External cardiac resuscitation aid

• US 4,077,400 A
• Filed: 08/29/1975
• Issued: 03/07/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kelly Medical Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Roy Major Harrigan
• Inventors: Harrigan, Roy Major
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Application Number:
  US05/609,109
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 128/24 R, 128/28, 128/50, 128/51, 128/52, 128/67, 128/2 N, 128/2 S, 35/17
• US Class Current: 601/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2031/002 fixed on the chest by adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/007 Manual driven

Abstract

Effectiveness and safety of external cardiac resuscitation is increased by the use of a small inflatable "pillow" which has a pressure gauge calibrated to read out the downward force or pressure applied to the victim'"'"'s chest. The device is placed on the victim'"'"'s chest and force is applied onto the device allowing the user to observe and control the force or pressure being applied to the victim.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a prone, face-up human patient, comprising:

means for placement on the chest of the patient between a user'"'"'s hands and the patient'"'"'s chest for receiving and transmitting forces to the patient'"'"'s chest, the forces applied by placing the user'"'"'s hands directly onto the receiving and transmitting means during cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

means in operative relationship with said receiving and transmitting means for sensing the forces directly applied to said receiving and transmitting means by the user'"'"'s hands; and

means configured to be normally and easily placed on the chest of the patient during use and in operative relationship with said sensing means and with said receiving and transmitting means for indicating the forces applied to the patient'"'"'s chest

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receiving and transmitting means is inflatable and further including means attached to said cushioning for enabling inflation thereof.

3. A method for administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a human patient by a rescuer with the use of a cushion, comprising the steps of:

positioning the patient on his back;

placing the cushion onto the patient'"'"'s chest and over the lower sternum of the patient;

applying a downward force to the cushion and to the patient'"'"'s chest for a first predetermined time interval by placing the rescuer'"'"'s hands onto the cushion;

removing the application of said force to said cushion and to the patient'"'"'s chest for a second predetermined time interval; and

repeating the application and removal of force to the cushion and to the patient'"'"'s chest as necessary.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein said force applied to said cushion is a predetermined force as measured by a pressure gauge affixed to said cushion.

6. A method as in claim 3 wherein said first predetermined time interval is measured and displayed by said force sensing and indicating device.

5. Apparatus for use in administering manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a human patient comprising:

force sensing means to be placed on the chest of the patient and beneath a user'"'"'s hands for sensing the force applied by the user'"'"'s hands via said sensing means to the patient'"'"'s chest during resuscitation efforts; and

means in operative relationship with said sensing means for indicating the force applied by the user'"'"'s hands to the sensing means and to the patient'"'"'s chest.

7. A method for controlling the application of manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a rescuer to a human patient, comprising the steps of:

placing a force sensing and indicating device on the patient'"'"'s chest;

applying a manual force to the device and via said device to the patient'"'"'s chest by placing the rescuer'"'"'s hands on the sensing and indicating device;

removing the application of force from the device and from the patient'"'"'s chest; and

repeating the application and removal of force to the device and to the patient'"'"'s chest as necessary to effect resuscitation of the patient.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein said force is applied during a first predetermined time interval.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein said application of force is removed during a second predetermined time interval.

10. A method as in claim 9 wherein said second predetermined time interval is measured and displayed by said force sensing and indicating device.

11. A method as in claim 7 wherein said force applied is a predetermined force as measured and displayed by said force sensing and indicating device.

12. A method for controlling the application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a rescuer to a human patient by use of apparatus having an inflatable cushion and a pressure sensing gauge attached to said cushion said method comprising the steps of;

inflating the cushion;

placing the inflated cushion onto the patient'"'"'s chest;

applying a force and pressure to the inflated cushion and via said cushion to the patient'"'"'s chest by placing the rescuer'"'"'s hands onto the inflated cushion;

observing the pressure sensing gauge at the same time said force and pressure are being applied to the inflated cushion to determine the amount of force being applied to the patient'"'"'s chest;

removing the application of force and pressure from the inflated cushion and from the patient'"'"'s chest when the gauge displays a predetermined reading; and

repeating the application and removal of force and pressure to the inflated cushion and to the patient'"'"'s chest.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein said force and pressure are applied to the inflated cushion for a first predetermined time interval.

14. A method as in claim 13 wherein said application of force and pressure is removed from the inflated cushion for a second predetermined time interval.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein said second predetermined time interval is measured and displayed by the pressure gauge.

16. A method as in claim 13 wherein said first predetermined time interval is measured and displayed by the pressure gauge.

17. A method as in claim 12 wherein said force applied to the inflated cushion is a predetermined force as measured and displayed by the gauge.

18. Apparatus for use by a rescuer in administering manual, emergency, external cardiac massage to a prone, face-up, human patient displaying symptoms of cardiac arrest, said apparatus consisting essentially of:

a resilient, force receiving and transmitting member configured to be placed on the chest of said prone, face-up patient to receive a downward, periodic force applied by the hands of said rescuer to create blood circulation within the patient; and

means configured to be normally placed on the chest of the patient during use and operatively connected to said member for indicating the amount of said force applied by the rescuer.

19. Apparatus as in claim 18 further consisting essentially of timing means in operative relationship with said indicating means for enabling said indicating means to relax from a first predetermined reading to a second predetermined reading during a predetermined time interval when said force is removed by the rescuer from said resilient member.

20. Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said timing means is adjustable to selectively adjust said time interval.

21. Apparatus as in claim 20 further consisting essentially of adhesive material affixed to said resilient member for enabling the member to be fixedly positioned on the patient'"'"'s chest.

22. Apparatus as in claim 19 further consisting essentially of a sheet member removably positioned over said adhesive material.

23. Apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said resilient member is inflatable and further consisting essentially of means attached to said inflatable member for enabling inflation of said resilient member.

24. Apparatus as in claim 23 further consisting essentially of a porous, foam pad located within said inflatable member for enabling continued use of the apparatus even though said inflatable member becomes uninflatable.

25. Apparatus for use by a rescuer in administering manual, external cardiac massage to a human patient, comprising:

means configured to be placed on the chest of the patient between the rescuer'"'"'s hands and the patient'"'"'s chest for receiving force applied by placing the rescuer'"'"'s hands onto the receiving means and for transmitting the force to the chest of the patient; and

means operatively connected to said receiving and transmitting means and configured to be normally placed on the chest of the patient during use for indicating the amount of said force applied by the rescuer by placing the rescuer'"'"'s hands onto the receiving means.

26. A method for administering manual, external cardiac massage by a rescuer in a controlled manner to a human patient, comprising the steps of:

placing a force transmitting and indicating device on the patient'"'"'s chest;

applying a manual force to the device and via said device to the patient'"'"'s chest by placing the rescuer'"'"'s hands on the transmitting and indicating device;

observing the readings of said indicating device while said force is being applied;

removing the application of said force from the device and from the patient'"'"'s chest when said indicating device reaches a first predetermined reading;

observing the readings of said indicating device while said force is removed from the device and from the patient'"'"'s chest;

reapplying a manual force to the device and via said device to the patient'"'"'s chest when the indicating device reaches a second predetermined reading; and

continuing to reapply said manual force to the device and to the patient'"'"'s chest via said device until said indicating device again reaches said first predetermined reading.

27. Apparatus for use in performing the resuscitation technique known as manual, external, cardiac compression, comprising:

means to be placed on the chest of a prone, face-up patient between a user'"'"'s hands and the patient'"'"'s chest for receiving and transmitting a force and pressure applied from the user'"'"'s hands to the patient'"'"'s chest by placing the user'"'"'s hands onto the receiving and transmitting means during the performance of the technique known as manual, external, cardiac compression;

means configured to be normally placed on the chest of the prone, face-up patient during use and in operative relationship with said receiving and transmitting means for sensing the force and pressure applied to said receiving and transmitting means and to the patient'"'"'s chest by the user'"'"'s hands; and

means configured to be normally placed on the chest of the prone, face-up patient during use and in operative relationship with said sensing means for indicating the force applied by the user'"'"'s hands to the patient'"'"'s chest via said receiving and transmitting means.

28. Apparatus as in claim 27 wherein said indicating means include means for indicating said force directly to the user and substantially instantaneously with respect to the application of said force to said receiving and transmitting means.

29. Apparatus for use in performing the resuscitation technique known as manual, external, cardiac compression, comprising:

means to be placed on the chest of a prone, face-up patient and beneath a user'"'"'s hands for receiving a force applied by the user'"'"'s hands to said receiving means and for transmitting said force to the patient'"'"'s chest during the performance of said technique; and

means configured to be placed on the chest of the prone, face-up patient and in operative relationship with said receiving and transmitting means for indicating the force applied by the user'"'"'s hands to the receiving and transmitting means and to the patient'"'"'s chest.

30. Apparatus as in claim 29 wherein said indicating means include means for indicating said force directly to the user and substantially instantaneously with respect to the application of said force to said receiving and transmitting means.

31. A method for controlling the performance of the technique known as manual, external, cardiac compression, comprising the steps of:

placing a force transmitting and indicating device onto a patient'"'"'s chest and beneath a rescuer'"'"'s hands;

applying a force directly to said device and via said device to the patient'"'"'s chest by placing the rescuer'"'"'s hands on the device;

observing the force being applied as indicated by said device;

controlling said application of force based on the observation of said device;

removing the application of force from the device and from the patient'"'"'s chest based on the observation of said device;

observing the force being applied as indicated by said device while said force is removed from the device and from the patient'"'"'s chest and;

repeating the application and removal of force to the device and via said device to the patient'"'"'s chest as nesessary.

32. Apparatus for use by a rescuer in administering manual, emergency, external, cardiac massage to a prone, face-up human patient, said apparatus comprising:

a resilient cushion defining a hollow interior;

a fluid located within said hollow interior; and

means configured to be normally placed during use on the chest of the prone, face-up patient and in operative relationship with said cushion for indicating forces exerted on said cushion by the rescuer.

33. Apparatus as in claim 32 wherein said indicating means are in fluid communication with the interior of said cushion.

34. Apparatus as in claim 33 wherein said indicating means are a pressure gauge.

35. Apparatus for use in administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a human patient, comprising;

means for placement on the chest of the patient between a user'"'"'s hands and the patient'"'"'s chest for receiving and transmitting forces and pressure applied by the user to the patient'"'"'s chest during cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

means in operative relationship with said receiving and transmitting means for sensing the force applied to said receiving and transmitting means by the user;

means in operative relationship with said sensing means for indicating the forces applied to said receiving and transmitting means by the user; and

timing means in operative relationship with said indicating means for enabling said indicating means to relax from any reading to a zero reading during a predetermined time interval.

36. Apparatus as in claim 35 wherein said timing means is adjustable to selectively adjust said time interval.

37. A method for administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a human patient by a rescuer with the use of a cushion, comprising the steps of:

positioning the patient on his back;

placing the cushion onto the patient'"'"'s chest and over the lower sternum of the patient;

applying a downward force to the cushion and via said cushion to the patient'"'"'s chest for a first predetermined time interval as determined by means attached to said cushion for indicating said time interval;

removing the application of said force to said cushion and to the patient'"'"'s chest for a second predetermined time interval as determined by said indicating means attached to the cushion; and

repeating the application and removal of force to the cushion and to the patient'"'"'s chest.

38. Apparatus for use in administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a human patient, comprising:

means for placement on the chest of the patient between a user'"'"'s hands and the patient'"'"'s chest for receiving and transmitting forces and pressure applied by the user to the patient'"'"'s chest during cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

means in operative relationship with said receiving and transmitting means for sensing the forces applied to said receiving and transmitting means by the user;

means in operative relationship with said sensing means for indicating the forces applied to said receiving and transmitting means by the user; and

adhesive material affixed to said receiving and transmitting means for enabling said receiving and transmitting means to be fixedly positioned on the chest of the patient.

39. Apparatus as in claim 38 further including a sheet removably positioned over said adhesive material.

40. Apparatus for use in administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a human patient, comprising:

inflatable means for placement on the chest of the patient between a user'"'"'s hands and the patient'"'"'s chest for receiving and transmitting forces and pressure applied by the user to the patient'"'"'s chest during cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

means in operative relationship with said receiving and transmitting means for sensing the forces applied to said receiving and transmitting means by the user;

means in operative relationship with said sensing means for indicating the forces or pressure applied to said receiving and transmitting means by the user; and

a porous, foam pad located within said inflatable means.

41. Apparatus for use in administering manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a human patient comprising:

force sensing means for sensing force applied by a user'"'"'s hands to the patient'"'"'s chest during resuscitation efforts;

means in operative relationship with said sensing means for indicating the force applied by the user'"'"'s hands to the patient'"'"'s chest; and

timing means in operative relationship with said indicating means for enabling said indicating means to relax from a first predetermined reading to a second predetermined reading during a predetermined time interval when force is removed by the user from said force sensing means.

42. Apparatus as in claim 41 wherein said timing means is adjustable to selectively adjust said time interval.

43. Apparatus for use by a rescuer in administering manual, external cardiac massage to a human patient, comprising:

means to be placed on the chest of the patient for receiving force applied by the rescuer and for transmitting the force to the chest of the patient;

means operatively connected to said receiving means for indicating the amount of said force applied by the rescuer; and

timing means in operative relationship with said indicating means for enabling said indicating means to change from a first predetermined reading to a second predetermined reading during a predetermined time interval when the force is removed by the rescuer from the force receiving means.

44. Apparatus as in claim 43 wherein said timing means is adjustable to selectively adjust said time interval.

45. Apparatus as in claim 44 further including an adhesive material affixed to said receiving means.

46. Apparatus for use in performing the resuscitation technique known as manual, external, cardiac compression, comprising;

means to be placed on the chest of a patient between a user'"'"'s hands and the patient'"'"'s chest for receiving and transmitting a force and pressure from the user'"'"'s hands to the patient'"'"'s chest during the performance of the technique known as manual, external, cardiac compression;

means in operative relationship with said receiving and transmitting means for sensing the force and pressure applied to said receiving and transmitting means and to the patient'"'"'s chest by the user'"'"'s hands;

means in operative relationship with said sensing means for indicating the force applied by the user'"'"'s hands to the patient'"'"'s chest via said receiving and transmitting means; and

timing means in operative relationship with said indicating means for enabling said indicating means to change from a first predetermined reading to a second predetermined reading during a predetermined time interval when force is removed by the user from said receiving and transmitting means.

47. Apparatus as in claim 46 wherein said timing means is adjustable to selectively adjust said time interval.

48. Apparatus as in claim 47 further including an adhesive material affixed to said receiving and transmitting means.

49. Apparatus for use in performing the resuscitation technique known as manual, external, cardiac compression, comprising:

means to be placed on the chest of a patient and beneath a user'"'"'s hands for receiving a force applied by the user'"'"'s hands to said receiving means and for transmitting said force to the patient'"'"'s chest during the performance of said technique;

means in operative relationship with said receiving and transmitting means for indicating the force applied by the user'"'"'s hands to the receiving and transmitting means and to the patient'"'"'s chest; and

timing means in operative relationship with said indicating means for enabling said indicating means to change from a first predetermined reading to a second predetermined reading during a predetermined time interval when force is removed by the user from said receiving and transmitting means.

50. Apparatus as in claim 49 wherein said timing means is adjustable to selectively adjust said time interval.

51. Apparatus as in claim 50 further including an adhesive material affixed to said receiving and transmitting means.

52. A method for controlling the application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a rescuer to a human patient by use of apparatus having a cushion and a gauge attached to said cushion, said method comprising the steps of:

placing the cushion onto the patient'"'"'s chest;

applying a force to the cushion and via said cushion to the patient'"'"'s chest by placing the rescuer'"'"'s hands onto the cushion;

observing the gauge at the same time said force is being applied to the cushion to determine the amount of force being applied to the patient'"'"'s chest;

removing the application of force from the cushion and from the patient'"'"'s chest when the gauge displays a predetermined reading; and

repeating the application and removal of force to the cushion and to the patient'"'"'s chest.

53. A method as in claim 52 wherein said gauge is calibrated in units of force.

54. Apparatus for use in administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a human patient, comprising:

means for placement on the chest of the patient between a user'"'"'s hands and the patient'"'"'s chest for receiving forces applied by the user and for transmitting said forces to the patient'"'"'s chest during cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and

means configured for normal placement during use on the chest of the patient and extending from and in operative relationship with said receiving and transmitting means for sensing and indicating the forces applied to said receiving and transmitting means by the user.

55. Apparatus as in claim 54 wherein said indicating means is substantially axially aligned with said receiving and transmitting means.

56. Apparatus as in claim 55 further including timing means in operative relationship with said indicating means for enabling said indicating means to relax from a first predetermined reading to a second predetermined reading during a predetermined time interval when force and pressure is removed by the user from said receiving and transmitting means.

57. Apparatus as in claim 56 wherein said timing means is adjustable to selectively adjust said time interval.

58. Apparatus as in claim 55 further including adhesive material affixed to said receiving and transmitting means for enabling said receiving and transmitting means to be fixedly positioned on the patient'"'"'s chest.

59. Apparatus as in claim 58 further including a sheet removably positioned over said adhesive material.

60. Apparatus as in claim 55 wherein said receiving and transmitting means is inflatable and further including means attached to said receiving and transmitting means for enabling inflation thereof.

61. Apparatus as in claim 60 further including a porous, foam pad located within said inflatable receiving and transmitting means.

62. Apparatus as in claim 54 wherein said indicating means substantially rigidly extends from said receiving and transmitting means to form a substantially rigid and unitary apparatus.

63. Apparatus as in claim 54 wherein said indicating means is positioned with respect to said receiving and transmitting means to enable the user to observe the indication of the forces applied while enabling the user to simultaneously observe the patient'"'"'s chest area.

64. Apparatus for use in administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a human patient, comprising:

inflatable means for placement on the chest of the patient between a user'"'"'s hands and the patient'"'"'s chest for receiving and transmitting forces and pressure applied by the user to the patient'"'"'s chest during cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

means in operative relationship with said receiving and transmitting means for sensing pressure created internally of said receiving and transmitting means by the user; and

means in operative relationship with said sensing means for indicating directly and substantially instantaneously to the user the forces applied to said receiving and transmitting means by the user.

65. Apparatus for use by a rescuer in administering manual, emergency, external cardiac massage to a prone, face-up, human patient displaying symptoms of cardiac arrest, said apparatus comprising:

force receiving and transmitting means configured to be normally placed during use on the chest of said prone, face-up patient for receiving a downward, periodic force applied by said rescuer to create blood circulation within the patient; and

means configured to be normally placed on the chest of the patient during use and operatively connected to said receiving and transmitting means for indicating to the rescuer the amount of said force applied by the rescuer.