Portable automatic chest compression devices

1. An automated chest compression device comprising:

a housing for supporting a patient;

a motor within the housing;

a conical drive spool operatively connected to the motor;

a cable, operatively connected to the conical drive spool and adapted to extend at least partially around the chest of the patient; and

a controller operable to control the motor to compress the chest to variable thresholds.

2. The automated chest compression device of claim 1 wherein the cable has a first end and a second end and the automated chest compression device further comprises:

a first pull strap secured to the first end of the cable; and

a second pull strap secured to the second end of the cable, wherein the cable engages the conical drive spool.

3. The automated chest compression device of claim 1 wherein the cable has a first end and a second end and the automated chest compression device further comprises:

a first pull strap and load distribution section secured to the first end of the cable; and

a second pull strap and load distribution section secured to the second end of the cable, wherein the cable engages the conical drive spool.

4. The automated chest compression device of claim 3 further comprising:

a compression bladder placed between the load distribution sections and the patient's sternum.

5. The automated chest compression device of claim 1 wherein the conical drive spool further comprises:

a base and a peak wherein the base of the conical drive spool has a larger diameter than the peak;

wherein the cable wraps around the base of the conical drive spool, thereby creating a large mechanical advantage when starting a compression and the cable then spools around the conical drive spool, proceeding towards the peak;

wherein conical drive spool applies more torque to the cable as the cable spools around the smaller diameter portions of the conical drive spool, thereby applying a greater force to the patient towards the end of a compression when the chest's resistance to the compression is highest.

6. A method of performing chest compressions on a patient comprising the steps:

providing an automated chest compression device comprising:

a housing for supporting a patient;

a motor within the housing;

a conical drive spool operatively connected to the motor, the conical drive spool having a base and a peak wherein the base of the conical drive spool has a larger diameter than the peak;

a cable, operatively connected to the base of the conical drive spool and adapted to extend at least partially around the chest of the patient; and

a controller operable to control the motor to compress the chest to variable thresholds;

placing the patient on the housing;

securing the cable about the chest of the patient; and

repetitively tightening the cable around the base of the conical drive spool, thereby creating a large mechanical advantage when starting a compression and the cable then spools around the conical drive spool, proceeding towards the peak to compress the chest of the patient.

7. A method for repetitively compressing the chest of a patient comprising the steps:

providing the chest compression device of claim 3 ;

placing the patient on the housing;

securing the load distribution section of the first pull strap to the load distribution section of the second pull strap over the patient's chest; and

repetitively tightening the cable around the base of the conical drive spool, thereby creating a large mechanical advantage when starting a compression and the cable then spools around the conical drive spool, proceeding towards the peak to compress the chest of the patient.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step:

placing a compression bladder between the load distribution sections and the patient's sternum.