Abstract: The invention relates to a device for and method of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) involving cardiac compression of a patient's heart through expansion of the esophagus with an orally inserted balloon. Traditional CPR applies external pressure to the patient's sternum in an attempt to compress the heart thereby forcing blood flow through the heart. Such CPR is often ineffective or highly inefficient since the applied external force is dissipated as the force deflates the lungs and collapses the esophagus posterior the heart. The method of the invention expands the esophagus with a cyclically inflated and deflated balloon in the local area between the heart and the spine to exert a more effective local compression to the posterior of the heart. Preferably the lungs are inflated simultaneously to contain and further compress the heart during local esophageal compression.

Abstract: An automatic resuscitation device for administering a breathable gas under pressure to a patient by an operator where all operating controls and alarms are powered by the pressurized gas in a manual override mode, a patient breathing deemed override mode, and an automatic mode. The device uses no power source other than the pressurized gas to drive alarms and the entire control system. The controls include pneumatic valves and pneumatic alarms as follows: a breathing circuit integrity alarm for notifying the operator that an integrity condition has been detected; a power fail alarm for notifying the operator that the source of pressurized gas has a pressure below a selected source input valve; and pressure relief alarm for notifying the operator that the patient's airway is above the selected pressure relief value.