Patent ID: 6398745
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: A61H,Y10S

Abstract:
A device for compressing the chest of a patient comprising:a belt adapted to extend around the chest of the patient and fastened on the patient; a drive spool operably connected to the belt and adapted to take up the belt upon rotation of the drive spool; a drive train; a motor operably connected to the drive spool through a coupling, said motor capable of operating the drive spool 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; a current sensor operably connected to the motor, said current sensor adapted to sense current drawn by the motor and transmit a corresponding current signal to the controller; said controller programmed to operate the motor and drive spool to take up slack in the belt after initial placement of the belt on the patient's chest by rotating the motor in a tightening rotation until the current signal provided by the current sensor rapidly increases; said controller further programmed to operate the motor and coupling and drive spool 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.