Rigid support structure on two legs for CPR

• US 7,569,021 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physio-Control Incorporated (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jolife AB (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Hampf, Jan, Bergstrom, Per, Sebelius, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMILLE, DANTON D
• Application Number:
  US10/105,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20030181834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,693 Days
• Field of Search: 601 41- 44, 601/151, 601/152, 600/21, 600/22, 128/870
• US Class Current: 601/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1253 driven by a human being, e.g. hand driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/084 Chest
• 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 31/004 Heart stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/007 Manual driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/008 Supine patient supports or bases, e.g. improving air-way access to the lungs

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a support structure for fixating a patient to a treatment unit, and especially to a support structure for fixating the patient to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation unit. An embodiment of the support structure (10) comprises a back plate (100) for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart and a front part (200) for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart. Further, the front part (200) can comprise two legs (210, 220), each leg (210, 220) having a first end (212, 222) pivotably connected to at least one hinge (230, 240) and a second end (214, 224) removably attachable to said back plate (100). Said front part (200) can further be devised for comprising a compression/decompression unit (300) arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part (200) is attached to said back plate (100).

Claims

1. A method for fixating a patient to a treatment unit for external treatment of a patient'"'"'s body part, comprising:

positioning a back plate of a support structure posterior to said body part;

positioning a central part of a front part of said support structure anterior to said body part, and positioning around said patient'"'"'s body part two rigid legs of said front part, each respective one of said two legs having a respective first end and a respective second end, said respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part;

removably attaching said respective second ends of each of said two legs to different portions of said back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when each of said second ends is attached to said back plate; and

coupling said treatment unit to said central part.

36. The support structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said back plate is arranged to have at least one handle.

37. The support structure as recited in claim 36, wherein said handle is provided by means of a cut-out in said back plate to decrease the weight of said back plate.

38. The support structure as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said legs are arranged to turn around said hinge between a minimum position and a maximum position.

41. The support structure as recited in claim 38, wherein the distance between said maximum positions are arranged to correspond to the distance between fixation positions of said back plate.

42. The support structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said legs are arranged to have at least one handle.

43. The support structure as recited in claim 1, having a weight less than approximately 6.5 kilogram.

44. The support structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the diametrical dimension thereof in a folded position is approximately 320×

640×

230 millimeters (width×

height×

depth).

45. The support structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the diametrical dimension thereof in an unfolded position is approximately 500×

538×

228 millimeters (width×

height×

depth).

46. The support structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said back plate is arranged to have at least one handle, and wherein said handle is provided by means of a cut-out in said back plate to decrease the weight of said back plate.

2. A method for fixating a patient to a compression/decompression unit for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of said patient, comprising:

positioning a back plate of a support structure behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

positioning a central part of a front part of said support structure anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, and positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest two rigid legs of said front part, each respective one of said two legs having a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and having a respective second end;

removably attaching said respective second ends of each of said two legs to different portions of said back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when each of said second ends is attached to said back plate; and

coupling said compression/decompression unit to said central part.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

arranging said back plate to have at least one handle.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

arranging said back plate to have at least one handle; and

arranging said handle to be a cut-out in said back plate to decrease the weight of said back plate.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

arranging each of said two legs to turn around said hinge between a minimum position and a maximum position.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

arranging each of said two legs to resiliently turn around said hinge by means of a resilient member.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

arranging the distance between said maximum positions to correspond to the distance between attachment positions of said back plate.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

arranging said legs to have at least one handle.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said compression/decompression unit comprises a pneumatic unit.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

arranging said pneumatic unit to run and control the compression and decompression of said compression/decompression unit.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein said compression/decompression unit comprises a pneumatic unit, said method further comprising:

arranging said pneumatic unit to run and control the compression and decompression of said compression/decompression unit, and wherein said compression/decompression unit further comprises an adjustable suspension unit coupled to said pneumatic unit and a compression/decompression pad.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

controlling the position of said pad with a handle coupled to said pad.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

arranging said compression/decompression unit to provide a compression depth in the range of approximately 20-90 millimeters.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

arranging said compression/decompression unit to provide a compression depth in the range of approximately 35-52 millimeters.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

arranging said compression/decompression unit to provide a decompression height in the range of approximately 0-50 millimeters.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

arranging said compression/decompression unit to provide a decompression height in the range of approximately 10-25 millimeters.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

arranging said compression/decompression unit to provide a compression frequency of approximately 100 compressions per minute.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

arranging said compression/decompression unit to provide a compression force in the range of approximately 350-700 Newton.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

arranging said compression/decompression unit to provide a decompression force in the range of approximately 100-450 Newton.

21. The method of claim 2, wherein said support structure has a weight less than approximately 6.5 kilograms.

22. The method of claim 2, wherein the diametrical dimension of said support structure in a folded position is approximately 320×

640×

230 millimeters (width×

height×

depth).

23. The method of claim 2, wherein the diametrical dimension of said support structure in an unfolded position is approximately 500×

538×

228 millimeters (width×

height×

depth).

7. A method for fixating a patient to a compression/decompression unit for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of said patient, comprising:

positioning a back plate of a support structure behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

positioning a front part of said support structure around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising a central part and two rigid legs, each of said two legs having a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end;

removably attaching said second end of each of said two legs to said back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when each of said second ends is attached to said back plate;

coupling said compression/decompression unit to said front part;

arranging each of said two legs to turn around said hinge between a minimum position and a maximum position; and

arranging each of said two legs to resiliently turn around said hinge by means of a resilient member, wherein said resilient member comprises a torsion spring.

24. A method for fixating a patient to a compression/decompression unit for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of said patient, comprising:

positioning a back plate of a support structure behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

positioning a central part of a front part of said support structure anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, and positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest two rigid legs of said front part, each respective one of said two legs having a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and having a respective second end;

removably attaching said respective second ends of each of said two legs to different portions of said back plate;

coupling said compression/decompression unit to said central part; and

fastening at least one of said patient'"'"'s arms to an arm restraint at a front part of said support structure.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

arranging said arm restraint to increase the stability of the support structure in relation to said patient.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

arranging said arm restraint to restrain the patient'"'"'s wrists.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said arm restraint is a strap manufactured of hook and loop fastening tape.

26. A method of for fixating a patient to a compression/decompression unit for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of said patient, comprising:

positioning a back plate of a support structure behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

positioning a front part of said support structure around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising two legs, each of said two legs having a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end;

removably attaching said second end of each of said two legs to said back plate;

coupling said compression/decompression unit to said front part;

fastening at least one of said patient'"'"'s arms to arm fastening means of said support structure; and

arranging said arm fastening means at said front part.

29. A method for fixating a patient to a compression/decompression unit for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of said patient, comprising:

positioning a back plate of a support structure behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

positioning a front part of said support structure around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising two legs, each of said two legs having a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end;

removably attaching said second end of each of said two legs to said back plate; and

coupling said compression/decompression unit to said front part, wherein said attaching comprises snap locking said second end of said leg to said back plate.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

arranging a shaft-like member at said back plate and a claw-like member at said leg to realize said snap locking.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

arranging a disengagement member at said leg to disengage said leg from said back plate.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

arranging said disengagement member to disengage said claw-like member from said shaft-like member, whereby said leg is removable from said back plate.

33. A method for fixating a patient to a compression/decompression unit for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of said patient, comprising:

positioning a back plate of a support structure behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

positioning a central part of a front part of said support structure anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, and positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest two rigid legs of said front part, each respective one of said two legs having a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and having a respective second end;

removably attaching said respective second end of each of said two legs to said back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate;

coupling said compression/decompression unit to said central part;

arranging said legs to have at least one handle; and

arranging said handle to be a cut-out in said leg.

34. A method for fixating a patient to a compression/decompression unit for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of said patient, comprising:

positioning a back plate of a support structure behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

positioning a central part of a front part of said support structure anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, and positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest two rigid legs of said front part, each respective one of said legs having a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and having a respective second end, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part in a stable position above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate;

removably attaching said second ends of each of said two legs to different portions of said back plate; and

coupling said compression/decompression unit to said central part.

35. A support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart; and

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising a central part and two rigid legs, each respective one of said legs having a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and having a respective second end, wherein said respective second ends of said two legs are removably attachable to different portions of said back plate wherein;

said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate; and

said central part is adapted to receive a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate.

39. A support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart; and

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising a central part and two rigid legs, each leg having a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end removably attachable to said back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate, and said front part is devised for comprising a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein each of said legs are arranged to turn around said hinge between a minimum position and a maximum position, and wherein said legs are arranged to resiliently turn around said hinge by means of a resilient member.

40. The support structure as recited in claim 39, wherein said resilient member comprises a torsion spring.

47. A structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising a central part and two rigid legs, each respective one of said legs having a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and having a respective second end, wherein said respective second ends of said two legs are removably attachable to different portions of said back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate; and

a compression/decompression unit coupled to said central part and arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate.

48. The support structure as recited in claim 47, wherein said back plate is arranged to have at least one handle.

49. The support structure as recited in claim 47, wherein each of said legs are arranged to turn around said hinge between a minimum position and a maximum position.

52. The support structure as recited in claim 49, wherein the distance between said maximum positions are arranged to correspond to the distance between fixation positions of said back plate.

53. The support structure as recited in claim 47, having a weight less than approximately 6.5 kilogram.

54. The support structure as recited in claim 47, wherein the diametrical dimension thereof in a folded position is approximately 320×

640×

230 millimeters (width×

height×

depth).

55. The support structure as recited in claim 47, wherein the diametrical dimension thereof in an unfolded position is approximately 500×

538×

228 millimeters (width×

height×

depth).

50. A support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising a central part and two rigid legs, each leg having a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end removably attachable to said back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate, and

a compression/decompression unit coupled to said front part and arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein each of said legs are arranged to turn around said hinge between a minimum position and a maximum position, and wherein said legs are arranged to resiliently turn around said hinge by means of a resilient member.

51. The support structure as recited in claim 50, wherein said resilient member comprises a torsion spring.

56. A support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising a central part and two rigid legs, each respective one of said legs having a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and having a respective second end, wherein;

said respective second ends of said two legs are removably attachable to different portions of said back plate; and

said central part is adapted to receive a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate; and

at least one arm restraint arranged for restraining the patient'"'"'s arms, wherein said at least one arm restraint is arranged at the front part.

57. The support structure as recited in claim 56, wherein said arm restraint is arranged to increase the stability of the support structure in relation to said patient.

58. The support structure as recited in claim 56, wherein said arm restraint is arranged to restrain the patient'"'"'s wrists.

59. The support structure as recited in claim 56, wherein said arm restraint is a strap manufactured of hook and loop fastening tape.

60. A support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart; and

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising two legs, each leg having a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end removably attachable to said back plate, and said front part is devised for comprising a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein said leg is attachable to said back plate by means of snap locking.

61. The support structure as recited in claim 60, wherein a shaft-like member is arranged at said back plate and a claw-like member is arranged at said leg to realize said snap locking.

62. The support structure as recited in claim 61, wherein a disengagement member is arranged at said leg to disengage said legs from said back plate.

63. The support structure as recited in claim 62, wherein said disengagement member is arranged to disengage said claw-like member from said shaft-like member, whereby said leg is removable from said back plate.

64. A support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart; and

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising two legs, each leg having a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end removably attachable to said back plate, and said front part is devised for comprising a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein said legs are arranged to have at least one handle, and wherein said handle is provided by means of a cut-out in said leg.

65. A support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart; and

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising two legs, each leg having a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end removably attachable to said back plate, and said front part is devised for comprising a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein said compression/decompression unit comprises a pneumatic unit arranged to run and control the compression and decompression, an adjustable suspension unit to which a compression/decompression pad is attached and a handle by means of which the position of said pad may be controlled.

66. The support structure as recited in claim 65, wherein said compression/decompression unit is arranged to provide a compression depth in the range of approximately 20-90 millimeters.

67. The support structure as recited in claim 66, wherein said compression depth is in the range of approximately 35-52 millimeters.

68. The support structure as recited in claim 65, wherein said compression/decompression unit is arranged to provide a decompression height in the range of approximately 0-50 millimeters.

69. The support structure as recited in claim 68, wherein said decompression height is in the range of approximately 10-25 millimeters.

70. The support structure as recited in claim 65, wherein said compression/decompression unit is arranged to provide a compression frequency of approximately 100 compressions per minute.

71. The support structure as recited in claim 65, wherein said compression/decompression unit is arranged to provide a compression force in the range of approximately 350-700 Newton.

72. The support structure as recited in claim 65, wherein said compression/decompression unit is arranged to provide a compression force in the range of approximately 500-600 Newton.

73. The support structure as recited in claim 65, wherein said compression/decompression unit is arranged to provide a decompression force in the range of approximately 100-450 Newton.

74. A front part for use in a support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising a central part, and two rigid legs each respective one of said legs comprising a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and comprising a respective second end, wherein said respective second ends of said two legs are removably attachable to different portions of a back plate wherein:

said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein said front part is arranged for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart; and

said central part is adapted to receive a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate.

75. The front part as recited in claim 74, wherein said legs are arranged at said hinge by means of a resilient member, whereby said legs are arranged to resiliently turn around said hinge to maximum positions.

78. The front part as recited in claim 74, wherein a disengagement member is arranged at said leg to disengage said legs from said back plate.

76. A front part for use in a support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising a central part, and two rigid legs each of which comprising a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end removably attachable to a back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein said front part is arranged for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart and devised for comprising a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein said legs are arranged at said hinge by means of a resilient member, whereby said legs are arranged to resiliently turn around said hinge to maximum positions, and wherein said resilient member comprises a torsion spring.

77. A front part for use in a support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising a central part, and two rigid legs each of which comprising a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end removably attachable to a back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein said front part is arranged for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart and devised for comprising a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein said legs are arranged at said hinge by means of a resilient member, whereby said legs are arranged to resiliently turn around said hinge to maximum positions, and wherein the distance between said maximum positions are arranged to correspond to the distance between fixation positions of said back plate.

79. A front part for use in a support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising two legs each of which comprising a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end removably attachable to a back plate, wherein said front part is arranged for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart and devised for comprising a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein said leg is arranged to be attachable to said back plate by means of snap locking.

80. The front part as recited in claim 79, wherein a claw-like member is arranged at said leg which is arranged to engage a shaft-like member of a back plate realizing said snap locking.

81. A support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart; and

a front part comprising two legs each of which comprising a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part, a second end removably attachable to said back plate, and a disengagement member to disengage said leg from said back plate, wherein said front part is arranged for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart and devised for comprising a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate, and wherein said disengagement member is arranged to disengage a claw-like member of said leg from a shaft-like member of said back plate, whereby said leg is removable from said back plate.

82. A support structure for external treatment of a patient'"'"'s body part, comprising:

a back plate for positioning posterior of said body part;

a front part for positioning anterior of said body part, said front part comprising a central part and two rigid legs, each respective one of said legs having a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and having a respective second end, wherein said respective second ends of said two legs are removably attachable to different portions of said back plate wherein;

said legs suspend said central part of said front part above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate; and

said central part is adapted to receive a module or treatment unit arranged to automatically and externally perform treatment of said patient'"'"'s body part when said front part is attached to said back plate.

83. A support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising two legs, each leg having a first end pivotably connected to at least one hinge of said front part and a second end removably attachable to said back plate; and

a compression/decompression unit coupled to said front part and arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate, wherein said legs are arranged to have at least one handle, and wherein said handle is provided by means of a cut-out in said leg.

84. A support structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart; and

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising a central part and two legs, each respective one of said legs having a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and having a respective second end, wherein said respective second ends of said two legs are removably attachable to different portions of said back plate wherein;

said legs suspend said central part of said front part in a stable position above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate; and

said central part is adapted to receive a compression/decompression unit arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate.

85. A structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising a central part and two legs, each respective one of said legs having a respective first end pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part and having a respective second end, wherein said respective second ends of said two legs are removably attachable to different portions of said back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part in a stable position above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate; and

a compression/decompression unit coupled to said central part and arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate.

86. A structure for cardiopulmonary resuscitation of a patient having a cardiac arrest, comprising:

a back plate for positioning behind said patient'"'"'s back posterior to said patient'"'"'s heart;

a front part for positioning around said patient'"'"'s chest anterior to said patient'"'"'s heart, said front part comprising a central part and two legs, each respective one of said legs having a respective first end and a respective second end, wherein said respective first ends of said two legs are pivotably connected to a respective hinge at a respective end of said central part, and wherein said respective second ends of said two legs are removably attachable to different portions of said back plate, such that said legs suspend said central part of said front part in a stable position above said back plate when said front part is attached to said back plate; and

a compression/decompression unit coupled to said central part and arranged to automatically compress or decompress said patient'"'"'s chest when said front part is attached to said back plate.