Patent Application
20080097534
The embodiment of the resuscitation system shown in
In operation, the signal processor 5 used in the resuscitation system can be adapted to control operation of the chest compression device 1 and/or the defibrillator 4 based on measured characteristics of the resuscitation process or based on a comparison of measured and predetermined characteristics of the resuscitation process. The predetermined characteristics may for example be characteristics recommended in the international guidelines for resuscitation. Present international guidelines describe the recommended time for activating defibrillation during CPR. After having performed the recommended period of time of CPR, for example, three minutes, the defibrillation is activated, the result of the defibrillation is analyzed, and CPR is continued for another period of time if the heart still has no rhythm. It is desirable to minimize the time intervals between CPR and defibrillation and between defibrillation and continued CPR, and this may be achieved by also using the signal processor for the defibrillator 4. For example may the resuscitation system according to the invention allow continuous CPR and activation of defibrillator during CPR. Other possible predetermined characteristics are a recommended number of compressions before defibrillation, presumed state of heart according to time from stop, characteristics of ECG such as “slope”, presence of VF, etc.
The signal processor 5 comprises in this embodiment of the invention devices for controlling operation of the chest compression device 21 and the AED 22 based on predetermined characteristics and/or on characteristics measured by measuring devices (not shown). These measuring devices can be, for example, force sensors and/or depth sensors for measuring force/depth exerted/traveled by the compression device, compression counters, compression frequency counters, blood flow sensors for monitoring the blood flow of the patient, ventilation sensors for monitoring the ventilation flow, volume, and/or time interval of patient ventilation, impedance measuring means for measuring the impedance of the chest and thus give an indication of the ventilation of the patient, an electrocardiogram (ECG) device, tilt sensors for measuring the angle of the patient (whether the patient is lying, sitting/standing), position detectors for detecting the positioning and/or change of positioning of the chest compression device 21, battery power measurement means, internal motor temperature measuring means, etc. Control signals provided by the signal processor 5 may, for example, be based on patient characteristics, such as a measured chest height/depth of the patient, age of the patient, ECG measurements, etc.
The transverse plate 20 on which the above-described components are mounted is substantially rectangular and is connected on its short edges to two lateral legs, including an upper part 28 and a lower part 29. The connection between the transverse plate 20 and the upper part 28 of each of the legs is implemented by hinges 25 to permit to rotate the legs towards the transverse plate to provide a storage position for the resuscitation system. The upper part 28 is also situated telescopically inside the lower part 29 to permit easy step-less variation of the lengths of the legs. The legs are adapted for placement on the sides of the patient's body. The lower edge of the lower part 29 is connected to a back plate 26 adapted for placement under the patient's back.
The lower parts 29 of the legs can be fixed, shiftable, or rotatably connected to the back plate 26. In one embodiment of the invention, they are laterally shiftable in order to be able to be arranged in contact with the patient's body, and when in correct position they are fixedly connected to the back plate 26. In use, the chest compression device 21 is connected to the transverse plate 20 in such a way that the direction of the compression movement of the chest compression device 21 is substantially perpendicular to thorax in the area between the nipples. This may for example mean that the movement of the chest compression device 21 is substantially perpendicular to a plane comprising sternum, and substantially parallel to the back plate 18. The resuscitation system may be positioned relative to the patient's length by means of illustrations on the support or by other display devices that will be visible to an operator. In one embodiment the system may comprise physical devices or arrangements that indicate and/or guide the positioning of the system relative to the patient, for example, by arranging the legs so that they are placed in the patient's armpits, or by a rod indicating the distance to the patient's shoulders, etc.
During transport and storage, the legs may be separated from the back plate 26 thereby providing two separate sections, one section including the legs and the transverse plate 20 with the above mentioned devices on it, and the other one section including the back plate 26. The separate sections can be folded to a flat position to permit easy storage of the device. The support may be collapsible, demountable or foldable in order to minimize volume of the system when not in use. Preferably, the support is easy to assemble and prepare for use in order to minimize time wasted on assembling and mounting. This may for example be achieved by using spring-loaded elements which unfold themselves to the maximum size. The system should include as few separate parts as possible in order to minimize risk of incorrect assembly and to minimize assembly time. In other embodiments, the support can be a frame, stand, rack, tripod, etc. of suitable design.
The resuscitation system may also comprise ventilation devices (not shown). The ventilation devices may be regular ventilation devices, which may be operated by an operator, or they may be autonomous/automatic ventilation devices. If the ventilation devices are operated by an operator, the resuscitation system may include a sensor for measuring characteristics (quality) of the ventilation, such as ventilation rate and volume. The resuscitation system may also comprise feedback devices, such as speaker or display, to give feedback to the operator on the performed ventilations, position stability of the chest compression device, time left of battery, stiffness changes in the patient's chest, or other aspects regarding the ventilation system or the patient.
The resuscitation system can comprise power supply devices comprising energy storage devices or devices for connection to power sources in an ambulance, in a hospital or in an external power storage device.
The may further include a user interface (not shown) for providing information regarding the resuscitation. The user interface may provide information related to the service level of the system, remaining power, defibrillator status, ventilation status or other information which would be useful for the operator during or after the resuscitation.
An exemplary decision model is shown in
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.
