Patent ID: 7231247

Claim:
An external defibrillator comprising a housing; defibrillator instrumentation disposed within the housing; a pair of electrodes for being electrically connected to the instrumentation; and a cover movable away from the housing, the cover serving both to cover a portion of the defibrillator when not moved away from the housing and as a passive airway support device when moved away from the housing, the passive airway support device being constructed to position and support a patient's neck and shoulders in a way that maintains the patient's airway in an open position during resuscitation, wherein the cover is configured so that the cover can be mechanically attached to the defibrillator prior to use of the defibrillator with the cover exposed on the exterior of the defibrillator prior to use, wherein the cover is configured so that at least a portion of the cover can be moved away from the defibrillator when needed as an airway support, wherein the cover is formed from relative rigid plastic and is shaped to be placed under the shoulders and neck of the patient; and wherein the shape of the cover defines the shape of a portion of the defibrillator when the cover is not moved away from the housing and defines the shape of the passive airway support when moved away from the housing.