Systems and devices described herein provide respiration assistance to users who have difficulty breathing on their own, and include a cuirass configured to be coupled to a thorax of the user and a ventilator fluidically coupled to the cuirass. The ventilator includes a housing, a pump including an inlet and outlet, a valve, an actuator, and a controller in communication with the actuator. The controller is configured to cause the actuator to: move the valve into a first configuration in which a first flow path of the valve fluidically couples the outlet to the cuirass and a second flow path of the valve fluidically couples the inlet to an external environment during exhalation and move the valve into a second configuration in which the first flow path fluidically couples the inlet to the cuirass and the second flow path fluidically couples the outlet to the internal volume during inhalation.

Systems and devices described herein provide respiration assistance to users who have difficulty breathing on their own, and include a cuirass configured to be coupled to a thorax of the user and a ventilator fluidically coupled to the cuirass. The ventilator includes a housing, a pump including an inlet and outlet, a valve, an actuator, and a controller in communication with the actuator. The controller is configured to cause the actuator to: move the valve into a first configuration in which a first flow path of the valve fluidically couples the outlet to the cuirass and a second flow path of the valve fluidically couples the inlet to an external environment during exhalation and move the valve into a second configuration in which the first flow path fluidically couples the inlet to the cuirass and the second flow path fluidically couples the outlet to the internal volume during inhalation.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for assisting breathing in a subject. In one embodiment, the device of the present invention is a splint that can be used to apply negative distending pressure, i.e., outward pull, to one or both of the chest walls and/or the abdomen of a subject. In certain embodiments, the splint comprises an air bladder that can be attached to the skin of the subject's chest and/or abdomen. When the air bladder is inflated, negative distending pressure is applied to the subject's chest and/or abdomen, thereby assisting or promoting respiration. In another embodiment, the splint comprises a piezoelectric material that when activated can provide negative distending pressure to the subject's chest and/or abdomen. In another embodiment, the subject is a neonate. In another embodiment, the inflated air bladder can apply a compressive force on the chest to facilitate expiration, and the removal of secretions in the airways.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for assisting breathing in a subject. In one embodiment, the device of the present invention is a splint that can be used to apply negative distending pressure, i.e., outward pull, to one or both of the chest walls and/or the abdomen of a subject. In certain embodiments, the splint comprises an air bladder that can be attached to the skin of the subject's chest and/or abdomen. When the air bladder is inflated, negative distending pressure is applied to the subject's chest and/or abdomen, thereby assisting or promoting respiration. In another embodiment, the splint comprises a piezoelectric material that when activated can provide negative distending pressure to the subject's chest and/or abdomen. In another embodiment, the subject is a neonate. In another embodiment, the inflated air bladder can apply a compressive force on the chest to facilitate expiration, and the removal of secretions in the airways.

A system includes a guidance device that provides feedback to a user to compress a patient's chest at a rate of between about 90 and 110 compressions per minute and at a depth of between about 4.5 centimeters to about 6 centimeters. The system includes a pressure regulation system having a pressure-responsive valve that is configured to be coupled to a patient's airway. The pressure-responsive valve is configured to remain closed during successive chest compressions in order to permit removal at least about 200 ml from the lungs in order to lower intracranial pressure to improve survival with favorable neurological function. The pressure-responsive valve is configured to remain closed until the negative pressure within the patient's airway reaches about −7 cm H.sub.2O, at which time the pressure-responsive valve is configured to open to provide respiratory gases to flow to the lungs through the pressure-responsive valve.

A CPR device having a base member configured to be placed underneath a patient, a chest compression mechanism configured to deliver CPR chest compressions to the patient, a support leg configured to support the chest compression mechanism at a distance from the base member, a clamp mechanism coupled to the support leg, and a release mechanism coupled to the support leg and the clamp mechanism. The clamp mechanism is configured to attach the support leg to a lock component of the base member in a latch-closed configuration and to release the support leg from the lock component in a latch-open configuration. The clamp mechanism is further configured to transition from the latch-closed configuration to the latch-open configuration when the lock component of the base member impacts an external portion of the clamp mechanism without the release mechanism being pulled away from the base member.

A CPR device having a base member configured to be placed underneath a patient, a chest compression mechanism configured to deliver CPR chest compressions to the patient, a support leg configured to support the chest compression mechanism at a distance from the base member, a clamp mechanism coupled to the support leg, and a release mechanism coupled to the support leg and the clamp mechanism. The clamp mechanism is configured to attach the support leg to a lock component of the base member in a latch-closed configuration and to release the support leg from the lock component in a latch-open configuration. The clamp mechanism is further configured to transition from the latch-closed configuration to the latch-open configuration when the lock component of the base member impacts an external portion of the clamp mechanism without the release mechanism being pulled away from the base member.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for assisting breathing in a subject. In one embodiment, the device of the present invention is a splint that can be used to apply negative distending pressure, i.e., outward pull, to one or both of the chest walls and/or the abdomen of a subject. In certain embodiments, the splint comprises an air bladder that can be attached to the skin of the subject's chest and/or abdomen. When the air bladder is inflated, negative distending pressure is applied to the subject's chest and/or abdomen, thereby assisting or promoting respiration. In another embodiment, the splint comprises a piezoelectric material that when activated can provide negative distending pressure to the subject's chest and/or abdomen. In another embodiment, the subject is a neonate. In another embodiment, the inflated air bladder can apply a compressive force on the chest to facilitate expiration, and the removal of secretions in the airways.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for assisting breathing in a subject. In one embodiment, the device of the present invention is a splint that can be used to apply negative distending pressure, i.e., outward pull, to one or both of the chest walls and/or the abdomen of a subject. In certain embodiments, the splint comprises an air bladder that can be attached to the skin of the subject's chest and/or abdomen. When the air bladder is inflated, negative distending pressure is applied to the subject's chest and/or abdomen, thereby assisting or promoting respiration. In another embodiment, the splint comprises a piezoelectric material that when activated can provide negative distending pressure to the subject's chest and/or abdomen. In another embodiment, the subject is a neonate. In another embodiment, the inflated air bladder can apply a compressive force on the chest to facilitate expiration, and the removal of secretions in the airways.

Safe and easy lung cleansing apparatus and method comprising a hollow nasopharyngeal tube with longitudinal misting and air sections inserted in user's nostril, misting means, lung cleansing fluid, fluid and air pumps and automated postural lung cleansing and drainage bed synchronized with the air and fluid pumps, to rotate and turn the user to mist, drain and thereby in turn all areas of the user's lungs. Some embodiments include a cuirass-type negative pressure ventilator to recruit more alveoli for cleansing, loosen mucus in the lungs and induce a cough to clear mucus. The method may include premedication to loosen mucus, tar and other foreign matter in the lungs. In some embodiments, the user's chest could be vibrated to loosen mucus in the lungs to aid thorough cleansing by the misting and automate postural drainage thereafter.