U.S. patent number RE34,800 [Application Number 06/938,409] was granted by the patent office on 1994-11-29 for cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting.
Invention is credited to Donald C. Hutchins.
United States Patent |
RE34,800 |
Hutchins |
November 29, 1994 |
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting
Abstract
A portable self-powered electronic cardiopulmonary resuscitation
prompting system includes a keyboard on the front panel for turning
the apparatus on, identifying the nature of the victim, the number
of rescuers, whether mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is to be given
and whether the victim is conscious or unconscious. The cabinet
also includes an LCD display for furnishing visual information to
the rescuer and a loudspeaker for providing audible intelligible
prompts that are produced phonemes originating with a speech
synthesizer LSI chip using the PARCOR method in response to signals
provided by a microcomputer that processes the information
indicated by the keyboard entries. The questions raised in
reexamination request No. 90/001,169, filed Feb. 17, 1987, have
been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this
reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate
required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).
Inventors: |
Hutchins; Donald C.
(Springfield, MA) |
Family
ID: |
24704302 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/938,409 |
Filed: |
December 5, 1986 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
673838 |
Nov 21, 1984 |
04583524 |
Apr 22, 1986 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
128/898; 434/262;
434/265 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H
31/007 (20130101); A61H 31/00 (20130101); A61H
31/005 (20130101); G09B 23/288 (20130101); A61H
2201/5048 (20130101); A61H 2201/5043 (20130101); A61H
2201/501 (20130101); A61M 16/0048 (20130101); A61H
2201/5007 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61H
31/00 (20060101); A61B 019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/1R,630,680,695-696
;434/227-228,230,262,265,321 ;364/415 ;381/51 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Kamm; William E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fish & Richardson
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting apparatus for providing
audible verbal guidance to rescue personnel trained in CPR under
emergency conditions for aiding a victim requiring CPR techniques
comprising,
keying means for entering information signals representative at
least of characteristics of said victim and the number of said
rescue personnel relevant to proper performance of cardiopulmonary
resuscitation techniques,
means responsive to the keyed information signals for providing
output signals representative of proper steps to be taken in
resuscitating said victim,
and electroacoustical transducing means responsive to said output
signals for providing audible intelligible sound signals
representative of the proper resuscitation steps to be taken by
said rescue personnel in resuscitating said victim.
2. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting apparatus in accordance
with claim 1 wherein said means responsive to the keyed information
signals includes electronic speech synthesizing apparatus for
providing voice signals identifying the cardiopulmonary
resuscitation steps to be taken by said rescue personnel in
resuscitating said victim.
3. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting apparatus in accordance
with claim 2 and further comprising circuit timing means for
providing voice .[.prompts.]. .Iadd.prompt trigger signals
.Iaddend.at the exact time a particular cardiopulmonary
resuscitation procedure step is to be taken by said rescue
personnel in resuscitating said victim.
4. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting apparatus in accordance
with claim 1 and further comprising a portable case supporting said
apparatus,
said case also supporting a source of electrical energy for
powering said apparatus,
said case having a front panel,
said keying means comprising a keyboard on said front panel
including means for turning said apparatus on,
means for identifying the nature of a victim,
means for identifying the number of said rescue personnel,
and means for identifying whether the victim is conscious or
unconscious.
5. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting apparatus in accordance
with claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.4 .Iaddend.wherein said case also includes
an LCD display .Iadd.coupled to said means responsive to the keyed
information signals .Iaddend.for furnishing visual information to
the rescue personnel.
6. A method .[.of.]. .Iadd.for use in .Iaddend.cardiopulmonary
resuscitation with cardiopulmonary resiscitation prompting
apparatus for providing audible verbal guidance to rescue personnel
trained in CPR under emergency conditions for aiding a victim
requiring CPR techniques comprising, keying means for entering
information signals relative to proper performance of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques, means responsive to the
keyed information signals for providing output signals
representative of proper steps to be taken in resuscitating a
victim, and electroacousticl transducing means responsive to said
output signals for providing audible intelligible sound signals
representative of the proper resuscitation steps to be taken, which
method includes the steps of,
actuating said keying means to enter information signals
representative at least of characteristics of said victim and the
number of said rescue personnel relevant to proper performance of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques by said rescue personnel
in resuscitating said victim,
processing the keyed information signals to provide output signals
representative of proper steps to be taken in resuscitating said
victim,
converting said output signals into .[.audio.]. signals
corresponding to audible intelligible sound signals representative
of the proper resuscitation steps to be taken by said rescue
personnel in resuscitating said victim,
and applying said .[.audio.]. signals .Iadd.corresponding to
audible intelligible sound signals .Iaddend.to said
electroacoustical transducing means to provide audible intelligible
sound signals representative of the proper resuscitation steps to
be taken by said rescue personnel in resuscitating said victim.
7. A method in accordance with claim 6 and further including the
steps of,
listening to said audible intelligible sound signals,
and treating said victim in accordance with the audible
intelligible sound signals provided by said electroacoustical
transducing means.
8. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said audible
intelligible sound signals include voice prompts at the exact time
a particular cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure step is to be
taken,
and taking the particular cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure
step associated with an identifying voice prompt at substantially
the exact time such a voice prompt occurs. .Iadd.
9. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting apparatus for providing
audible verbal guidance to rescue personnel trained in CPR under
emergency conditions for aiding a victim requiring CPR techniques
comprising,
keying means for entering information signals representative at
least of characteristics of said victim relevant to proper
performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques,
means responsive to the keyed information signals for providing
output signals representative of proper steps to be taken in
resuscitating said victim,
and electroacoustical transducing means responsive to said output
signals for providing audible intelligible sound signals
representative of the proper resuscitation steps to be taken by
said rescue personnel in resuscitating said victim. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.10. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting apparatus in
accordance with claim 9 wherein said means responsive to the keyed
information signals includes electronic speech synthesizing
apparatus for providing voice signals identifying the
cardiopulmonary resuscitation steps to be taken by said rescue
personnel in resuscitating said victim. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting apparatus in accordance
with claim 10 and further comprising circuit timing means for
providing voice prompt trigger signals at the exact time a
particular cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure step is to be
taken by said rescue personnel in resuscitating said victim.
.Iaddend. .Iadd.12. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation prompting
apparatus in accordance with claim 11 and further comprising a
portable case supporting said apparatus,
said case also supporting a source of electrical energy for
powering said apparatus,
said case having a front panel,
said keying means comprising a keyboard on said front panel
including means for turning said apparatus on,
means for identifying the nature of a victim,
and means for identifying whether the victim is conscious or
unconscious. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
prompting apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said case
also includes an LCD display coupled to said means responsive to
the keyed information signals for furnishing visual information to
the rescue personnel. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A method for use in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation with cardiopulmonary resuscitation
prompting apparatus for providing audible verbal guidance to rescue
personnel trained in CPR under emergency conditions for aiding a
victim requiring CPR techniques comprising, keying means for
entering information signals relative to proper performance of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques, means responsive to the
keyed information signals for providing output signals
representative of proper steps to be taken in resuscitating a
victim, and electroacoustical transducing means responsive to said
output signals for providing audible intelligible sound signals
representative of the proper resuscitation steps to be taken, which
method includes the steps of,
actuating said keying means to enter information signals
representative at least of characteristics of said victim relevant
to proper performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques
by said rescue personnel in resuscitating said victim,
processing the keyed information signals to provide output signals
representative of proper steps to be taken in resuscitating said
victim,
converting said output signals into signals corresponding to
audible intelligible sound signals representative of the proper
resuscitation steps to be taken by said rescue personnel in
resuscitating said victim,
and applying said signals corresponding to audible intelligible
sound signals to said electroacoustical transducing means to
provide audible intelligible sound signals representative of the
proper resuscitation steps to be taken by said rescue personnel in
resuscitating said victim. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A method in
accordance with claim 14 and further including the steps of,
listening to said audible intelligible sound signals,
and treating said victim in accordance with the audible
intelligible sound signals provided by said electroacoustical
transducing means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A method in accordance with
claim 14 wherein said audible intelligible sound signals include
voice prompts at the exact time a particular cardiopulmonary
resuscitation procedure step is to be taken,
and taking the particular cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedure
step associated with an identifying voice prompt at substantially
the exact time such a voice prompt occurs. .Iaddend.
Description
The present invention relates in general to cardiopulmonary
resuscitation and more particularly concerns novel apparatus and
techniques for prompting one or more rescuers to properly follow
rescue procedures, such as prescribed by the American Heart
Association in conjunction with the American Red Cross, with
apparatus that is relatively easy to operate by relatively
unskilled personnel to provide major assistance during emergency
conditions requiring CPR efforts by non-medical personnel.
These procedures are based on information provided by the Division
of Medical Science, National Academy of Sciences, National Research
Council.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, also known as CPR, is a combination
of artificial respiration and artificial circulation, which should
be started as an emergency procedure when cardiac arrest occurs by
those properly trained to do so.
To understand the principles and techniques of cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, it is important to known some of the concepts
involved in this procedure.
The following points are important to remember;
1. Air that enters the lungs contains about 21 percent oxygen and
only a trace of carbon dioxide. Air that is exhaled from the lungs
contains about 16 percent oxygen and 4 percent carbon dioxide.
2. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs where the
blood picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.
3. The oxygenated blood then returns to the left side of the heart,
from where it is pumped to the tissues of the body.
4. In the body tissues, the blood releases oxygen and takes up
carbon dioxide, after which it flows back to the right side of the
heart.
5. All body tissues require oxygen, but the brain requires more
than any other tissues. It is generally estimated that if the brain
is totally deprived of oxygenated blood for a period of four to six
minutes, it will probably suffer irreversible damage.
6. The condition that exists when breathing and circulation stop is
called clinical death.
7. The condition that exists when the brain has been deprived of
oxygenated blood for a period of six minutes or more and
irreversible damage has probably occurred is called biological
death.
Both ventilation and circulation are required to maintain life.
When breathing stops, the circulation and pulse may continue for
some time, a condition known as respiratory arrest. In this case,
only artificial respiration is required, since the heat action
continues to circulate blood to the brain and the rest of the body.
Common causes of respiratory arrest are drowning, electric shock,
suffocation, strangulation, accidents and drug overdosage.
When circulation stops, the pulse disappears and breathing stops at
the same time or soon thereafter. This condition is known as
cardiac arrest. When cardiac arrest occurs, both artificial
respiration and artificial circulation are required to oxygenate
the blood and circulate it to the brain. Common causes of cardiac
arrest are heart attack; electric shock; hemorrhage; and, as a
final phase of drowning, suffocation and other forms of respiratory
arrest.
There are some situations which require special actions for the
artificial resuscitation; one of these is choking. It is during
eating that obstruction of the airway by foreign bodies most often
occurs. In adults, meat is the most common object that causes
obstruction; but, in children, and in some adults, a variety of
other foods and foreign bodies may lead to a blockage of the
airway.
A number of years ago, the American Red Cross (ARC) and the
American Heart Association (AHA) developed a Statement of
Cooperation between the two organizations. Under this Agreement,
AHA assumed the role of research and ARC developed instruction
programs in CPR to train nonprofessional rescuers. Under these
programs, millions have been trained and thousands of lives have
been saved.
To be certified as a CPR rescuer, a person is taught a series of
physical procedures that cause artificial breathing and
circulation. These procedures, such as chest thrusts, are called
for in prescribed sequences and with specific timing. The sequence
and timing are important because they are directly related to a
standard pulse beat needed to prevent biological death.
U.S. authorities have agreed upon a method of CPR. For training
purposes, most instructors furnish the Red Cross CPR Module, the
standard for CPR training in the United States.
CPR procedures differ depending upon the condition and age of the
victim and also the number of trained CPR rescuers present. For
example, in a one rescuer situation, the Module asks for a rate of
80 compressions per minute for an adult and 100 compressions per
minute for a child. With two rescuer CPR, 60 compressions per
minute is required.
These cycles are interrupted at specified intervals when diagnoses
of vital signs are required and when a different breathing pattern
is needed. While all these directions burden the rescuer's mind, he
must remember such important steps as: "Keep the airway passage
open," "Check for pulse," "Seal off the nose," "Tilt the head
back," and the other steps.
The single biggest challenge remaining in CPR training is to find a
solution to the problem of skill and knowledge decay. The Red Cross
has promoted recertification classes each year after the initial
course, and this has been a partial solution to this problem.
However, in reality, only a small percentage attend these
recertification classes. As a result, millions of people trained in
CPR are rusty when it comes to instant recall of the routines,
timing, and sequence of actions.
There are also those who have the knowledge but who panic or go
blank under the stress of an emergency. It is one thing to have the
knowledge and something quite different to recall and follow
correct procedures when a loved one is unconscious, lifeless, or
choking.
Various methods of prompting have been promoted, yet all
established solutions have flaws which limit their success. One
idea is a simple wallet size card that those trained in CPR can
carry and read. Unfortunately, the small size of the cards limits
the number of instructions they can carry and the rescuer must
divert his attention from the victim to read the prompts.
Audio instruction tapes, while useful in the classroom, are of
little or no help in emergencies. Tapes are recorded sequentially
and tape recorders lack the search techniques needed to find and
produce the proper instruction sequence demanded for a particular
situation.
Telephone "hot lines" have been used experimentally in some cities.
Generally when monies from the funding grants have dried up, the
CPR "hot lines" have closed down.
Emergency Medical Technicians have made good use of two-way radio
and cable networks. When patched into hospital facilities, both
instructions and diagnostic information can be transmitted.
Unfortunately, a victim of cardiac arrest has only 4 minutes before
brain damage is probable. In most of these cases, professional help
arrives too late. The need is for immediate attention from a CPR
trained bystander.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a portable
device to provide prompts to those previously trained in CPR,
preferably capable of moving to and with the victim.
Another object is to prompt with audio sounds or voice to allow the
rescuer free use of his hands, eyes, voice, mouth, and body.
A third object is to be public-utility independent with no reliance
on telephone lines, A.C. electric outlets, or radio and cable
circuits.
A fourth object of this invention is to employ conventional
technology so that the device is relatively inexpensive to
manufacture, maintain, and use. This low cost helps insure that the
invention will be just as available and prominent in public
buildings as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors.
A fifth object is to provide an instrument which is simple to
understand and easy for one rescuer to operate.
A sixth object is to offer the user either keypad, menu, or
punch-button input to initiate one of several CPR procedures
published in the Red Cross CPR Module.
A seventh object of this invention is to give the rescuer accurate
timing for each CPR maneuver.
An eighth object is to give the rescuer the proper count of
repetitions in breathing and thrust routines.
A ninth object of the invention is to offer the rescuer calm,
accurate instructions which will build confidence and lend
encouragement to counteract the stress of emergencies.
A tenth object is to provide for easy logic changes should the
instructions provided by the Red Cross CPR Module change in the
future.
An eleventh object of this invention is to make provision for
access ports to allow diagnostic enhancements in the future, such
as direct pulse reading devices and output ports for modems.
A twelfth object is to enable the rescuer to quickly change the CPR
prompts should the condition of the victim change or should another
rescuer appear on the scene to help.
A thirteenth object of this invention is to allow for international
availability and use, being capable of supporting different
languages.
In addition to its use in the field, the invention may be of
special value in the schooling and recertification of rescuers,
especially in that while it demonstrates the necessary rescue
procedures, it offers perfect timing for the trainee. Instruction
varies with regard to accurate timing for most CPR courses.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved with
apparatus which allows electronic microcircuit logic to output
audio instructions that can be heard by the rescuer. The sound for
these instructions is preferably created and broadcast by using an
electronic voice synthesizer, speech chip, amplifier, and speaker
or any other electronic device which produces sound as prompts that
can be understood and executed by a CPR rescuer.
Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent from the following specification when read in
connection with the accompanying drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the logical arrangement of a
system according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a combined block schematic-circuit diagram of an
exemplary embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the logical arrangement of
an embodiment of the invention showing timing signals;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the logical arrangement of
voice synthesizing elements;
FIG. 5 is a front view of a preferred form of cabinet according to
the invention showing the simplified keyboard;
FIG. 6 is a logical diagram illustrating the steps in a program for
practicing the invention; and
FIG. 7 illustrates the logical arrangement for carrying out steps
in the program.
With reference now to the drawing and more particularly FIG. 1
thereof, there is shown a block diagram illustrating the logical
arrangement of a system according to the invention. The invention
includes an electronic input device .[.3.]. .Iadd.3A having an
input 1A.Iaddend., preferably a keypad or key button for manual
startup, test circuits, and program selection. .[.Batteries or a
light sensitive energizer 5.]. .Iadd.Energy source 5A, which may
comprise batteries or a light sensitive energizer, .Iaddend.may
provide electric power to allow portability. If energizer .[.5.].
.Iadd.5A .Iaddend.comprises batteries, a plug type A.C. charger
.[.4.]. .Iadd.4A .Iaddend.may charge them to insure that the
batteries are fully charged when needed.
The central processing unit 6 may comprise a solid-state device
programmed with the logic necessary to prompt the CPR rescuer. This
programmable unit may comprise an electronic chip or series of
chips that provide repetition counters, conditional response,
buffer storage, and output formats required. Timing circuit 7 may
provide a "clock" for timing the CPR procedures.
Some output signals may be used to "print" words or characters on a
display 11 typically comprising DRO's or LCD's.
Other output signals energize "Voice Synthesizer Circuitry,"
comprising: text to speech translator 14; speech chip 15; amplifier
16; and audio output speaker 17. There are many methods of speech
synthesis such as phoneme, LPC (Linear-Predictive Coding), DPCM
(Differential Pulse-Code Modulation), and ADPCM (Adaptive
Differential Pulse-Code Modulation). While FIG. 1 shows an
analysis-synthesis technique, any other method furnishing
understandable speech is suitable. For the preferred embodiment of
the invention, study has shown when an analysis-synthesis system is
fabricated on a silicon chip, it offers long speech times at low
cost. Using this PARCOR system, speech signal waveforms are
analyzed and specific parameters are encoded in the forms of
digital data, and decoded from the data for synthesis. This system
has the advantage of requiring far less data memory because data is
compressed through analysis and encoding. Voice output can also be
constructed in languages other than English to allow international
use of the invention.
Peripheral devices 9, 10 and 12 may include means for diagnosis of
the victim or other desirable functions.
An analog type blood pressure and pulse rate reader may provide
signals representative of blood pressure and heart rate into the
CPU logic through interface ports 9 and 10.
Interface port 12 may provide output signals for diagnostic display
and communication through a modem to medical professionals involved
in a community emergency medical services (EMS) System.
Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a combined block-schematic
diagram illustrating the logical arrangement of components in a
system according to the invention. The system includes a CMOS 4-bit
microcomputer, such as a Sanyo Electric Co. LTD LC 5800 CMOS LSI
with LCS driver, that operates on low voltage, very small current
and includes an LCD driver, a 4-bit parallel processing arithmetic
logic unit, a plurality of LCD segment outputs, input/output ports,
a prescaler and a 32.768 kHz crystal oscillator.
Microcomputer 21 provides signals to LSICMOS single chip speech
synthesizer 22 that may provide up to 20 seconds of synthesized
speech using the known PARCOR method.
Synthesizer 22 may deliver these segments to external ROM capable
of storing 128K bits of information to store 100 seconds of
buffered synthesized speech signals.
LCD 24 may display graphically the specific key that has been
pressed by an operator and also display messages to a rescuer in
alphanumeric form.
LSICMOS single chip audio amplifier 25 amplifies the synthesized
speech signals provided by synthesizer 22 and energizes loudspeaker
26 with intelligible sounds used by the rescuer that may represent
both voiced sounds with instructions and beats for insuring proper
timing of victim-assistance maneuvers.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a block diagram illustrating
the logical arrangement of CMOS 4-bit microcomputer 21. This unit,
which is a commercially available LSI (Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
#LC5800 C MOS LSI, with LCD Driver), typically comprises an
oscillator circuit 51 that energizes a predivider 52. Predivider 52
energizes a chrono counter 53 with a pulse every 1/100 second and
preset timer 54 with clock pulses to produce a carry pulse when
reset to zero to control circuit 55. Control circuit 55 also
receives timing signals from chrono counter 53 and appropriate
signals from bus 56.
Control circuit 55 also energizes program counter 57 that may
exchange data with bus 56, 8-level memory stack 61, and read only
memory 62.
Read only memory 62, random access memory 63 and arithmetic logic
unit 64 also communicate with bus 56. Arithmetic logic unit 64 and
random access memory 63 also communicate with bus 65 that also
links I/O port 66, output port 67, input port 68 and segment
programmable logic array 71 that energizes LCD driver 72.
Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a block diagram illustrating
the logical arrangement of COS, LSI single chip speech synthesizer
22, which typically may be a (Sanyo Electric Co. #LC8100 C MOS
LSI), integrated circuit in association with audio amplifier 25 and
loudspeaker 26. This chip typically comprises an index address
table read only memory 81 for specifying the indexed address for
words to be generated with the C0 and C5 code and a masked
parameter read only memory 82 to store speech parameters. Memory 82
energizes a parallel-serial converter 83 that energizes a converter
84 that may also receive a signal on the DIN input to energize a
parameter random access memory 85, to store parameters or one
frame, that provides a signal to parameter read only memory 86.
Memory 86, which is used to decode parameters non-linearly,
energizes interpolator 87 to provide signals to K stack 91,
typically of 10 stages. K stack 91 energizes digital filter 92 that
also receives signals from pitch counter 93 and noise generator 94,
the voiced and unvoiced sound sources, to provide digital
representations of the selected words that are converted by
digital-to-analog converter 98 to voiced signals amplified to power
amplifier 25 and reproduced by loudspeaker 26. Chip 22 also
includes test logic 97, control circuitry 95 and 400/800 kHz clock
generator 96 for providing clock pulses.
Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a preferred form of the front
panel of the instrument illustrating the various steps and the
preferred form of keyboard. The case is formed with a handle 101 to
permit convenient carrying and includes keys designated off, on, A,
B, C, 1-5 and P. LCD display 24 displays appropriate visual
information as indicated above, and loudspeaker 26 provides
appropriate aural information.
Step I involves pressing the ON button. Step II involves pressing
one of buttons A, B or C to identify whether the victim to be
treated is an adult, baby or child, respectively. Steps III
involves pressing one of buttons 1 or 2 to indicate whether 1 or 2
rescuers, respectively, are available for treatment, pressing
button 3 to indicate that mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration
will be given, and pressing one of buttons 4 or 5 to indicate
whether the choking victim is conscious or not conscious. Pressing
the P or pause key causes the apparatus to pause in providing
prompts until the rescuer is ready.
Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown logical diagrams illustrating
the steps in the process according to the invention in symbolic
logic. FIG. 7 illustrates a detail of the subroutine according to
the invention. The diamond-shaped boxes represent a decision, the
trapezoidal boxes represent a keyboard condition, the barrel-shaped
boxes represent output displays, and the rectangular boxes
represent CPU processing. The process will be better understood by
considering the following example in the decision tree of FIG.
6.
With reference again to FIG. 5, the invention disclosed has the
following Key Matrix. The "on" Key prompts the initial decision on
which the rescuer must take action; Is the victim Adult, Baby or
Child, (A, B or C)? This response, when keyed, leads the rescuer
through a series of emergency techniques and then asks for a
decision on the rescuer's diagnosis of the victim's condition and
the rescue procedure required. The choices are:
1. One Rescuer CPR
2. Two Rescuer CPR
3. Mouth-to-Mouth Breathing
4. Choking--Victim Conscious
5. Choking--Victim Not Conscious
Once the rescuer decides on the "Age Logic Path," (A, B or C), the
program stays with this path until the invention is restarted. If
the condition of the victim changes or another rescuer joins the
first rescuer, the rescuer can instantly change the logic path with
keys 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in accordance with the new requirement.
The logic for the preferred embodiment also includes provision for
error messages and a pause key.
The operation of the apparatus will now be discussed with reference
again to FIG. 1. When a person trained in CPR is confronted with an
unconscious or choking victim, he or she immediately checks vital
signs and calls for help. The rescuer then locates the invention,
which should be found in numerous places much like a fire
extinguisher. The invention is light and portable because of
battery power, integrated circuits and a small case. The rescuer
turns on the invention and listens for the prompts that will help
diagnose the victim and initiate CPR.
After diagnosing the condition and ages of the victim, the rescuer
selects one of several logic paths through the input module 3. The
choice might be such classifications as: Single
rescuer/multi-rescuer; Infant/child/adult; Choking/not choking; for
example. The rescuer would then hear voice commands as output from
the I.C. logic and perform the tasks as directed. The number of CPR
repetitions would be accurate because the CPU logic would do the
counting .Iadd.and provide voice prompt trigger signals.Iaddend..
The timing would be perfect for the same reason. Prompts would be
heard at the proper time for diagnostic checks of breathing, pulse,
and other conditions.
If the condition of the victim changed, i.e. from "no pulse" to
"pulse OK," the rescuer could key in this new information which
would allow the central processing unit to rapidly search and
select a new logic path. Should a second rescuer come upon the
scene to help, again the logic path can be quickly changed with a
keystroke.
The invention shows no fatigue (an electronic chip has no moving
parts). It performs calmly and faithfully until it is intentionally
stopped or until the batteries wear down. It outlasts the stamina
of most rescuers. The power consumption of these LSI chips is very
low when operating. The built-in power standby modes may draw
negligible power when not in use. For this reason simple AA size
batteries may power this device for extremely long periods of time.
The low power requirements of the LCD as compared to other display
technology with also be beneficial.
There has been described novel apparatus and techniques for
providing CPR prompting to allow a person who has received training
in CPR to properly perform it under emergency conditions with
relatively compact, inexpensive, reliable apparatus. It is evident
that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and
modifications of and departures from the specific embodiments
described herein without departing from the inventive concepts.
Consequently, the invention is to be construed as embracing each
and every novel feature and novel combination of features present
in or possessed by the apparatus and techniques herein disclosed
and limited solely by the spirit and scope of the appended
claims.
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