Chest compression apparatus for cardiac arrest

• US 8,092,404 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deca-Medics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Deca-Medics Incorporated
• Inventors: Lach, Thomas E., Lach, Ralph D., Handshy, Arthur W., Kelly, Kevin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US10/633,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,081 Days
• Field of Search: 601 41- 44, 601148-152, 600/16, 600/17, 607 1- 4, 607/42
• US Class Current: 601/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2011/005 with belt or strap expanding and contracting around an encircled body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2031/002 fixed on the chest by adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2031/003 with alternated thorax decompression due to lateral compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0173 Means for preventing injuries
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/018 By limiting the applied torque or force
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0208 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/08 Supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 601/06 Artificial respiration conforming to shape of torso

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus for increasing intrathoracic pressure for resuscitating cardiac arrest patients. The apparatus comprises a flexible, substantially inelastic belt wrapped around the patient'"'"'s chest and attached to a force converter. The force converter converts a downwardly directed force into a chestward resultant, which depresses the sternum, and two belt tightening resultants. The force converter comprises a pair of arm assemblies, each having a pair of spaced arms, which are pivotably mounted to a base. The base is positioned near the patient'"'"'s sternum and the ends of the belt attach to one end of each arm assembly. The opposite, handle ends of the arm assemblies are depressed toward the chest causing tightening of the belt and compression of the chest cavity.

Claims

1. An apparatus for increasing the flow of blood in a patient, the apparatus comprising:

(A) substantially inelastic belt means with first and second opposite extremities configured to wrap around and in contact with said patient'"'"'s chest near said patient'"'"'s sternum, with said belt means being in continuous contact with the patient'"'"'s chest including the front, sides, and a portion of the back of said patient'"'"'s chest, said belt means (1) extending around and being in contact with a portion of the circumference of said chest, (2) extending around and being in contact with the front, sides and back of said chest, and (3) being substantially inelastic and flexible;

(B) actuator means, coupled to said belt means including any of said extremities of said belt means not already fastened around said patient'"'"'s chest, for, upon the receipt of power, moving said belt means in a direction to tighten said belt means around said patient'"'"'s chest;

(C) power means coupled to said actuator means and having first and second states and, when in said first state, providing power to said actuator means; and

(D) a switch, coupled to said power means and having first and second configurations, said switch being movable between said first and second configurations and, when in said second configuration, placing said power means in said first state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including computer control means, coupled to said switch, for timing the movement of said switch between said first and second configurations.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising defibrillating means coupled to said belt means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including detector means coupled to said belt means for determining when said patient'"'"'s chest is under compression and wherein said defibrillating means is coupled to said detector means and induces an electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is under compression.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said detector means determines when said chest is about under maximal compression and said defibrillating means induces said electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is about under maximal compression.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power means, when in said first state, moves said belt means in said direction to tighten said belt means substantially equally around said patient'"'"'s left and right sides.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power means includes an electric motor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power means includes a fluid-pressure motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said power means includes a hydraulic motor.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said power means includes a pneumatic motor.

11. A method of CPR treating patients comprising:

(A) wrapping a belt, with first and second opposite extremities, around and in contact with a patient'"'"'s chest near said patient'"'"'s sternum, said belt being in continuous contact with the patient'"'"'s chest, including the front, sides, and a portion of the back of said patient'"'"'s chest, said belt (1) extending around and being in contact with a portion of the circumference of said chest, (2) extending around and being in contact with the front, sides and back of said chest, and (3) being substantially inelastic and flexible;

(B) fastening to a power unit said belt including any of said extremities of said belt not already fastened around said patient'"'"'s chest;

(C) placing an actuator having first and second states in said first state; and

(D) with said actuator in said first state, providing power from a power supply to said power unit and moving said belt in a direction to tighten said belt around said patient'"'"'s chest to perform CPR.

12. The method of claim 11 further including periodically repeating steps (C) and (D).

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising defibrillating the chest of said patient undergoing CPR.

14. The method of claim 13 further including detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest under compression, and, when said belt has placed said chest under compression, inducing a defibrillating electric current through said chest.

15. The method of claim 14 further including detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest about under maximal compression and, when said belt has placed said chest about under maximal compression, inducing said defibrillating electric current through said chest.

16. The method of claim 12 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

17. The method of claim 12 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

125. The method of claim 11 further including holding a backboard with said belt against the back of said patient'"'"'s chest.

126. The method of claim 13 further including holding a backboard with said belt against the back of said patient'"'"'s chest.

18. An apparatus for increasing the flow of blood in a patient, said apparatus comprising:

(A) substantially inelastic belt means with first and second opposite extremities, configured to wrap around and in contact with said patient'"'"'s chest near said patient'"'"'s sternum, said belt being in continuous contact with the patient'"'"'s chest, including the front, sides, and a portion of the back of said patient'"'"'s chest, said belt (1) extending around and being in contact with a major portion of the circumference of said chest, (2) extending around and being in contact with the front, sides and back of said chest, and (3) being substantially inelastic and flexible;

(B) a powered belt means tightener, coupled to said belt means including any of said extremities of said belt means not already fastened around said patient'"'"'s chest, for, upon the receipt of a particular signal, moving said belt means in a direction to tighten said belt means around said patient'"'"'s chest; and

(C) control means, coupled to said belt means tightener, for periodically providing said particular signal to said belt means tightener.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising defibrillating means coupled to said belt means.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further including detector means coupled to said belt means for determining when said patient'"'"'s chest is under compression and wherein said defibrillating means is coupled to said detector means and induces an electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is under compression.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said detector means determines when said chest is about under maximal compression and said defibrillating means induces said electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is about under maximal compression.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising first and second spaced electrodes mounted to said apparatus for contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said belt means tightener, when in said on state, moves two belt means in said direction to tighten said belt means substantially equally around said patient'"'"'s let and right sides.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said belt means tightener includes an electric motor.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said belt means tightener includes a fluid-pressure motor.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said belt means tightener includes a hydraulic motor.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said belt means tightener includes a pneumatic motor.

28. A method of CPR treating patients comprising:

(A) wrapping a belt, with first and second opposite extremities, around and in contact with a patient'"'"'s chest near said patient'"'"'s sternum, said belt being in continuous contact with the patient'"'"'s chest, including the front, sides, and a portion of the back of said patient'"'"'s chest, said belt (1) extending around and being in contact with a portion of the circumference of said chest, (2) extending around and being in contact with the front, sides and back of said chest, and (3) being substantially inelastic and flexible;

(B) fastening to an apparatus any of said extremities of said belt not already fastened to said apparatus;

(C) providing a particular signal to a powered belt tightener coupled to said belt extremities; and

(D) upon the receipt of said particular signal by said belt tightener, moving with said belt tightener, said belt extremities in directions to tighten said belt around said patient'"'"'s chest to perform CPR.

29. The method of claim 28 further including periodically repeating steps (C) and (D).

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising defibrillating the chest of said patient undergoing CPR.

31. The method of claim 30 further including detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest under compression;

and, when said belt has placed said chest under compression, inducing a defibrillating electric current through said chest.

32. The method of claim 31 further including detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest about under maximal compression and, when said belt has placed said chest about under maximal compression, inducing said defibrillating electric current through said chest.

33. The method of claim 30 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

34. The method of claim 28 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein said belt tightener, when said belt tightener moves said belt extremities in said directions, moves said belt in said directions to tighten said belt substantially equally around said patient'"'"'s left and right sides.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said belt tightener includes an electric motor.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said belt tightener includes a fluid-pressure motor.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said belt tightener includes a hydraulic motor.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein said belt tightener includes a pneumatic motor.

127. The method of claim 28 further including holding a backboard with said belt against the back of said patient'"'"'s chest.

128. The method of claim 30 further including holding a backboard with said belt against the back of said patient'"'"'s chest.

40. An apparatus for increasing the flow of blood in a patient, said apparatus comprising:

(A) substantially inelastic belt means with first and second opposite extremities and configured to wrap around and in contact with a patient'"'"'s chest near said patient'"'"'s sternum, said belt being in continuous contact with said patient'"'"'s chest, including the front, sides, and a portion of the back of said patient'"'"'s chest, said belt (1) extending around and being in contact with a portion of the circumference of said chest, (2) extending around and being in contact with the front, sides and back of said chest, and (3) being substantially inelastic and flexible;

(B) actuator means, coupled to said belt means including any of said extremities of said belt means not already fastened around said patient'"'"'s chest, for, upon the receipt of power, moving said belt means in directions to alternately tighten and loosen said belt means around said patient'"'"'s chest;

(C) a cable coupled to said actuator means for providing said power to said actuator means; and

(D) a power unit, coupled to said cable, for providing said power to said cable to cause said actuator to move said belt means in said directions to tighten and loosen said belt means around said patient.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 further comprising defibrillating means coupled to said belt means.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 further including detector means coupled to said belt means for determining when said patient'"'"'s chest is under compression and wherein said defibrillating means is coupled to said detector means and induces, an electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is under compression.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said detector means determines, when said chest is about under maximal compression and said defibrillating means induces said electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is about under maximal compression.

44. The apparatus of claim 41 further comprising first and second spaced electrodes mounted to said apparatus for contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with said first electrode being mounted to an apparatus chest-contacting surface and said second electrode being mounted to an apparatus chest-contacting surface which is spaced from said first electrode.

45. The apparatus of claim 40 further comprising first and second spaced electrodes mounted to said apparatus for contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with said first electrode being mounted to an apparatus chest-contacting surface and said second electrode being mounted to an apparatus chest-contacting surface, which is spaced from said first electrode.

46. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said power unit causes said actuator means to move said belt means in said directions to tighten said belt means substantially equally around said patient'"'"'s let and right sides.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said power unit includes an electric motor.

48. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein said power unit includes a fluid-pressure motor.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein said power unit includes a hydraulic motor.

50. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein said power unit includes a pneumatic motor.

51. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said power unit includes computer controls for timing the application of said force to said actuator.

52. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said cable conveys electrical power to said actuator.

53. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said cable conveys fluid pressure to said actuator.

54. A method of CPR treating patients comprising:

(A) wrapping a belt, with first and second opposite extremities, around and in contact with a patient'"'"'s chest near said patient'"'"'s sternum, said belt being in continuous contact with the patient'"'"'s chest, including the front, sides, and a portion of the back of said patient'"'"'s chest, said belt (1) extending around and being in contact with a portion of the circumference of said chest, (2) extending around and being in contact with the front, sides and back of said chest, and (3) being substantially inelastic and flexible;

(B) fastening to a power unit said belt including any of said extremities of said belt not already fastened around said patient'"'"'s chest;

(C) conveying power from a power supply to said power unit along a cable; and

(D) when said power reaches said power unit, moving said belt in a direction to tighten said belt around said patient'"'"'s chest to perform CPR.

55. The method of claim 54 further including periodically repeating steps (C) and (D).

56. The method of claim 55 further comprising defibrillating the chest of said patient undergoing CPR.

57. The method of claim 56 further including detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest under compression;

and, when said belt has placed said chest under compression, inducing a defibrillating electric current through said chest.

58. The method of claim 57 further including detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest about under maximal compression and, when said belt has placed said chest about under maximal compression, inducing said defibrillating electric current through said chest.

59. The method of claim 56 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

60. The method of claim 54 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

61. The method of claim 54 wherein said belt is moved in said direction to tighten said belt extremities substantially equally around said patient'"'"'s left and right sides.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein said power unit includes an electric motor.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein said power unit includes a fluid-pressure motor.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein said power unit includes a hydraulic motor.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein said power unit includes a pneumatic motor.

129. The method of claim 54 further including holding a backboard with said belt against the back of said patient'"'"'s chest.

130. The method of claim 56 further including holding a backboard with said belt against the back of said patient'"'"'s chest.

66. A CPR apparatus for increasing the flow of blood in a patient, said apparatus comprising:

(A) substantially inelastic belt means, with first and second opposite extremities, configured to wrap around and in contact with said patient'"'"'s chest near said patient'"'"'s sternum, said belt means being in continuous contact with the patient'"'"'s chest, including the front, sides, and a portion of the back of said patient'"'"'s chest, said belt (1) extending around and being in contact with a portion of the circumference of said chest, (2) extending around and being in contact with the front, sides and back of said chest, and (3) being substantially-inelastic and flexible;

(B) cable means coupled to said belt means including any of said extremities of said belt means not already fastened around said patient'"'"'s chest for, upon the receipt of a mechanical force, tightening and loosening said belt means;

(C) a force device, coupled to said cable means, for applying said mechanical force to said cable means; and

(D) a power unit, coupled to said force device, for providing power to said force device to enable said force device to apply said mechanical force to said cable means.

67. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein said force device drives said cable rotatingly.

68. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein said force device drives said cable longitudinally, reciprocatingly.

69. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein said force device is located in said power unit.

70. The apparatus of claim 66 further comprising defibrillating means coupled to said base.

71. The apparatus of claim 70 further including detector means coupled to said belt means for determining when said patient'"'"'s chest is under compression and wherein said defibrillating means is coupled to said detector means and induces an electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is under compression.

72. The apparatus of claim 71 wherein said detector means determines when said chest is about under maximal compression and said defibrillating means induces said electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is about under maximal compression.

73. The apparatus of claim 70 further comprising first and second spaced electrodes mounted to said apparatus for contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with said first electrode being mounted to an apparatus chest-contacting surface and said second electrode being mounted to an apparatus chest-contacting surface which is spaced from said first electrode.

74. The apparatus of claim 66 further comprising first and second spaced electrodes mounted to said apparatus for contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with said first electrode being mounted to an apparatus chest-contacting surface and said second electrode being mounted to an apparatus chest-contacting surface which is spaced from said first electrode.

75. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein said force device causes said cable means to move said belt means in said direction to tighten said belt means substantially equally around said patient'"'"'s left and right sides.

76. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein said power unit includes an electric motor.

77. The apparatus of claim 66 wherein said power unit includes a fluid-pressure motor.

78. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein said power unit includes a hydraulic motor.

79. The apparatus of claim 77 wherein said power unit includes a pneumatic motor.

80. A method of CPR treating patients comprising:

(A) wrapping a belt, with first and second opposite extremities, around and in contact with a patient'"'"'s chest near said patient'"'"'s sternum, said belt being in continuous contact with the patient'"'"'s chest, including the front, sides, and a portion of the back of said patient'"'"'s chest, said belt (1) extending around and being in contact with a portion of the circumference of said chest, (2) extending, around and being in contact with the front, sides and back of said chest, and (3) being substantially inelastic and flexible;

(B) fastening to a power unit said belt including any of said extremities of said belt not already fastened around said patient'"'"'s chest;

(C) conveying power from a power supply to said power unit along a line; and

(D) when said power reaches said power unit, moving said belt extremities in directions to tighten said belt around said patient'"'"'s chest to perform CPR.

81. The method of claim 80 further including periodically repeating steps (C) and (D).

82. The method of claim 81 further comprising defibrillating the chest of said patient undergoing CPR.

83. The method of claim 82 further including detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest under compression;

and, when said belt has placed said chest under compression, inducing a defibrillating electric current through said chest.

84. The method of claim 83 further including detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest about under maximal compression and, when said belt has placed said chest about under maximal compression, inducing said defibrillating electric current through said chest.

85. The method of claim 82 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

86. The method of claim 80 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

87. The method of claim 80 wherein said belt is moved in said direction to tighten said belt extremities substantially equally around said patient'"'"'s left and right sides.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein said power unit includes an electric motor.

89. The method of claim 87 wherein said power unit includes a fluid-pressure motor.

90. The method of claim 89 wherein said power unit includes a hydraulic motor.

91. The method of claim 89 wherein said power unit includes a pneumatic motor.

92. The method of claim 80 wherein said power is conveyed from said power supply to said power unit along said line automatically and in regular periodic intervals.

131. The method of claim 80 further including holding a backboard with said belt against the back of said patient'"'"'s chest.

132. The method of claim 82 further including holding a backboard with said belt against the back of said patient'"'"'s chest.

93. An apparatus for increasing the flow of blood in a patient, said apparatus comprising:

(A) a substantially inelastic belt means configured to wrap around and in contact with said patient'"'"'s chest near said patient'"'"'s sternum, said belt means being in continuous contact with the patient'"'"'s chest, including the front, sides, and a portion of the back of said patient'"'"'s chest, said belt means (1) extending around and being in contact with a portion of the circumference of said chest, (2) extending around and being in contact with the front, sides and back of said chest, and (3) being substantially inelastic and flexible;

(B) actuator means, coupled to said belt means, for moving said belt means in a direction to tighten said belt means around said patient'"'"'s chest and to place said patient'"'"'s chest under compression;

(C) detector means coupled to said belt means for determining when said patient'"'"'s chest is under compression; and

(D) defibrillating means, coupled to said belt means and said detector means, for inducing an electric current through said patients chest when said chest is under compression.

94. The apparatus of claim 93 wherein said detector means determines when said chest is about under maximal compression and said defibrillating means induces said electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is about under maximal compression.

95. The apparatus of claim 93 further comprising first and second spaced electrodes mounted to said apparatus for contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with said first electrode being mounted to an apparatus chest-contacting surface and said second electrode being mounted to an apparatus chest-contacting surface which is spaced from said first electrode.

96. The apparatus of claim 93 wherein said actuator means moves said belt means in said direction to tighten said belt means substantially equally around said patient'"'"'s let and right sides.

97. The apparatus of claim 96 wherein said actuator means includes an electric motor.

98. The apparatus of claim 96 wherein said actuator means includes a fluid-pressure motor.

99. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said actuator means includes a hydraulic motor.

100. The apparatus of claim 98 wherein said actuator means includes a pneumatic motor.

101. The apparatus of claim 93 wherein said actuator means includes computer controls for timing the application of said force to said actuator.

102. The apparatus of claim 93 wherein said actuator means moves said belt means in said direction automatically and in regular intervals.

103. The apparatus of claim 93 further including a base coupled to said actuator means and said belt means and contoured to seat near a central region of a patient'"'"'s chest, said actuator means, when moving said belt means in said direction to tighten said belt means around said patient'"'"'s chest and to place said patient'"'"'s chest under compression, moving said base towards said chest.

104. The apparatus of claim 103 wherein said detector means determines when said chest is about under maximal compression and said defibrillating means induces said electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is about under maximal compression.

105. The apparatus of claim 103 further including a converter, mounted on said base and coupled to said actuator and said belt means, for converting a force applied by said actuator into (1) a chest compressing resultant directed toward said chest and (2) a belt means tightening resultant directed tangentially to said chest.

106. The apparatus of claim 105 wherein said actuator means is a manual actuator and said converter converts a force manually applied to said actuator and directed towards said chest into said chest resultant directed inwardly through said base toward said chest and said belt tightening resultant applied to said belt means.

107. The apparatus of claim 106 wherein said detector means determines when said chest is about under maximal compression and said defibrillating means induces said electric current through said patient'"'"'s chest when said chest is about under maximal compression.

108. A method of CPR treating patients comprising:

(A) wrapping a belt around and in contact with a patient'"'"'s chest near said patient'"'"'s sternum, said belt being in continuous contact with the patient'"'"'s chest, including the front, sides, and a portion of the back of said patient'"'"'s chest, said belt (1) extending around and being in contact with a portion of the circumference of said chest, (2) extending around and being in contact with the front, sides and back of said chest, and (3) being substantially inelastic and flexible;

(B) moving said belt in a direction to tighten said belt around said patient'"'"'s chest and place said chest under compression to perform CPR;

(C) detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest under compression; and

(D) when said belt has placed said chest under compression, inducing a defibrillating electric current through said chest.

109. The method of claim 108 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

110. The method of claim 108 further including periodically repeating steps (B) through (D).

111. The method of claim 108 further includes periodically repeating step (B).

112. The method of claim 111 further including detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest about under maximal compression and when said belt has placed said chest about under maximal compression, inducing said electric current through said chest.

113. The method of claim 112 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

114. The method of claim 112 wherein, when said belt is moved in said direction to tighten said belt around said patient'"'"'s chest and place said chest under compression, said belt extremities are moved substantially equally around said patient'"'"'s left and right sides.

115. The method of claim 114 wherein said belt is moved by an electric motor.

116. The method of claim 114 wherein said belt is moved by a fluid-pressure motor.

117. The method of claim 116 wherein said belt is moved by a hydraulic motor.

118. The method of claim 116 wherein said belt is moved by a pneumatic motor.

119. The method of claim 114 further including detecting when said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest about under maximal compression and when said belt has placed said chest about under maximal compression, inducing said defibrillating electric current through said chest.

120. The method of claim 114 further including seating a base of a blood flow apparatus on said patient'"'"'s chest near a central region of said chest, fastening said belt to said apparatus, and moving said base towards said chest to move said belt in said direction to tighten said belt around said patient'"'"'s chest and to place said patient'"'"'s chest under compression.

121. The method of claim 120 further including coupling an actuator to said base and said belt, applying a force to said actuator, and converting said force applied to said actuator into (1) a chest compressing resultant directed through said base and toward said chest and (2) a belt tightening resultant directed tangentially to said chest.

122. The method of claim 121 wherein said force is manually applied to said actuator and directed towards said chest and said method further comprises converting said force manually applied to said actuator into said chest resultant directed inwardly through said base toward said chest and said belt tightening resultant applied to said belt.

123. The method of claim 122 further including contacting two spaced outer chest surfaces with a first electrode and a second electrode.

124. The method of claim 122 further including detecting when, said belt has placed said patient'"'"'s chest about under maximal compression and when said belt has placed said chest about under maximal compression, inducing said defibrillating electric current through said chest.

133. The method of claim 108 further including holding backboard with said belt against the back of said patient'"'"'s chest.

134. The method of claim 110 further including holding a backboard with said belt against the back of said patient'"'"'s chest.