Patent ID: 6447465
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: A61H,Y10S

Abstract:
A device for treating a human, said device comprising:a chest belt adapted to extend around the chest of the patient; an abdominal belt adapted to extend around the abdomen of the patient; a first motor-driven drive spool operably connected to the chest belt such that rotation of the drive spool causes the chest belt to spool upon the first drive spool, and connected to a motor; a second motor-driven drive spool operably connected to the abdominal belt such that rotation of the drive spool causes the abdominal belt to spool upon the second drive spool, and connected to a motor; a computer module which controls the operation of the chest belt and the abdominal belt to cause the chest belt to be spooled upon the first drive spool and unspooled from the first drive spool and cause the abdominal belt to be spooled upon the second drive spool and unspooled from the second drive spool; wherein the first drive spool and the second drive spool are operably connected to a single motor through a first clutch and a second clutch, said first clutch connecting the motor to the first drive spool, and said second clutch connecting the motor to the second drive spool; wherein the first clutch is operable to disconnect the motor from the first drive spool while the motor is operating, and is operable to connect the motor to the first drive spool while the motor is operating; wherein said motor and first clutch are operable to alternatingly rotate the first drive spool in a direction causing the compression belt to constrict around the chest of the patient, and permit the spool to spin in a direction causing the compression belt to loosen around the chest of the patient, wherein said alternate rotations of the first drive spool in the direction causing constriction and rotations of the first drive spool in the direction permitting relaxation occur while the motor is operating; the second clutch is operable to disconnect the motor from the second drive spool while the motor is operating, and is operable to connect the motor to the second drive spool while the motor is operating; wherein said motor and second clutch are operable to alternatingly rotate the second drive spool in a direction causing the compression belt to constrict around the chest of the patient, and permit the spool to spin in a direction causing the compression belt to loosen around the chest of the patient, wherein said alternate rotations of the second drive spool in the direction causing constriction and rotations of the second drive spool in the direction permitting relaxation occur while the motor is operating, a first brake and a second brake, said first brake operably connected to the first drive spool to selectively prevent rotation of the first drive spool and operably connected to the computer module whereby operation of the brake is controlled, said second brake operably connected to the second drive spool to selectively prevent rotation of the second drive spool and operably connected to the computer module whereby operation of the brake is controlled; and wherein the computer module is programmed to operate the first brake to engage the first drive spool at selected times between the constriction and loosening of the first belt while the first clutch is disengaged, and the computer module is programmed to operate the second brake to engage the second drive spool at selected times between the constriction and loosening of the second belt while the second clutch is disengaged.