Abstract: Techniques and devices for extending a piston, for example connected to a medical device such as a mechanical CPR device, to accommodate different sized patients, are described herein. In some cases, a piston of a mechanical CPR device may include an inner piston at least partially slidable into an external piston sleeve. In one aspect, an external piston spacer may be attached to an outward surface of the inner piston to extend the length of the piston. In another aspect an internal bayonet sleeve may contact one or more locking rods at various positions, enabling adjustment of the length of the inner piston. In yet another aspect, a piston adapter may be removably attached to the end of the piston. In all aspects, the change in length of the piston may be detected and used to modify movement of the piston, for example to more safely perform mechanical CPR.

Abstract: A data distribution system in comprises software application nodes that utilize a publish-subscribe communication mechanism for distribution of data in real-time or near real-time within a personal area network (PAN), local area network (LAN), or wide-area network (WAN) configuration. The distributed system communication software application nodes reside in medical devices, such as monitoring devices and cardiac defibrillators, and associated patient information delivery systems and patient data management systems comprising medical software installed on servers and end-user computing devices, including mobile devices.

Abstract: A CPR machine (100) is configured to perform, on a patient's (182) chest, compressions that alternate with releases. The CPR machine includes a compression mechanism (148), and a driver system (141) configured to drive the compression mechanism. A force sensing system (149) may sense a compression force, and the driving can be adjusted accordingly if there is a surprise. For instance, driving may have been automatic according to a motion-time profile, which is adjusted if the compression force is not as expected (850). An optional chest-lifting device (152) may lift the chest between the compressions, to assist actively the decompression of the chest. A lifting force may be sensed, and the motion-time profile can be adjusted if the compression force or the lifting force is not as expected.

Abstract: Technologies and implementations for a defibrillator electrode having communicative capabilities are generally disclosed.

Abstract: An accessory for a medical device, including an input configured to receive a signal from a signal source and one or more processors configured to: analyze the signal from the signal source, and determine one or more deterministic signals based on the analysis of the signal, the one or more deterministic signals configured to elicit a defined response from the medical device. The accessory also includes an output configured to transmit the one or more deterministic signals to the medical device. The accessory may be, for example, a device located in a therapy path of the medical device, a removable circuit board connected to the medical device, or connected to or a part of the signal source.

Abstract: An exemplary example of a medical device can include a retention structure for at least partially encircling a patient's body, the retention structure including a central member and a support portion configured to be placed underneath a patient, a piston extending from the central member, a driver coupled to the piston configured to retract and extend the piston, a patient contact member attached to the piston, the patient contact member configured to adhere to the patient's body, and a controller. The controller can be configured to cause the driver during a session to perform at least two cycles of negative pressure ventilation, each of the at least two cycles of negative pressure ventilation including positioning the piston at a reference position, retracting the piston from the reference position to an expansion position to expand a chest of a patient to generate negative pressure ventilation, and returning the piston from the expansion position to the reference position.

Abstract: The disclosed physiological feedback systems and methods assist with assessing, monitoring and/or treating a patient experiencing a cardiac arrest event. The systems and methods receive multiple inputs and are continuous and/or iterative during a treatment session to provide physiological state trends of the patient. An index of the physiological state of the patient can be derived and confounders, and/or their effects, can be identified, and/or removed, from the index. Additionally, the systems and methods can assist with determining ischemic injury in a patient based on cerebral tissue oxygenation and/or other physiological data.

Abstract: A prehospital telemedicine system comprises a physiologic monitor; an electronic patient care reporting system (ePCR) system; and a point-of-care blood analyzer communicatively coupled to the physiologic monitor and the ePCR system. The point-of-care blood analyzer is configured to perform an analysis of a blood sample based on an indication of a need for a specific blood analysis provided by one of the physiologic monitor and the ePCR system, and to automatically transmit a result of the analysis to a remote data receiving system. The indication of a need for a specific blood analysis may be based upon any one of the following: vital signs data obtained for a patient by the physiologic monitor; and/or current documentation or past medical history captured on or available through the ePCR system.

Abstract: The disclosed mechanical cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) apparatuses, systems, and devices have a plunger and a plunger displace sensor that can sense plunger displacement information during reciprocating cycles of the plunger. The disclosure CPR apparatuses, systems, and devices also have a microprocessor unit that can receive sensed plunger displacement information from the sensor and generate plunger driving instructions based on the plunger displacement information. The plunger driving instructions have one or both of a plunger driving force and a plunger amplitude for the reciprocating cycles.

Abstract: A capnograph system may be used together with a ventilation system for a patient. The capnograph system may include a capnography module with a carbon dioxide detector, which may generate a carbon dioxide signal responsive to an amount of carbon dioxide detected within an air path of the ventilation system. A monitoring circuit may further detect a pressure within the air path. A processing component within the capnography module may generate a pressure signal responsive to the pressure detected in the air path. The pressure signal, alone or in combination with other signals such as the carbon dioxide signal, may be used to detect spontaneous breaths of the patient.

Abstract: The system and method provide for electrocardiogram analysis and optimization of patient-customized cardiopulmonary resuscitation and therapy delivery. An external medical device includes a housing and a processor within the housing. The processor can be configured to receive an input signal for a patient receiving chest compressions and to select at least one filter mechanism and to apply the filter mechanism to the signal to at least substantially remove chest compression artifacts from the signal. A real time dynamic analysis of a cardiac rhythm is applied to adjust and integrate CPR prompting of a medical device. Real-time cardiac rhythm quality is facilitated using a rhythm assessment meter.

Abstract: In embodiments, a CPR chest compression system includes a retention structure that can retain the patient's body, and a compression mechanism that can perform automatically CPR compressions and releases to the patient's chest. The compression mechanism can pause the performing of the CPR compressions for a short time, so that an attendant can check the patient. The CPR system also includes a user interface that can output a human-perceptible check patient prompt, to alert an attendant to check the patient during the pause. An advantage can be when the attendant checks in situations where the condition of the patient might have changed, and an adjustment is needed. Or in situations where the patient may have improved enough to where the compressions are no longer needed.

Abstract: A cardiopulmonary resuscitation (“CPR”) device that includes a chest compression mechanism, a support structure, and a plurality of inflatable support pads. The chest compression mechanism is configured to deliver CPR chest compressions to a patient. The support structure includes a base member configured to be placed underneath a patient, and a leg configured to support the chest compression mechanism at a distance from the base member. The plurality of inflatable support pads are configured to provide lateral support to a patient's chest during use of the CPR device. Each support pad within the plurality of support pads includes a holder configured to retain and at least partially surround the adjacent support pad.

Abstract: In embodiments, a CPR chest compression system includes a retention structure that can retain the patient's body, and a compression mechanism that can perform automatically CPR compressions and releases to the patient's chest. The compression mechanism can pause the performing of the CPR compressions for a short time, so that an attendant can check the patient. The CPR system also includes a user interface that can output a human-perceptible check patient prompt, to alert an attendant to check the patient during the pause. An advantage can be when the attendant checks in situations where the condition of the patient might have changed, and an adjustment is needed. Or in situations where the patient may have improved enough to where the compressions are no longer needed.

Abstract: A medical device and associated systems with host devices and one or more accessories are disclosed that are capable of authenticating the host device with intelligent one of more of the intelligent accessories. Each of the host device and the one or more accessories can share a secret or other unique code. The authentication occurs without transmission of the secret or unique code between the host device and the one or more accessories.

Abstract: A medical device can include a housing, an energy storage module within the housing to store an electrical charge, and a defibrillation port to guide via electrodes the stored electrical charge to a person in need of medical assistance. The medical device can also include a processor to perform a patient signal analysis on an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal corresponding to the person and further determine, based on a result of the patient signal analysis, whether post-shock transcutaneous pacing should be performed on the person.

Abstract: A capnograph system may be used together with a ventilation system for a patient. The capnograph system may include a capnography module with a carbon dioxide detector, which may generate a carbon dioxide signal responsive to an amount of carbon dioxide detected within an air path of the ventilation system. A monitoring circuit may further detect a pressure within the air path. A processing component within the capnography module may generate a pressure signal responsive to the pressure detected in the air path. The pressure signal, alone or in combination with other signals such as the carbon dioxide signal, may be used to detect spontaneous breaths of the patient.

Abstract: The disclosed mechanical cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) apparatuses, systems, and devices have a plunger and a plunger displace sensor that can sense plunger displacement information during reciprocating cycles of the plunger. The disclosure CPR apparatuses, systems, and devices also have a microprocessor unit that can receive sensed plunger displacement information from the sensor and generate plunger driving instructions based on the plunger displacement information. The plunger driving instructions have one or both of a plunger driving force and a plunger amplitude for the reciprocating cycles.

Abstract: Technologies and implementations for using unmanned aerial vehicles in emergency applications.

Abstract: A CPR system includes a retention structure to retain the patient's body, and a compression mechanism to perform CPR compressions to the patient's chest. The CPR system further includes a processor to control the compression mechanism, and thus the performance of the CPR compressions. In embodiments, the CPR system compresses at a rate or frequency that is varied based on feedback gathered from physiological sensors that detect physiological characteristics of the patient during treatment.