Abstract: An elevation device used in the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) includes a base and an upper support pivotably coupled to the base. The upper support is configured to elevate the individual's upper back, shoulders and head when pivoted. The upper support is expandable lengthwise. The upper support includes a neck support that is configured to support the individual's spine in a region of the individual's C7 and C8 vertebrae throughout elevation of the upper back, shoulders and head.

Abstract: A method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) includes elevating the head, heart and shoulders of an individual from a starting elevation angle to a final elevation angle greater than zero degrees relative to horizontal while performing CPR by repeatedly compressing the chest. The method includes elevating the brain within a time period selected to be slow enough to permit a sufficient amount of blood to flow to the brain throughout the elevation time period. The method also includes regulating the intrathoracic pressure of the individual while performing CPR. The performance of chest compressions is stopped and after stopping the performance of chest compressions, the head, heart, and shoulders are promptly from the final elevation angle within a timeframe selected to prevent significant drainage of blood from the brain until the head, heart and shoulders are lowered.

Abstract: A method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) includes elevating the heart of an individual to a first height relative to a lower body of the individual. The lower body may be in a substantially horizontal plane. The method may also include elevating the head of the individual to a second height relative to the lower body of the individual. The second height may be greater than the first height. The method may further include performing one or more of a type of CPR or a type of intrathoracic pressure regulation while elevating the heart and the head. The first height and the second height may be determined based on one or both of the type of CPR or the type of intrathoracic pressure regulation.

Abstract: End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) measurements may be used alone as a guide to determine when to defibrillate an individual. Alternatively, ETCO2 measurements may be used in combination with amplitude spectral area measurements as a guide to determine when to defibrillate an individual.

Abstract: A method for regulating gas flows into and out of a patient includes repetitively forcing respiratory gases out of the lungs. Respiratory gases are prevented from entering back into the lungs during a time between when respiratory gases are forced out of the lungs. Periodically, an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the lungs.

Abstract: An elevation device used in the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and after resuscitation includes a base and an upper support operably coupled to the base. The upper support is configured to incline at an angle relative to the base to elevate an individual's upper back, shoulders and head. The elevation device includes a support arm coupled with the upper support. The support arm is movable to various positions relative to the upper support and is lockable at a fixed angle relative to the upper support such that the upper support and the support arm are movable as a single unit relative to the base while the support arm maintains the angle relative to the upper support. The elevation device also includes a chest compression device coupled with the support arm. The chest compression device is configured to compress the chest.

Abstract: An elevation device used in the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and after resuscitation includes a base and an upper support operably coupled to the base. The upper support is configured to elevate an individual's upper back, shoulders and head. The elevation device also includes a chest compression device coupled with the base. The chest compression device is configured to compress the chest and to actively decompress the chest.

Abstract: A system includes a guidance device that provides feedback to a user to compress a patient's chest at a rate of between about 90 and 110 compressions per minute and at a depth of between about 4.5 centimeters to about 6 centimeters. The system includes a pressure regulation system having a pressure-responsive valve that is configured to be coupled to a patient's airway. The pressure-responsive valve is configured to remain closed during successive chest compressions in order to permit removal at least about 200 ml from the lungs in order to lower intracranial pressure to improve survival with favorable neurological function. The pressure-responsive valve is configured to remain closed until the negative pressure within the patient's airway reaches about ?7 cm H2O, at which time the pressure-responsive valve is configured to open to provide respiratory gases to flow to the lungs through the pressure-responsive valve.

Abstract: An elevation device used in the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) includes a base and an upper support pivotably coupled to the base. The upper support is configured to elevate the individual's upper back, shoulders and head when pivoted. The upper support is expandable lengthwise. The upper support includes a neck support that is configured to support the individual's spine in a region of the individual's C7 and C8 vertebrae throughout elevation of the upper back, shoulders and head.

Abstract: A system includes a guidance device that provides feedback to a user to compress a patient's chest at a rate of between about 90 and 110 compressions per minute and at a depth of between about 4.5 centimeters to about 6 centimeters. The system includes a pressure regulation system having a pressure-responsive valve that is configured to be coupled to a patient's airway. The pressure-responsive valve is configured to remain closed during successive chest compressions in order to permit removal at least about 200 ml from the lungs in order to lower intracranial pressure to improve survival with favorable neurological function. The pressure-responsive valve is configured to remain closed until the negative pressure within the patient's airway reaches about ?7 cm H2O, at which time the pressure-responsive valve is configured to open to provide respiratory gases to flow to the lungs through the pressure-responsive valve.

Abstract: A method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) includes elevating the heart of an individual to a first height relative to a lower body of the individual. The lower body may be in a substantially horizontal plane. The method may also include elevating the head of the individual to a second height relative to the lower body of the individual. The second height may be greater than the first height. The method may further include performing one or more of a type of CPR or a type of intrathoracic pressure regulation while elevating the heart and the head. The first height and the second height may be determined based on one or both of the type of CPR or the type of intrathoracic pressure regulation.

Abstract: A cardiac massage practice device including a simulated heart, a simulated vein, a simulated artery, and a mannequin of an upper half of a human body, wherein the simulated heart contracts from a stationary state to be deformable to a contracted state, and dilates from the stationary state to be deformable to a dilated state, wherein the simulated vein is coupled to the simulated heart, and when the simulated heart dilates from the contracted state, transfers virtual blood to an inside of the simulated heart, wherein the simulated artery is coupled to the simulated heart, and when the simulated heart contracts from the dilated state, transfers the virtual blood transferred to the inside of the simulated heart from the inside of the simulated heart to an outside of the simulated heart, and wherein the mannequin of the upper half of the human body houses the simulated heart therein.

Abstract: Increasing blood circulation, lowering intracranial pressure, and increasing cerebral perfusion pressure during the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by gravity-assist due to elevation of one or both of the torso and head of an individual.

Abstract: Increasing blood circulation, lowering intracranial pressure, and increasing cerebral perfusion pressure during the administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by gravity-assist due to elevation of one or both of the torso and head of an individual.

Abstract: A method for regulating gas flows into and out of a patient includes repetitively forcing respiratory gases out of the lungs. Respiratory gases are prevented from entering back into the lungs during a time between when respiratory gases are forced out of the lungs. Periodically, an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the lungs.

Abstract: A method for regulating gas flows into and out of a patient includes repetitively forcing respiratory gases out of the lungs. Respiratory gases are prevented from entering back into the lungs during a time between when respiratory gases are forced out of the lungs. Periodically, an oxygen-containing gas is supplied to the lungs.

Abstract: A system includes a guidance device that provides feedback to a user to compress a patient's chest at a rate of between about 90 and 110 compressions per minute and at a depth of between about 4.5 centimeters to about 6 centimeters. The system includes a pressure regulation system having a pressure-responsive valve that is configured to be coupled to a patient's airway. The pressure-responsive valve is configured to remain closed during successive chest compressions in order to permit removal at least about 200 ml from the lungs in order to lower intracranial pressure to improve survival with favorable neurological function. The pressure-responsive valve is configured to remain closed until the negative pressure within the patient's airway reaches about ?7 cm H2O, at which time the pressure-responsive valve is configured to open to provide respiratory gases to flow to the lungs through the pressure-responsive valve.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a system for delivering a synthetic surfactant and an anesthetic to an individual to reduce reperfusion injury includes an anesthetic delivery device and a device for administering the synthetic surfactant intravenously or intraosseously. The anesthetic delivery device includes a patient connection mechanism for coupling with an airway of the individual, an intrathoracic pressure regulation (IPR) mechanism that involves changing the pressure in the airway that is coupled with the patient connection mechanism, and an anesthetic delivery mechanism for receiving the anesthetic and for delivering the anesthetic to the individual via the patient connection mechanism.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a device for delivering an anesthetic to an individual to reduce reperfusion injury during the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is provided. The device includes a patient connection mechanism for coupling with an airway of the individual and an anesthetic delivery mechanism for receiving the anesthetic and for delivering the anesthetic to the individual via the patient connection mechanism. In some embodiments, the anesthetic is delivered with the assistance of an intrathoracic pressure regulation (IPR) mechanism or an impedance threshold device (ITD) coupled with the patient connection mechanism. The IPR mechanism may be configured to change a pressure in the airway and a thorax of the individual via application of a vacuum source. The ITD device may be configured to prevent respiratory gases from entering the lungs for at least some time during a decompression or relaxation phase of CPR.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a medical method for treating a person and comprises repeatedly compressing the person's chest. While repeatedly compressing the person's chest, the method further includes repeatedly delivering a positive pressure breath to the person and extracting respiratory gases from the person's airway using a vacuum following the positive pressure breath to create an intrathoracic vacuum to lower pressures in the thorax and to enhance blood flow back to the heart.