A system is provided for resuscitative therapy to a patient by delivering active chest compression decompressions. The system may include an ACD device configured to be coupled to the patient's chest and constructed for a rescuer to press and pull on the ACD device to administer active compression decompression therapy. Additionally, the ACD device may include at least one sensor for sensing at least one active compression decompression parameter, processing circuitry configured to process the at least one active compression decompression parameter and provide an output based on the at least one parameter, a first communication circuit configured to transfer data related to the processed output of the at least one parameter, and a second communication circuit capable of being removably coupled to either the electrode assembly or the ACD device.

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.

The Conformal Vest Ventilator (CVV) is a vest-like mechanism to cause or aid breathing in humans The Conformal Vest Ventilator consists of a series of expanding and contracting tubes that fit around the torso, similar to clothing, and which change shape in a manner that expands the thoracic cavity to create negative pressure ventilation in the lungs, similar to the natural ventilation created by the diaphragm muscle and the expanding rib cage. The CVV creates a breathing support system that is less intrusive than existing methods, and can improve the lives of people with COPD or paralyzed diaphragm muscles and is useful in other medical conditions, including sleep apnea, critical care, spinal cord injuries, and athletic training or physical therapy when the primary goal is to increase lung capacity.

Systems and methods related to the field of cardiac resuscitation, and in particular to devices for assisting rescuers in performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are described herein. The system includes an applicator device configured to provide ACD CPR treatment to a patient's chest according to a plurality of phases at least one sensor configured to be coupled to the patient's chest and to measure at least one parameter related to the ACD CPR treatment and information for determining whether at least one transition point of the ACD CPR treatment has been reached; and one or more processors configured to provide a feedback signal based on a parameter for administering ACD CPR treatment to the patient's chest according to a desired treatment protocol.

Techniques and devices for extending a piston and/or compression unit, for example connected to a medical device such as a mechanical CPR device, to accommodate different sized patients, are described herein. In some cases, a piston of a mechanical CPR device may include an inner piston at least partially slidable into an external piston sleeve. In one aspect, some aspects, the piston includes sleeves which can move relative to each other to extend the piston. In additional aspects, the compression mechanism may also extend downward toward the patient. In all aspects, the change in length of the piston may be detected and used to modify movement of the piston, for example to more safely perform mechanical CPR.

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.

An alignment device for assisting a rescuer for correctly aligning a mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) device. The alignment device can guide positioning of the backboard so that the backboard is correctly positioned prior to connecting an upper portion of the mechanical CPR device to the backboard. The alignment device can also include positioning the mechanical CPR device without a backboard or positioning the backboard and the upper portion of the mechanical CPR device nearly simultaneously.

A system and method for mechanical CPR can include a device for providing compressive force to various locations on a patient, and biological monitoring systems to measure the effectiveness of the various locations of compressive force in pumping blood through the patient. The system can also include providing decompressive force to increase the efficacy of blood flow.

Among other things, in one aspect, we describe a system for assisting with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The system includes at least one sensor; and one or more processors configured for calculating a chest compliance relationship based on data received from the at least one sensor, and determining a neutral position of chest compression based at least in part on a feature of the chest compliance relationship. The system can take the form of an active compression-decompression device.

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.