Abstract:
An apparatus for teaching proper technique for the Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver. When the Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver is applied to the apparatus by a user, an indicator is provided to show the user whether proper technique was used. The apparatus can take the form of a wearable garment or a form, either of which may mimic the shape of a person. The apparatus is scalable, and may be made to mimic the shapes of persons of various sizes, including infants and animals, if desired. Indicators can be included to measure the effectiveness of other techniques often used in conjunction with the Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 60/948,944 filed on Jul. 10, 2007, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     NOTICE OF MATERIAL SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT PROTECTION 
     A portion of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and of other countries. The owner of the copyright rights has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office publicly available file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The copyright owner does not hereby waive any of its rights to have this patent document maintained in secrecy, including without limitation its rights pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.14. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention pertains generally to medical training devices, and more particularly to an apparatus for use in teaching proper Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver technique. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The effectiveness of teaching aids for medical procedures is undisputed. CPR training, for example, regularly uses both adult- and child-size dummies to teach proper technique. To date, however, no simple or inexpensive method has been developed to teach the proper technique for the Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver. Trainees are usually forced to practice on themselves using improper methods, and, as a result, are often unable to provide the requisite force necessary to dislodge an obstructing object from a choking person. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a simple and effective apparatus that provides a visual indicator of whether a trainee has mastered proper Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver technique. An inflatable bladder with a tube is provided, and a small, light object, such as a modified ping-pong ball, is placed into the free end of the tube. The bladder may be strapped to a person or to a dummy to rest in the proper position. Alternatively, the bladder may be part of a vest or covering that mimics a body or the lower portion of a rib cage, such that proper positioning is shown. An indentation for thumb or first placement may also be present on the bladder. Regardless of the embodiment of the bladder, when proper technique is used, the object or ball is forcefully expelled from the tube. 
     An aspect of the invention is an apparatus for teaching proper Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver technique, comprising an inflatable bladder; a tube having first and second ends, the first end connected to the bladder; and an indicator associated with the second end of the tube; wherein the indicator is adapted to provide feedback regarding the effectiveness of Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver technique on the bladder. 
     In one embodiment of this aspect, the bladder has means to attach the bladder to a person or an inanimate body. In another embodiment, the bladder is contained in a wearable garment. In one mode of this embodiment, the wearable garment comprises front and back portions; the back portion comprises a slap indicator associated with an area of the back portion; and the slap indicator is adapted to provide feedback regarding a slap administered to the area of the back portion. 
     In yet another embodiment, the indicator is insertible into the tube; and the indicator is forced out of the tube when proper Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver technique is applied to the bladder. In another embodiment, the indicator is physically attached to the apparatus; and the indicator remains attached to the apparatus while providing feedback. 
     In still another embodiment, the indicator provides visual feedback. In another embodiment, the indicator provides non-visual feedback. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for teaching proper Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver technique, comprising: a wearable garment or form; wherein the wearable garment or form comprises: an air bladder or cavity, and a tube having first and second ends, the first end connected to the air bladder or cavity; and an indicator associated with the second end of the tube; wherein the indicator provides feedback regarding the effectiveness of Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver technique on the bladder or cavity. 
     In one embodiment of this aspect, the air bladder or cavity is molded into the wearable garment or form. In another embodiment, the air bladder or cavity is removable from the wearable garment or form. In another embodiment, the wearable garment or form mimics at least a portion of a mammal. 
     In one embodiment of this aspect, the indicator provides visual feedback. In another embodiment, the indicator provides non-visual feedback. 
     In yet another embodiment, the wearable garment or form comprises front and back portions; the back portion comprises a slap indicator associated with an area of the back portion; and the slap indicator is adapted to provide feedback regarding a slap administered to the area of the back portion. 
     In still another embodiment of this aspect, the wearable garment or form comprises an air bellows pump assembly. 
     Further aspects of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings which are for illustrative purposes only: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a belted embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a belted embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3A-3C  are views of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3D  shows the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A-3C  as worn by a human subject. 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  are views of another embodiment of the invention, shown as a vest-type garment. 
         FIGS. 4C-4D  are detail views regarding the pouch in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a back view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the present invention is embodied in the apparatus generally shown in  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 6 . It will be appreciated that the apparatus may vary as to configuration and as to details of the parts, and that the method may vary as to the specific steps and sequence, without departing from the basic concepts as disclosed herein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the teaching apparatus  10 , in its most basic embodiment, comprises an inflatable bladder or bag  12  attached to a tube  14 . The bag  12  can be self-inflatable or inflatable by any conventional means, such as by pumping or by using a spring-loaded or compressed trigger release device. The bag may also be replaced with an air-bellows pump or assembly. The bag  12  is coupled to a belt  16 . The belt  16  is attached to a person or object on which the Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver is practiced. The teaching apparatus  10  allows the Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver to be practiced on oneself, on a second person, or on a dummy or other inanimate object (e.g., the “subject”). Alternatively, the bag  12  may be coupled to or incorporated into a form that mimics a human torso ( FIGS. 3A-3D ). In such an embodiment, the bag  12  is attached to or molded into the form in the proper position relative to the rib cage and navel. The form can then be strapped onto the subject using either a belt  16  (as shown) or incorporated as a vest that is worn (not shown) by the subject. The belt  16  or vest could be secured using any method known in the art (e.g., buckles, D-rings, hook-and-loop fasteners, etc.). 
     The bag  12  may include an indentation  18  adapted to accommodate the thumb or first region of a user. The indentation  18  assists in proper placement of the hands when performing the Heimlich or Abdominal Thrust maneuver. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3C , the tube  14  extends upwardly from the bag  12  and may include a clip (not shown) to attach to the subject. The tube  14  is oriented upwardly in relation to the bag  12 , and can be secured in a position similar to a windpipe, as shown in  FIG. 3D . An indicator  20  is placed in the end portion of the tube  14 . The indicator  20  may be a plug or other body, such as a small ball, that blocks the end of the tube  14 , or it may be a valve, such as a pop-off valve. If the indicator  20  is a small body that does not firmly seat in the end of the tube  14 , the indicator  20  can be attached to the tube  14  to prevent escape or to ensure proper positioning of the indicator  20 . 
     When the proper technique is used with the teaching apparatus  10 , a sharp burst of air, or “cough”, is produced, and the indicator  20  is expelled from the tube  14 . If improper technique is used, the requisite sharp burst of air is not produced, and the indicator  20  remains in the tube  14 . If, for example, a pop-off valve is used as the indicator  20 , the valve can be adapted to open at the correct pressure level, showing that proper technique was utilized. 
     The indicator  20  can also be made of a sponge- or foam-type material in a substantially cylindrical shape. This type of indicator  20  would fit somewhat loosely into the tube  14 , and would also be propelled from the apparatus with the application of the proper technique. However, if improper technique is used, such as not pressing the bag  12  rapidly enough, air will escape around the indicator  20 , and the indicator  20  will remain in place in the tube  14  and not be propelled. The difference between proper and improper technique is readily apparent: in some embodiments, proper technique will propel the indicator  20  a significant distance from the subject, while improper technique will fail to propel the indicator  20  from the tube  14  at all. 
     Alternatively, the indicator  20  could be made of a material that fits more tightly inside the tube  14 , or that is or incorporates a gauge, a pop-off or other valve, a streamer, or that emits a sound that indicates that proper or improper technique was used. 
     As noted above, the teaching apparatus  10  can be incorporated into various wearable embodiments. Referring to  FIGS. 4A-4D , the apparatus  10  is incorporated into a garment  50  that is a wide strip of material having a front portion  52 , a back portion  54 , and shoulder areas  56  joining the front and back portions.  FIG. 4A  depicts the outside surface of the garment  50  (visible to an observer), while  FIG. 4B  depicts the inside surface (adjacent the subject&#39;s body; not visible to an observer). As shown in the figure, the back portion  54  includes a belt  58   a  with buckle ends  60   a  on either side. The front portion  52  also includes a belt  58   b  having the other half of the buckle  60   b , such that the garment  50  is belted about the wearer and does not move. Any type of fastening means known in the art is appropriate, such as, but not limited to, D-rings, snaps, plastic or metal buckles, or hook-and-loop closures. At a bare minimum, the bag  12  and tube  14  are incorporated into the front portion  52 . The bag  12  and tube  14  may be attached to the front portion  52  using hook-and-loop closures or other fastening means, or may be enclosed within the garment  50  itself. This enclosure may be accomplished by using a zipper or other closure  62  on the reverse side of the front portion  52 , that is, on the inward-facing side, to allow a pouch  64  in the garment  50  to open and the bag  12  and tube  14  to be inserted therein.  FIG. 4C  is a side view of the front portion  52 , showing the pouch  64  from the outside.  FIG. 4D  shows the interior contour of an embodiment of the invention. 
     Other embellishments of the front portion  52  are possible. For example, a small protrusion  66  may be included to indicate belly button position to aid in proper technique. The back portion  54  may contain a pocket  68  to hold an information card (not shown) having instructions or other printed matter thereon. The pocket may include a clear window and allow viewing of the card without removal and protect the card when necessary. The garment  50  may contain padding  70  to better simulate a human or animal form or to provide comfort. Similarly, the garment  50  may be contoured to for better positioning, such as to demonstrate rib placement on the wearer. The indicator  20  can be attached to the garment  50  or the tube  12  to prevent loss, noting that the indicator  20  may be propelled away from the garment  50 . 
     Various embodiments of the teaching apparatus  10  are possible that address special classes of individuals requiring different techniques. For example, a basic average-sized adult embodiment could be scaled down to a child-sized or an infant-sized embodiment, or a version could be made to mimic a pregnant or obese adult. BY way of example,  FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of the teaching apparatus  10  that mimics a pregnant or obese person. The actual bag/bladder, tube, and indicator assembly  12 ,  14 ,  20  would be located higher up, over the sternum area, because this is the proper location in which to administer the Heimlich or Chest Thrust maneuver in persons of this body type. Optionally, a feature can be added to the teaching apparatus  10  below the bag  12  as belly  72 , which corresponds to the abdomen of a person. In such an embodiment, belly  72  can be inflated or made larger by other means so as to resemble a small beach ball that sits below the sternum area. 
     As noted hereinabove, the bag or bladder  12  can be molded into a wearable form that mimics a human body. The bladder may be self-inflatable or inflatable by any conventional means, which may be located within the wearable form, or may be external to it. 
     The teaching apparatus  10  is also versatile, in that it can be worn by a person, a mannequin, or even a pet. It can be used with the wearer in any position, such as standing, lying down, or sitting, to teach proper technique. It can be used by a single person to teach self-rescue. The apparatus is reusable, washable, and can be disassembled for repair or replacement of parts. The bag, tube, and indicator assembly  12 ,  14 ,  20  can be used with straps, belts, or a shield instead of in a vest; the requirement is that the bag is placed in the proper position for administration of the maneuver. 
     Finally, further modifications are possible to incorporate techniques taught elsewhere. For example, in Europe, a portion of the choking protocol includes administering back slaps to the choking victim. The rear portion of a vest can include an area of foam, material, or perhaps an air bladder between the shoulder blades to incorporate the back slapping. This area  74  can be coupled with a slap indicator, which can provide visual feedback, non-visual feedback, or both, to signal proper or improper use of the technique. This modification can be added to any embodiment of the present invention. 
     It bears noting that the indicator in the apparatus of the present invention will only indicate proper technique when proper technique is applied. The indicator will not show a positive result if the hands are placed improperly, if an improper amount of pressure is applied, if the pressure is applied in an improper direction, etc. The molded “rib cage”-like portions and the navel portion or indentations are used to ensure proper placement of the hands. 
     Although the description above contains many details, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”