Abstract: An esophageal/stomach placement electrode comprises a flexible tubular member designed to be inserted into the esophagus and/or stomach. An electrode is carried by the tube in the region of its distal end. The tube is hinged by its distal end which enables the end of the tube to laterally actuate in the esophagus or the stomach. An actuating mechanism is disposed in the tube in the region of the hinge and is controlled from a point external to the body for causing the distal end of the tube to actuate laterally, and engage the esophagus or stomach with it. The inner portion of the hinge is more bendable than the outer portion. Additionally, the control cables are all within the tubular member.

Abstract: An esophageal-stomach displacement electrode comprises a flexible tubular member designed to be inserted through the esophagus into the stomach. An electrode is carried by the tube in the region of its distal end. The tube is hinged near the distal end which enables that end of the tube to displace angularly in the stomach and displace the stomach wall. The stomach wall displacement may occur by angularly displacing the distal end or by otherwise pulling the tube partially out of the esophagus after its distal end partially displaced toward the stomach wall. A displacement mechanism is disposed in the tube in the region of the hinge and is controlled from a point externally of the body for causing the distal end of the tube to displace angularly, and to be positioned to engage and displace the stomach.

Abstract: An esophageal displacement electrode comprises a flexible tubular member designed to be inserted into the esophagus. An electrode is carried by the tube in the region of its distal end. The tube is hinged near the distal end which enables that end of the tube to displace laterally in the esophagus and laterally displace the esophagus. A displacement mechanism is disposed in the tube in the region of the hinge and is controlled from a point externally of the body for causing the distal end of the tube to displace laterally, and engage and displace the esophagus with it.

Abstract: A medical device for enabling a rescuer to administer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a victim while maintaining a sanitary barrier between victim and rescuer, composed of: a sheet of a flexible material forming a barrier to micro-organisms, the sheet being dimensioned to completely cover the victim's mouth and having an opening surrounded by a portion of the sheet which is shaped to allow the rescuer's lips to form an air-tight seal with the victim's lips; a tubular member defining a confined air passage extending through the opening and having a first portion located to be inserted into the mouth of the rescuer and a second portion located to be inserted to the victim's mouth when the sheet is in place; a one-way valve fastened to the tubular member for permitting free passage of air only from the rescuer to the victim; and at least one rigid tubular member associated with the first-recited tubular member and cooperating with the one-way valve in order to render the operation of the valve substantially inse

Abstract: A one-way valve for use in the emergency closing of an open thoracic wound to prevent inflow of air into the thoracic cavity but permitting one-way outlet flow of air and liquid from the cavity thus preventing pressure build up within the thoracic cavity.

Abstract: A method of stimulating breathing which comprises the steps of positioning a non-invasive internal electrode in the esophagus and two external electrodes on the chest. A pulsed stimulation of approximately two seconds duration is interposed across the electrodes with a magnitude of the successive pulses in each stimulation increasing linearly. An interval of approximately three seconds is interposed between successive stimulations. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the polarity of successive electrical stimulations is reversed.