A defibrillator for determining a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) compression rate, including electrodes adapted to be attached to the subject, an impedance signal measurement system connected to the electrodes and configured to measure at least one impedance signal of the subject, an electrocardiogram signal measurement system connected to the electrodes, an impedance signal processing system connected to the impedance signal measurement system, an electrocardiogram signal processing system connected to the electrocardiogram signal measurement system, a compression rate estimate processing system configured to apply a plurality of criteria to the impedance signal features and the electrocardiogram signal features and use compliance with one or more of the criteria to select one of the plurality of impedance signal compression rate estimates as the cardiopulmonary resuscitation compression rate, and an output unit configured to output feedback based on the cardiopulmonary resuscitation compression rate to a user of the defibrillator.

A method for ventilating a patient during CPR including repeatedly compressing the patient's chest and delivering a positive pressure ventilation to the patient primarily during a decompression phase of the repeated compressions of the patient's chest.

A device and method for treating chest wall injuries, including thoracic surgeries, rib fractures, flail chest injuries, or surgical incisions so as to lessen pain experienced by patients. The device and method can include creating a localized airtight compartment external to the chest wall and fully covering the area of injury, varying the pressure within the compartment, and providing dynamic real-time counter forces that act reciprocal to the intrathoracic pressure changes that occur during ventilation. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus has the capability of sensing the patient's chest wall motion created by ventilation, a pressure control component capable of varying the pressure within the airtight compartment such that it opposes pressure changes within the chest. The pattern of positive and negative pressures may be adjusted based on the patient's subjective sense of their pain.

Technologies and implementations for wearable healthcare devices are generally disclosed.

A CPR machine (100) is configured to perform compressions on a patient's (182) chest that alternate with releases. The CPR machine includes a compression mechanism (148), and a driver system (141) configured to drive the compression mechanism. A compression force may be sensed, and the driving is adjusted accordingly if there is a surprise. For instance, driving may have been automatic according to a motion-time profile, which is adjusted if the compression force is not as expected (850). An optional chest-lifting device (152) may lift the chest between the compressions, to assist actively the decompression of the chest. A lifting force may be sensed, and the motion-time profile can be adjusted if the compression force or the lifting force is not as expected. An advantage is that a changing condition in the patient or in the retention of the patient within the CPR machine may be detected and responded to.

A defibrillation electrode pad includes an electrode section and a CPR administration section. The electrode section and the CPR administration section are positioned in the defibrillation electrode pad relative to each other such that the CPR administration section is located above a sternum of an adult subject and the electrode section is located in a position appropriate for the administration of a defibrillation shock to the adult subject when the defibrillation electrode pad is oriented in a first orientation and such that the CPR administration section is located above a sternum of a pediatric subject and the electrode section is located in a position appropriate for the administration of a defibrillation shock to the pediatric subject when the defibrillation electrode pad is oriented in a second orientation different from the first orientation.

Methods and devices for chest compression depth measurement for CPR performed on infants.

A CPR machine (100) is configured to perform, on a patient's (182) chest, compressions that alternate with releases. The CPR machine includes a compression mechanism (148), and a driver system (141) configured to drive the compression mechanism. A force sensing system (149) may sense a compression force, and the driving can be adjusted accordingly if there is a surprise. For instance, driving may have been automatic according to a motion-time profile, which is adjusted if the compression force is not as expected (850). An optional chest-lifting device (152) may lift the chest between the compressions, to assist actively the decompression of the chest. A lifting force may be sensed, and the motion-time profile can be adjusted if the compression force or the lifting force is not as expected.

A device for assisting a caregiver in delivering cardiac resuscitation to a patient, the device comprising a user interface configured to deliver prompts to a caregiver to assist the caregiver in delivering cardiac resuscitation to a patient; at least one sensor configured to detect the caregiver's progress in delivering the cardiac resuscitation, wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal containing information indicative of ventilation; a memory in which a plurality of different prompts are stored, including at least one ventilation progress prompt to guide the rescuer's performance of ventilation; a processor configured to process the output of the sensor to determine a parameter descriptive of ventilation progress and to determine whether the ventilation progress prompt should be selected for delivery. Possible parameters descriptive of ventilation progress include ventilation rate, delivered tidal volume, and flow rate.

An external defibrillator system is disclosed that generates and applies a diagnostic signal to the patient in conjunction with defibrillation therapy. The diagnostic signal is designed to elicit a physiologic response from the patient's heart, namely, mechanical cardiac response and electrical cardiac response, electrical cardiac response only, or no cardiac response. Depending upon the type of cardiac response detected, the system selects an appropriate resuscitation protocol that considers the likely responsiveness of the patient to defibrillation therapy. In one practical embodiment, a stimulus signal is applied to patients that show mechanical and electrical capture in response to the diagnostic signal. The stimulus signal maintains the mechanical capture (and, therefore, perfusion) for a period of time prior to the delivery of a defibrillation pulse.