Importance

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Abstract

An improved cardiopulmonary resuscitator and method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is disclosed which involves cyclically compressing a patient's chest and simultaneously ventilating the patient's lungs to a safe limiting pressure over a period of time encompassing at least one complete compression cycle. Retrograde and exhale flow from the patient's lungs is prevented during the systolic portion of the compression cycle providing for a pressure increase in the patient's thorax due to compression of the patient's chest. Simultaneous application of ventilation pressure to the patient's lungs and compression of the patient's chest creates a pressure increase in the patient's thorax during systole which enhances perfusion. Continuous application of ventilation pressure during the diastolic portion of the compression cycle insures good tidal volume and enhanced blood gas exchange. Since the high intrapulmonary pressures created by the technique are substantially equaled by intrathoracic pressures and there is no substantial difference of pressure across the alveoli, trauma that would normally occur due to generation of differential pressures of the magnitude created by this technique in the lungs is avoided. After the patient's lungs are ventilated to the predetermined limiting pressure over a period of time encompassing a predetermined number of compression cycles, the patient's lungs are vented to the atmosphere.

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First Claim