Inflatable vest for preventing asphyxiation by choking

Abstract

The present invention relates to an inflatable vest for preventing asphyxiation by choking comprising: fastening means configured to close the vest around the user; pressurised gas means connected to an inner chamber of the vest by means of a shut-off valve; and a filling button configured to selectively open the shut-off valve to cause the vest to be filled with the pressurised gas of the pressurised gas means, thereby filling the vest. The pressurised gas means are connected to a lower front portion of the inner chamber, and the vest is configured such that, when the filling button is pressed, the gas fills the inner chamber of the vest up to a clearance pressure such that, when a target pressure is reached, a pressure surge is applied to the abdominal and thoracic area with the purpose of clearing the user's airways.

Description

[0001] INFLATABLE VEST FOR THE PREVENTION OF SUFFOCATION

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention belongs to the healthcare sector, more specifically to the sector of products and accessories used in healthcare emergencies.

[0005] The object of the present invention is an inflatable vest capable of performing the Heimlich maneuver on a person autonomously.

[0006] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Currently, approximately 2,000 deaths occur annually in Spain due to choking. When a person is suffering from asphyxiation due to choking, it is necessary to apply the existing health protocol, which consists of administering five slow blows to the individual's back. If the obstruction cannot be cleared, the Heimlich maneuver is performed, which consists of applying abdominal pressure to expel the cause of the obstruction.

[0008] When the airway cannot be cleared, the risk of death from asphyxiation is very high, as there is usually no time for medical services to reach the scene. Furthermore, these maneuvers are not safe and can sometimes cause injuries: gastric perforation, peritonitis, liver laceration, splenic damage, and even death. In addition to these possible complications, other disadvantages associated with these abdominal compression maneuvers make them unfeasible for wheelchair users, morbid obesity, pregnancy, and other conditions.

[0009] To solve these problems, manual devices based on airway suction are available on the market. An example of this type of device consists of a tube equipped with a plunger that is placed over a conventional mask. Manually pulling the plunger applies suction to expel the obstruction from the airway. A major drawback of this device is that its placement is often time-consuming. Another drawback of this device is that the user must simultaneously exert two opposing forces: one to hold the mask against the bridge of the nose and chin, and another to pull the plunger and exert the corresponding suction. This is uncomfortable and reduces the ability to control the applied force. This sometimes causes injuries to the tongue and oropharynx.

[0010] To solve these problems, a device is known that automatically and controlledly suctions the airways using a vacuum ejector activated by a trigger-like button. The device also allows the user to apply it to themselves.

[0011] In any case, there is still a need in the art for simpler and more effective choking prevention devices.

[0012] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention solves the above problems thanks to a device that, instead of being based on applying suction to the user's airways, is designed to perform the Heimlich maneuver by applying force to the user's chest. This is achieved thanks to an inflatable vest equipped with a self-inflating mechanism and designed so that, when inflated in response to the actuation of a button or similar, it applies unblocking pressure in order from bottom to top and from front to back. Thus, after reaching the target pressure, a burst of pressure is applied to the user's abdominal and thoracic area, unblocking their airways.

[0014] The present invention relates to an inflatable life jacket for preventing asphyxiation due to choking, essentially comprising the following elements: closure means; pressurized gas means; and a fill button. Each of these elements is described in greater detail below. a) Closure means

[0015] The closure means are configured to close the vest around a user's torso, securing it firmly to allow pressure to actually affect the user's abdomen and chest. The closure means may be of any type as long as they can perform the described function. For example, they may include a zipper connecting the two front pieces. Alternatively, or in addition to the zipper, the closure means may also include a first belt located at the level of the user's abdominal area. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the closure means may additionally include a second belt located at the level of the user's chest area.

[0016] The first and, where applicable, the second belt comprise an adjustable buckle for choosing the length according to the needs of each particular user. The adjustable buckle could be of any type as long as it allows the length to be adjusted to ensure a firm fit of the vest around the user's torso. The buckle could be, for example, similar to the metal buckles used on airplane seatbelts. Alternatively, the first and, where applicable, the second belt may comprise a Velcro closure for choosing the width according to needs. b) Pressurized gas means

[0017] The pressurized gas means are connected to an interior chamber of the vest through a shut-off valve, such that they can selectively provide pressurized gas to the vest of the invention. That is, the pressurized gas means are connected to a conduit that connects to the interior chamber of the vest. The interior chamber is a sealed chamber designed to inflate without gas loss. The vest may be comprised of a single chamber configured to inflate with gas from the pressurized gas cylinder, or the vest may have a visible exterior chamber and an additional interior chamber made of a material such as rubber or neoprene that swells when it receives the gas. Thus, as will be described later, the fill button is configured to selectively open the shut-off valve and cause the vest to fill.

[0018] The pressurized gas means may be of any type as long as they can provide pressurized gas to the vest. For example, they could be similar to those used in non-invasive blood pressure cuffs. Alternatively, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pressurized gas means comprise a pressurized gas cylinder attached to the vest. c) Fill button

[0019] The fill button is configured to act on the shut-off valve to fill the vest. When the user presses the fill button, the shut-off valve opens, allowing pressurized gas to pass through. To make it easier for the user to find the fill button, it is typically located on the front of the vest, near the chest, slightly offset to one side. Thus, when the fill button is pressed, the vest fills very quickly, exerting a pressure surge (which occurs after reaching the target clearance pressure) on the user's abdominal and thoracic area.

[0020] This reliable anti-choking vest is configured so that, when the fill button is pressed, gas fills the vest's inner chamber to a clearing pressure (target pressure). The chamber fills with gas progressively and rapidly (a few seconds), from bottom to top and front to back. This exerts a surge of pressure on the user's abdominal and thoracic region, clearing their airway, achieving its objective in less than a minute. To achieve this, the gas cylinder is connected to a lower anterior portion of the inner chamber.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vest comprises a more rigid rear portion (e.g., made of PVC-type material) than the front portion in order to prevent it from deforming when the device is activated. For example, the rear portion may comprise a set of rigid plates arranged vertically parallel to one another. By preventing deformation, the pressure shock effect on the patient's abdominal and thoracic area is more pronounced, thereby improving the effectiveness of the vest of the invention. That is, the rigid (non-deformable) plates would be placed parallel in the lumbar and thoracic areas, achieving that as the vest inflates, it mainly inflates the front part and part of the back.This ensures that the gas pressure inside does not disperse and does not reduce the device's effectiveness in achieving the target pressure and the final blow that clears the user's airways.

[0022] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the vest further comprises a sensor in communication with the inner chamber for measuring the pressure in said inner chamber. Furthermore, in this case, the vest also has a display configured to show the current pressure within said chamber.

[0023] Finally, regarding the pressures achieved by the vest of the invention, it is preferably configured to inflate to a pressure of between 20 and 40 cm of water column in the abdominal area and to between 40 and 60 cm of water column in the thoracic area. These pressures are adequate for clearing the airways in adults. In the case of children, the vest is preferably configured to inflate to a pressure of between 13 and 35 cm of water column. This can be achieved, for example, by appropriately selecting the volume and pressure of the gas cylinder, taking into account the total volume of the interior chamber of the vest in question.

[0024] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a front view of an example of an unreliable anti-choking vest according to the present invention.

[0026] Fig. 2 shows a rear view of an example of an unreliable anti-choking vest according to the present invention.

[0027] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0028] An example of a vest (1) according to the present invention is described below with reference to the attached figures.

[0029] The vest (1) has a shape similar to that of a normal life jacket, consisting of a back part and a front or anterior part that join at the shoulders and sides. The two sections of the front part are joined by means of a zipper (7). Additionally, the vest (1) includes a belt (2) equipped with a buckle (21) similar to those used in airplane seat belts. This buckle (21) allows the length of the belt (2) to be adjusted according to the needs and anthropometric measurements of each user.

[0030] In order to ensure that the vest (1) does not lose its shape when inflated, a series of rigid plates (5) are also fixed to the back of the vest (1). These rigid plates (5) are arranged parallel to each other in the lumbar and thoracic areas of the vest (1).

[0031] A gas bottle (3) is attached to the vest (1) and connected to its inner chamber by a lower front area through a cut-off valve. The cut-off valve is in a normally closed position, that is, preventing the passage of gas into the inner chamber of the vest (1). A button (4) arranged in a front portion of the vest (1), specifically in the chest area (slightly lateral), allows the cut-off valve to be opened when the vest (1) is to be activated. The button (4) has two positions: a closed position (“Off”) in which the pressurized gas from the bottle (3) cannot pass into the inner chamber; and an open position (“On”) in which the pressurized gas from the bottle (3) passes into the inner chamber. A screen (6) connected to a pressure sensor arranged in the inner chamber allows the user to see the pressure in said inner chamber in real time.The display (6) is illuminated so that anyone can clearly see the pressure values ​​reached inside the vest (1). It is also connected to batteries that supply the display with light. These batteries have a long lifespan and can be connected to the mains power supply to recharge them if they run out.

[0032] The vest (1) is configured such that when the button (4) is pressed, pressurized gas invading the inner chamber causes the vest (1) to inflate in order from bottom to top and from front to back. This has the effect of applying a burst of pressure to the user's abdominal and thoracic area, upon reaching the target pressure, which ultimately has the effect of clearing the user's airways and restoring spontaneous ventilation to the user.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Inflatable vest (1) for preventing suffocation by choking, comprising: closure means configured to close the vest (1) around the torso of a user; pressurized gas means connected to an interior chamber of the vest (1) through a shut-off valve;a filling button (4) configured to selectively open the shut-off valve to cause the filling of the vest (1) with the pressurized gas of the pressure means and thus cause the filling of said vest (1), characterized in that the pressure means are connected to a lower anterior portion of the inner chamber, and because the vest (1) is configured so that, when the filling button (3) is actuated, the gas fills the inner chamber of the vest (1) up to a clearing pressure in order from bottom to top and from front to back such that, upon reaching a target pressure, a pressure surge is applied to the abdominal and thoracic area of ​​the user for the purpose of clearing his airways; 2. Inflatable vest (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pressurized gas means comprise a pressurized gas bottle (3) fixed to the vest (1).

3. Inflatable vest according to any of claims 1-2, wherein the closing means comprise a first belt (2) located at the height of the user's abdominal area.

4. Inflatable vest (1) according to claim 3, wherein the closing means further comprise a second belt located at the height of the user's chest area.

5. Inflatable vest (1) according to any of claims 3-4, wherein the first belt (2) and the second belt comprise an adjustable buckle (21) to choose the length based on the needs and anthropometric measurements of the user.

6. Inflatable vest (1) according to any of claims 3-4, wherein the first belt (2) and the second belt comprise a Velcro closure to choose the width according to needs.

7. Inflatable vest (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a rear portion that is more rigid than the front portion in order to prevent it from deforming.

8. Inflatable vest (1) according to claim 7, wherein the rear portion comprises a set of rigid plates (5) arranged vertically parallel to each other.

9. Inflatable vest (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a sensor in communication with the inner chamber for measuring the pressure in said inner chamber and a display (6) configured to display the current pressure within said chamber.

10. Inflatable vest (1) according to any of the preceding claims, configured to inflate to a pressure of between 20-40 cm of water column in the abdominal area and up to between 40-60 cm of water column in its thoracic area for application in adults.

11. Inflatable vest (1) according to any of claims 1-9, configured to inflate to a pressure of between 13-35 cm of water column for application in children.

Images