Enhanced CPR protector system

• US 20020026229A1
• Filed: 09/12/2001
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunlife Science Inc.
• Original Assignee: Institute of Critical Care Medicine
• Inventors: Tang, Wanchun, Bisera, Joe, Weil, Max Harry
• Granted Patent: US 7,570,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/14 Leading-off electric charges, e.g. by earthing carrying-off electrostatic charges, in general H05F3/00

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for treatment of a victim to reverse cardiac arrest by chest compression and by electrical defibrillation through electrodes applied to the chest area of the victim. The apparatus includes a dielectric layer which is placed on the victim to electrically isolate the rescuer who is performing chest compressions. The protective sheet includes a layer of electrically conductive material sandwiched between two dielectric layers to electrically isolate the rescuer. The sandwiched conductive layer is connected to a location on the body of the victim that is spaced a plurality of inches from each of the electrodes.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use by a rescuer who applies chest compressions to a victim that has cardiac arrest symptoms treatable by use of a defibrillator, comprising:

a protector sheet which has upper and lower faces and which resists the passage of current between said faces, said protector sheet being constructed to cover a chest area of the victim and to be pressed down by the rescuer;

said sheet having a pair of dielectric layers and a conductive layer of electrically conductive material sandwiched between the dielectric layers;

said conductive layer occupying a majority of the area of said protector sheet upper face;

a connector extending from said conductive layer and having a termination part for connecting to a potential source.

2. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein:

said conductive layer occupies substantially the entire area under said protector sheet upper face.

3. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein:

said defibrillator is connected to a pair of electrodes that lie against the skin of the victim;

said protector sheet lies on the chest of the victim and said connector engages the skin of the patient at a location that is spaced at least 1.5 inches from the nearest one of said electrodes.

4. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein:

said protector sheet has edges and said connector includes a flexible conductor that extends from said conductive layer and away from one of said protector sheet edges, said conductor having a furthest end that is furthest from said protector sheet and that forms said termination part that lies on said furthest end.

5. The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein:

said conductive layer has a width and a length;

said conductor has a width at a location between said conductive layer and said termination part which is no more than 20% of the average width of said conductive layer.

6. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein:

said protector sheet upper face is devoid of conductors that can be touched by said rescuer when the rescuer is pressing on said upper face.

7. Apparatus for use by a rescuer at a site where a victim has cardiac arrest symptoms being treated by a defibrillator connected to electrodes lying against spaced electrode locations on the victim'"'"'s chest, where the rescuer can press repeatedly against the middle of the victim'"'"'s chest, the improvement comprising:

a protective sheet which includes a pair of dielectric layers and a conductive layer sandwiched between said dielectric layers, said protective sheet having a lower face lying against the victim'"'"'s chest and having an upper face for being repeatedly pressed down by the rescuer, said conductive layer having an area more than half the area of said upper face;

a connector which includes a conductor having an inner end connected to said conductive sheet and an outer end connected to the skin of the patient.

8. The improvement described in claim 7 wherein:

said conductive layer has an edge and said conductor inner end connects to said edge of said conductive layer with said connector outer end being spaced from said edge of said conductive layer and connected to a location on the skin of the patient that is spaced from a location directly under said conductive layer.

9. The improvement described in claim 7 wherein:

said conductor has a width, at a location between said conductive layer edge and said conductor outer end, which is no more that 20% of a maximum width of said conductive layer.

10. The improvement described in claim 7 wherein:

A quantity of conductive adhesive connecting said conductor outer end to the patient'"'"'s skin.

11. The improvement described in claim 7 wherein:

said conductor outer end connects to said victim'"'"'s skin at a location spaced a plurality of inches from said electrodes.

13. The method described in claim 12 wherein:

said step of connecting includes connecting said conductive layer to the skin of the victim.

14. The method described in claim 12 wherein:

said step of connecting includes connecting an outer end of a flexible conductor that extends from an edge of said conductive layer, to a location on the skin of said patient that is spaced from said protective sheet.

15. The method described in claim 12 wherein:

said step of establishing includes establishing said flexible conductive layer so it occupies substantially the entire area of an upper face of said upper insulator.

12. A method for establishing a surface for a rescuer to press down against to compress the chest of a patient who is connected to a defibrillator, comprising:

establishing a flexible conductive layer between, and facewise against, upper and lower flexible insulative layers and placing a lower face of said lower layer against the victim'"'"'s chest;

connecting said conductive layer to a potential source.