Automated CPR Chest Compression Device with Feedback from a Chest Compression Monitor

1 . A chest compression system for providing CPR chest compressions on a patient, said system comprising:

a chest compression device comprising a piston and a motor for driving the piston to impact the patient's chest;

a compression monitor disposed in relation to the piston such that it experiences the downward and upward acceleration of the chest compressions provided by the chest compression device, said compression monitor comprising an accelerometer and processing means for determining, from an acceleration signal provided by the accelerometer, the depth of compressions achieved by the means for driving the piston; and

an automated controller for operating the motor, said automated controller being programmed to control the chest compressions applied to the patient's chest in response to the acceleration signal provided by the accelerometer.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve an appropriate compression rate.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve an appropriate compression depth.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to operate the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression velocity.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression acceleration.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression hold time.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression force.

8 . A chest compression system for providing CPR chest compressions on a patient, said system comprising:

a chest compression device comprising a piston and means for driving the piston to impact the patient's chest at a resuscitative rate;

a compression monitor disposed in relation to the piston such that it experiences the downward and upward acceleration of the chest compressions provided by the chest compression device, said compression monitor comprising an accelerometer and processing means for determining, from an acceleration signal provided by the accelerometer, the depth of compressions achieved by the means for driving the piston; and

an automated controller for operating the means for driving the piston, said control system being programmed to control the chest compressions applied to the patient's chest in response to the acceleration signal provided by the accelerometer.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve an appropriate compression rate.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve an appropriate compression depth.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to operate the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression velocity.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression acceleration.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression hold time.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression force.

15 . A chest compression system for providing CPR chest compressions on a patient, said system comprising:

a chest compression device comprising a piston and a motor for driving the piston to impact the patient's chest;

a compression monitor disposed in relation to the piston such that it experiences the downward and upward movement of the chest compressions provided by the chest compression device, said compression monitor operable to provide chest compression indication signals indicative of the depth of compressions achieved by the chest compression device; and

an automated controller for operating the motor, said automated controller being operable to control the chest compression device in response to the chest compression indication signals.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve an appropriate compression rate.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve an appropriate compression depth.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to operate the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression velocity.

19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression acceleration.

20 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression hold time.

21 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the automated controller is programmed to adjust operation of the chest compression device to drive the piston to achieve appropriate compression force.