Augmenting force-delivery in belt-type ECM devices

• US 20100198118A1
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Itai Itnati
• Original Assignee: Michael Itai Itnati
• Inventors: Itnati, Michael Itai
• Application Number:
  US12/320,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. E.G.C., blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/06 Heartbeat rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/205 partial CO2-value
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/207 partial O2-value
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/30 Blood pressure A61H2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/004 Heart stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven

Abstract

A belt-type external massage (ECM) device. A “force booster” may modify force applied by the belt to a patient'"'"'s chest. A compression pad, or a shock absorber, or a plunger package or a or a bladder containing a viscous or non-Newtonian fluid may be disposed between the belt and the patient'"'"'s chest. The mechanism for imparting force may be a rotary motor, linear motor, solenoid or pneumatic piston. Various force-altering elements may be disposed in a drive train of the device to alter the manner in which force is applied to the patient'"'"'s chest. A backboard may be provided to support the patient in a supine position and for housing various mechanical elements and mechanisms of the device. A “hybrid” device may comprise a belt and mechanism for intermittently tightening the belt, and a pneumatic tube and mechanism for intermittently pressurizing the pneumatic tube.

Claims

1. An external cardiac massage (ECM) device comprising:

a sternum compressing element adapted to be positioned on a patient'"'"'s chest for massaging the patient'"'"'s heart;

a mechanism for imparting force to the sternum compressing element; and

a force booster disposed in a drive train from the mechanism for imparting force to the sternum compressing element.

2. The ECM device of claim 1, wherein:

the force booster comprises a compression-type spring.

3. The ECM device of claim 2, wherein:

the spring is pre-compressed.

4. The ECM device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more force modifying elements disposed in the drive train from the mechanism for imparting force to the sternum compressing element.

5. The ECM device of claim 1, wherein:

the force booster comprises an energy-accumulation mechanism.

6. The ECM device of claim 1, wherein:

the force booster comprises a force-modifying element.

7. The ECM device of claim 1, further comprising:

a force-modifying element adapted to be used in conjunction with the force-boosting element.

8. The ECM device of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller for controlling movement of the sternum compressing element.

9. The ECM device of claim 1, wherein:

the sternum compressing element comprises a compression band adapted to at least partially encircles a patient'"'"'s torso.

10. The ECM device of claim 9, further comprising:

a block of material adapted to be portion of the compression band passing over the patient'"'"'s chest, and the patient'"'"'s chest.

11. The ECM device of claim 10, wherein:

the block of material comprises a compression pad.

12. The ECM device of claim 10, wherein:

the block of material comprises a viscous fluid.

13. The ECM device of claim 12, wherein:

the viscous fluid comprises a non-Newtonian fluid.

14. The ECM device of claim 1, wherein:

the mechanism for imparting force is selected from the group consisting of rotary motor, linear motor, solenoid, and pneumatic piston.

15. The ECM device of claim 1, wherein the sternum compressing element comprises a belt.

16. The ECM device of claim 15, further comprising:

a force-altering element disposed between a portion of the belt passing over the patient'"'"'s chest and the patient'"'"' chest.

17. The ECM device of claim 16, wherein:

the force-altering element comprises a shock absorber.

18. The ECM device of claim 16, wherein:

the force-altering element is adapted to dampen force in at least one direction.

19. The ECM device of claim 16, wherein:

the force-altering element is adapted to store energy in at least one direction

20. The ECM device of claim 15, further comprising:

a drive spindle for intermittently tightening the belt.

21. The ECM device of claim 20, further comprising:

a torsion spring disposed on the drive spindle.

22. The ECM device of claim 15, wherein:

at least a portion of the belt comprises a pneumatic tube portion

23. The ECM device of claim 1, further comprising:

a backboard adapted to support the patient in a supine position and for housing various mechanical elements and mechanisms of the device.

24. The ECM device of claim 1, wherein:

the mechanism for imparting force comprises a pump providing pressurized air or fluid to a pneumatic portion of the belt.

25. The ECM device of claim 24, further comprising:

a force-modifying element disposed in fluid communication between the pump and the pneumatic portion of the belt.

26. The ECM device of claim 25, wherein:

said force-modifying element is selected from the group consisting of valves, petcocks, and dampers.

27. An external cardiac massage (ECM) device comprising:

a belt or cuff at least partially encircling a patient'"'"'s chest;

a mechanism for in intermittently tightening the belt or cuff;

a plunger package disposed between the belt or cuff and the patient'"'"'s chest, said plunger package comprising at least one of;

a second mechanism for imparting force to the plunger;

a plunger acted upon by the second mechanism for imparting force; and

a position/angle altering mechanism adapted to alter a direction or position of force applied by the plunger to the patient'"'"'s chest.

28. An external cardiac massage (ECM) device comprising:

a belt or cuff at least partially encircling a patient'"'"'s chest;

a mechanism for in intermittently tightening the belt or cuff;

a pneumatic tube disposed between the belt or cuff and the patient'"'"'s chest; and

a mechanism for intermittently pressurizing the pneumatic tube.

29. An external cardiac massage (ECM) device comprising:

a sternum compressing element adapted to be positioned over a patient'"'"'s thorax for externally massaging the patient'"'"'s heart;

a mechanism for imparting force to the sternum compressing element;

a controller for controlling movement of the sternum compressing element; and

memory to record and retain a coherent (usually time-based) record (data) of device operation and patient condition.

30. The ECM device of claim 29, wherein:

the memory is selected from the group consisting of disk, Flash Memory and compact disc (CD).