Wearable cpr assist training and testing device

Abstract

A wearable cardiopulmonary resuscitation assist device or system including: a wearable article to be worn by a cardiopulmonary resuscitation performer or a patient, for assisting administration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the performer; at least one sensor for measuring at least one parameter to assist in cardiopulmonary resuscitation; at least one feedback component for conveying feedback information based on the parameter to the performer for assisting the performer in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and a processing unit, the processing unit being configured to receive the at least one parameter from the at least one sensor and to send information based on the parameter to the at least one feedback component. Also a method for training or improving cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures using the device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 936,184, filed Nov. 7, 2007, entitled WEARABLE CPR ASSIST, TRAINING AND TESTING DEVICE, currently pending, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 880,228, filed Jan. 16, 2007, by the same inventors and commonly assigned, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to CPR assist devices. In particular, the present invention relates to CPR assist devices that are wearable, and systems that include such devices.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]There are currently an estimated 40,000 incidences of cardiac arrest every year in Canada, most of which take place outside of hospital settings. The odds of an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest currently stand at approximately 5%. In the U.S., there are about 164,000 such instances each year, or about 0.55 per 1000 population. There is a desire to d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]An aspect of the present invention provides a wearable CPR assist device that may aid a performer in performing CPR. The device may also be inexpensive and / or adaptive. The device includes sensors for measuring various parameters during a CPR procedure, and may be used for training, testing, and / or real life emergencies. The device may provide instructions for performing CPR in the form of audio and / or visual feedback. The feedback may include information on parameters such as heart rate, compression rate, compression depth, compression force, compression angle, hand positioning, patient body temperature, patient body type, and patient blood oxygen content. The device may be accessible and usable to those trained and untrained in CPR.

[0020]The device may be in the form of an intuitive wearable article, to be worn by the performer or by the patient, allowing CPR to be administered as normal with no external devices necessary. By including all sensors in fixed positions on the device, the positioning of all sensors on the patient may be more likely to be accurate and precise. In some aspects, the sensors may be incorporated into a wearable glove to be worn by the performer for increased wearability and ease of use.

[0024]In some aspects, there is provided a method of improving performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a performer to a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: providing a wearable cardiopulmonary resuscitation assist device to be worn by the performer or the patient; detecting at least one parameter for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation using at least one sensor on the device; analyzing the at least one parameter compared to a desired cardiopulmonary resuscitation method; and providing feedback to the performer based on analysis of the at least one parameter.

Problems solved by technology

However, the quality of CPR is often poor.

Retention of proper CPR technique and protocol may be inadequate in most individuals and the anxiety of an emergency situation may confuse and hinder an individual in delivering proper treatment.

According to the journal of the American Medical Association (2005), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is often performed inconsistently and inefficiently, resulting in preventable deaths.

Months after the completion of standard CPR training and testing, an individual's competency at performing effective chest compressions often deteriorates significantly.

In addition to too shallow compressions, too forceful compressions may also be problematic.

Such consequences may be due to excessive force or compression depth.

Once again, lack of practice may be responsible for these injuries.

However, these devices are often expensive and inaccessible to the lay individual who does not have a defibrillator on hand or cannot operate such a device.

Furthermore, such devices are often not portable nor are they easily accessible.

Simple devices with bar graph displays indicating compression force are often cumbersome in design and non-intuitive in use.

Such a device may be uncomfortable to the patient and user and often has minimal data output.

Thus, misuse of such a device is probable rendering it a hindrance rather than an aid.

It may be cumbersome and may not be suited for use by non-medical professionals.

The device has a multitude of instrumentation, which may make it expensive.

If the user is not familiar with the device, its use could result in injury.

Other devices, such the D-Padz™ by Zoll Medical employ similar technologies and thus encounter similar disadvantages.

Such a device may be bulky and awkward to use, and the feedback provided is limited and not quantitative.

This technique relies on the observational skills of the instructor and thus may be prone to human error.

Furthermore, for effective training to take place, each student must be observed separately thereby occupying a significant amount of time and decreasing the number of students who can be trained at one time.

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