Ultrasonic velocity / flow measurement for CPR feedback

Abstract

Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure encompass a cardiopulmonary resuscitation ("CPR") feedback method that involves measuring, by an ultrasound sensor (20), a carotid blood flow velocity of a patient during CPR of the patient, and also to measure blood oxygen by an oxygen saturation sensor (30) during CPR of the patient and / or to measure CO2 production by a respiration sensor (40) during CPR of the patient. An exemplary CPR feedback controller (60) generates CPR feedback based on a descriptive and / or a prescribed correlation of a carotid blood flow velocity measurement generated by the ultrasound sensor (20) to one or both of: a blood oxygen measurement generated by the oxygen saturation sensor (30), or a CO2 production measurement generated by the respiration sensor (40).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to ultrasonic velocity / flow measurement for cardiopulmonary resuscitation ("CPR") feedback, and more specifically to devices, systems, and methods for using ultrasound to acquire blood flow velocity or flow data that is subsequently processed to provide auditory and visual feedback in the absence of ultrasound images. Background Art

[0002] There is a great deal of interest in the resuscitation field to improve the quality of CPR. Ultrasonic sensors have been used for non-invasive, reliable, and physiological CPR feedback by providing a user-friendly indicator of blood flow velocity or flow. CPR responders may be unfamiliar with the interpretation of ultrasound images, so there is a need to present velocity / flow data in a way that is easily understood by both resuscitation professionals and non-professionals. More specifically, the use of ultrasound is currently limited to those with ultrasound expertise. Certain medical fields (e.g., resuscitation) have ample opportunities to use ultrasound equipment, but most users are not trained in the use of traditional ultrasound equipment. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present disclosure is intended to facilitate the use of ultrasound by non-ultrasound physicians (i.e., resuscitation responders) to measure blood flow velocity / flow in blood vessels without the need to interpret images. The non-ultrasound physician simply applies the ultrasound sensor correctly and then performs CPR using the auditory and visual indications of the blood flow velocity / flow, which provide information to improve the quality of CPR. The ultrasound sensor is also capable of detecting a spontaneous pulse, and the auditory / visual indicator conveys this information. Manual palpation is currently the most widely used technique for determining the presence of a spontaneous pulse, but this technique is not as effective as using Doppler ultrasound. The ultrasound sensor is capable of measuring blood flow velocity or flow, and the ultrasound sensor will have an LED or other indicator to easily convey these measurements. Medical devices such as monitors / defibrillators can be integrated with ultrasound sensors, and the medical device can also have an auditory / visual indicator to convey information about the blood flow velocity or flow. This information may be saved in a report at the end of a CPR event.

[0004] The present disclosure may be embodied as:

[0005] (1) CPR feedback system;

[0006] (2) a CPR feedback controller; and

[0007] (3)CPR feedback method.

[0008] Exemplary embodiments of various CPR feedback systems of the present disclosure encompass an ultrasonic sensor configured to measure the patient's carotid blood flow velocity during CPR of the patient, and one or both of an oxygen saturation sensor and a respiration sensor, wherein the ultrasonic sensor is configured to measure the patient's carotid blood flow velocity during CPR of the patient, the oxygen saturation sensor is configured to measure blood oxygen during CPR of the patient, and the respiration sensor is configured to measure CO2 production during CPR of the patient. Embodiments of various CPR feedback systems of the present disclosure also encompass a CPR feedback controller configured to generate CPR feedback based on a descriptive association and / or prescriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity measurement produced by the ultrasonic sensor with one or both of the following: the blood oxygen measurement produced by the oxygen saturation sensor, and the CO2 production measurement produced by the respiration sensor.

[0009] For purposes of describing and claiming the present disclosure, the term "descriptive association" broadly encompasses the relationship between various measurements (as will be exemplarily described in this disclosure) that describes a patient's ongoing baseline CPR, and the term "prescriptive association" is the relationship between various measurements (as will be exemplarily described in this disclosure) that specifies a patient's patient-specific CPR.

[0010] Exemplary embodiments of various CPR feedback controllers of the present disclosure encompass a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for execution by one or more processors. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium includes instructions for: (1) receiving a carotid blood flow velocity of a patient during CPR of the patient, (2) receiving a blood oxygen measurement of the patient or a CO2 production measurement of the patient during CPR of the patient, and (3) generating CPR feedback based on one of a descriptive association or a prescriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity measurement with one or both of the blood oxygen measurement and the CO2 production measurement.

[0011] Exemplary embodiments of various CPR feedback methods of the present disclosure encompass: (1) measuring a patient's carotid blood flow velocity by an ultrasonic sensor during CPR of the patient, (2) measuring a patient's blood oxygen by an oxygen saturation sensor during CPR of the patient, and / or measuring a patient's CO2 production by a respiration sensor during CPR of the patient, and (3) generating CPR feedback by a CPR feedback controller based on one of a descriptive association or a prescriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity measurement produced by the ultrasonic sensor with at least one of: a blood oxygen measurement produced by the oxygen saturation sensor, and a CO2 production measurement produced by the respiration sensor.

[0012] By reading the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the aforementioned exemplary embodiments and other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and the various structures and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The detailed description and the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of the present disclosure, not limiting, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The present disclosure will present the following description of exemplary embodiments in detail with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a CPR feedback system according to the present disclosure;

[0015] Figure 2 An exemplary embodiment of a flow chart representing a CPR feedback method according to the present disclosure is illustrated;

[0016] Figure 3-5 illustrates exemplary CPR feedback according to the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary identification of endotracheal tube placement in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 7 illustrates an exemplary identification of a carotid vessel occlusion according to the present disclosure; and

[0019] Figure 8 An exemplary embodiment of a CPR feedback controller according to the present disclosure is illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present disclosure provides devices, systems and methods that will indicate blood flow velocity or flow in a blood vessel with (1) auditory feedback via the ultrasound sensor itself and / or an integrated medical device (e.g., monitor / defibrillator), and (2) visual feedback (LEDs, information graphics) via the ultrasound sensor itself and / or an integrated medical device. Exemplary uses include measuring blood flow velocity or flow in the carotid, femoral, or other vessel(s) to provide feedback during CPR, and a secondary use can be to indicate a patient's spontaneous pulse.

[0021] In order to facilitate the understanding of the present disclosure, the following Figure 1-7 The description of teaches exemplary embodiments of CPR feedback devices, systems, and methods according to the present disclosure. Figure 1-7 With the description of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize how to apply the present disclosure to make and use additional embodiments of CPR feedback devices, systems, and methods according to the present disclosure.

[0022] refer to Figure 1 The CPR feedback system 10 of the present disclosure employs an ultrasonic sensor 20 (e.g., a uCPR device), an oxygen saturation sensor 30 (e.g., a pulse oximeter), a respiratory sensor 40 (combined with or replacing the sensor 30) (e.g., an ETCO2 sensor), a medical device 50 (e.g., a monitor / defibrillator), and a mechanical CPR device 90.

[0023] For purposes of describing and claiming the present disclosure, the term "ultrasound sensor" broadly encompasses any device (as known in the art of the present disclosure or as contemplated hereinafter) for generating an ultrasound image illustrating a patient's blood flow velocity during CPR of a patient; the term "oxygen saturation sensor" broadly encompasses any sensor (as known in the art of the present disclosure or as contemplated hereinafter) for directly or indirectly measuring a patient's blood oxygen during CPR of a patient; and the term "respiration sensor" broadly encompasses any sensor (as known in the art of the present disclosure or as contemplated hereinafter) for directly or indirectly measuring a patient's CO2 production during CPR of a patient; and the terms "medical device" and "mechanical CPR device" are terms of the field of the present disclosure.

[0024] Still reference Figure 1 , the medical device 50 includes a CPR feedback controller 60 , a display 70 , and an audible / visual indicator 80 .

[0025] For purposes of describing and claiming the present disclosure, the term "CPR feedback controller" broadly encompasses any type of controller (as known in the art of the present disclosure or contemplated hereinafter) for controlling CPR process feedback to a user and to a mechanical CPR device via a display and / or audible / visual indicators; and the terms "display" and "audible / visual indicators" are terms of the art of the present disclosure.

[0026] Indeed, the CPR feedback controller 60 can include a database 61 that specifies CPR guidelines (eg, compression rate, depth, and duty cycle) as is known in the art of the present disclosure.

[0027] Still reference Figure 1 According to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the ultrasound sensor 20 applies the Doppler ultrasound principle to measure blood flow velocity or volume 21. These measurements are processed by the CPR feedback controller 60 of the device 50 and transmitted via the audible and / or visual indicators 80 of the device 50. These measurements can also be processed by the controller 60 to detect a spontaneous pulse in the patient, which can then also be relayed by the audible and / or visual indicators 80.

[0028] In practice, the following stages teach how to construct certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure:

[0029] Phase 1 - Optimizing the ultrasound sensor 20 to obtain the best velocity / flow data for a specific vessel.

[0030] Phase 2 – Develop the user interface (UI) and physical sensor design.

[0031] Phase 3 – Develop algorithms for converting ultrasound velocity / flow data into auditory / visual feedback.

[0032] Phase 4 - Integrate the ultrasound sensor 20 with the medical device 50. If the device has a monitor, develop a UI and algorithm for converting the ultrasound velocity / flow data into auditory / visual data.

[0033] Phase 5 – Clinical validation of ultrasound accuracy and device usability.

[0034] Phase 6 – Iterate the design process as needed to fine-tune the UI and sensor design for the target users.

[0035] In practice, an exemplary method for using the ultrasound sensor 20 includes: (1) connecting the ultrasound sensor 20 to the medical device 50, (2) placing the ultrasound sensor on the patient's skin over a desired blood vessel (e.g., the carotid vessel), (3) the ultrasound sensor 20 uses Doppler to measure blood flow / velocity, and (4) the medical device 50 reports these measurements to the user via audible and / or visual indicators 80. The user can easily interpret these measurements and, if necessary, change the CPR technique based on the audible and / or visual indicators according to prompts or other instructions or commands.

[0036] The ultrasound sensor 20 uses a Doppler algorithm to detect the presence of a spontaneous pulse. When a spontaneous pulse is detected, the indicator(s) 80 show / tell / indicate that a spontaneous pulse is detected, and instructions are issued to further guide the user accordingly.

[0037] For example, exemplary applications of certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure include integrating the ultrasound sensor 20 with an advanced life support (ALS) monitor / defibrillator product. It can also be applied to any compatible ultrasound system / sensor where ultrasound velocity / flow data needs to be represented by, for example, an information graphic or other indicator rather than an ultrasound image. Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can span nearly all ultrasound clinical applications where fluid velocity / flow is measured.

[0038] As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the disclosure and teachings herein, while blood flow is an important indicator of cerebral perfusion, the oxygen content of the delivered blood is also important. For example, if the patient is poorly ventilated or has an underlying disease that affects oxygenation (e.g., CO2 poisoning or hyperventilation or chronic respiratory disease), perfusing the brain with reduced blood with O2 may not be sufficient to achieve effective CPR and successful patient resuscitation.

[0039] Therefore, in addition to the ultrasonic sensor 20, system 10 and method disclosed and described above, certain exemplary embodiments and / or related embodiments of the present disclosure also include adding information from an oxygen saturation sensor 30. For example, the sensor 30 can be a simple pulse oximeter sensor placed on a finger or earlobe or nose, or a NIRS (near infrared spectroscopy) device that monitors local tissue oxygenation. It is worth noting that pulse oximeter measurements generally require pulsatile flow and are therefore affected by low perfusion in cardiac arrest patients. Pulse oxygen content measurements are also affected by artifacts caused by chest compressions during CPR and inaccurate low oxygen saturation.

[0040] According to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, (1) chest compressions can create sufficient "pulsation" to allow pulsation detection for measuring oxygen saturation, (2) the oxygen saturation signal can be distinguished from compression artifacts (or the oxygen saturation signal can be acquired during compression pauses if desired), and (3) the patient's own oxygen reserves or oxygen administered during resuscitation procedures can allow for adequate oxygen saturation.

[0041] Moreover, according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, alternatively or additionally, ETCO2 measurements can be used in conjunction with CO2 production. Such measurements are typically performed during resuscitation by placing a respiratory sensor 40 between the patient's airway and the ventilator. For example, ETCO2 measurements can be used simultaneously to assess the effectiveness of compressions.

[0042] Figure 2 A flow chart 100 representing a CPR feedback method of the present disclosure is illustrated. Figure 1 and Figure 2 , stage S102 of flowchart 100 covers the CPR feedback controller 60 receiving carotid blood flow velocity measurements 21 from the ultrasound sensor 20 during CPR of the patient, and stage S104 of flowchart 100 covers the CPR feedback controller 60 receiving blood oxygen measurements 31 from the patient's oxygen saturation sensor 30 during CPR of the patient and / or receiving CO2 production measurements 41 from the respiratory sensor 40 during CPR of the patient.

[0043] Stage S106 of flowchart 100 covers the CPR feedback controller 60 generating CPR feedback based on a descriptive association and / or prescriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity measurement result 21 generated by the ultrasonic sensor 20 with one or both of the following: the blood oxygen measurement result 31 generated by the oxygen saturation sensor 30, and the CO2 production measurement result 41 generated by the respiratory sensor 40.

[0044] In practice, according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the descriptive association of the measurements is implemented by machine learning of the relationships between the various measurements that describe the patient's ongoing baseline CPR. In one such exemplary embodiment, for example, the descriptive association of the measurements provides information about the patient's oxygen flow condition during CPR of the patient, whereby CPR feedback provides information and / or description of the patient's oxygen flow condition relative to the patient's baseline oxygen flow, and the CPR responder or mechanical CPR device 90 can adjust the CPR technique as needed to converge the oxygen flow condition with the baseline oxygen flow.

[0045] In practice, according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the prescriptive association of measurements is implemented by machine learning of relationships between various measurements that prescribe a patient-specific CPR for the patient. For example, in one such exemplary embodiment, the prescriptive association of measurements provides information of (one or more) CPR parameters associated with a patient's baseline oxygen flow during CPR of the patient, whereby CPR feedback provides information and / or instructions for (one or more) adjustments to (one or more) CPR guidelines during CPR of the patient based on the (one or more) CPR parameters.

[0046] Below is a more detailed explanation of descriptive and prescriptive associations.

[0047] Descriptive association . For example, information about a patient's blood oxygen or CO2 production that can be measured and monitored according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can inform the controller 60 and care providers of the adequacy of the patient's ventilation, thereby, for example, causing feedback about ventilation (e.g., during use of a BVM, bagging rate and volume can be adjusted). Trend information can also be ascertained and help identify the patient's status and potential improvements. An exemplary novel and inventive aspect of this embodiment of the present disclosure is to associate the O2 measurements 31 and the CO2 measurements 41 with the carotid blood flow 21 to provide information about brain perfusion and respiratory measurements. For example, by adjusting (one or more) CPR parameters (e.g., compression rate, depth, duty cycle) based on (near) real-time feedback from such exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the (one or more) people administering CPR and / or the automatic / mechanical CPR device 90 will generally be able to achieve improved blood flow to the brain.

[0048] This approach of using uCPR and other measurements including oxygen saturation sensor 30 to provide physiological CPR feedback can guide responders to provide patient-specific CPR that responds to specific patient needs. Currently, CPR guidelines recommend a model of depth and compression rate that works for everyone, for example, a depth of 5-6 cm and a rate of 100-120 times / minute. By utilizing physiological feedback, responders can adjust their chest compression technique (while using the CPR guidelines as a baseline or starting point) to achieve the desired blood flow for the patient's physiological condition.

[0049] Figure 3-5 An embodiment of an ultrasound sensor 20a is shown having LEDs that indicate real-time blood flow velocity / flow using color and different numbers of active LEDs. Figure 3As shown, the descriptive association of the measurements provides information of a "blood flow is increasing" condition (illustrated via CPR feedback 110 of the LED state of the graphical ultrasound sensor 20) so that the responder or mechanical CPR device 90 can maintain CPR parameters as blood flow increases. Figure 4 As shown, the descriptive association of the measurements provides information of a "blood flow is decreasing" condition (illustrated via CPR feedback 111 of the LED status of the graphical ultrasound sensor 20) whereby the responder or mechanical CPR device can adjust CPR parameters to increase blood flow. Figure 4 As shown, the descriptive association of the measurements provides information of a "pulse detected" condition (illustrated via CPR feedback 112 illustrating the LED state of ultrasound sensor 20) whereby mechanical CPR device 90 can terminate CPR.

[0050] For these examples, the display shows information graphics with similar color schemes and visual representations.

[0051] Prescriptive Association. According to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the CPR feedback controller 70 can be combined with a feedback device that measures the mechanism of chest compressions (e.g., a Q-CPR that can measure and prompt depth, rate, and recoil). This will enable the (one or more) people and / or automatic / mechanical devices 90 performing CPR to quantitatively know the mechanism of their compressions, which can be used as an additional CPR quality reference at the beginning and during chest compressions. For example, a CPR giver ((one or more) people and / or automatic / mechanical devices 90) can start with a compression rate and depth that meets the AHA guidelines. The CPR giver will know whether they / it complies with the guidelines through a CPR coaching device (e.g., QCPR) that provides feedback. The QCPR device is integrated into the controller 60 so that information such as rate and compression depth can be analyzed to guide the (one or more) people who give CPR and / or automatically adjust the automatic / mechanical devices that give CPR. For example, if the CPR giver presses at a compression rate twice that of the guidelines, the heart may not have time to fully fill with blood. As a result, the uCPR device can detect very low carotid blood flow. The CPR provider will be advised or instructed to reduce the compression rate. The same example can also be used for compression depth, tilt and recoil, and these parameters can also be measured and used to provide feedback in combination with the flow measured by the carotid sensor, for example. When the optimal (peak) blood flow is measured by the uCPR device, the compression rate and depth for achieving the optimal blood flow can be marked / recorded / stored. If the blood flow begins to decrease, the exemplary device can coach / advise / instruct the CPR provider on whether the CPR provider deviates from their optimal compression rate / depth previously marked / recorded / stored, and / or provide instructions to the automatic / mechanical CPR device 90 to make corresponding adjustments to restore the optimal compression rate / depth.

[0052] In addition, according to certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, when potential physiological changes occur in the patient (e.g., rib fractures or pericardial hemorrhage), it may also be necessary to change the optimal compression rate / depth. Certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure described herein can detect these changes and trends, and further coach / suggest / instruct the CPR provider ((one or more) humans and / or machinery 90) accordingly. For example, the CPR provider can use deeper compressions, different rates, and / or adjust the contact position (e.g., human hand, mechanical plunger) on the chest.

[0053] Additional exemplary embodiments disclosed, described, and taught herein in accordance with the present disclosure include using an ultrasound sensor 20 in the form of a uCPR device to illustrate and / or otherwise indicate whether an intubation tube is properly placed in the esophagus vs. trachea. The exemplary uCPR device can be constructed and configured as a patch that can be placed and positioned on, near, or around a person's neck and used to image the trachea and esophagus at the level of the carotid vessels, such that in addition to measuring blood flow velocity, the exemplary uCPR device (e.g., a patch) can also be used to monitor and illustrate, verify, or otherwise indicate (e.g., via visual and / or audible alarms, prompts, or instructions) proper placement 120 or improper placement 21 and position of an endotracheal tube placement, such as Figure 6 As exemplarily shown in .

[0054] Incorrect placement of the catheter in the stomach (or movement of the catheter during patient treatment) can cause air to be pushed into the stomach and cause bloating. This air pushes on internal organs including the heart and lungs, which can cause damage in addition to lack of proper ventilation of the lungs. Incorrect placement occurs frequently, and correct placement can be difficult to verify on-site and usually involves listening to the sounds of the lungs and stomach or using vocal cord visualization, CO2 monitoring, and observing symmetrical chest bulges. These technologies are susceptible to errors and misinterpretations, and certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure overcome this problem. In addition, by using the exemplary uCPR device disclosed and described herein, placement and positioning information is obtained in a continuous manner without the need for additional equipment. In addition, an exemplary embodiment of the CPR feedback controller 70 is capable of using deep learning to automatically identify correct and / or incorrect placement based on images, thereby automatically triggering visual and / or audible alarms, for example.

[0055] Another use of an exemplary patch uCPR device according to the present disclosure is to identify a full or partial blockage in a carotid artery. For example, this can be accomplished by imaging the carotid vessels or by analyzing the blood flow characteristics through the vessels measured by the uCPR device. An obstructed vessel will have a different flow velocity distribution than an unobstructed vessel. An exemplary CPR feedback controller can be constructed and configured to automatically identify an obstructed vessel from an image and generate / provide an alarm or other indication.

[0056] In order to facilitate a further understanding of the present disclosure, the following Figure 8 The description of teaches an exemplary embodiment of a light indicator controller according to the present disclosure. Figure 8 With the description of the present disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize how to apply the present disclosure to make and use additional embodiments of light indicator controllers according to the present disclosure.

[0057] refer to Figure 8 , Figure 8 An exemplary embodiment of a CPR feedback controller 160 is shown that includes one or more processors 161 , memory 162 , user interface 163 , network interface 164 , and storage 165 , which are interconnected via one or more system buses 166 .

[0058] Each processor 161 can be any hardware device capable of executing instructions stored in memory 162 or storage or otherwise processing data (as known in the art of the present disclosure or contemplated below). In a non-limiting example, the processor(s) 161 can include a microprocessor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other similar device.

[0059] The memory 162 can include various memories (as known in the art of the present disclosure or contemplated below), including but not limited to L1, L2 or L3 cache memory or system memory. In non-limiting examples, the memory 162 can include static random access memory (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), or other similar storage devices.

[0060] The user interface 163 can include (as known in the art of the present disclosure or contemplated below) one or more devices for enabling communication with a user (e.g., a donor). In a non-limiting example, the user interface can include a command line interface or a graphical user interface, which can be presented to a remote terminal via a network interface 164.

[0061] The network interface 164 can include one or more devices (as known in the art of the present disclosure or contemplated below) for enabling communication of other components of the medical device. In a non-limiting example, the network interface 164 can include a network interface card (NIC) configured to communicate according to the Ethernet protocol. In addition, the network interface 164 can implement a TCP / IP stack for communication according to the TCP / IP protocol. Various alternative or additional hardware or configurations for the network interface 164 will be apparent.

[0062] The storage device 165 can include one or more machine-readable storage media (as known in the art of the present disclosure or contemplated below), including but not limited to read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices, or similar storage media. In various non-limiting embodiments, the storage device 165 can store instructions executed by the processor(s) 161 or data that the processor(s) 161 can operate on. For example, the storage device 165 can store a basic operating system for controlling various basic operations of the hardware.

[0063] The storage device 165 can also store application programs in the form of executable software / firmware for implementing (as previously described in this disclosure) Figure 2 In an exemplary embodiment shown, the storage device 165 also stores an application 167, which includes an association subroutine 168 and a feedback subroutine 169 for implementing an embodiment of step S106 of the flowchart 100.

[0064] The present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations may occur to others after reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. The present invention is intended to be interpreted as including all such modifications and alterations as long as they fall within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.

[0065] In addition, in view of the teachings provided herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the features, elements, components, etc. disclosed and described in the present disclosure / specification and / or depicted in the drawings and / or recorded in the claims can be implemented in various combinations of hardware and software, and provide functions that can be combined in a single element or multiple elements. For example, the functions of the various features, elements, components, etc. shown / illustrated / depicted in the drawings and / or recorded in the claims can be provided by using dedicated hardware and hardware capable of running software associated with appropriate software. When provided by a processor, these functions can be provided by a single dedicated processor, a single shared processor, or multiple individual processors (some of which can be shared and / or reused). In addition, the explicit use of the term "processor" or "controller" should not be interpreted as referring exclusively to hardware capable of running software, but can implicitly include, but are not limited to, digital signal processor ("DSP") hardware, processors (e.g., read-only memory ("ROM"), random access memory ("RAM"), non-volatile storage devices, etc. for storing software), and virtually any device and / or machine (including hardware, software, firmware, combinations thereof, etc.) that can (and / or can be configured to) execute and / or control a process.

[0066] In addition, all statements of the principles, aspects and exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and their specific examples are intended to cover their structural equivalents and functional equivalents. In addition, such equivalents are intended to include currently known equivalents and equivalents developed in the future (e.g., any element developed that can perform the same or substantially similar function, regardless of the structure). Therefore, for example, in view of the teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any block diagram presented herein can represent a conceptual diagram of an illustrative system component and / or circuit that embodies the principles of the present invention. Similarly, in view of the teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that any flow chart, flow chart, etc. can represent various processes, which can be substantially represented in a computer-readable storage medium and run by a computer, a processor, or other device with processing capabilities, regardless of whether such a computer or processor is explicitly shown.

[0067] Having described preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, which are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, it should be noted that modifications and variations can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings provided herein (including the drawings and claims). Therefore, it should be understood that within the scope of the present disclosure and exemplary embodiments disclosed, described and taught herein, changes can be made to the preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0068] In addition, it is contemplated that corresponding and / or related systems that incorporate and / or implement the device or systems that can be used / implemented in the device according to the present disclosure, for example, are also contemplated and considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, corresponding and / or related methods for making and / or using the device and / or system according to the present disclosure are also contemplated and considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A cardiopulmonary resuscitation ("CPR") feedback system comprising: an ultrasound sensor configured to measure carotid blood flow velocity in a patient during CPR of the patient; At least one of the following: an oxygen saturation sensor configured to measure blood oxygen of the patient during CPR of the patient; or a respiratory sensor configured to measure CO2 output of the patient during CPR of the patient; and a CPR feedback controller configured to generate CPR feedback based on at least one of a descriptive association or a prescriptive association of a carotid blood flow velocity measurement produced by the ultrasound sensor with at least one of: a blood oxygen measurement produced by the oxygen saturation sensor, or a CO2 production measurement produced by the respiration sensor.

2. The CPR feedback system according to claim 1, in, The descriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity produced by the ultrasound sensor with at least one of: the blood oxygen measurement produced by the oxygen saturation sensor, or the CO2 production measurement produced by the respiration sensor provides information on the oxygen flow condition of the patient during the CPR of the patient; and Wherein, the CPR feedback provides at least one of information or description of the patient's oxygen flow condition relative to the patient's baseline oxygen flow.

3. The CPR feedback system according to claim 1, in, The prescriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity measurement produced by the ultrasound sensor with at least one of: the blood oxygen measurement produced by the oxygen saturation sensor, or the CO2 production measurement produced by the respiration sensor provides information of at least one CPR parameter associated with the patient's baseline oxygen flow during the CPR of the patient; and Wherein the CPR feedback provides at least one of information or instructions for at least one adjustment to CPR guidelines during the CPR of the patient based on the CPR parameters.

4. The CPR feedback system according to claim 1, in, The ultrasound sensor is further configured to image placement of an endotracheal tube within the patient at the level of the patient's carotid vessels; and Wherein, the CPR feedback controller is further configured to identify at least one of correct placement or incorrect placement of the endotracheal tube in the patient's body at the level of the patient's carotid vessel based on the imaging.

5. The CPR feedback system according to claim 1, in, The ultrasound sensor is further configured to image a carotid vessel of the patient; and Wherein the CPR feedback controller is further configured to identify any blockage within the carotid vessel of the patient based on the imaging.

6. A cardiopulmonary resuscitation ("CPR") feedback controller comprising: A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for execution by at least one processor, the non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions for: receiving a carotid artery blood flow velocity of the patient during CPR of the patient; receiving at least one of a blood oxygen measurement of the patient or a CO2 production measurement of the patient during CPR of the patient; and CPR feedback is generated based on at least one of a descriptive association or a prescriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity measurement with at least one of: the blood oxygenation measurement, or the CO2 production measurement.

7. The CPR feedback controller according to claim 6, in, The descriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity produced by the ultrasound sensor with at least one of: the blood oxygen measurement produced by the oxygen saturation sensor, or the CO2 production measurement produced by the respiration sensor provides information on the oxygen flow condition of the patient during the CPR of the patient; and Wherein, the CPR feedback provides at least one of information or description of the patient's oxygen flow condition relative to the patient's baseline oxygen flow.

8. The CPR feedback controller according to claim 6, in, The prescriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity measurement produced by the ultrasound sensor with at least one of: the blood oxygen measurement produced by the oxygen saturation sensor, or the CO2 production measurement produced by the respiration sensor provides information of at least one CPR parameter associated with the patient's baseline oxygen flow during the CPR of the patient; and Wherein the CPR feedback provides at least one of information or instructions for at least one adjustment to CPR guidelines during the CPR of the patient based on the CPR parameters.

9. The CPR feedback controller according to claim 6, wherein: The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium also includes instructions for: receiving an image of placement of an endotracheal tube within the patient at the level of the patient's carotid vessel; and At least one of correct placement or incorrect placement of the endotracheal tube in the patient is identified at a level of a carotid vessel of the patient based on the image.

10. The CPR feedback controller according to claim 6, wherein: The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium also includes instructions for: receiving an image of a carotid vessel of the patient; and Any blockage within the carotid vessel of the patient is identified based on the image.

11. A CPR feedback method, comprising: measuring carotid artery blood flow velocity of the patient during CPR of the patient by an ultrasonic sensor; At least one of the following: measuring the patient's blood oxygen by an oxygen saturation sensor during CPR of the patient; or measuring CO2 output of the patient during CPR of the patient by a respiratory sensor; and CPR feedback is generated by a CPR feedback controller based on at least one of a descriptive association or a prescriptive association of a carotid blood flow velocity measurement produced by the ultrasound sensor with at least one of: a blood oxygen measurement produced by the oxygen saturation sensor, or a CO2 production measurement produced by the respiration sensor.

12. The CPR feedback method according to claim 11, in, The descriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity produced by the ultrasound sensor with at least one of: the blood oxygen measurement produced by the oxygen saturation sensor, or the CO2 production measurement produced by the respiration sensor provides information on the oxygen flow condition of the patient during the CPR of the patient; and Wherein, the CPR feedback provides at least one of information or description of the patient's oxygen flow condition relative to the patient's baseline oxygen flow.

13. The CPR feedback method according to claim 11, in, The prescriptive association of the carotid blood flow velocity measurement produced by the ultrasound sensor with at least one of: the blood oxygen measurement produced by the oxygen saturation sensor, or the CO2 production measurement produced by the respiration sensor provides information of at least one CPR parameter associated with the patient's baseline oxygen flow during the CPR of the patient; and Wherein the CPR feedback provides at least one of information or instructions for at least one adjustment to CPR guidelines during the CPR of the patient based on the CPR parameters.

14. The CPR feedback method according to claim 11, further comprising: imaging, by the ultrasound sensor, the placement of an endotracheal tube in the patient at the level of the patient's carotid vessels; and At least one of correct placement or incorrect placement of the endotracheal tube within the patient is identified by the CPR feedback controller at a level of a carotid vessel of the patient based on the imaging.

15. The CPR feedback method according to claim 11, further comprising: imaging the patient's carotid vessels with the ultrasound sensor; and Any blockage within the carotid vessel of the patient is identified by the CPR feedback controller based on the imaging.

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