Apparatus and methods for enhancing cardiopulmonary blood flow and ventilation

A method for increasing cardiopulmonary circulation induced by chest compression and decompression when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, by augmenting negative intrathoracic pressures, said method comprising the steps of:

• interfacing a valving system with a patient's airway, the valving system comprising a housing having an upstream region and a downstream region, a pressure-responsive valve between the upstream region and the downstream region for preventing respiratory gases from flowing from the upstream region to the downstream region until the pressure in the downstream region falls below a threshold level;
• performing chest compression and decompression, wherein said pressure responsive valve is closed to prevent respiratory gases from entering the lungs until a certain negative intrathoracic pressure is exceeded at which time the pressure-responsive valve opens, said pressure-responsive valve assisting in increasing the magnitude and duration of negative intrathoracic pressure during decompression and thereby enhancing the amount of blood flow into the heart and lungs;
• and
• supplying the patient with a pressurized respiratory gas through the pressure-responsive valve when the pressure-responsive valve opens to ventilate the patient.

A device for increasing cardiopulmonary circulation induced by chest compression and decompression when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, said device comprising:

• a housing having an opening that is adapted to be interfaced with a patient's airway;
• a pressure responsive inflow flow valve which prevents respiratory gases from entering the lungs through the housing until a threshold negative intrathoracic pressure level is exceeded during decompression of the patient's chest at which time the inflow valve opens, the inflow valve assisting in increasing the magnitude and duration of negative intrathoracic pressure during decompression and thereby enhancing the amount of blood flow into the heart and lungs;
• and
• a source of pressurized gas operably coupled to the inflow valve to supply a pressurized gas to the patient through the housing when the inflow valve is open.

A method for increasing cardiopulmonary circulation induced by chest compression and decompression when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, by augmenting negative intrathoracic pressures, said method comprising the steps of:

• interfacing a housing having a pressure responsive inflow valve to a patient's airway;
• performing chest compression and chest decompression, wherein during chest decompression, the inflow valve prevents respiratory gases from entering the lungs until a threshold negative intrathoracic pressure level is exceeded at which time the one inflow valve opens, the inflow valve assisting in increasing the magnitude and duration of negative intrathoracic pressure during decompression and thereby enhancing the amount of blood flow into the heart and lungs;
• and
• supplying a pressurized gas to the patient through the inflow valve when the inflow valve opens to ventilate the patient through the inflow valve.

A device for increasing cardiopulmonary circulation induced by chest compression and decompression when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, said device comprising:

• a housing having an opening that is adapted to be interfaced with a patient's airway;
• a pressure responsive inflow flow valve which prevents respiratory gases pressure level is exceeded during decompression of the patient's chest at which time an actuating pressure of the inflow valve is exceeded and the inflow valve opens, the inflow from entering the lungs through the housing until a threshold negative intrathoracic valve assisting in increasing the magnitude and duration of negative intrathoracic pressure during decompression and thereby enhancing the amount of blood flow into the heart and lungs;
• and
• a mechanism for varying the actuating pressure of the inflow valve.

A device for increasing cardiopulmonary circulation induced by chest compression and decompression when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, said device comprising:

• a housing having an exit opening that is adapted to be interfaced with a patient's airway and a safety ventilation passageway;
• a pressure responsive inflow flow valve which prevents respiratory gases from entering the lungs through the housing until a threshold negative intrathoracic pressure level is exceeded during decompression of the patient's chest at which time the inflow valve opens, the inflow valve assisting in increasing the magnitude and duration of negative intrathoracic pressure during decompression and thereby enhancing the amount of blood flow into the heart and lungs;
• and
• a safety mechanism to maintain the safety ventilation passageway open to permit respiratory gases to freely flow to the patient's lungs until actuated by a rescuer to close the safety ventilation passageway.

A device for increasing cardiopulmonary circulation induced by chest compression and decompression when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, said device comprising:

• a housing having an opening that is adapted to be interfaced with a patient's airway;
• a pressure responsive inflow flow valve having a closed position and an open position, wherein the inflow valve prevents respiratory gases from entering the lungs through the housing when in the closed position, and wherein the inflow valve moves to the open position when a threshold negative intrathoracic pressure level is exceeded during decompression of the patient's chest, the inflow valve assisting in increasing the magnitude and duration of negative intrathoracic pressure during decompression when in the closed position and thereby enhancing the amount of blood flow into the heart and lungs;
• and
• a safety mechanism to maintain the inflow valve in the open position to permit respiratory gases to freely flow to the lungs until actuated by a rescuer to place the inflow valve in the closed position.