Resuscitation Apparatus For Simultaneous Cardiac Massage And Artificial Respiration

Abstract

A light and self-contained device which allows resuscitation of an accident victim by a single person, even if inexperienced in resuscitation techniques. The apparatus has a base on which are mounted two vertical columns which are sufficiently spaced apart to admit the chest of a prone person. On the upper portions of these columns slides a cross-piece which can be clamped on the columns at an adjustable distance from the base. A vertical cylinder is mounted below the centre of the crosspiece and in it slides a piston provided with two piston rods. The upper rod is linked to a second order lever with which the piston can be reciprocated vertically. The lower piston rod is provided at its lower end with a rubber-based plunger for application to the chest of the patient. The upper end of the cylinder is linked by a pipe to a rubber air reservoir balloon. The lower end of the cylinder is linked by a pipe to a bellows made of a flexible, synthetic material. The air reservoir balloon is connected by a pipe to a face-mask for pumping air to the patient. The bellows is linked to a pistol with a manually controlled valve for suction of vomit from the mouth of the patient. In the piping of the face-mask is situated a safety valve set for a determined excessive air pressure, and on the pipe circuit for suction of vomit is placed a vomit reservoir. By means of T-pieces, the pipes connecting the cylinder to the balloon and the bellows are connected to a three-way valve on the crosspiece, allowing the connection to atmosphere of one or the other of these elements. A movable panel between the columns supports the head and chest of the patient and movement of the panel allows the plunger to be situated precisely at the base of the sternum of the patient. The handle of the lever is adjustable and dynamometric, so that the force applied to the chest by the plunger can be adjusted to the size of the rib cage and the age of the patient, to avoid possible fracture of the ribs.

Description

The present invention concerns an emergency resuscitation device, providing for simultaneous cardiac massage and artificial respiration at the site of the emergency.

After an accident, drowning, suffocation, electrocution or heart attack, current techniques call for cardiac massage or artificial respiration by the mouth-to-mouth (kiss of life) method or by pneumatic pumping; the two processes are carried out successively or simultaneously, and necessarily for short periods. Two qualified persons are required for the application of these methods, and to obtain a real efficiency their efforts must be synchronized and conjugated. The cardiac massage is of course an external one effected by pressing of the chest wall vigourously and at a rate of 60 to 70 times per minute, so as to compress the heart. These operations can last for half an hour or more, observing as closely as possible the correct rhythm. This emergency treatment is thus difficult and exhausting, requiring prolonged effort and occasionally involving blows which are to be avoided in the case of cardiac massage, which must be gentle.

If the patient has suffered the initial stages of asphyxiation by gas or liquid, respiratory movements and pumping of air into the lungs must be simultaneously provided, at a given rate and for a given period of time. When resuscitation must be carried out urgently, the mouth-to-mouth method is indicated, but it is difficult and unpleasant, both as regards the time required and the synchronisation with the massage of the heart and the effort required to overcome the repugnance of contact with a mouth which may be filled with vomit.

Various devices are known, based on the principle of a plunger moved mechanically or pneumatically for carrying out the massage. Some use a pressurised liquid acting on the plunger and serving for the direction of air into the lungs. These devices are mechanically complicated, however, and comprise a bulky power source. They do not provide for synchronisation of the resuscitation processes.

To reduce these disadvantages, the present invention provides a very light and self-contained device which allows the resuscitation processes to be safely combined by a single person, even if inexperienced. A lever linked to a double-acting piston and cylinder arrangement allows cardiac massage, pumping of air into the lungs, and suction of vomit to be carried out separately or simultaneously.

The apparatus is formed by a base plate on which are mounted two vertical columns, which may be mounted in a hinged manner, and which are sufficiently spaced apart to admit the chest of a prone person.

On the upper portions of these columns slides a cross-piece which may be so mounted that it can be moved out of the way to admit the body of a patient, and which can be clamped on the columns at an adjustable distance from the base plate.

A vertical cylinder is mounted below the centre of the crosspiece and in it slides a piston provided with two piston rods. The upper rod slides vertically and in fluid-tight manner in the upper closure of the cylinder and is linked to a second order lever pivoted to the top of the crosspiece at one end and having a handle at the other end. With this handle the lever and the piston can be reciprocated vertically.

The lower piston rod slides vertically and in fluid-tight manner in the lower closure of the cylinder and is provided at its lower end with a rubber-based plunger for application to the chest of the patient.

The upper end of the cylinder is provided with an air inlet valve and a nozzle linked by a pipe to a rubber air reservoir balloon, the assembly thus constituting an air pump.

The lower end of the cylinder is provided with an air outlet valve and a nozzle linked by a pipe to a bellows made of a flexible synthetic material, the assembly forming a vacuum pump.

The air reservoir balloon is connected by a pipe to a valve on the handle of the lever while the bellows is connected by another pipe to a vomit suction valve.

By means of T-pieces, the pipes connecting the cylinder to the balloon and the bellows are connected to a three-way valve on the crosspiece, allowing the connection to atmosphere of one or other of these elements, so putting the corresponding pump out of service.

The valve on the lever has an outlet for receiving a tube connected to a face-mask, by means of a quick release joint, for pumping air to the patient.

The outlet of the bellows is linked by a quick release joint to a pipe attached to a pistol with a manually controlled valve for suction of vomit, by means of the bellows, the pistol being placed in the mouth of the patient.

In the piping of the face-mask is situated a safety valve set for a determined excessive air pressure, and on the pipe circuit for suction of vomit is placed a vomit reservoir.

A movable panel of synthetic material is placed between the columns. The head and chest of the patient being fixed to this panel, movement of the panel allows the plunger to be situated precisely at the base of the sternum of the patient.

The handle of the lever is adjustable and dynamometic, so that the force applied to the chest by the plunger can be adjusted to the size of the rib cage and the age of the patient, to avoid possible fracture of the ribs.

A characteristic of the present invention is to provide resuscitation apparatus for first aid to victims of heart attacks, suffocation, accidents, drowning, electrocution and the like. The apparatus is light, self-contained, of certain efficiency, and can be used by a single person even if inexperienced in the practice of cardiac massage and artificial respiration.

Another characteristic of the invention is to provide the apparatus with a base plate supporting two vertical columns which can be stowed in a horizontal position and which carry at their upper end portions a cross-piece which can be adjusted relative to the base plate and clamped: the space between these elements receives the chest of a patient, supported on a movable panel.

Another characteristic of the present invention is to mount below the centre of the crosspiece a vertical cylinder in which slides a piston attached to two piston rods, the upper rod sliding in fluid-tight manner in the upper closure of the cylinder and the lower rod sliding in fluid-tight manner in the lower closure of the cylinder. The free end of the lower rod is provided with a rubber plunger for external cardiac massage.

Another characteristic of the invention is to link the free end of the upper rod to a second-order lever supported on the crosspiece, its free end being provided with a handle for reciprocating the piston vertically within the cylinder.

Another characteristic of the present invention is to provide the upper end of the cylinder with an air inlet valve and a nozzle linked by a pipe to a rubber vessel forming a compressed air reservoir, and to provide the lower end of the cylinder with an air outlet valve and a nozzle linked by a pipe to a bellows of a flexible synthetic material forming a vacuum reservoir.

Another characteristic of the invention is to connect the inlet pipes of the compressed air and vacuum reservoirs to a three-way valve mounted on the crosspiece and with which either of these elements may be put out of service by connecting it to atmosphere.

Another characteristic of the present invention is to provide at the outlet of the compressed air reservoir a pipe connected to a manually controlled valve on the handle of the lever for controlling pumping of air to the patient by means of a face-mask coupled to the valve by means of a pipe and a quick release fastening.

A characteristic of the present invention is to provide in the air pumping circuit, between the control valve and the face-mask, a safety valve set for an excessive pressure.

Another characteristic of the invention is to provide on the vomit suction path, between the quick release fastening and the pistol, a vomit reservoir.

Another characteristic of the invention is to provide the lever with an adjustable, dynamometric handle for limiting the pressure of the rubber plunger on the chest of the patient, according to the age and physical condition of the patient, so as to avoid if possible excessive compression of the sternum and rib cage which can, especially if prolonged, cause fracture of the ribs.

The apparatus is arranged to carry out rapidly and readily all resuscitation operations, that is to say external cardiac massage, or pumping of air into the lungs, or clearing the thoracic passages by removal of vomit which might impede the attempt to reestablish respiration .

Other characteristics of the invention will emerge from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows schematically and by way of example self-contained resuscitation apparatus.

In the drawing :

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus,

FIG. 2 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 1.

The base plate 1 of the apparatus supports columns 2 and 3 which receive on their upper portions a crosspiece 4 which can be adjusted in height and clamped by means of knurled knobs 5 and 6. A cylinder 7 in which slides a piston 8 provided with piston rods 9 and 10 is mounted on the apparatus. The lower rod 9 slides in fluid-tight manner in the lower closure 11 of the cylinder and the upper rod 10 slides in fluid-tight manner in the upper closure 12. The lower rod 9 carries a rubber plunger 13 at its free end. The upper rod 10 is coupled to a lever 14 of which one end is fixed to the crosspiece 4 by means of a link 15 and the other end is provided with a dynamometric handle 16 adjustable by means of a knurled knob 17. The upper end 12 of the cylinder is provided with an inlet valve 18 and is connected by a pipe 19 to a rubber balloon 20 forming a compressed air reservoir. The lower end 11 is provided with an outlet valve 21 and is linked by a pipe 22 to the vacuum reservoir 23. Pipes 19 and 22 are connected to a three-way valve 24 mounted on the crosspiece 4.

The outlet pipe 25 from the compressed air reservoir 20 is connected to an air pumping valve 26 through a pipe 27 provided with a safety valve 28 and a quick-release fastening 29. The fastening 29 receives a pipe 30 leading to a face-mask (not shown).

The outlet pipe 31 from the vacuum reservoir 23 terminates in a quick-release fastening for receiving one end of a vomit suction pipe incorporating a vomit reservoir 33 and whose free end is attached to a pistol-valve 34 for suction of vomit.

A mobile panel 35 is mounted so as to slide on the base plate 1 and has a support 36 for the head of a patient, secured to the support 36 by means of a strap attached to hooks 37 and 38.

The columns 2 and 3 carry respective sliding supports 39 and 40 on which are clamped buffers 41 and 42 for locating the chest of the patient 43.

If the patient 43 needs combined cardiac massage and air, the patient is disposed on the panel 35 between the columns 2 and 3, with his head secured to the support 36 and so that the plunger 13 is above the base of the sternum. The buffers 41 and 42 are pressed against the sides of the rib cage and the three-way valve 24 is positioned so that both reservoirs 20 and 23 are in service. The face-mask is applied to the mouth of the patient and the lever is manoeuvered to give four successive massages at a rate of approximately 60 to 70 per minute. The valve 26 is then opened for three seconds after which the manoeuvre is resumed at the same rhythm. The rubber balloon 20 is filled with compressed air by the co-operation of piston 8 and air inlet valve 18. Raising of the piston and the lever can be assisted by a spring (not shown). At the same time a partial vacuum is created in the reservoir 23 by the co-operation of the piston 8 and the air outlet valve 21.

If the mouth or adjacent internal organs of the patient are obstructed by vomit, the face-mask is lifted and the vomit is sucked into the reservoir 33 by means of the pistol 34.

If the patient does not require a supply of air the three-position valve 24 is set so that the vessel 20 is connected to atmosphere. The pistol 34 can be used, the vacuum reservoir 23 being still in service.

All operative combinations of the apparatus can be selected by means of the three-way valve 24.

It will be appreciated that the invention has been described by way of non-limitative example only, and that various details are subject to modifications lying within the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus the columns 2 and 3 might be articulated at their lower ends so that the patient could be placed directly in the best position on the mobile panel 35. Alternatively, the columns could be fixed and the crosspiece 4 could have one end detachable from the column so that it could be swung out of the way to allow the patient to be placed on the panel 35, the panel being movable by means of a suitable known screw or jack device.

Claims

I claim:

1. Resuscitation apparatus comprising:

a generally horizontal support for a patient;

at least one vertical upright on said support;

a crosspiece mounted on said upright for vertical displacements relative thereto;

means for locking said crosspiece on said upright at a predetermined distance from said support;

an air cylinder mounted on said crosspiece for vertical displacement therewith;

a piston mounted for vertical sliding motion in fluid-tight manner within said cylinder;

a manually operable actuator mounted on said crosspiece and connected to said piston for reciprocating said piston within said cylinder and thereby alternately displacing air between the upper end of said cylinder and said piston and between the lower end of said cylinder and said piston;

a piston rod attached to said piston and extending downwardly from said piston and out of the lower end of said cylinder;

means in said cylinder defining a fluid-tight passage for said piston rod through said lower end of said cylinder;

a resilient plunger at the end of said piston rod remote from said piston, for application to the chest of said patient to effect external cardiac massage;

means defining first inlet and exhaust ports in said cylinder on one side of said piston and means defining second inlet and exhaust ports in said cylinder on the opposite side of said piston;

a compressed air reservoir connected to said exhaust port at said one side of said piston;

a vacuum reservoir connected to said inlet port at said opposite side of said piston;

a suction device connected by a pipe to said vacuum reservoir; and

valve means connected to said compressed air and vacuum reservoirs and operable to place either of said reservoirs separately in communication with the atmosphere.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a lever pivoted at one end to said crosspiece and articulated intermediate its ends to said piston, and further comprising an adjustable dynamometric handle at the opposite end of said lever for limiting the force applicable to said lever by force applied to said handle, whereby the force exerted on the patient during cardiac massage can be regulated.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said compressed air reservoir comprises a vessel of an elastic material and said vacuum reservoir comprises a resilient bellows, and further comprising a vomit receptacle connected to said pipe between said vacuum reservoir and said suction device.

4. Resuscitation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said valve means comprise a three-way valve operable, in one position thereof, to open one of said reservoirs to the atmosphere, in a second position thereof, to open the other of said reservoirs to the atmosphere and, in a third position thereof to prevent communication of said reservoirs with the atmosphere.

5. Resuscitation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising a face-mask, a flexible pipe connecting said face-mask to said compressed air reservoir, and a safety valve disposed on said flexible pipe between said reservoir and said mask for limiting the pressure of the air supplied to said face-mask.

6. Resuscitation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said suction device comprises a suction pistol having a manually operable control valve.

7. Resuscitation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising a return spring disposed and acting between said cylinder and said lever to return said lever to a predetermined position.

8. Resuscitation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising a return spring inside said cylinder and disposed and acting between said piston and said cylinder to return said piston to a predetermined position.

9. Resuscitation apparatus as set forth in claim 1, comprising two vertical uprights pivotally mounted on said patient support to permit folding thereof to respective horizontal positions, said crosspiece spanning the space between said uprights.

10. Resuscitation apparatus comprising:

a generally horizontal support for a patient;

at least one vertical upright mounted on said support;

a crosspiece mounted on said upright for vertical displacements relative thereto;

means for locking said crosspiece on said upright at a predetermined distance from said support;

a cylinder mounted on said crosspiece for vertical displacement therewith;

a piston mounted for vertical sliding motion in fluid-tight manner within said cylinder;

a piston rod attached to said piston and extending downwardly from said piston and out of the lower end of said cylinder;

means in said cylinder defining a fluid-tight passage for said piston rod through said lower end of said cylinder;

a resilient plunger at the end of said piston rod remote from said piston, for application to the chest of said patient to effect external cardiac massage;

means defining first inlet and exhaust ports in said cylinder on one side of said piston and means defining second inlet and exhaust ports in said cylinder on the opposite side of said piston;

a compressed air reservoir connected to said exhaust port at said one side of said piston;

a vacuum reservoir connected to said inlet port at said opposite side of said piston;

a suction device connected by a pipe to said vacuum reservoir;

valve means connected to said compressed air and vacuum reservoirs and operable to place either of said reservoirs separately in communication with the atmosphere; and

a manually operable actuator mounted on said crosspiece and connected to said piston to produce displacement of said piston with respect to said cylinder and thereby causing during displacement of said piston in a first direction a cardiac massage movement of said plunger and a reduction of the air volume on one side of said piston and during the return stroke of said piston in a direction opposite to said first direction a vacuum on said one side of said piston and a compression of air at said other side of said piston.