Systems and methods for gravity-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation

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

elevating the head, heart, and shoulders of an individual to an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees relative to horizontal by bending the individual at the waist to actively drain venous blood from the brain using gravity while performing CPR by repeatedly compressing the chest, whereby elevation of the head, heart, and shoulders assists to lower intracranial pressure, increase cerebral perfusion pressure, and reduce venous blood concussion pressure waves directed to the brain during the performance of CPR, and

interfacing a device with the airway of the individual to regulate the intrathoracic pressure of the individual while performing CPR to create a negative pressure within the chest during a relaxation phase of CPR.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising elevating one or more of the head, heart, or shoulders of the individual to an angle less than or equal to about ninety degrees relative to horizontal;

wherein active draining of venous blood from the brain using gravity in combination with the regulation of intrathoracic pressure while performing CPR also enhances a refilling of the heart with the increase of blood volume in the thorax, and reduces the magnitude of the venous pressure head that hits the brain with each compression to improve brain flow.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising elevating one or more of the head, heart, or shoulders of the individual by manual adjustment of a surface that supports one or more of the head, heart, or shoulders.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising elevating one or more of the head, heart, or shoulders of the individual by automated adjustment of a surface that supports one or more of the head, heart, or shoulders.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing at least one of: standard CPR, stutter CPR, an active compression decompression CPR; a thoracic band with phased CPR; an automated CPR using a device that performs CPR according to a pre-determined algorithm.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

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

activating the mechanical CPR device to repeatedly compress the individual's chest.

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

elevating the head, heart, and shoulders of an individual to an angle of between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees relative to horizontal to actively drain venous blood from the brain using gravity and to lower intracranial pressure;

interfacing a chest compression device to the chest of the individual;

interfacing an impedance threshold device with the airway of the individual to create a negative pressure within the chest during a relaxation phase of CPR; and

performing active compression/decompression CPR using the chest compression device while the head, heart, and shoulders are elevated;

whereby elevation of the head, heart, and shoulders assists to lower intracranial pressure, increase cerebral perfusion pressure, and reduce venous blood concussion pressure waves directed to the brain during the performance of CPR.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the elevating step comprises placing the head or shoulders on a wedge, wherein the wedge has a surface coating that allows it to easily slip under the head and shoulders while placing it in position but prevents slippage due to gravity once the head and shoulders are in the intended position.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the elevating step comprises placing the head or shoulders on a wedge, wherein the wedge includes at least one small cup shaped cut-out space to allow for the occipital portion of the patient's head to reach backward, helping to both secure the head-elevation position and provide for a way to more easily ventilate the patient when using a face mask.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising varying the angle of at least one of the head, heart, and shoulders relative to horizontal while performing CPR.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

temporarily stopping the CPR procedure;

positioning the patient in a horizontal plane or orientation; and

assessing heart rhythm or another measured physiologic parameter of the patient to determine whether defibrillation is needed.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the chest compression device comprises a band that is positioned around the thorax;

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

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising varying the tension on the band depending on the position of the head.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the band includes a mechanism to actively decompress the chest.

15. A method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that involves a chest compression phase and a relaxation phase, comprising:

elevating the head, heart, and shoulders of an individual to an angle of elevation between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees as measured relative to horizontal by bending the individual at the waist to actively drain venous blood from the brain using gravity and to lower intracranial pressure;

interfacing an impedance threshold device with the airway of the individual to create a negative pressure within the chest during the relaxation phase of CPR;

providing intermittent positive pressure ventilation; and

repeatedly compressing the chest while interfacing the impedance threshold device with the airway and while the head, heart, and shoulders are elevated to increase the individual's perfusion pressure while reducing or lowering intracranial pressure.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the chest is compressed using an automated chest compression device.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising varying the angle of elevation based on a measured physiological parameter.