Portable heart massage apparatus

• US 4,702,231 A
• Filed: 10/21/1985
• Issued: 10/27/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pierre P. Arpin
• Original Assignee: Pierre P. Arpin
• Inventors: Arpin, Pierre P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Welsh, J.
• Application Number:
  US06/789,500
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 128/28, 128/30, 128/30.2, 128/38-40, 128/53, 128/55, 417/415
• US Class Current: 601/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2031/003 with alternated thorax decompression due to lateral compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/00 Artificial respiration or heart stimulation, e.g. heart massage artificial respiration by treatment with gas or air, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration A61M16/00; applying electric currents by contact electrodes for stimulation, e.g. heart pace-makers A61N1/36 ; teaching or training models, demonstration models for medical purposes G09B23/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/10 Preparation of respiratory gases or vapours
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen

Abstract

Presented is an apparatus operable to compress the chest of a person whose heart has stopped so as to initiate and maintain the flow of blood through the body during a cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure. Structurally, the apparatus includes a carrying case containing a motor for driving an actuator mechanism for actuating a pair of hydraulic cylinders connected together in a "slave" arrangement. The "slave" cylinder is mounted on a platform adapted to be strapped to the chest of the victim, with the "slave" cylinder having a ram that pushes rhythmically against the sternum to squeeze the heart between the sternum and backbone of the victim. A breathing apparatus (pulmonary resuscitator) may be driven by the motor in concert with the compression function to inflate the victim'"'"'s lungs with air and thus supply oxygen to the blood stream.

Claims

1. A heart massage apparatus for application to a victim whose heart has stopped beating and adapted to impose in a predetermined timed sequence pressure on the sternum of the victim sufficient to periodically compress the chest of the victim to thereby compress the heart between the sternum and backbone of the victim, comprising:

(a) means generating a source of periodic pressure sufficient when applied to the sternum of the victim to compress the chest sufficiently to thereby compress the heart of the victim between the sternum and the backbone of the victim; and

(b) means adapted to be attached to the chest of the victim cooperating with said means for generating periodic pressure to periodically apply in a timed sequence sufficient pressure on the sternum of the victim to periodically compress the victim'"'"'s chest whereby the victim'"'"'s heart is periodically compressed between the victim'"'"'s sternum and backbone;

(c) said means for generating periodic pressure including an electric motor, a gear reduction unit driven by said motor and providing a high torque low RPM power shaft, an actuator control assembly mounted on said power shaft and rotatable therewith and providing a crank shaft adapted to rotate in a circular path about the power drive shaft, a master hydraulic cylinder having a reciprocable hydraulic ram one end of which is pivotally connected to said crank shaft, said hydraulic ram generating periodic hydraulic pressure in said master hydraulic cylinder when said ram is reciprocated, and means connecting said master hydraulic cylinder to said means adapted to be attached to the chest of the victim whereby the pressure generated by said master cylinder is effective to compress the victim'"'"'s chest.

2. A heart massage apparatus for application to a victim whose heart has stopped beating and adapted to impose in a predetermined timed sequence pressure on the sternum of the victim sufficient to periodically compress the chest of the victim to thereby compress the heart between the sternum and backbone of the victim, comprising:

(a) means generating a source of periodic pressure sufficient when applied to the sternum of the victim to compress the chest sufficiently to thereby compress the heart of the victim between the sternum and the backgone of the victim; and

(b) means adapted to be attached to the chest of the victim cooperating with said means for generating periodic pressure to periodically apply in a timed sequence sufficient pressure on the sternum of the victim to periodically compress the victim'"'"'s chest whereby the victim'"'"'s heart is periodically compressed between the victim'"'"'s sternum and backbone;

(c) said means for generating periodic pressure including a motor having a drive shaft, a master hydraulic cylinder having a pressure ram reciprocable therewithin, and means opertively interposed between said motor shaft and said master cylinder for effecting controlled reciprocation of the ram in a predetermined timed sequence;

(d) said means operatively interposed between said motor shaft and said master cylinder comprising an actuator and stroke control assembly including a crank body generally symmetrical about a longitudinal axis that is laterally offset from the axis of rotation of said drive shaft and perpendicular thereto, a slide bearing portion on said crank body, a pair of spaced tines on said crank body, a stroke adjustment member mounted on said crank body, said stroke adjustment member having a threaded spindle slidably mounted in said slide bearing portion for selective adjustment in relation to said crank body, a crank shaft integral with said threaded spindle and slidably disposed between said tines, means on said crank body selectively manipulable to adjust the position of said crank shaft in relation to the axis of rotation of said motor shaft, and means pivotably connecting said crank shaft to said pressure ram of said master cylinder whereby rotation of said crank shaft about the axis of rotation of said motor drive shaft effects reciprocation of said master cylinder ram through a selectively variable stroke.