Patent ID: 6709410
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: A61H,Y10S

Abstract:
A device for compressing a chest of a patient comprising:a belt adapted to extend around the chest of the patient and fastened on the patient; a belt take-up means adapted to take up the belt upon rotation of the belt take up means, said belt take-up means operably connected to the belt; a means for sensing slack take-up said means for sensing slack take-up being capable of indicating when the belt has fit snugly about the chest of the patient; a motor operable connected to the belt take up means through a coupling means, said motor capable of operating the belt take up means repeatedly to cause the belt to tighten about the chest of the patient and loosen about the chest of the patient; a controller for controlling operation of the motor; wherein said controller is programmed to operate the motor and belt take-up means to take up slack in the belt after initial placement of the belt on the chest of the patient by rotating the motor in a tightening rotation until the means for sensing slack take-up indicates that the belt has fit snugly around the chest of the patient; and wherein said controller is further programmed to operate the motor, the coupling means, and the belt take up means to cause repeated cycles of tightening of the belt about the chest of the patient and loosening of the belt about the chest of the patient; and an encoder operably connected to one of the belt or belt take-up means, so that the encoder is capable of measuring the position of the belt, said encoder being capable of transmitting a belt position signal indicative of the position of the belt to the controller.