The invention relates to a device (10) for selective regionalization of pulmonary aeration, intended to apply a vacuum over a posterolateral part of a patient's chest wall, said device comprising a rigid or semi-rigid shell (11) intended to selectively surround a posterior part of the patient's chest wall, and a layer of honeycomb material (12) covering an internal wall (13) of the rigid shell, intended to be in contact with the patient's chest wall, said shell comprising at least one through hole (14), intended to be connected to a negative pressure generator.

An elevation device used in the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) includes a base and an upper support pivotably coupled to the base. The upper support is configured to elevate the individual's upper back, shoulders and head when pivoted. The upper support is expandable lengthwise. The upper support includes a neck support that is configured to support the individual's spine in a region of the individual's C7 and C8 vertebrae throughout elevation of the upper back, shoulders and head.

Improved automatic chest compression systems which use constricting belts, repeatedly inflating bladders, or reciprocating pistons to compress the chest. A bladder is placed between the chest and the particular mechanism used to compress the chest during CPR. The bladder maximizes the effectiveness of chest compressions.

A method to improve neurologically-intact survival rates after cardiac arrest may include performing CPR on an individual in cardiac arrest while the individual is in a supine position in general alignment with a horizontal plane. The method may include elevating the individual's head, shoulders, and heart relative to the individual's lower body while the individual's lower body remains generally aligned with the horizontal plane to cause blood to actively drain venous blood from the brain to reduce intracranial pressure. The method may include performing chest compressions on the individual and actively decompressing the individual's chest while the individual's head, shoulders, and heart are elevated.

Devices and methods for compressing a chest of a patient includes a platform for placement under a thorax of the patient, a compression belt for extending over an anterior chest wall of the patient, a drive train operably connected to the compression belt, a motor operably connected to the compression belt through the drive train, and a control system configured to control operation of the motor to cause the drive train to tighten and loosen the compression belt in repeated cycles of compression about the thorax of the patient. Each cycle of the repeated cycles includes tightening the compression belt around the chest of the patient after tightening, causing, by the control system, the motor to cease operation of the drive train for a hold period; and at a termination of the hold period, loosening the compression belt around the chest of the patient.

An automated resuscitation system is provided, which can improve the outcome of patients suffering ventricular fibrillation or the ventricular tachycardia variants of cardiac arrest. This outcome can be achieved by a device that integrates automatic mechanical or pneumatic capability with electrical countershock capability such that the probability of defibrillation or cardioversion with return of spontaneous circulation is increased.

An ECG signal processing system which removes the CPR-induced artifact from measured ECG signals obtained during the administration of CPR.

A Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) device, consisting of two distinct masseurs for chest and abdomen and a monitoring system for displaying patient's vital symptoms. The chest masseur works in controllable depth and speed, while the abdominal masseur applies pressure on abdominal aorta and Inferior vena cava in a contradictory rhythm with the chest masseur rhythm. This action causes more effective massaging by preventing overflow of blood to non-vital organs and accelerating return of blood to heart.

An apparatus for reanimation of a patient that includes a plunger driven by a drive to perform a compressive massage on the patient's body, a position measuring device that measures the respective position of the plunger during its compressive massaging motion, and a holding device for the drive and the plunger.

A method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) includes elevating the heart of an individual to a first height relative to a lower body of the individual. The lower body may be in a substantially horizontal plane. The method may also include elevating the head of the individual to a second height relative to the lower body of the individual. The second height may be greater than the first height. The method may further include performing one or more of a type of CPR or a type of intrathoracic pressure regulation while elevating the heart and the head. The first height and the second height may be determined based on one or both of the type of CPR or the type of intrathoracic pressure regulation.