Abstract: This invention relates to an automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation device for cyclically compressing a patient's chest. The CPR device comprises a front structure with a first and a second movable unit arranged to move back and forth along said front structure; a back support for positioning behind the patient's back arranged to keep the front structure in a fixed position relative to the patient's back; a chest pad; two arms each rotatably coupled to the chest pad with one end and each being rotatably coupled to a respective one of the first and the second movable units; and a motor arranged for, when in operation, driving the first and the second movable units back and forth such that the chest pad cyclically compresses the patient's chest.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automated cardiopulmonary resuscitation device for cyclically compressing a patient's chest. The CPR device comprises a front structure (43) with a first and a second movable unit (44 a, b) arranged to move back and forth along said front structure; a back support (41) for positioning behind the patient's back arranged to keep the front structure in a fixed position relative to the patient's back; a chest pad (46); two arms (45 a, b) each rotatably coupled 5 to the chest pad with one end and each being rotatably coupled to a respective one of the first and the second movable units; and driving means (47,48,51,52) arranged for, when in operation, driving the first and the second movable units back and forth in opposite directions such that the chest pad cyclically compresses the patient's chest.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer. The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged bloodvessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff (30) is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer (42, 44). The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for automated Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. The apparatus comprises a chest compression actuator, an actuator driver that supplies time-varying drive signals to the chest compression actuator in dependence of operating parameters of the actuator driver, a physiological parameter sensor supplying measured values of a physiological parameter related to the function of the chest compression actuator, and an adaptive control for the operating parameters of the actuator driver. The operating parameters determining a dynamic behavior of a system comprising the chest compression actuator and a chest of a patient.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is attached to the body to detect flow in a blood vessel. Signals from the sensor are processed to produce measures of flow during the administration of CPR such as flow velocity and flow pulsatility. The flow measures are compared with flow characteristics desirable during CPR and the result used to produce audible instructions guiding a caregiver in the administration of CPR. The flow measures may be used in conjunction with other detected physiological parameters such as compression force or depth, chest impedance, blood pressure, and ECG data to guide CPR.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly automated puncture system for inserting a cannula or a needle into a blood vessel of a person or an animal. The puncture system has an acquisition module that allows for determining at least one location of a blood vessel underneath the surface of a skin and that is further enabled to determine an optimal puncture location that is well suitable for inserting a cannula into the blood vessel. Further, the puncture system has an actuator for moving and aligning the cannula to a determined position. The system is further adapted to autonomously insert the cannula into the blood vessel for multiple purposes, such as blood withdrawal, venous medication and infusions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for medical ultrasound diagnostics use time multiplexing of ultrasonic transducers of a multi-transducer array (108) disposed upon or in an application pad. Embodiments of the invention facilitate low excitation power and low wire count electrical interfaces (106, 306, 406) to the transducers and reduce electromagnetic interference between the transducers, as well as increase reliability and accuracy of positioning the application pad on the body of a patient. In one exemplary application, the invention facilitates assessment of blood perfusion.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer. The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff (30) is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer (42, 44). The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged blood vessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff (30) is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array (52, 54, 56) and a HIFU transducer (42, 44). The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding.

Abstract: A flow behavior monitor for presenting ultrasound measurements of an indicia of flow behavior of a fluid in a subject. The indicia of flow behavior are calculated for several frequency slices within a Doppler signal power spectrum and these indicia may be used to determine pulsatility and/or blood flow, as well as other parameters of flow behavior.

Abstract: An ultrasound method and apparatus for detecting and/or measuring the pulse and/or blood flow of a subject calculates a Doppler signal spectrum from an ultrasound signal backscattered from the blood in an artery of the subject. Indicia of flow behavior are calculated for several frequency slices within the Doppler signal spectrum and these indicia may be used to determine pulsatility and/or blood flow, as well as other parameters of flow behavior. Because of the robust nature of the calculated indicia, the ultrasound method and apparatus has particular use in an Automated or Semi-Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for determining whether to defibrillate a patient.

Abstract: An electrotherapy circuit administers to a patient a current waveform. The electrotherapy circuit includes a charge storage device, at least two discharge electrodes connected by electrical circuitry to opposite poles of the charge storage device, a variable impedance connected between the charge storage device and one of the electrodes, a sensor that senses a patient-dependent electrical parameter (such as a patient impedance sensor), and a control circuit. The control circuit is connected to the sensor and the variable impedance and controls the variable impedance during discharge of the charge storage device based on patient-dependent electrical parameter (such as the patient impedance) sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and circuit for forming an electrotherapy current waveform. A charge storage device located externally of a patient's body is charged, and is discharged through the patient's body through at least two discharge electrodes connected by electrical circuitry to opposite poles of the charge storage device. A continuous discharge of the charge storage device through the electrodes is controlled so as to produce at least one phase of a current waveform that includes a ripple. The ripple has a height less than one-third of the height of the peak current of the phase, and the difference between the peak current of the phase and the lowest current of the phase is less than one third of the peak current of the phase. The current waveform has a sensing pulse portion that is integral with the therapeutic discharge portion of the current waveform.

Abstract: An electrotherapy circuit administers to a patient a current waveform. The electrotherapy circuit includes a charge storage device, at least two discharge electrodes connected by electrical circuitry to opposite poles of the charge storage device, a sensor that senses a patient-dependent electrical parameter (such as a patient impedance sensor), and a control circuit. The control circuit is connected to the sensor and the charge storage device and controls discharge of the charge storage device through the electrodes, based on the patient-dependent electrical parameter (such as the patient impedance) as sensed by the sensor. The discharge is controlled in a manner so as to reduce the dependence of peak discharge current on the electrical parameter (such as patient impedance) for a given amount of charge stored by the charge storage device.

Abstract: An electrotherapy circuit administers to a patient a current waveform. The electrotherapy circuit includes a charge storage device, at least two discharge electrodes connected by electrical circuitry to opposite poles of the charge storage device, a sensor that senses a patient-dependent electrical parameter (such as a patient impedance sensor), and a control circuit. The control circuit is connected to the sensor and the charge storage device and controls discharge of the charge storage device through the electrodes.

Abstract: An electrotherapy circuit administers to a patient a current waveform. The electrotherapy circuit includes a charge storage device, at least two discharge electrodes connected by electrical circuitry to opposite poles of the charge storage device, and a control circuit. The control circuit is connected to the charge storage device and controls a continuous discharge of the charge storage device through the electrodes so as to produce at least one phase of a current waveform that includes a sawtooth ripple with a height less than about one-quarter of the average height of the phase.

Abstract: An electrotherapy circuit administers to a patient a current waveform. The electrotherapy circuit includes a charge storage device, at least two discharge electrodes connected by electrical circuitry to opposite poles of the charge storage device, a sensor that senses a patient-dependent electrical parameter (such as a patient impedance sensor), and a control circuit. The control circuit is connected to the sensor and the charge storage device and controls discharge of the charge storage device through the electrodes.