Cardiopulmonary resuscitation device, control method and computer program

Abstract

According to an aspect, there is provided a cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, device (1) for enhancing the delivery of CPR to a patient. The device (1) comprises: a patient side (3) for engagement with the chest of the patient; and a user side (2) for engagement with the hands of a user delivering CPR to the patient; and an actuator configured to at least partially alter the external form of one or more of the patient side (3) and the user side (2) so as to regulate a shape profile of the one or more of the patient side (3) and the user side (2). According to other aspects, there is provided a control method for a cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, device and a computer program which, when executed on a computing device, carries out a control method for a cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, device.

Claims

1. A cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) device for enhancing the delivery of CPR to a patient, the device comprising: a patient side for engagement with a chest of the patient; a user side for engagement with at least one hand of a user delivering CPR to the patient; and an actuator configured to at least partially alter an external form of one or more of the patient side and the user side during the delivery of the CPR to the patient so as to regulate a shape profile of the one or more of the patient side and the user side during the delivery of the CPR to the patient.

2. The CPR device of claim 1, further comprising: a controller configured to control the actuator so as to provide a target shape profile of the one or more of the patient side and the user side.

3. The CPR device of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to activate and deactivate the actuator so as to compress and expand the actuator.

4. The CPR device of claim 2, further comprising: a force sensor configured to acquire force data of a force applied to the CPR device, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the target shape profile in accordance with the force data.

5. The CPR device of claim 2, wherein the device is communicably coupled with a patient sensor configured to collect patient sensor data relating to a condition of the patient; wherein the CPR device is configured to receive the patient sensor data from the patient sensor; and wherein the controller is further configured to determine the target shape profile in accordance with the patient sensor data.

6. The CPR device of claim 2, wherein the CPR device is communicably coupled with a user sensor configured to collect user sensor data relating to a condition of the user; wherein the CPR device is configured to receive the user sensor data from the user sensor; and wherein the controller is further configured to determine the target shape profile in accordance with the user sensor data.

7. The CPR device of claim 2, wherein the device is communicably coupled with a memory configured to store information on the patient; wherein the CPR device is configured to acquire information on the patient from the memory; and wherein the controller is further configured to determine the target shape profile in accordance with the information on the patient.

8. The CPR device of claim 2, wherein the CPR device is communicably coupled with a memory configured to store information on the user; wherein the CPR device is configured to acquire information on the user from the memory; and wherein the controller is further configured to determine the target shape profile in accordance with the information on the user.

9. The CPR device of claim 2, wherein the CPR device is communicably coupled with a camera configured to acquire image data of the CPR device positioned on the chest of the patient; wherein the CPR device is configured to receive the image data from the camera; and wherein the controller is further configured to determine a position of the CPR device relative to the chest of the patient using the image data and to determine the target shape profile in accordance with the position of the device relative to the chest of the patient.

10. The CPR device of claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of pressure sensors disposed on the patient side of the CPR device and each configured to acquire pressure sensor data of pressure applied to the device, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a position of the CPR device relative to a chest of the patient using the acquired pressure sensor data and to determine the target shape profile in accordance with the position of the device relative to the chest of the patient.

11. The CPR device of claim 2, wherein the CPR device comprises a plurality of actuators including the actuator; and wherein the controller is further configured to control the actuator independently of one or more of the other actuators of the plurality of actuators.

12. The CPR device of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to control the actuator such that a portion of the one or more of the patient side and the user side protrudes from the surface of the one or more of the patient side and the user side.

13. The CPR device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic actuator.

14. A control method for a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) device for enhancing the delivery of CPR to a patient, the CPR device comprising a patient side for engagement with a chest of the patient, a user side for engagement with at least one hand of a user delivering CPR to the patient, and an actuator configured to at least partially alter an external form of one or more of the patient side and the user side during the delivery of CPR to the patient so as to regulate a shape profile of the one or more of the patient side and the user side during the delivery of CPR to the patient, the method comprising: acquiring one or more of the following data types: force data of a force applied to the CPR device; patient sensor data relating to a condition of the patient; user sensor data relating to a condition of the user; information on the patient; information on the user; acceleration data of acceleration of the CPR device at a plurality of time points; image data of the CPR device positioned on the chest of the patient; and pressure sensor data of pressure applied to the CPR device; and controlling the actuator during the delivery of CPR to the patient so as to provide a target shape profile of the one or more of the patient side and the user side in accordance with one or more of the acquired data types.

15. A computer program which, when executed on a computing device, carries out a control method for a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) device for enhancing the delivery of CPR to a patient, the CPR device comprising a patient side for engagement with a chest of the patient, a user side for engagement with at least one hand of a user delivering CPR to the patient, and an actuator configured to at least partially alter an external form of one or more of the patient side and the user side so as to regulate a shape profile of the one or more of the patient side and the user side, the computer program comprising program code to: acquire one or more of the following data types: force data of a force applied to the CPR device; patient sensor data relating to a condition of the patient; user sensor data relating to a condition of the user; information on the patient; information on the user; acceleration data of acceleration of the CPR device at a plurality of time points; image data of the CPR device positioned on the chest of the patient; and pressure sensor data of pressure applied to the CPR device; and control the actuator during the delivery of CPR to the patient so as to provide a target shape profile of the one or more of the patient side and the user side in accordance with one or more of the acquired data types.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present disclosure may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. Accordingly, the drawings are for purposes of illustrating the various embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the embodiments. In the drawing figures, like reference numerals refer to like elements. In addition, it is to be noted that the figures may not be drawn to scale.

(2) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, device according to a general embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a control method for a cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, device according to a general embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a CPR system according to an embodiment of an aspect of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a control method for a CPR system according to an embodiment of an aspect of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a CPR device according to an embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a CPR device in use during the delivery of CPR to a patient by a user according to an embodiment of the invention; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a CPR device in use during the delivery of CPR to a patient by a user according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(9) The embodiments of the present disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting examples that are described and/or illustrated in the drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the present disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments of the present may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the same. Accordingly, the examples herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law.

(10) It is understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the particular methodology, protocols, devices, apparatus, materials, applications, etc., described herein, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting in scope of the embodiments as claimed. It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

(11) Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments of the present disclosure belong. Preferred methods, devices, and materials are described, although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of the embodiments.

(12) As discussed above, it is desirable to enhance the delivery of CPR to the user so that the CPR are more effective and the benefit of the CPR to the patient is increased. It is also desirable to minimize the risk of damage to the patient and/or user during the delivery of CPR.

(13) Embodiments of the present invention provide a CPR device, a control method and a computer program. The CPR device may comprise one or more variable properties that may be altered so as to regulate a profile of the CPR device. When utilized during the delivery of CPR, in particular during the delivery of chest compressions, the one or more variable properties may change in response to stimuli and may also be controlled. Accordingly, the one or more variable properties may alter the interaction of the device with the patient and/or the user during delivery of CPR and may be enhance the delivery of CPR to the patient. The risk of damage to the patient and/or user during the delivery of CPR may also be minimized by the one or more variable properties of the device. This may be achieved by maintaining the correct and consistent depth and full release during CPR compression cycles which may be difficult to achieve otherwise.

(14) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, device according to a general embodiment of the invention. The CPR device 1 comprises a user side 2 and a patient side 3. The patient side 3 is suitable for engagement with the chest of a patient. The user side 2 is suitable for engagement with the hands of a user delivering CPR to the patient. The CPR device 1 may further comprise a controller (not shown). Either or both of the user side 2 and the patient side 3 may be provided with one or more variable properties, such as a non-Newtonian fluid with variable viscosity, a material with variable contact characteristics or an actuator to vary the external form of the device.

(15) FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a control method for a cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, device according to a general embodiment of the invention. At step S21, one or more data types are acquired. The data types may include force data of a force applied to the device; patient sensor data relating to the condition of the patient; user sensor data relating to the condition of the user; information on the patient; information on the user; acceleration data of acceleration of the device at a plurality of time points; image data of the device positioned on the chest of the patient; and pressure sensor data of pressure applied to the device. At step S22 one or more variable properties of the CPR device is controlled in accordance with the one or more of the acquired data types. The variable properties may be a non-Newtonian fluid with variable viscosity, a material with variable contact characteristics or an actuator to vary the external form of the device.

(16) The NNF may be a shear thickening fluid (STF). STFs are non-Newtonian fluids whose properties vary based on the application of a shear force. They are soft and conformable at low levels of force, but stiffen and behave more like a solid when a higher level of force is applied. The formulation of STFs may be adjusted to tune the properties of the fluid, including viscosity, critical shear rate, storage modulus, and loss modulus. Additionally, increased understanding of STFs has enabled their properties to be changed dynamically using for example electrical fields, magnetic fields or vibrations. Such STFs may be incorporated into CPR devices according to embodiments of aspects of the present invention. That is, the user side of the CPR device may be at least partially formed of an STF with properties that may be tuned and controlled. Alternatively or additionally, the patient side may be at least partially formed of an STF with properties that may be tuned and controlled.

(17) Flexible sensors enable a range of sensing capabilities on conformable surfaces, such as, for example, pressure, optical, temperature and inertia. Such flexible sensors may therefore be incorporated into CPR devices according to embodiments of aspects of the present invention so as to acquire sensor data of measurements taken from the patient, the user and/or the CPR delivery. The sensor data may then be used to control the one or more variable properties of the CPR device.

(18) As discussed above, one or more of the patient side and the user side of the device may be at least partially formed of a material with variable contact characteristics. Various methods exist to dynamically control the adhesive and frictional properties of materials, including electro adhesion, ultrasound and novel surface designs. Such methods may therefore be incorporated into to CPR devices according to embodiments of aspects of the present invention so as to achieve a device which may have variable contact characteristics on at least a portion of its surface.

(19) During the delivery of CPR and, in particular, the chest compressions administered to the patient during the delivery of CPR, the optimal compression force profile over the chest area varies significantly among patients due to inter-individual differences. That is, the optimum compression depth and thus the force required to achieve the depth varies between patients. Although the specific force required for optimal compression depth differs between individuals, ranges have been identified for different patient groups (such as, adults, children, infants, the elderly, males, females etc.). For example, the forces required for males and females are in the ranges 320±80N and 270±70N, respectively. The ranges of the one or more variable properties of CPR devices according to embodiments of aspects of the present invention may therefore be determined in accordance with the patient group upon which a device is intended to be used and the desired forces associated with that patient group.

(20) Computational methods enable heart muscle and adjacent vasculature activity to be analyzed in real time using, for example, ultrasound and ultra-wideband (UWB radar). Blood pressure may also be measured using ultrasound. Such analysis of heart muscle and blood flow activity may be utilized with CPR devices according to embodiments of aspects of the present invention to monitor the condition of the patient so that the one or more variable properties of the CPR device may be controlled in accordance with the condition of the patient.

(21) Wearable radar may use artificial intelligence (AI) to identify subtle body movements. Sensors in smart devices are able to measure heart arrhythmias and blood pressure. Skin condition may be determined with simple sensors. Emotions may be determined using, for example, a smartphone camera and facial recognition. Such body analysis using consumer-grade wearables and smartphone technologies may be utilized with CPR devices according to embodiments of aspects of the present invention so as to monitor the condition of the user so that the one or more variable properties of the CPR device may be controlled in accordance with the condition of the user.

(22) One or more of the properties of CPR devices according to embodiments of aspects of the present invention, such as, for example, shape, stiffness and adhesion, may be varied in real time using soft actuators, electro-adhesion and active shear-thickening materials.

(23) According to embodiments of aspects of the present invention, there is provided a CPR device with dynamically adjustable properties (including shape, stiffness, friction and adhesion). The properties may be dynamically adjusted to optimize, for an individual patient and rescuer (user), the spatial and temporal force delivery profile so as to achieve desired CPR qualities, such as, for example, hemodynamic activity, while minimizing damage to the patient and/or rescuer. The properties may be dynamically adjusted in view of the compression forces delivered by the rescuer. The optimization is based on real-time analysis of the patient and/or the rescuer during compressions under varying force profiles.

(24) The main steps according to embodiments of aspects of the present invention may be summarized as follows:

(25) Analysis of the CPR quality based on current compressions. CPR quality measurements may include an analysis of hemodynamic activity of the patient.

(26) Analysis of patient condition, including the skin condition under the CPR device.

(27) Optionally, analysis of the rescuer condition, including the skin condition in contact with the CPR device, and the level of fatigue of the rescuer.

(28) Selection of a set of CPR device parameters such as shape, stiffness and adhesion/friction properties, designed to create a force profile on the chest of the patient that optimizes CPR quality and minimizes patient and/or rescuer injury, based on the previous analyses.

(29) Hence, embodiments of aspects of the present invention may provide the following described features.

(30) A system to control a patient's hemodynamics during CPR by adjusting the force profile of the device of a force applied to the chest based on an evaluation of the optimum force profile to achieve a desired hemodynamic activity for the individual patient. Activities that may be controlled include:

(31) Delivery of blood to the brain.

(32) Delivery of therapeutics around the body.

(33) Detection, analysis and prevention/reduction of internal or external bleeding.

(34) A CPR device actuator system to modify one or more properties of a CPR device, including shape, stiffness and adhesion/friction, with the ability to create a force distribution output based on, but different from, a force distribution input, i.e. the force output to the patient from a force input by the user. The system includes:

(35) Shape control, using actuators to adjust the shape of the device.

(36) Stiffness control, using non-Newtonian fluids such as shear-thickening materials that stiffen in response to a force applied either by the rescuer performing CPR or by activators in the device.

(37) Adhesion and friction control, using materials with variable adhesion properties to facilitate positioning and maintenance of the CPR device in position.

(38) A system to reduce injury to the patient and/or rescuer via the monitoring of the effect of CPR on the patient and/or rescuer and the adjustment of CPR device properties including shape, stiffness and adhesion/friction to reduce the impact. For example, to reduce friction or repetitive strain. The system may reduce injury to the patient during administration of CPR through temporal and spatial control of the perpendicular force applied during manual CPR compressions.

(39) A control unit to calculate the optimum CPR device parameters to apply to a patient's chest to achieve a desired hemodynamic outcome for a given force input. That is, to determine a target output force profile of the device from a force applied to the device by a rescuer (user).

(40) FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a CPR system 11 according to an embodiment of an aspect of the invention. The CPR system 11 is designed to assist in the administration of CPR to a patient in cardiac arrest by dynamically adjusting the force transfer profile of a CPR device from the rescuer (user) to the patient in such a way that CPR qualities, such as hemodynamic activity, may be optimized given the compressions provided by the rescuer. Adjustments to the force profile may be made by changing parameters in the CPR device (the ‘device parameters’), including the shape profile, stiffness profile and adhesion/friction profile.

(41) The CPR system 11 may comprise a compression control system 31, an adhesion/friction control system 32, a shape control system 33, a patient monitoring apparatus 34, a CPR monitoring apparatus 35, a rescuer (user) monitoring apparatus 36, a CPR parameter design algorithm 37, a profile selection algorithm 38 and a profile database 39.

(42) The compression control system 31 provides temporal and spatial control of the perpendicular force applied during manual CPR compressions. This may consist of a non-Newtonian fluid, such as a shear-thickening (STF) material, which covers the device and conforms to the shape of the patient's chest and the rescuer's hands. The stiffness of the STF and thus the device changes during application of force to ensure efficient transfer of force from the rescuer to the patient.

(43) The device may comprise multiple cells containing STF such that the stiffness of each cell can be controlled independently and dynamically, to provide pixelated control across the area of contact with the chest thus enabling the location of the compression force to be controlled on each compression.

(44) The stiffness of the fluid may be controlled using various stimuli, including (ultra)sonic, electrical or magnetic stimuli and the stimuli may depend on the properties of the STF. For example, ultrasonic transducers placed in each STF cell may be activated to modulate the stiffness of the STF independently of the force applied by the rescuer. In the absence of any stimuli, the STF will stiffen on application of adequate force by the rescuer, due to the properties of STFs. Thus efficient transfer of force from the rescuer to the patient may be enabled while still the device is still able to conform to the patient's chest and rescuer's hands when little or no force is applied. This may be considered as the default behavior.

(45) Additional stimuli may be applied to adjust the default behavior. For example, the additional stimuli may be used to increase stiffness in some cells and reduce stiffness in other cells at different times during the compression cycle. This may enable, for example, excessive compression depth to be avoided by softening the device once optimal compression depth is reached.

(46) The shear thickening dynamics of the fluid may be designed and optimized for the range of forces present during CPR, for example, as described above with respect to different patient groups. Additionally, different devices may be designed with specific properties (size, stiffness etc.) tailored to different groups (e.g. children, adults or the elderly). For example, a pediatric CPR Device may be smaller than an adult device, and the cells for pixelated control proportionally smaller. The STF may be tuned such that it stiffens at a lower force, in line with that required to perform CPR on a child, compared with the STF used in an adult device. The maximum stiffness may also be lower than for an adult device, which may produce a balance between force transfer efficiency and patient comfort/injury reduction.

(47) The adhesion control system 32 modifies the lateral forces being applied to the patient's skin and/or the user's skin. Modifying the lateral forces may control and reduce damage from friction effects, and/or control the puck position on the patient's chest using lateral forces delivered by a user either intentionally or during CPR compressions. The adhesion control system 32 may include materials with dynamically controllable friction and adhesion properties.

(48) The friction (or otherwise, lateral force control) may be actively controlled in a pixilated manner, given available resolution of patient sensing and friction modulation systems. For example, sufficient friction to prevent puck slippage may be applied to skin areas which are not already damaged, while friction on areas of damages skin may be reduced. The position of the CPR device may be controlled by dynamically adjusting the adhesion properties in conjunction with the shape of the device such that the application of force during a compression cycle causes lateral movement of the CPR device in a controlled manner until the desired location is reached.

(49) The system may include: an algorithm to determine the desired puck location given skin/bone condition and CPR effectiveness concerns, for example, this may be to move the puck 1 cm to avoid an area of damaged skin/bone; an algorithm to determine the friction/adhesion properties which should be applied to the surface pressed against the patient's skin, based on: patient skin condition, such as hydration, age, current damage state etc.; and forces being applied to the puck during the CPR compression cycle, which may be directly measured, or predicted using data from previous compression cycles; and desired puck location.

(50) The shape control system 33 modifies the shape of the CPR Device. This may consist of multiple actuators across the CPR device that can be independently controlled to vary the thickness of the device in a pixelated manner. For example, an array of hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic (HASEL) actuators may be embedded in the device and covered with a flexible surface which may additionally be filled with an STF. Electrical activation of one actuator results in a change of thickness relative to neighboring actuators, resulting in the surface forming a slope between actuators. Using shape control, a perpendicular force applied to the device can thus be transformed to include a lateral component as well as perpendicular component of force applied to the patient's chest.

(51) The patient monitoring apparatus 34 determines the condition of the patient. This includes monitoring of patient physiological parameters, and the patient's skin condition. Data from the patient monitoring apparatus is collected (the ‘patient data’). A variety of sensors enables imminent injury to the patient's chest to be sensed or predicted and the system adjusts the force profile across the area of contact to reduce the risk of injury.

(52) Patient physiological parameters relevant to CPR include but are not limited to: coronary perfusion pressure (CPP); delivery of blood to the brain; delivery of injected therapeutics around the body; detection and analysis of internal or external bleeding; and detection of subcutaneous soft tissue and bone damage.

(53) These parameters may be measured by monitoring equipment internal or external to the CPR device. Monitoring equipment may include standard ultrasound imaging or UWB radar and a processing unit to image and analyze the heart muscle and adjacent vasculature, and measure blood pressures. That is, computational methods enable heart muscle and adjacent vasculature activity to be analyzed in real time using, for example, ultrasound and UWB radar, and blood pressure may also be measured using ultrasound. Additionally, bone damage, such as to the ribs, may be detected via changes to the pressure profile of pressure sensors on the CPR device. If the hemodynamic behavior is measured, then delivery of injected therapeutics around the circulatory system may be predicted. Unexpected changes in hemodynamic behavior and blood pressure may be indicative of bleeding. Knowledge of this can be used to adjust the force profile to minimize pressure on the blood vessels predicted to be bleeding.

(54) The skin condition of the patient under the CPR device may be monitored in various ways using sensors in or connected to the device. Skin hydration may be monitored via capacitance measurement; oiliness and redness of the skin may be monitored via optical sensors; and elasticity of the skin may be monitored via vibrational sensors.

(55) The CPR monitoring apparatus 35 monitors CPR activity. Data from the CPR monitoring apparatus is collected using various sensors (the ‘CPR data’). These may include: compression rate, which may be determined, for example, by observing the change in acceleration over time, from an accelerometer, to determine the time taken to perform a compression cycle; compression depth, which may be determined, for example, by double integration of accelerometer data to determine the distance travelled between the top and bottom of a compression cycle; spatial and temporal profile of the force applied by the rescuer to the CPR device, which may be determined, for example, via pressure sensors on the rescuer (user) side of the device; and CPR device position. If a camera directed at the patient is available and accessible by the system, then the device position may be determined using image recognition techniques to determine the CPR device location on the patient's chest. Additionally, an array of pressure sensors on the underside (patient side) of the CPR device may be used to estimate the location of the device from the pressure profile. For example, higher pressure readings on the sensors are likely to indicate the bony structures such as the solar plexus and ribs, whereas lower reading are likely to indicate soft tissue such as the gaps between the ribs and the edge of the diaphragm.

(56) The rescuer (user) monitoring apparatus 36 optionally monitors the state of the rescuer. The data is collected (the “rescuer data”) and may include: skin condition of the hands in contact with the CPR device, which can be monitored in various ways using sensors on the rescuer side of the device, as discussed above (hydration, oiliness, redness, elasticity, etc.); and rescuer physiological parameters which may be used to determine a level of rescuer fatigue; and rescuer identification. The rescuer may change during CPR, which will change the optimum CPR device parameters that should be used. The change in rescuer may be recognized by the rescuer monitoring apparatus, for example, via changes in body geometry, or facial recognition if available.

(57) The rescuer physiological parameters may include: heart rate, determined, for example, using pressure or optical sensors in contact with the rescuer's hand; breathing rate, which may indicate the level of exertion or calm of the user; body geometry and position, in particular arm positioning; and rescuer emotional state, which may be determined from a rescuer-facing camera, if available, and facial recognition, as discussed above. If a camera is available (for example, on an adjacent defibrillator (AED), in an ambulance or in a hospital room) then this may provide data on the rescuer state, such as breathing rate and discomfort in facial expressions, for example.

(58) Monitoring the rescuer state may be important because if the rescuer's skin becomes too damaged or the rescuer becomes too fatigued, then the quality of CPR is likely to decline (or stop altogether). Therefore CPR device settings that facilitate the wellbeing of the rescuer, even at the cost of slightly lower CPR quality, may lead to better patient outcome overall. Examples of device settings to facilitate rescuer wellbeing include selective softening, and change in shape or points of adhesion in order to change the pressure profile on the rescuer's hand, or to encourage a different arm position.

(59) Thus the system may increase rescuer comfort during delivery of CPR. The stiffness of the material on the rescuer side of the device may be adjusted in a pixelated fashion under the hands of the rescuer to maximize comfort and reduce the risk of repetitive pressure-related injury. The adhesion and frictional properties of the CPR device surface in contact with the rescuer's hands can be varied dynamically in a pixelated manner to reduce injury caused by rubbing. A variety of sensors enable rescuer comfort to be measured, and the system may adjust the force profile to increase comfort.

(60) The CPR parameter design algorithm 37 designs tests to evaluate the effect of different sets of CPR device parameters on CPR quality. The mappings of CPR device parameters to CPR quality impacts are the ‘CPR Device Profiles’. The effects on, for example, the patient's condition for an applied force range, of a set of device parameters are therefore determined and the effects are linked to the device parameters. The profile selection algorithm 38 selects a specific CPR device profile to achieve a specific goal in relation to the ongoing CPR (the ‘goal’). The profile database 39 stores the CPR device profiles. These may be stored in accordance with the determined effects.

(61) Thus, the controller may set the one or more variable properties of the device and then monitor the effects of the property settings on the patient and/or the user. The controller may store the property settings in a database, with the resultant effects. The controller may further monitor the condition of the patient, the user and/or the CPR delivery and determine a CPR goal. The controller may then compare the CPR goal with the effects of a plurality of device property settings stored in the database. The controller may set the property settings of the device to match settings stored in the database which achieve effects the same as, or similar to, the CPR goal.

(62) Accordingly, patient damage resulting from CPR delivery may be reduced through the control of material properties, which vary the CPR compression force transfer dynamics based on measurements of patient tissue/bone condition and other CPR concerns. Damage may therefore be controlled or prevented through adjustment of the spatial and temporal dynamics of force application. It may be considered that the lateral (shear) forces and perpendicular forces of the device are controlled.

(63) The system may increase quality of CPR compressions. The depth of a compression may be controlled through the dynamic modification of force over the area of application on the patient chest during a CPR compression cycle, by reducing the stiffness of the material to reduce force on the chest once optimum compression depth is reached thus minimizing the risk of over compression. The quality of compressions may be increased by adjusting the distribution of force across the area covered by the device on both the patient side and rescuer side to direct delivery of force to the optimum location. The release of pressure during the upstroke of a compression cycle may be facilitated through the natural softening of the STF material once pressure is reduced. A variety of sensors may enable CPR quality to be measured, and the system may adjust the force profile to increase quality

(64) FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of a control method for a CPR system according to an embodiment of an aspect of the invention. At step S41, the CPR device is configured with an initial set of device parameters. The CPR device collects data as CPR is performed on the patient at step S42 and the CPR parameter design algorithm runs tests using different sets of CPR device parameters to determine their effect on CPR quality at step S43. At step S44, the profile selection algorithm runs tests using different sets of CPR device parameters to determine their effect on CPR quality and at step S45, the CPR device is configured with the selected device parameters.

(65) The device parameters configure: the compression control system; the adhesion control system; and the shape control system. The CPR device collects data as CPR is performed. Data is collected from: the patient monitoring apparatus; the CPR monitoring apparatus; and the rescuer monitoring apparatus.

(66) The CPR parameter design algorithm runs tests using different sets of CPR device parameters to determine their effect on CPR quality, and populates the profile database. The algorithm takes patient data, CPR data and optionally rescuer data as inputs and outputs sets of CPR device parameters and associated data on how the overall quality of CPR is affected under these parameters. These profiles are stored in the profile database. This process may be considered as the ‘design procedure’.

(67) An example implementation of the algorithm is described. When the design procedure is initiated, the CPR device is configured with an initial set of CPR device parameters. This may be for example the default state of the CPR device with no active control enabled. Device parameters may be time varying such that they change during the course of a compression cycle. This enables, for example, forces to be applied at changing angles and locations on the chest and thus onto the heart.

(68) As compression cycles are performed, the algorithm receives patient data, CPR data and rescuer data under these parameter settings and provides scores (‘profile scores’) for each of the sets of data.

(69) Example calculations for these scores include the following:

(70) Hemodynamic score based on conditions compared to a predetermined ideal (e.g. determined by previous CPR studies), such as CPP achieved as a percentage of the ideal, or delivery of blood to the brain as a percentage of the ideal.
CPR Rate score: 1−|Current CPR Rate−Optimum CPR Rate|/Optimum CPR Rate
CPR Depth score: 1−|Current CPR Depth−Optimum CPR Depth|/Optimum CPR Depth

(71) Patient skin impact score: for each controllable pixel of the device, the likely impact on the patient's skin underneath the pixel is estimated based on the friction/adhesion properties, and magnitude and direction of the applied force. This may be implemented as a lookup table based on data gathered from previous CPR sessions.

(72) Rescuer skin impact score: for each controllable pixel of the device, the likely impact on the rescuer's skin underneath the pixel is estimated based on the friction/adhesion properties, and magnitude and direction of applied force. This may be implemented as a lookup table based on data gathered from previous CPR sessions.

(73) These scores are stored along with the set of currently active CPR device parameters in the CPR device profile database. After a number of compression cycles the CPR device parameters are adjusted and the preceding two steps are repeated. The number of compression cycles between parameter adjustments may be fixed or based on when the scores are seen to stabilize, for example.

(74) The adjustments may be predetermined to cycle through a representative range of shape, compression and adhesion/friction settings, or may be dynamically determined based on a prediction of what is likely to improve CPR performance. For example, if the left ventricle (LV) of the patient's heart is observed to be inadequately compressed, changes to the location, shape and compression characteristics of the CPR device predicted to increase compression of the left ventricle are selected. This prediction may be derived from previously run tests, or a set of rules derived from previous CPR studies. For example, if the maximum force is not currently applied directly above the LV, the shape/location of the device may be changed such that the maximum force is directly above the LV. Changing the parameters may also lead to a change of the CPR device location. Device location data is stored as part of the CPR device profiles.

(75) Once a number of sets of CPR device parameters have been tested, the design procedure ends. The number of sets may be predetermined to provide a representative range of shape, compression and adhesion/friction settings, or may end once a particular set of scores is achieved, or after a fixed amount of time.

(76) Conditions that may trigger the Design Procedure to run, or re-run, include:

(77) when CPR is started, which may be determined from CPR Data;

(78) when the rescuer changes, which may be determined from rescuer data, and if data related to the new rescuer is not already available in the profile database;

(79) if the CPR device is moved and no profile data is available at the new location;

(80) if the measured patient, CPR and rescuer data under a given set of CPR device parameters deviates significantly from that expected from the profile data—this may indicate some underlying change, such as, for example, a loosening of the patient chest over time, a rib fracture or new bleeding; and

(81) after a predefined amount of time.

(82) The profile selection algorithm selects a set of CPR device parameters to achieve a defined goal. The algorithm takes CPR profile data, patient data, CPR data and rescuer data as inputs, and outputs a selected set of CPR device parameters which are used to configure the CPR device. Goals may include:

(83) maximizing brain blood flow or CPP above all else;

(84) achieving adequate brain blood flow or CPP while minimizing injury to the patient and the rescuer; achieving delivery of injected therapeutics around the body; and

(85) achieving optimum hemodynamics taking into account detected bleeding.

(86) Goal selection may be predetermined and selected at the start of CPR, or changed during CPR. A primary goal is selected and optionally secondary goals are selected that become active if the primary goal is achieved. Goal selection examples may include: if the patient is in a controlled environment with multiple available rescuers, such as a hospital, goal (i) may be selected; if the patient is outside the hospital, a single rescuer is available and arrival time of additional help is unknown, then goal (ii) may be preferred to maximize the chance of the rescuer continuing with CPR; and if therapeutics are injected into the patient, then goal (iii) may temporarily preferred.

(87) An example implementation of the algorithm is provided. Firstly, the available data is evaluated to determine: hemodynamic score; patient skin condition; optionally, rescuer skin condition; and optionally, rescuer fatigue state. Based on the selected goal and the calculated scores above, the profile that is expected to best achieve the goal is then selected. If skin damage is included in the goals then the effect of a profile on the skin can be predicted from the current measured skin condition and the skin impact score of the profile. This may be implemented as a look up table based on observations from previous CPR sessions. Finally, the data is re-evaluated regularly and the profile selection is changed as required.

(88) The CPR device is configured with the selected device parameters.

(89) FIG. 5 shows is a schematic diagram of a CPR device according to an embodiment of the invention. The CPR device 1 comprises: a surface with adjustable friction/adhesion properties 51; an array of shape-changing actuators 52; tunable shear-thickening material 53; power and control system 54; sonic actuators 55; and sensors 56.

(90) The array of shape-changing actuators 53 allow for pixelated control of the shape of the device 1 and may, for example, be HASELs. The sensors 56 may be, for example, pressure, optical, capacitive, acceleration, etc. sensors. The sonic actuators 55 may be ultrasonic actuators and may be operated to apply an oscillatory or mechanical stimulus to the tunable shear-thickening material 53 to alter its viscosity.

(91) FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a CPR device in use during the delivery of CPR to a patient by a user according to an embodiment of the invention. The diagram shows a user's hand 6 applying a chest compression to the patient's chest 7, with the device 1 disposed between the user's hands 6 and the patient 7. The device is positioned on the chest of the patient 7 above the patient's heart 71. The force of the compression 81 is input to the device 1 and the device outputs a force output 82 to the patient 7.

(92) The properties of the CPR device 1 may be adjusted so that the CPR device 1 conforms to the patient's chest 7 and the user's hands 6. The shape and other properties of the device 1 are adjusted as shown at point 91. For example, adhesion at point 92 facilitates force transfer at an angle.

(93) FIG. 7 shows is a schematic diagram of a CPR device in use during the delivery of CPR to a patient by a user according to an embodiment of the invention. In comparison to FIG. 6, it can be seen that the properties of the device 1 have been adjusted so that the shape and position of the device 1 are different. Hemodynamic differences in response to different puck properties are measured and the properties of the device (puck) 1 may be varied accordingly.

(94) As may be seen from the above, embodiments of the present invention may provide a CPR device, a control method and a computer program. The CPR device may comprise one or more variable properties that may be altered so as to regulate a profile of the CPR device. The CPR device may be provided as part of a CPR system. Embodiments of the present invention may overcome disadvantages of the prior art discussed above.

(95) CPR qualities such as hemodynamic activity within a patient may be optimized for a given CPR performance of a rescuer. This may be achieved by adjusting properties of a CPR device including shape, stiffness and adhesion/friction through the use of materials and actuators that enable these properties to be adjusted dynamically. This may be coupled with techniques to monitor the CPR effectiveness on the patient to enable selection of the device properties for optimal outcome.

(96) Embodiments of aspects of the present invention may provide optimized hemodynamic activity in a cardiac arrest patient for a given rescuer CPR performance, by adjusting the force profile applied to the chest of the patient through adjustment of one or more properties of a CPR device.

(97) Embodiments of aspects of the present invention may provide a reduction in injury to the patient due to CPR by spatial and temporal adjustment of the perpendicular and lateral forces applied to the chest of the patient by a CPR device to minimize frictional skin damage and pressure-related damage to subcutaneous soft tissue and bone (caused by, for example, over compression).

(98) Embodiments of aspects of the present invention may provide a reduction in injury and increased comfort for the rescuer by spatial and temporal adjustment of the perpendicular and lateral forces experienced on the hands of the rescuer from a CPR device to minimize frictional skin damage, pressure related and repetitive strain related damage.

(99) Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiments of the present invention may advantageously be used independently of any other of the embodiments or in any feasible combination with one or more others of the embodiments.

(100) Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

(101) In addition, any reference signs placed in parentheses in one or more claims shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The word “comprising” and “comprises,” and the like, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. The singular reference of an element does not exclude the plural references of such elements and vice-versa. One or more of the embodiments may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements. In a device or apparatus claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage.