Defibrillators

1. 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.

2. The external defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the movable member comprises a cover constructed to be removably placed on the housing.

3. The external defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the cover includes a lower surface defining an open area between the cover and the housing dimensioned to receive the electrodes.

4. The external defibrillator of claim 3

wherein the cover has a wall thickness of from about 2.5 to 5.0 mm.

5. The external defibrillator of claim 1

wherein the passive airway support device includes an upper surface defining an angle A of from about 10 to 25 degrees.

6. The external defibrillator of claim 1

wherein the passive airway support device has a maximum height H of from about 7.5 to 10 cm.

7. The external defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the cover is constructed to press fit onto the housing.

8. The external defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the cover is constructed to slidably engage the housing.

9. The external defibrillator of claim 1

wherein the passive airway support device has a width of at least about 6 inches.

10. The defibrillator of claim 9 wherein the passive airway support device has a width of from about 6 to 10 inches.

11. The external defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the cover is mounted on the housing by a releasable hinge.

12. The external defibrillator of claim 11 wherein the releasable hinge comprises a protrusion on the cover or housing that is constructed to be releasably engageable with a recess or opening in an opposed portion of the housing or cover.

13. The external defibrillator of claim 1

wherein the cover has a curved surface.

14. The external defibrillator of claim 1 wherein

the passive airway support device is configured to serve as at least a portion of a case for the housing and electrodes when the defibrillator is not in use.

15. The defibrillator of claim 14 wherein the passive airway support device comprises a cover for the case.

16. The defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the cover has a wall thickness sufficiently thick to support the patient during resuscitation.

17. The defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the cover is hinged to the housing, and wherein the cover can be moved away from the housing by rotation at the hinge.