Patent ID: 8257288

Claim:
A chest compression apparatus comprising: a garment having an air bladder adapted to engage at least a portion of the thoracic region of a patient; an air valve assembly having an air port in fluid communication with a pressurized air source, a vent port in fluid communication with an air vent, and a pair of bladder-side ports, said air valve assembly providing selective fluid communication between the air vent and one of the pair of bladder-side ports and between the vent port and the other bladder-side port; an air manifold coupled to the air valve assembly, with said air valve assembly periodically interrupting a flow of pressurized air from said source into said air manifold, and said air manifold providing fluid communication between the pair of bladder-side ports and a pair of air lines coupled to the air bladder and with said pair of air lines communicating a series of air pulses to said air bladder, said series of air pulses being established by the flow of pressurized air first through the air valve assembly and then through the air manifold; a mouthpiece sensor including a sensor body adapted to be inserted into a mouth of the patient, said mouthpiece sensor providing air flow information relating to patient use of the garment during a therapy session; and a controller in communication with the mouthpiece sensor, said controller adjusting an operating condition of the apparatus based on said air flow information provided by said mouthpiece sensor during said therapy session.