Systems and methods for gravity-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation

1. A method, comprising:

performing CPR with at least the head of an individual elevated by bending the individual at the waist to at least 20 degrees relative to horizontal while the individual's legs are generally aligned with a horizontal plane, wherein CPR is performed with an automated device that compresses the chest while the head is elevated; and

interfacing a device for regulating the intrathoracic pressure with the individual:

wherein the automated device includes a band that is positioned around the thorax of the individual;

wherein the band around the thorax tightens with each compression and relaxes with each decompression, and

wherein the band around the thorax tightens when at least the head is elevated.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein CPR is performed with the individual's head and shoulders up, or with the individual's body and shoulders tilted up.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring intrathoracic pressure or an indicator of intrathoracic pressure and adjusting the amount of intrathoracic pressure on a beat by beat basis based on a measured intrathoracic pressure so as to not exceed a given level when in the 0 degree supine position but allowing for more pressure and thus greater forward blood flow in a position with the individual's head elevated.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling a pressure-actuated valve to the individual's airway to create a negative pressure in the chest to help increase circulation by refilling the individual's heart with venous blood during a decompression or chest recoil phase of CPR.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the automated device with the band includes a mechanism to actively decompress the chest.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mechanism to actively decompress the chest comprises a suction cup.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein CPR is performed when the patient is supine, with the automated device with the band around the thorax; and

wherein when the patient's head is an elevated position the band is tightened either manually or in an automated manner so that with each compression the thorax is circumferentially compressed; and

wherein with each decompression the thorax is allowed to completely recoil or decompress without any resistance from the band.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein some circumferential pressure by the band is applied when the patient is supine and more is applied when the head is upright.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mechanism includes an adhesive pad that is attached to the chest, allowing for active chest compression and active chest decompression.

10. A method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), comprising:

elevating one or both of the torso and head of an individual to an angle of at least twenty degrees as measured between a surface that supports at least a portion of the torso and a level reference surface to lower intracranial pressure and increase cerebral perfusion pressure;

repeatedly compressing the individual's chest while the individual's torso or head is elevated and while the individual's legs are generally aligned with a horizontal plane;

interfacing a device for regulating an intrathoracic pressure with the individual; and

regulating the intrathoracic pressure of the individual while performing CPR to create a negative pressure within the chest during a release phase of CPR.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising elevating the torso or the head and shoulder of the individual to an angle less than or equal to about ninety degrees.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising elevating the head, head and shoulders, or head and torso of the individual to an angle selected from a range between about fifteen degrees to about thirty degrees.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising elevating the torso of the individual by manual adjustment of the surface that supports at least the portion of the torso to bend the individual at the waist.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising elevating the torso of the individual by automated adjustment of the surface that supports at least the portion of the torso to bend the individual at the waist.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising performing a standard CPR procedure on the individual.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising performing a stutter CPR procedure on the individual.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising performing at least one of: an active compression decompression CPR; a thoracic band with phased CPR; an automated CPR device that performs CPR according to a pre-determined algorithm.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

positioning a mechanical CPR device relative to the individual's chest; and

activating the mechanical CPR device to perform a mechanized CPR procedure on the individual.

19. A method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), comprising:

elevating one or both of the torso and head of an individual to an angle of at least twenty degrees as measured between a surface that supports at least a portion of the torso and a level reference surface to lower intracranial pressure by bending the individual at the waist;

interfacing a pressure regulation device with the individual to create a negative pressure within the chest during a release phase of CPR;

providing intermittent positive pressure ventilation; and

repeatedly compressing the chest while interfacing the pressure regulation device with the individual while one or both of the torso and head is elevated and while the individual's legs are generally aligned with a horizontal plane to increase the individual's perfusion pressure while reducing or lowering intracranial pressure.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tension on the band varies depending on the position of the head.