Back to results
US 6,471,663 B1Granted
Chest compression vest with connecting belt
AssigneeAmerican Biosystems, Inc.
InventorsNicholas P. Van Brunt, Donald J. Gagne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pneumatic chest compression vest is disclosed for the purposes of clearing the lungs of mucus and producing quality sputum samples for analysis. The vest is comprised of a belt and a front panel which has an air bladder that applies a compressive force to the region of the chest that encompasses the lungs mounted on its inner surface. The belt extends around a patient to hold the vest in the correct position during treatment.
Claims15
A pneumatic chest compression vest comprising:
- a front panel with an inner and outer surface and a first air port;
- an air bladder which is in communication with the first air port;
- a belt which is connected to one end of the front panel, is long enough to wrap around sides and back of a patient and across the outer surface of the front panel, and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced belt holes, the plurality of belt holes being greater in number than the number of air ports;
- and
- a first air coupling which extends through one of the belt holes and the first air port to hold the belt in position and to connect the air bladder to a source of oscillating pneumatic pressure
- a tab on the front panel that is insertable into one of the belt holes to assist in aligning one of the belt holes with the first air port.
3 more elements
A method of securing a pneumatic chest compression vest, the method comprising:
- positioning a front panel of the vest over a patient's chest, the front panel carrying an inflatable bladder;
- wrapping a belt around the patient's back and across the front panel;
- aligning a belt hole with an air port in the front panel;
- and
- inserting an air coupling through the aligned belt hole and air port.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.