gripper arm connector hub 602 to an interior of the first gas-inflatable gripper arm 604A, and a second internal inflation port 610B, from an interior of the soft gripper arm connector hub 602 to an interior of the second gas-inflatable gripper arm 604B. Alternative structures for an inflation gas path to the interior of the first gas-inflatable gripper arm 604A can include an external tube, as opposed to the hollow structure of the soft gripper arm connector hub 602 and first internal inflation port 610A. Similar alternative structure can provide an inflation gas path to the interior of the second gas-inflatable gripper arm 604B.
As further visible in the expanded area of
In an embodiment, a CPR cyclical pressure applicator can be implemented with a support plate, mounted to or formed by a housing, e.g., the generic hexagonal attachment hub 400 described above. Mounted to the support plate can be a movement guide or movement support, for a CPR application structure. An actuator for the CPR application structure can include, for example, a rotary actuator motor that includes a rotatable output shaft. In an embodiment, coupled to the rotatable output shaft can be rotary to linear movement converter that, in response to rotation of the rotatable output shaft, drives a linear actuator member. The CPR application structure can, for example, couple to the linear actuator member.
Referring to
CPR pressure application device 700 can include a CPR applicator element housing 704, and since
In an embodiment, the CPR applicator element 704 can be connected, e.g., via a connector portion 708 coupled, via an actuation coupling 710, to a rolling linear movement rack 712. The rolling linear movement rack 712 can be supported, for example, by structure of the CPR applicator element housing 704. A pinion gear 714, arranged to rotate about an axis AX1, can engage the rolling linear movement rack 712. It will be understood that counterclockwise rotation (from a viewing direction facing the sheet carrying
Actuation of the pinion gear 714 can be provided by a servo motor 716, which can be a rotary motor, configured to selectively actuate, via a rotary output shaft, a rotation of a primary drive gear 718. The servo motor 716 elective actuation can include rotating direction, rate of rotation, and rotation force. The latter two can have an interrelation. Clockwise rotation of the primary drive gear 718 can urge a counterclockwise rotation of an intermediate drive gear 720, In the
In an embodiment, to provide, for example and without limitation, a ready reserve of higher CPR exertion force, and/or to reduce actuator motor load, and for other benefits, the CPR pressure application device 700 can include multiple rolling linear movement racks. For example, as illustrated, the rolling linear movement rack 712 can be a first rolling linear movement rack 712, the pinion gear 714 can be a first pinion gear 714, the servo motor 716 can be a first servo motor 716, the primary drive gear 718 can be a first primary drive gear 718, and the intermediate drive gear 720 can be a first intermediate drive gear 720. Continuing, the actuation coupling 710 can be a first actuation coupling 710. Further to such embodiments, the CPR pressure application device 700 can include, e.g., can provide, can be formed on, integral to, or securely attached to the connector portion 708, a second actuation coupling 722 that can couple the connector portion 708 to a second rolling linear movement rack 724. A second pinion gear 726, rotatable about a second axis AX2, can engage the second rolling linear movement rack 724. The second pinion gear 726 can be supported by a support 728. The second pinion gear 726 can be driven, e.g., by a second primary drive gear (similar to 718) driven by a second servo motor (similar to 716), and the second primary drive gear can drive the second pinion gear 726 through, for example, a second intermediate drive gear (similar to 720).
The first servo motor 716 and second servo motor can be implemented by various commercial off-the-shelf servo motors and can be configured actuate forwards and backwards, i.e., apply cyclic forward-reverse drive force, to reciprocate the CPR applicator element to move over a travel distance, e.g., 2-inch travel distance.
The rotation of first servo motor 716 and second servo motor, and the torque requirements of such servo motors, depend on the gear ratios of the gear couplings. For illustration, and without limitation, an implementation can use respective 39 tooth gears for the primary drive gear 718 and for the intermediate drive gear 720 and, for the first pinion gear 714 and the second pinion gear 726 a 77-tooth gear. In this specific implementation, the first servo motor 716 and second servo motor can operate with approximately 45-degree rotation, and with a torque rating of approximately 21 kilogram/centimeters, which can provide sufficient CPR force.
As described above, respective rotations of the first pinion gear 714 and the second pinion gear 726 that effect movement of the CPR pressure applicator element 706/708 are necessarily opposite to one another. For purposes of description, servo motor actuation in the CPR pressure applicator 700 that rotating the first pinion gear 714 and second pinion gear 726 in respective directions effectuating downward, i.e., compressive direction movement of the CPR pressure applicator element 706/708, will be referenced as “servo compression actuation.” Servo operation effectuating upward, or release direction movement will be referred to as “servo release actuation.”
Referring to
Following initializing the distal end of the CPR pressure applicator element 706/708 to its initial position E1, the servo motors of the CPR pressure applicator 700 can be cyclically energized to perform a sequence of CPR compress-release cycles. Initiation can be, for example, by a first responder pressing a “Start” button on the modular remote CPR system. Alternatively, a remote operator or monitoring personnel can initiate the application of CPR cycles. Upon initiation, compressive actuation, the servo motors of the CPR pressure applicator 700 can continue rotating the first pinion gear 714 and second pinion gear 726 in the
At this point the servo motors can reverse, thereby reversing the first pinion gear 714 and second pinion gear 726, which effectuates upward or releasing movement of the applicator element 706/708. This can be referenced as the release phase of the CPR cycle.
In an embodiment, positioned at respective sides of the central housing portion 1312 can be a first lateral housing portion 1314A and a second lateral housing portion 1314B. In an embodiment, a structure such as the first lateral housing portion 1314A and the second lateral housing portion 1314B, or another portion of lower housing 1308, can support an inflation actuated soft gripper, including inflatable gripper arms. The inflatable gripper arms can include a first inflatable gripper arm 1316A and a second inflatable gripper arm 1316B. In an embodiment, an end of the first inflatable gripper arm 1316A can be supported by the first lateral housing portion 1314A, and an end of the second inflatable gripper arm 1316B can be supported by the second lateral housing portion 1314B. The first inflatable gripper arm 1316A and second inflatable gripper arm 1316B (collectively “gas-inflatable gripper arms 1316”) can be configured, for example as described above in reference to
The soft robotic gripper curls around the patient to stabilize the system and keep it in place while compressions are administered. When compressions are delivered to the patient with a force sufficient to compress the patient's chest approximately 2 inches, an equal and opposite force will be pushing the system up and away from the patient and can cause the device to be displaced or misaligned. The grippers will hold the sides of the patient with a friction force strong enough to oppose this motion, keeping the system in the correct position. The force/area in terms of pounds varies, dependent on the person. An example is between 80 and 100 pounds.
The air bladder of the soft gripper can be produced, for example, via 3-D printing using thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). There can be two separate arms fingers to attach on opposite sides of the piston cylinder to allow for proper placement and alignment in accordance with the piston itself. The flat surface of the gripper can have a small protruding air tube that goes inside an air supply hose and can further be cinched down to ensure an airtight seal. The grippers are pneumatically actuated so when air is added, the difference in strain inside each disk causes the gripper to curl.
Communications can be implemented as I2C as its communication method for various reasons that are directly related to the systems functionality as well as its modularity. I2C communications work on two lines or wires, the SDA (Serial Data) and SCL (Serial Clock) and then power and ground. This avoids separate input and output lines for every attachment to the system, which can easily add up and become bulky. I2C allows for this to be possible by communicating to all attachments in the system on the same two communication lines, SDA and SCL. I2C also allows for multiple attachments to work at the same time because each attachment has a unique address that is sent from the master (Hub) through the SDA and SCL lines which only the slave (attachment) that has the unique address will respond to the commands.
USB-C can be an implementation for communications in the system, as capable of communicating I2C and has a substantial range of other capabilities. For example, USB-C is reversible, which is further to modularity as each attachment can be attached either way, without confusion.
The relationship between the executable program code 1809 and the hardware processor 1802 is structural; the executable program code 1809 is provided to the hardware processor 1802 by imparting various voltages at certain times across certain electrical connections, in accordance with binary values in the executable program code 1809, to cause the hardware processor to perform some action, as now explained in more detail.
A hardware processor 1802 may be thought of as a complex electrical circuit that is configured to perform a predefined set of basic operations in response to receiving a corresponding basic instruction selected from a predefined native instruction set of codes.
The predefined native instruction set of codes is specific to the hardware processor; the design of the processor defines the collection of basic instructions to which the processor will respond, and this collection forms the predefined native instruction set of codes.
A basic instruction may be represented numerically as a series of binary values, in which case it may be referred to as a machine code. The series of binary values may be represented electrically, as inputs to the hardware processor, via electrical connections, using voltages that represent either a binary zero or a binary one. These voltages are interpreted as such by the hardware processor.
Executable program code may therefore be understood to be a set of machine codes selected from the predefined native instruction set of codes. A given set of machine codes may be understood, generally, to constitute a module. A set of one or more modules may be understood to constitute an application program or “app.” An app may interact with the hardware processor directly or indirectly via an operating system. An app may be part of an operating system.
A computer program product is an article of manufacture that has a computer-readable medium with executable program code that is adapted to enable a processing system to perform various operations and actions.
A computer-readable medium may be transitory or non-transitory.
A transitory computer-readable medium may be thought of as a conduit by which executable program code may be provided to a computer system, a short-term storage that may not use the data it holds other than to pass it on.
The buffers of transmitters and receivers that briefly store only portions of executable program code when being downloaded over the Internet is one example of a transitory computer-readable medium. A carrier signal or radio frequency signal, in transit, that conveys portions of executable program code over the air or through cabling such as fiber-optic cabling provides another example of a transitory computer-readable medium. Transitory computer-readable media convey parts of executable program code on the move, typically holding it long enough to just pass it on.
Non-transitory computer-readable media may be understood as a storage for the executable program code. Whereas a transitory computer-readable medium holds executable program code on the move, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is meant to hold executable program code at rest. Non-transitory computer-readable media may hold the software in its entirety, and for longer duration, compared to transitory computer-readable media that holds only a portion of the software and for a relatively short time. The term, “non-transitory computer-readable medium,” specifically excludes communication signals such as radio frequency signals in transit.
The following forms of storage exemplify non-transitory computer-readable media: removable storage such as a universal serial bus (USB) disk, a USB stick, a flash disk, a flash drive, a thumb drive, an external solid-state storage device (SSD), a compact flash card, a secure digital (SD) card, a diskette, a tape, a compact disc, an optical disc; secondary storage such as an internal hard drive, an internal SSD, internal flash memory, internal non-volatile memory, internal dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and the like; and the primary storage of a computer system.
Different terms may be used to express the relationship between executable program code and non-transitory computer-readable media. Executable program code may be written on a disc, embodied in an application-specific integrated circuit, stored in a memory chip, or loaded in a cache memory, for example. Herein, the executable program code may be said, generally, to be “in” or “on” a computer-readable media. Conversely, the computer-readable media may be said to store, to include, to hold, or to have the executable program code.
Software source code may be understood to be a human-readable, high-level representation of logical operations. Statements written in the C programming language provide an example of software source code.
Software source code, while sometimes colloquially described as a program or as code, is different from executable program code. Software source code may be processed, through compilation for example, to yield executable program code. The process that yields the executable program code varies with the hardware processor; software source code meant to yield executable program code to run on one hardware processor made by one manufacturer, for example, will be processed differently than for another hardware processor made by another manufacturer.
The process of transforming software source code into executable program code is known to those familiar with this technical field as compilation or interpretation and is not the subject of this application.
A computer system may include a user interface controller under control of the processing system that displays a user interface in accordance with a user interface module, i.e., a set of machine codes stored in the memory and selected from the predefined native instruction set of codes of the hardware processor, adapted to operate with the user interface controller to implement a user interface on a display device. Examples of a display device include a television, a projector, a computer display, a laptop display, a tablet display, a smartphone display, a smart television display, or the like.
The user interface may facilitate the collection of inputs from a user. The user interface may be graphical user interface with one or more user interface objects such as display objects and user activatable objects. The user interface may also have a touch interface that detects input when a user touches a display device.
A display object of a user interface may display information to the user. A user activatable object may allow the user to take some action. A display object and a user activatable object may be separate, collocated, overlapping, or nested one within another. Examples of display objects include lines, borders, text, images, or the like. Examples of user activatable objects include menus, buttons, toolbars, input boxes, widgets, and the like.
The various networks are illustrated throughout the drawings and described in other locations throughout this disclosure, can comprise any suitable type of network such as the Internet or a wide variety of other types of networks and combinations thereof. For example, the network may include a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless network, an intranet, the Internet, a combination thereof, and so on. Further, although a single network is shown, a network can be configured to include multiple networks.
For any computer-implemented embodiment, “means plus function” elements will use the term “means;” the terms “logic” and “module” have the meaning ascribed to them above and are not to be construed as generic means. An interpretation under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) is desired only where this description and/or the claims use specific terminology historically recognized to invoke the benefit of interpretation, such as “means,” and the structure corresponding to a recited function, to include the equivalents thereof, as permitted to the fullest extent of the law and this written description, may include the disclosure, the accompanying claims, and the drawings, as they would be understood by one of skill in the art.
To the extent the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features or methodological steps, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or steps described. Rather, the specific features and steps are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claimed subject matter. To the extent headings are used, they are provided for the convenience of the reader and are not to be taken as limiting or restricting the systems, techniques, approaches, methods, or devices to those appearing in any section. Rather, the teachings and disclosures herein can be combined or rearranged with other portions of this disclosure and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. It is intended that this disclosure encompass and include such variation. The indication of any elements or steps as “optional” does not indicate that all other or any other elements or steps are mandatory. The claims define the invention and form part of the specification. Limitations from the written description are not to be read into the claims.
Certain attributes, functions, steps of methods, or sub-steps of methods described herein may be associated with physical structures or components, such as a module of a physical device that, in implementations in accordance with this disclosure, make use of instructions (e.g., computer executable instructions) that may be embodied in hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit, or that may cause a computer (e.g., a general-purpose computer) executing the instructions to have defined characteristics. There may be a combination of hardware and software such as processor implementing firmware, software, and so forth so as to function as a special purpose computer with the ascribed characteristics. For example, in embodiments a module may comprise a functional hardware unit (such as a self-contained hardware or software or a combination thereof) designed to interface the other components of a system such as through use of an application programming interface (API). In embodiments, a module is structured to perform a function or set of functions, such as in accordance with a described algorithm. This disclosure may use nomenclature that associates a component or module with a function, purpose, step, or sub-step to identify the corresponding structure which, in instances, includes hardware and/or software that function for a specific purpose. For any computer-implemented embodiment, “means plus function” elements will use the term “means;” the terms “logic” and “module” and the like have the meaning ascribed to them above, if any, and are not to be construed as means.
While certain implementations have been described, these implementations have been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. The novel devices, systems and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the devices, systems and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/667,325, filed on Feb. 8, 2022, entitled REMOTE MODULAR SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING CPR COMPRESSION, which is a nonprovisional of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/171,707, filed on Apr. 7, 2021, entitled REMOTE MODULAR SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING CPR COMPRESSION, the entire disclosures of each are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention was made by employees of the United States Department of Homeland Security in the performance of their official duties. The U.S. Government has certain rights in this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63171707 | Apr 2021 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17667325 | Feb 2022 | US |
| Child | 18096124 | US |
