Combined cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) apparatus and method

A combined cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) system for performing an emergency procedure over the clothing of a patient is provided. The system includes a spinal support rest having a cushion that accommodates a neck portion of the patient, a compression pad operatively connected to the spinal support rest and is adapted to be placed over the patient such that the compression pad is aligned above the heart and chest of the patient. A first arm strap and a second arm strap operatively connected to the compression pad. A power button automatically dials an emergency number to contact a medical professional. An interactive communication unit activates a two way real time video conference with the medical professional on the display to receive a set of instructions from the medical professional in real time to enable a user to perform the emergency procedure on the patient.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The embodiments herein generally relate to medical kits for performing emergency procedures, and, more particularly, to a combined Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) apparatus and a method for performing an emergency procedure to treat sudden cardiac arrest using the apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many lives are lost due to a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) every year. In fact, SCA is a leading cause of death in the United States. Such deaths can be prevented if effective emergency rescue procedures such as Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation are administered within 3-5 minutes of the onset of the SCA. To perform the emergency rescue procedures in such a short time, a skilled and trained person (e.g., a paramedic) is required. Typically, starting a CPR procedure in the case of a SCA, includes having an attending person, who is attending to the patient, run to a phone and dial an emergency number (e.g., 911). Then, the attending person must start administering the CPR procedure by positioning the patient on their back, tilting the head of the patient back and putting their chin up to keep his/her airway (e.g., a passageway by which air passes from the nose or mouth to the lungs) clear. The attending person should check for breathing or a pulse, and if none found, then the attending person gives two very strong breaths to the patient (mouth-to-mouth). Furthermore, the attending person must locate the position of the heart, and give thirty strong compressions downward (approximately 2 inches in depth) into the patient's chest. The sequences must be repeated until further help (e.g., emergency technician) arrives.

If an AED is available, the person attending to the victim, will have to also in addition to the above, have to remove all upper garments of the patient apply the electrode pads on the patients bare chest and follow the recorded voice instructions. An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient. The AED is used to treat the patient through defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm. Some AEDs may use an electronic voice to prompt users through each step. Because the user of an AED may be hearing impaired, AEDs may include visual prompts as well. However, a user who is inexperienced in performing the procedure may not be able to keep up with the pre-programmed or stored robotic electronic voice and understand the instructions clearly, particularly under a stressful situation such as administering emergency care to a person undergoing a SCA. For example when CPR is required, the conventional AED units only prompt the user to start CPR without further guidance.

Too many lives are lost to cardiac arrest every year, because the appropriate medical response was simply not available in time. There is a mere 5% current survival rate of SCAs, and less than 1% of SCA victims survive without permanent brain damage after suffering 4-6 minutes of a SCA. However, the average time for paramedics to arrive at the scene of the SCA is approximately 8 minutes, when chances of survival would have already dropped drastically. Research has indicated a 50-74% survival rate when CPR and AED are performed within 3-5 minutes of the SCA, where there is a mere 5% chance of survival when only CPR is performed; and a 20% chance of survival when only AED is performed. The chances of survival drop 10% every 60 seconds since the onset of SCA.

Moreover, approximately 84% of SCAs occur at home where there are no trained medical professionals. The risk of coronary heart disease increases with age, therefore the elderly are at highest risk. The elderly may be typically living alone or with only their spouse. Thus typically, when an SCA occurs, a family member or spouse may be the only one available in proximity of the patient. Current solutions require the family member, in the case of a SCA to a loved one at home, to run and call an emergency number, and then run to get a home defibrillator (if available), and then back to the patient. Then, they require the family member to take the victim's upper garments completely off before even starting the procedures to save the patient.

Furthermore, when CPR to the victim is needed, a conventional emergency machine may only prompt a user to start CPR, thus assuming that the user will remember all the steps, and have the stamina to give strong breaths and chest compressions as well as setting up the AED machine flawlessly. Finally, all this would have to be done within the first 5 minutes of the SCA. Therefore, the conventional solutions are not generally designed for an average person to use, let alone the elderly. Rather, the conventional solutions are typically designed for fast acting, young and recently CPR trained individuals. Furthermore, the conventional solutions generally only cater to either CPR or AED individually. Accordingly, there is a need for a combined CPR and AED apparatus that can be easily used in case of emergency by non-medical professionals within the first 3-5 minutes of the SCA.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, an embodiment herein provides a combined cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) system for performing an emergency procedure comprising CPR and AED shock on a patient. The system includes a spinal support rest having a cushion that accommodates a neck portion of the patient, a compression pad operatively connected to the spinal support rest. The compression pad is adapted to be placed over the patient such that the compression pad is aligned above the heart and chest of the patient. The system includes a first arm strap and a second arm strap operatively connected to the compression pad, a power button that automatically dials an emergency number to contact a medical professional, and an interactive communication unit operatively connected to the compression pad. The interactive communication unit includes a display. The interactive communication unit activates a two way real time video conference with the medical professional on the display to receive a set of instructions from the medical professional in real time to enable a user to perform the emergency procedure on the patient.

The compression pad includes a first arm strap holder and a second arm strap holder. The first arm strap holder locks the first arm strap, and the second arm holder locks the second arm strap such that a first arm and a second arm of the patient are strapped adjacent to the patient. The system may further include a pair of electrode pads that are operatively connected to the compression pad, a heartbeat sensor that determines a heart rate of the patient. The heart rate is used to determine when a shock is to be administered to the patient. The first arm strap may include a first under arm pad. The second arm strap may include a second under arm pad. The first under arm pad accommodates a first under arm of the patient. The second under arm pad accommodates a second under arm of the patient. The pair of electrode pads are stuck by the user to a portion of clothing of the patient.

In another aspect, a cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) apparatus for performing an emergency procedure comprising CPR and AED shock on a patient is provided. The CPR and AED apparatus includes a spinal support having a cushion adapted to be placed under a neck of the patient, a compression pad that is operatively connected to the spinal support. The compression pad is adapted to be placed over the patient such that the compression pad is aligned above the heart and chest of the patient. A first arm strap and a second arm strap are operatively connected to the compression pad. The first arm strap includes a first under arm pad. The second arm strap includes a second under arm pad. The first under arm pad is adapted to accommodate a first under arm of the patient. The second under arm pad is adapted to accommodate a second under arm of the patient. A first arm strap holder and a second arm strap holder that respectively locks the first arm strap and the second arm strap such that a first arm and a second arm of the patient are strapped adjacent to the patient. A pair of sticky back electrode pads that may be operatively connected to the compression pad. The sticky back electrode pads are adapted to be adhered on clothing of the patient.

The apparatus may further include a power button that automatically dials an emergency number to contact a medical professional when the power button is turned on, an interactive communication unit that is operatively connected to the compression pad. The interactive communication unit includes a display. The interactive communication unit activates a two way real time video conference on the display with the medical professional. The interactive communication unit receives a set of instructions from the medical professional in real time to enable a user to perform the emergency procedure on the patient. The apparatus may further include a heartbeat sensor that is adapted to determine a pulse of the first under arm and the second under arm of the patient.

The compression pad is a semi-soft compression pad having a pair of sticky back electrode pad holders that are adapted to accommodate the pair of sticky back electrode pads. The compression pad exerts the user's force downwards and through an internal base and spreads the force along a sternum of the patient. The spinal support includes a neck curve spinal support that provides spinal support to the neck of the patient. The neck curve spinal support is a non-slip material.

The interactive communication unit enables the user to transfer data of the patient to the medical professional. The interactive communication unit includes a display, a high definition (HD) camera proximate to the display, a microphone proximate to the display, a plurality of speakers proximate to the display, and an emergency stop button that is adapted to terminate the emergency procedure and maintain the two way real time video conference.

In yet another aspect, a method of performing an emergency procedure comprising CPR and AED shock on a patient using a combined CPR and AED apparatus is provided. The method includes providing support to a neck portion of the patient using a spinal support rest, placing a compression pad over the patient, strapping a first arm and a second arm of the patient using a first arm strap and a second arm strap, respectively, configuring an interactive communication unit having a display, activating and displaying a two way real time video conference on the display, and performing the emergency procedure based on a set of instructions received from a medical professional and video tutorials displayed on the display. The interactive communication unit is adapted to receive the set of instructions from the medical professional in real time to enable a user to perform the emergency procedure on the patient when the CPR and AED apparatus is powered on.

The method may further include automatically dialing an emergency number to connect with the medical professional when the CPR and AED apparatus is turned on. A heart rate of the patient may be determined using a heartbeat sensor that is operatively connected to the compression pad. The first arm and the second arm of the patient may be strapped adjacent to the patient. A pulse of the first under arm and the second under arm of the patient using the heartbeat sensors may be determined to perform the emergency procedure over clothing of the patient.

The first arm and the second arm are secured away from the user when a shock is to be administered to the patient based on the pulse of the first under arm and the second under arm of the patient. A force may be exerted downwards onto the compression pad by the user and through an internal base and spreading the force along a sternum of the patient using the compression pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As mentioned, there is a need for a combined CPR and AED apparatus that can be easily used in case of emergency by non-medical professionals to perform an emergency procedure during the onset of a SCA. The embodiments herein achieve this by providing a combined CPR and AED kit which is capable being used without having to remove the patient's upper garments, and that establishes an interactive video conference with an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to receive instructions in real time to operate the portable CPR and AED kit. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly toFIGS. 1A through 8, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, preferred embodiments are described herein.

FIG. 1Aillustrates a perspective view of a Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) kit100for performing an emergency procedure on a patient during the onset of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) according to an embodiment herein. The CPR and AED kit100includes a head rest unit102and a flexible blanket unit104. The head rest unit102may include a spinal support rest106with an ergonomic neck curve108and a power button110among other features as further described below. The flexible blanket unit104includes a pair of arm straps112, a compression pad114, and an interactive communication unit116. The scale of the illustrations of the CPR and AED kit100may be skewed for presentational purposes, in one example embodiment. In one embodiment, the spinal support rest106comprises an ergonomic neck curve spinal support that includes a cushion that is adapted to accommodate a neck portion of a patient.

The spinal support rest106is placed under the neck portion of the patient. The spinal support rest106helps to open the patient's airway and facilitates a continuous oxygen supply to brain cells of the patient especially during compressions. The compression pad114is operatively connected to the spinal support rest106. In one embodiment, the power button110automatically dials an emergency number (e.g., 911) to contact a medical professional (e.g., a medical expert, an Emergency Medical Technician, or a paramedic, etc.) when the power button110is turned ON. In one embodiment, the power button 911 includes 4G wireless phone capabilities or WiFi or other wireless protocols, and includes GPS location capabilities.

The compression pad114may be placed over the patient and automatically aligned above the heart and the chest of the patient for an optimal cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and an optimal automated external defibrillation (AED) technique. In one embodiment, the compression pad114comprises a semi-soft anti slip compression pad. The semi-soft anti slip compression pad114, when used, exerts the operator's force downwards to the vertebrae and along the entire sternum of the patient to reduce the possibility of breaking of the ribs in the patient. The pair of arms straps112is operatively connected to the semi-soft anti slip compression pad for strapping arms of the patient. The compression pad114includes an ergonomic curved groove124configured for focused effort, which is especially helpful for the elderly.

The interactive communication unit116includes a display. The interactive communication unit is operatively connected to the compression pad114. The interactive communication unit116activates a two way real time video conference on the display with the medical professional. The interactive communication unit116receives a set of instructions from the medical professional in real time to enable a user to perform the emergency procedure on the patient. The compression pad114includes a pair of arm strap holders118. The arm strap holders118lock the pair of arm straps112such that the arms are strapped closely to the patient and away from the operator, in the case that an electric shock is given to the patient. The arm straps112may be made of water proof fabric and expandable material.

The CPR and AED kit100includes a pair of electrode pads120that are operatively connected to the compression pad114. The pair of electrode pads120may comprise stick back electrode pads that can be used to stick to a portion of clothing of the patient and may include graphics that clearly show their location on the patient. The CPR and AED kit100further includes a pair of sticky back electrode pad holders122that accommodate the pair of electrode pads120. The spinal support rest106may be made of an injection molded plastic material, in one example embodiment. The ergonomic neck curve108is made of a semi soft injection molded silicon or rubber which exhibits anti-slip property, in one example embodiment.

The CPR and AED kit100includes a heartbeat sensor (which are configured in the under arm pads126) that determines a heartbeat rate of the patient. The heartbeat sensor may determine a heart rate of the patient to determine the level of shock to be administered to the patient. The shock is given through the electrode pads120; one at the top and the other at the bottom corner and cross the heart of the patient. The embodiments herein allow for the shock to be administered over the clothing of the patient and not under the clothing thereby saving valuable rescue/resuscitation time. The pair of arm straps112includes a pair of under arm pads126(e.g., a first under arm pad, and a second under arm pad) that accommodate a first under arm and a second under arm of the patient. This enables the ability to secure the arms of the patient (e.g., a first arm and a second arm) against the patient's body and away from the user when the shock is administered based on a pulse of the first under arm and the second under arm of the patient.

With reference toFIG. 1A,FIG. 1Bis a perspective view illustrating a compact configuration of the CPR and AED kit100ofFIG. 1Aaccording to an embodiment herein. As shown inFIG. 1B, the entire CPR and AED kit100may roll into a compact configuration to provide ease of storage and mobility.

With reference toFIG. 1A,FIG. 2Aillustrates a front view of the CPR and AED kit100ofFIG. 1Aaccording to the embodiments herein. With reference toFIG. 1AthroughFIG. 2A,FIG. 2Billustrates a front view of the CPR and AED kit100ofFIG. 1Aillustrating a layout of wires operatively connected between the compression pad114and the pair of electrode pads120ofFIG. 1Aaccording to an embodiment herein.

FIG. 3, with reference toFIGS. 1A through 2B, is an exemplary view illustrating a method of using the CPR and AED kit100ofFIG. 1Ato perform an emergency procedure on the patient according to the embodiments herein. The head rest unit102is positioned under the neck portion of the patient. The compression pad114of the flexible blanket unit is positioned over the chest of the patient. The arm straps112are strapped and locked in the arm strap holder118such that the arms are close to the patient as shown inFIG. 3.

An untrained user can receive instructions in real time from a medical professional and perform CPR and AED treatment with the help of a video conference on a display402of the interactive communication unit116. The display402shows a set of instructions to operate the CPR and AED kit100and to perform the emergency procedure. In one embodiment, the emergency procedure is performed over clothing of the patient. The set of instructions may include one or more video tutorials on how to operate the CPR and AED kit100and to perform the CPR and AED treatments correctly. A force may be exerted by the user or medical professional or an assistant by pressing the compression pad114as shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 4, with reference toFIGS. 1A through 3, illustrates the interactive communication unit116of the CPR and AED kit100ofFIG. 1Aaccording to an embodiment herein. The interactive communication unit116includes a display402, one or more speakers404, a video camera406, a microphone408, and an emergency stop button410. The display402displays one or more tutorials to perform the emergency procedure. The display402further provides one or more updates (e.g., compress 2 out of 5, etc.), and displays a heart rate analysis of the patient (e.g., when the electrode pads are stuck to the patient, etc.). In one embodiment, the display402comprises a high definition (HD) screen of sufficient size to permit ease of viewing by the user (e.g., approximately 7.9 cm, in one example embodiment).

The video camera406allows an assistant to interact with the medical professional on a real time basis (e.g., a live video call interface412) to guide the assistant/the user or the patient through every step of performing the CPR and AED treatments. In one embodiment, the video camera406comprises a HD camera. The microphone408is operatively connected to the HD camera406. The one or more speakers404are operatively connected to the HD camera406and the microphone408. The one or more speakers404and the microphone408enable the patient, or the assistant/user to listen and speak to the medical professional or the paramedic via the live video call. The HD camera406, the microphone408, and the one or more speakers404are in proximate to the display402.

The emergency stop button410allows stopping the operation of the CPR and AED kit100. The emergency stop button410may be used to terminate the emergency procedure and maintain the two way real time video conference. The interactive communication unit116may be configured to be wirelessly linked and wireless capable, include a universal serial bus (USB) port(s)604(shown inFIG. 6A), and Bluetooth™ communication ready, thus enabling the user to transfer life saving data of the patient to the medical professional after each use. The interactive communication unit116activates a two way real time video conference with medical professional (e.g., a medical technician or a paramedic) on the display402. The medical professional provides a set of instructions in real time to operate the CPR and AED kit100and to perform the emergency procedure.

With reference toFIG. 1A,FIG. 5Aillustrates a side view of the compression pad114of the CPR and AED kit100ofFIG. 1Aaccording to the embodiment herein. With reference toFIG. 1A,FIG. 5Billustrates a top view of the compression pad114of the CPR and AED kit100ofFIG. 1Aaccording to the embodiment herein. The compression pad114includes the groove124for providing a focused force downward to the heart of the patient through an internal base of the compression pad114. The internal base of the compression pad114spreads the force along the entire sternum of the patient, which reduces the chance of breaking the patient's ribs while administering the emergency procedures.

With reference toFIGS. 1A through 5B,FIG. 6Aillustrates a rear view of the head rest unit102of the CPR and AED kit100of theFIG. 1Aaccording to an embodiment herein. With reference toFIGS. 1A through 6A,FIG. 6Billustrates a bottom view of the head rest unit102of the CPR and AED kit100of theFIG. 1Aaccording to an embodiment herein. The rear view of the head rest unit102illustrates a Bluetooth™ communication button602, and an USB port604. The bottom view of the head rest unit102illustrates a battery source606to provide power for the CPR and AED kit100. The Bluetooth™ communication button602and the USB port604allows for the quick transfer of life-saving data/information to the medical professional.

FIG. 7, with reference toFIGS. 1A through 6B, illustrates a schematic diagram of the interactive communication unit116ofFIG. 1Ahaving an a memory702having a set of computer instructions, a bus704, a display706, a speaker708, and a processor710capable of processing a set of computer instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies herein, according to an embodiment herein. The processor710may also enable digital content to be consumed in the form of video for output via one or more displays706or audio for output via speaker and/or earphones508. The processor710may also carry out the methods described herein and in accordance with the embodiments herein.

Digital content may also be stored in the memory702for future processing or consumption. The memory702may also store program specific information and/or service information (PSI/SI), including information about digital content (e.g., the detected information bits) available in the future or stored from the past. A user of the interactive communication unit116may view this stored information on display706(e.g., the display402ofFIG. 4) and select an item of for viewing, listening, or other uses via input, which may take the form of keypad, scroll, or other input device(s) or combinations thereof. When digital content is selected, the processor710may pass information. The content and PSI/SI may be passed among functions within the interactive communication unit116ofFIG. 1Aof the user using the bus704.

FIG. 8, with reference toFIG. 1A through 7, is a flow diagram illustrating a method of performing an emergency procedure on a patient to treat a cardiac arrest using the CPR and AED kit100according to an embodiment herein. In step802, an emergency number is automatically dialed to connect with a medical professional when the CPR and AED kit100is turned on. In step804, support to a neck portion of the patient is provided using the spinal support rest106. In step806, the compression pad114is placed over the patient. In step808, a first arm and a second arm of the patient are strapped using a first arm strap and a second arm strap, respectively (e.g., the pair of arm straps112). In step810, the interactive communication unit116having the display402is configured. In step812, a two way real time video conference is activated and displayed on the display402. The interactive communication unit116is adapted to receive a set of instructions from a medical professional in real time to enable a user to perform the emergency procedure on the patient when the CPR and AED kit100is powered on. In step814, the emergency procedure is performed based on the set of instructions received from the medical professional and video tutorials displayed on the display402.

A heart rate of the patient may be determined using a heartbeat sensor (not shown) that is operatively connected to the compression pad114. The first arm and the second arm of the patient are strapped adjacent to the patient. A pulse of the first under arm and the second under arm of the patient may be determined to perform the emergency procedure over clothing of the patient. The first arm and the second arm are secured away from the user when a shock is to be administered to the patient based on the pulse of the first under arm and the second under arm of the patient. A force may be exerted downwards and through an internal base and the force is spread along a sternum of the patient using the compression pad114.

The CPR and AED kit100allows for the performance of an emergency procedure (e.g., CPR and defibrillation) over the clothing of a patient. The CPR and AED kit100includes the head rest unit102, and the flexible blanket unit104, which may be waterproof, operatively connected to the head rest unit102. This arrangement opens the patient's airway, thereby allowing oxygen to continuously serve the brain cells of the patient. This reduces the chances of brain damage (e.g., reduces the chance of damage to brain cells) in the patient. The CPR and AED kit100automatically dials an emergency number (e.g., 911) to contact a medical professional for attending a medical emergency on the patient when the power button110is turned ON. Additionally, the CPR and AED kit100initiates the heartbeat sensor (not shown) to determine whether a shock is to be provided to the patient and what level the shock is to be administered. The CPR and AED kit100includes the interactive communication unit116that activates a two way real time video conference with medical professional (e.g., a paramedic or a medical technician) on the display402.

The interactive communication unit116receives a set of instructions from the medical professional in real time (e.g., through the two way real time video conference) to enable a user to perform the emergency procedure on the patient. The set of instructions guides the patient or the assistant/operator/user (e.g., person who is attending to the patient) through every step of the CPR/AED procedure. This increases the chances of patient survival by 50-74%. Additionally, the arm straps112secure the arms of the patient away from the operator/assistant when a shock is administered. The CPR and AED kit100allows the user to perform both CPR and AED treatments on the patient by allowing an assistant to follow the AED and CPR audio and visual tutorials displayed in the display402of the interactive communication unit116. The semi-soft anti slip compression pad114, which is automatically positioned over the patient's heart and optimizes compressions, focuses force downward and through an internal base, spreading the force along the vertebrae of the patient which reduces the chances of breaking ribs in the patient.