CA1078024A

Cardiac resuscitator and monitoring apparatus

Abstract

CARDIAC RESUSCITATOR AND MONITORING APPARATUS Abstract The disclosed apparatus attaches to the patientfor monitoring the patient's condition and administeringthe correct electrical stimulation to a suspected heartattack victim as soon as possible after the occurrence ofthe attack and in the absence of medical personnel. Theapparatus preferably includes an oro-pharyngeal airway pro-vided with electrodes for ascertaining electrical activityof the heart. A microphone attached to the airway, or astrain gauge applied elsewhere to the patient's body,detects bodily motion, for example respiration. If neithersubstantial electrical activity nor bodily motion is detec-ted, the patient is considered to be in a cardiac arrestand a pacing impulse is applied to the patient via theaforementioned airway electrodes and/or other electrodes,while if electrical activity is ascertained in the absenceof bodily motion, a defibrillating pulse is applied to thepatient.

Term

Term ended

Expired 29 November 1998, 27.8 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Expired
  5. Today

18 claims: 1 independent, 17 dependent

  1. 1
    THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:1. A life sign monitoring system comprising a device for at least partial insertion into or onto a body cavity or passageway of a patient, said device having contact means mounted thereon for contacting tissue on the interior of said cavity or passageway, electrode means for externally contacting the patient, means for sensing bodily movement of the patient, and output means responsive to said contact and electrode means and to said means for sensing bodily movement for detecting the presence of electrical activity above a predetermined level and the absence of bodily movement above a predetermined level for warning of a fibrillation condition.
  2. 18
    The system according to claim 1 wherein said electrode means are carried by a pair of hinged tongs adapted for extending at least partway around the chest of the patient.