Patent ID: 7517325

Claim:
A method of compressing the chest of a patient during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, wherein the chest is characterized by the sternum of the patient and areas lateral to the sternum, said method comprising the steps of: providing a device for compressing the chest of a patient, said device comprising: a band adapted to extend around the chest of the patient; a driver mechanism, operably connected to the band, for contracting the band; a fluid-filled bladder disposed between the chest of the patient and the band, with at least a portion of said fluid-filled bladder disposed over the sternum of the patient; and a controller for controlling operation of the driver mechanism; wherein the controller is programmed to control the driver mechanism to contract the band at a rate sufficient to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation; wherein the controller is programmed to contract the band to a tightness sufficient to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation; placing the bladder on the anterior portion of the chest of the patient such that the cushion substantially covers the sternum of the patient; securing the band around the chest of the patient and over the bladder; and contracting the band to compress the chest of the patient to a tightness and at a rate sufficient to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the patient.