Abstract: A patient positioning system for positioning a patient in preparation for an anterior cervical spinal procedure includes a base section, an upper body support attachable to a superior portion of the base section and a lower body support attachable to an inferior portion of the base section. The upper body support is configured to support the head and upper torso of the patient in a manner that aids in opening cervical spine disk space. The lower body support is configured to comfortably lift and support the legs of the patient. A traction strap assembly is attachable to the base section and configured to extend from the base section up around the shoulders of the patient and along the anterior side of the patient to a lower terminal end to enable intermittent traction of the patient's shoulders.

Abstract: A defibrillator system comprising an external defibrillator, a defibrillator communicator and a communication network. In a preferred embodiment, the defibrillator comprises electrodes, an energy source and a controller, with the controller comprising an ECG signal analyzer and means for local actuation of the defibrillator to deliver an electrical pulse from the energy source to the electrodes. The communication network comprises a communication station, preferably a computer with a modem, and signal carriers, such as telephone lines, so that information can be transmitted from the communicator to the communication station. Likewise, the defibrillator communicator comprises means for automatically transmitting information to the communication station in response to deployment of the defibrillator.

Abstract: A method for gathering event data using a data gathering instrument having an instrument clock and an instrument data storage medium, the method comprising the steps of: gathering event data using the data gathering instrument; storing the event data in an instrument data storage medium; using an instrument clock to associate time information with the event data; storing the associated time information in the instrument data storage medium; separating the instrument data storage medium from the data gathering instrument; separating the instrument clock from the data gathering instrument; and storing in a main data storage medium the event data and the time information stored in the instrument data storage medium. The invention also includes a data gathering system practicing this method, the data gathering instrument itself, and removable instrument clock and memory modules, preferably disposed together in a housing such as a PCMCIA format card.

Abstract: A method for gathering event data using a data gathering instrument having an instrument clock and an instrument data storage medium, the method comprising the steps of: gathering event data using the data gathering instrument; storing the event data in an instrument data storage medium; using an instrument clock to associate time information with the event data; storing the associated time information in the instrument data storage medium; separating the instrument data storage medium from the data gathering instrument; separating the instrument clock from the data gathering instrument; and storing in a main data storage medium the event data and the time information stored in the instrument data storage medium. The invention also includes a data gathering system practicing this method, the data gathering instrument itself, and removable instrument clock and memory modules, preferably disposed together in a housing such as a PCMCIA format card.

Abstract: A defibrillator featuring a treatment mode and a training mode comprises an energy source, an electrode connector, a controller, and training mode circuitry. The controller comprises a feature for connecting the energy source to the electrode connector and a pause actuator for permitting a user to inhibit electrical stimulation when no longer required. The training mode circuitry simulates the operation of the defibrillator in treatment mode.

Abstract: A defibrillator has a treatment mode and a training mode. The defibrillator includes an energy source; an electrode connector; a controller, including a feature for connecting the energy source to the electrode connector; and training mode features for stimulating the operation of the defibrillator in treatment mode. Also included is a method of operating a defibrillator including the steps of providing a defibrillator (with the defibrillator including a defibrillation energy source, a controller and electrode connectors, and with the controller including circuitry for actuating the defibrillator to deliver a defibrillation shock from the defibrillation energy source to the electrode connectors) and operating the defibrillator in a training mode to simulate delivery of a shock from the energy source to the electrode connectors without delivering a defibrillation shock from the energy source to the electrode connectors.

Abstract: A defibrillator system comprising an external defibrillator, a defibrillator communicator and a communication network. In a preferred embodiment, the defibrillator comprises electrodes, an energy source and a controller, with the controller comprising an ECG signal analyzer and local actuator on the defibrillator for delivering an electrical pulse from the energy source to the electrodes. The communication network comprises a communication station, preferably a computer with a modem, and signal carriers, such as telephone lines, so that information can be transmitted from the communicator to the communication station. The defibrillator communicator automatically transmits information to the communication station in response to deployment of the defibrillator. In alternative embodiments, additional information (such as patient ECG data and defibrillator operation data) is sent from the communication station to the communicator. A method of operating such a defibrillator system is included.

Abstract: A method for gathering event data using a data gathering instrument having an instrument clock and an instrument data storage medium, the method comprising the steps of: gathering event data using the data gathering instrument; storing the event data in an instrument data storage medium; using an instrument clock to associate time information with the event data; storing the associated time information in the instrument data storage medium; separating the instrument data storage medium from the data gathering instrument; separating the instrument clock from the data gathering instrument; and storing in a main data storage medium the event data and the time information stored in the instrument data storage medium. The invention also includes a data gathering system practicing this method, the data gathering instrument itself, and removable instrument clock and memory modules, preferably disposed together in a housing such as a PCMCIA format card.