Mechanical adjunct to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and an electrical adjunct to defibrillation countershock, cardiac pacing, and cardiac monitoring
First Claim
1. In an apparatus for treating cardiac patients, having at least two electrodes connected to a defibrillator, an improved apparatus comprising:
- (a) an expansible walled body forming a bladder for positioning in a patient'"'"'s esophagus near the posterior of the patient'"'"'s heart said body having walls which are sufficiently inelastic to provide a rigid support against which the heart and aorta can be forced and compressed, wherein the anteroposterior dimension of the bladder is decreased by not more than about five percent during a properly administered CPR chest compression; and
(b) a first electrode of said two electrodes attached to the expansible walled body for, in combination with a second electrode of said two electrodes and a defibrillator, inducing a flow of electrical current between the electrodes, through at least a portion of the heart.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for aiding in the treatment of cardiac arrest patients which includes a flexible tube having an elongated bladder attached between its opposite ends and a stomach bladder attached to its distal end. Each bladder has a conductive portion which serves as an electrode. Wires are embedded in the sidewall of the tube and connected to each electrode. Passageways formed in the sidewall of the tube and fluid-conveying tubes connected thereto form a fluid path through which a saline solution or a gas passes to fill the bladders. The tube is positioned so that the stomach bladder lies in the fundus of the stomach and the esophageal bladder lies in the posterior to the heart. The stomach bladder is filled and moderate countertraction is applied. Then the esophageal bladder is filled. The esophageal bladder serves as a platform by expanding and hardening the esophagus behind the heart. The heart is then compressed between the sternum and the hardened esophageal bladder, thus enhancing artificial circulation. A defibrillation countershock is administered through the low impedance pathway between the stomach and esophageal electrodes, which are in close proximity to the left ventricle, in order to defibrillate the heart.
177 Citations
22 Claims
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1. In an apparatus for treating cardiac patients, having at least two electrodes connected to a defibrillator, an improved apparatus comprising:
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(a) an expansible walled body forming a bladder for positioning in a patient'"'"'s esophagus near the posterior of the patient'"'"'s heart said body having walls which are sufficiently inelastic to provide a rigid support against which the heart and aorta can be forced and compressed, wherein the anteroposterior dimension of the bladder is decreased by not more than about five percent during a properly administered CPR chest compression; and (b) a first electrode of said two electrodes attached to the expansible walled body for, in combination with a second electrode of said two electrodes and a defibrillator, inducing a flow of electrical current between the electrodes, through at least a portion of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An improved heart compressing method for treating a cardiac arrest patient comprising:
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(a) inserting an expansible walled bladder having flexible inelastic walls into an esophagus of the patient near the heart; (b) filling and expanding the expansible walled bladder with a fluid to a pressure which is effective for providing a platform near a posterior region of the heart which is sufficiently rigid to support the heart and aorta during compression, wherein the anteroposterior dimension of the bladder is decreased by not more than about five percent during a properly administered CPR chest compression; and (c) forcing and compressing the heart and aorta against the platform provided by the expansible walled bladder. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An improved electrode placement method for heart defibrillation of a cardiac arrest patient comprising:
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(a) inserting a first electrode into a patient'"'"'s esophagus near a posterior region of a heart; (b) inserting a second electrode into the patient'"'"'s stomach near the heart; and (c) inducing a flow of electrical current between the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification