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Active compression/decompression cardiac assist/support device and method

  • US 5,490,820 A
  • Filed: 03/12/1993
  • Issued: 02/13/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A device for compressing and decompressing a patient'"'"'s thorax, the patient having a heart, comprising:

  • a first thoracic compressor suitably dimensioned and disposed to cover at least a portion of an anterior region of the thorax, said first thoracic compressor being positioned adjacent to the thorax;

    a second thoracic compressor suitably dimensioned and disposed to cover at least a portion of a lateral region of the thorax, said second thoracic compressor being positioned substantially adjacent to and lateral of the patient'"'"'s thorax;

    urging means for urging at least one of said thoracic compressors against the thorax, such that when a particular one of said thoracic compressors is actuated, said urging means causes said particular thoracic compressor to press against the thorax; and

    a compression controller for sequentially actuating and deactuating said first and said second thoracic compressors, wherein when said first thoracic compressor is inflated, the patient'"'"'s thorax is compressed and pressure in the thorax increases, so that blood is driven away from the heart, and wherein when said second thoracic compressor is inflated, lateral force is applied to the patient'"'"'s thorax, the patient'"'"'s thorax is decompressed and pressure in the thorax decreases, so that blood is drawn toward the heart.

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