Automated Chest Compression Device

• US 20170105897A1
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zoll Circulation Incorporated (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Joshi, Nikhil S., Harris, Melanie L., Reynolds, Byron J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2011/005 with belt or strap expanding and contracting around an encircled body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/018 By limiting the applied torque or force
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1445 Overrunning clutches; One-way clutches
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1623 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven

Abstract

A device for compressing the chest of a cardiac arrest victim.

Claims

1. A device for compressing a chest of a patient comprising:

a platform for placement under a thorax of the patient;

a compression belt adapted to extend over an anterior chest wall of the patient, said belt comprising a load distribution section and right belt end and a left belt end;

a motor operably connected to the belt through a drive train, said motor capable of operating the drive train repeatedly to cause the belt to tighten about the thorax of the patient and loosen about the thorax of the patient;

wherein

the drive train comprises a right drive spool and a left drive spool, said right drive spool and left drive spool disposed laterally in the housing, and a linkage operably connecting the motor to said right drive spool and left drive spool; and

the right belt end and the left belt end are releasably attachable to the right drive spool and left drive spool, respectively, at attachment points accessible from anterior or lateral sides of the platform, such that the right belt end and left belt end may be attached to the right drive spool and the left drive spool while the platform is disposed under the patient.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the drive train comprises right and left intermediate straps fixed to right and left drive spools, and the right and left belt ends comprise releasable attachment means for releasably attaching the right and left belt ends to the right and left intermediate straps.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the right and left intermediate straps are substantially self-supporting yet sufficiently flexible that they may be spooled on the right and left drive spools.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising right and left splines disposed on the right and left belt ends, and slots in the right and left drive spools for receiving the right and left splines to releasably attach the right and left belt ends to the right and left drive spools.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the linkage comprises a drive belt operably connecting the motor to the right drive spool and a drive belt operably connecting the motor to the left drive spool.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the linkage comprises a drive chain operably connecting the motor to the right drive spool and a drive chain operably connecting the motor to the left drive spool.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a control system operable to control operation of the motor to tighten and loosen the compression belt in repeated cycles of compression about the thorax of the patient, and said control system is further operable to pre-tension the compression belt, prior to performing the repeated cycles of compression, by first operating the motor to loosen the belt, and then operating the motor to tighten the belt until the belt is tightened to a slack take-position.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a compression monitor with sensors secured to the compression belt, said compression monitor operable to determine the depth of compression achieved by the chest compression device, wherein the control system if further programmed to control operation of the compression belt based on the chest compression depth determined by the compression monitor.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the control system is further programmed to control operation of the compression belt to achieve a predetermined compression depth as determined by the compression monitor.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the platform is characterized by an inferior/superior axis corresponding to the inferior/superior axis of a patient on which the device is used, and characterized by a medial/lateral axis corresponding to the medial/lateral axis of a patient on which the device is used, wherein:

the motor and drive train are disposed in a first region of the device along the inferior/superior axis, and the drive spools extend into a second region of the device along the inferior/superior axis, said second region displaced from the first region and located inferiorly to the first region; and

the drive spools are spaced laterally from the inferior/superior centerline of the device, thereby defining a radiolucent space within the housing devoid of radiopaque components;

such that said radiolucent space is disposed, when the device is installed under a patient with the compression belt spanning the anterior chest wall of the patient, under the heart of the patient.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive spools have a first segment engaging the linkage, and a second segment, extending inferiorly from the first segment, which engages the belt ends, defining a space between the drive spools, on a coronal plane and inferior to the belt which is unoccupied by drive train components.

7. The device of 1, wherein the drive train comprises a first drive shaft connected to the motor, a sun gear disposed on the drive shaft, with said sun gear engaging a planetary gear which is fixed to a second drive shaft, a first drive belt, drive chain, rack or strap connecting the first drive shaft to one of the left and right drive spools, and a second drive belt, drive chain, rack or strap connecting the second drive shaft to the other of the left and right drive spools.

8. The device of 1, wherein the drive train comprises a first drive shaft connected to the motor, a first drive belt, drive chain or rack connecting the first drive shaft to one of the left and right drive spools, and a second drive belt, drive chain or rack connecting the first drive shaft to the other of the left and right drive spools.

14. A method of performing chest compression on a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a device for compressing a chest of a patient, said device comprising;

a platform for placement under a thorax of the patient;

a compression belt adapted to extend over an anterior chest wall of the patient, said belt comprising a load distribution section and right and left belt ends;

a drive train operably connected to the belt for repeatedly tightening and loosening the belt around the chest of the patient;

a motor operably connected to the belt through a drive train, said motor capable of operating the drive train repeatedly to cause the belt to tighten about the thorax of the patient and loosen about the thorax of the patient;

wherein

the drive train comprises a right drive spool and a left drive spool, said right drive spool and left drive spool disposed laterally in the housing, and a linkage operably connecting the motor to said right drive spool and left drive spool; and

the right belt end and the left belt end are releasably attachable to the right drive spool and left drive spool, respectively, at attachment points accessible from anterior or lateral sides of the platform, such that the right belt end and left belt end may be attached to the right drive spool and the left drive spool while the platform is disposed under the patient;

placing the patient on the platform, with the anterior side of the platform in contact with the thorax of the patient;

thereafter, while the patient is disposed on the platform, attaching the right belt end to the right drive spool, and attaching the left belt end to the left drive spool; and

initiating operation of the device to cause repeated cycles of tightening and loosening of the belt about the thorax of the patient.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

manually tightening the belt about the thorax of the patient to an initial tightness; and

operating the device to loosen the belt to ensure that the belt is slack, and thereafter tightening the belt to a first, low threshold of tightness, and associating the position of the belt with a slack-take up position, and thereafter operating the device to tighten and loosen the compression belt in repeated cycles of compression about the thorax of the patient, while detecting the depth of compressions achieved by the belt with a compression sensor secured to the compression belt.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

providing a depth compression sensor fixed to the compression belt and operable to generate compression signals corresponding the depth of compression achieved by the compression belt; and

operating the motor to achieve chest compressions of a predetermined depth as determined from the compression signals.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

operating the device to limit loosening of the compression belt between compressions to the slack take-up position.

18. A method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

interrupting operation of the device to replace the belt, detaching the right belt end from the right drive spool, and detaching the left belt end from the left drive spool, while the patient remains on the platform.

19. A device for compressing a chest of a patient comprising:

a platform for placement under a thorax of the patient, characterized by an anterior/posterior axis corresponding to the anterior/posterior axis of a patient on which the device is used, and characterized by an inferior/superior axis corresponding to the inferior/superior axis of a patient on which the device is used;

a compression belt adapted to extend over an anterior chest wall of the patient, said belt comprising a load distribution section, and right and left belt ends;

right and left drive spools laterally displaced from an inferior/superior centerline of the platform, said right and left drive spools operably connected to the right and left belt ends such that rotation of the right and left drive spools results in pulling the right and left belt ends posteriorly, for repeatedly tightening and loosening the belt around the chest of the patient;

a motor operably connected to the right and left drive spools, through a drive train, said motor operable to rotate the right and left drive spools.

20. The device of claim 21 wherein the drive train comprises:

a first drive belt, drive chain, rack or strap connecting a first drive shaft to one of the left and right drive spools, and a second drive belt, drive chain, rack or strap connecting a second drive shaft to the other of the left and right drive spools.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein:

the drive train comprises right and left intermediate straps fixed to right and left drive spools and the right and left belt ends.