Mechanical resuscitator
An improved resuscitator including a pump, a base member for positioning over the sternum area of the patient's chest, coupling structure for allowing gas to pass from a passageway of the base member to the patient's lungs, and seal structure for forming a gas-tight seal between an opening of the pump and a first end of the passageway of the base member when a bellows-like structure of the pump is moved from a first position to a second position. The improvement includes sternum structure attached to the base member for placement on the patient's chest over the patient's sternum and for applying pressure to the patient's sternum during resuscitation (i.e., when the bellows-like structure of the pump is moved from the first position to the second position).
1. An improved resuscitator including
a pump including movable means movable between a first position and a second position for forcing gas from the pump when moved from the first position to the second position and for drawing gas into the pump when moved from the second position to the first position, the pump having an opening for allowing gas to be drawn into and forced out therethrough;
a base member for positioning over the sternum area of the patient's chest, the base member having a passageway for allowing gas to pass therethrough, the passageway having a first end and a second end;
coupling means for allowing gas to pass from the passageway of the base member to the patient's lungs, the coupling means including a hollow tube for being connected to the second end of the passageway of the base member to allow gas to pass from the passageway of the base member therethrough; and
seal means for forming a gas-tight seal between the opening of the pump and the first end of the passageway of the base member when the movable means of the pump is moved from the first position to the second position to allow gas to be forced from the pump through the passageway of the base member and out the coupling means;
wherein the improvement comprises:
sternum means attached to the base member for placement on the patient's chest over the patient's sternum and for applying pressure to the patient's sternum during resuscitation; said sternum means consisting of a ball-like member for simulating the heel of a person's hand when applying pressure to the patient's sternum while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
2. The improved resuscitator of claim 1 wherein the improvement further includes: neck positioning means for maintaining the patient's airway open during resuscitation.