Cardiac assist method using an inflatable vest

A method for cyclically compressing the chest of a patient comprising the steps of:

• setting a threshold for detecting a triggering event in an ECG signal of the patient;
• setting a blanking period;
• sensing the ECG signal of the patient;
• detecting triggering events in the ECG signal;
• initiating a compression cycle when a first triggering event is detected;
• starting the blanking period;
• and
• ignoring a second triggering event if the second triggering event is detected during the blanking period.

A method for cyclically compressing the chest of a patient comprising the steps of:

• setting a threshold for detecting a triggering event in an ECG signal of the patient;
• setting a blanking period;
• setting a compression cycle duration;
• sensing the ECG signal of the patient;
• detecting triggering events in the ECG signal;
• initiating a compression cycle when a first triggering event is detected;
• starting the blanking period;
• and
• ignoring a second triggering event if the second triggering event is detected during the blanking period.

A method for cyclically compressing the chest of a patient comprising the steps of:

• sensing an ECG signal of the patient;
• filtering the ECG signal;
• detecting predetermined triggering events in the ECG signal;
• initiating a compression cycle when a first predetermined triggering event is detected;
• starting a blanking period;
• and
• ignoring a second predetermined triggering event detected during the blanking period after receipt of the first predetermined triggering event.

A device for cyclically compressing the chest of a patient, said device comprising:

• an inflatable vest for cyclically compressing and decompressing the chest of the patient;
• at least one electrode for sensing an ECG signal of the patient;
• and
• a controller, operatively connected to the inflatable vest and the at least one electrode, for filtering the ECG signal received from the electrode, for detecting predetermined triggering events in the ECG signal, for initiating a compression cycle when a first predetermined triggering event is detected, said controller creating a blanking period, said controller ignoring a second predetermined triggering event if the second predetermined triggering event is detected during the blanking period.

A device for cyclically compressing the chest of a patient, said device comprising:

• an inflatable vest for cyclically compressing and decompressing the chest of the patient;
• at least one electrode for sensing an ECG signal of the patient;
• and
• a controller, operatively connected to the inflatable vest and the at least one electrode, programmed for filtering the ECG signal received from the electrode, programmed for detecting predetermined triggering events in the ECG signal, programmed for initiating a compression cycle when a first predetermined triggering event is detected programmed to create a blanking period, and programmed for ignoring a second predetermined triggering event detected during the blanking period after receipt of the first predetermined triggering event.