Patent ID: 8777879

Claim:
An apparatus for immobilizing and treating a subject comprising: a belt drive platform comprising: a housing; a drive spool operably attached to the housing; and a means for rotating the drive spool, said means for rotating disposed within the housing and operably attached to the drive spool; a processor operably connected to the means for rotating the drive spool, the processor controlling the means for rotating to generate repetitive chest compressions; a compression belt cartridge comprising: a belt suitable for compressing the chest of the subject; and a spline attached to the belt; wherein the spline is removably attachable to the drive spool; wherein rotation of the drive spool tightens the belt to compress the chest; an airtight flexible casing secured to the housing, the casing operable to contain air and having variable rigidity which varies as a function of the amount of air within the casing, the casing further including two or more slots to permit passage of the belt from the drive belt platform to engage the thorax of the subject; a vacuum pump for evacuating the air from within the flexible casing to control the rigidity of the casing; a plurality of beads located within the casing, the plurality of beads adapted to move and conform the casing to support the subject to be immobilized when the casing is inflated, the plurality of beads adapted to be rigidly fixed in position when the casing is in a fully evacuated state; and a scapular window sealed in the casing, the scapular window containing no beads to enable contact between the subject's scapula and the housing.