# US 6,752,771 B2 · Cardiac assist method using an inflatable vest

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- Number: US 6,752,771 B2
- Document ID: US6752771B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 09/772,228
- Filed: 2001-01-29
- Published: 2001-10-04
- Granted: 2004-06-22
- Earliest claimed: 1998-01-14
- Assignees: Revivant Corporation
- Inventors: Neil S. Rothman; Mark Gelfand; Daniel Burkhoff; Myron L. Weisfeldt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6752771B2

## CPC

- A61H 31/005: {with feedback for the user}
- A61H 9/0078: {with intermittent or alternately inflated bladders or cuffs (mattresses for preventing bed-sores with alternated pressurized chambers A61G7/05776)}
- A61H 31/006: {Power driven}
- A61H 2031/025: {using the same pump for pressure and vacuum, not being driven at the respiratory rate, e.g. blowers}
- A61H 2201/0103: inflatable
- A61H 2201/1238: with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
- A61H 2201/165: Wearable interfaces
- A61H 2201/5007: computer controlled
- A61H 2205/08: Trunk
- A61H 2230/04: Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. E.G.C., blood pressure modulation
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)

## Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for inflating an inflatable vest to assist the heart in patients suffering from heart failure. The inflation of the vest is synchronized with on-set of the systole phase of the heart, when the left ventricular compresses to force blood out of the heart and through the aorta. The inflated vest compresses the patient's chest and increases the intrathoracic pressure. This increase in pressure assists the heart in moving blood out of the heart and through the aorta. In addition, the vest is arranged to leave the patient's abdomen free of restraint so that the increase in intrathoracic pressure due to the vest moves blood into the abdomen, and to allow the abdomen to dynamically recoil in response to the vest inflation. In addition, ECG signals from electrodes applied to the patient are processed to trigger the vest inflation in real time with the current heartbeat cycle, such that the vest inflation is triggered when the heart begins to contract.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for cyclically compressing the chest of a patient comprising the steps of:
sensing an ECG signal of the patient;
detecting predetermined triggering events in the ECG signal;
initiating a compression cycle when a first predetermined triggering event is detected; initiating a blanking period; and
ignoring a second predetermined triggering event detected during the blanking period after receipt of the first predetermined triggering event.

### Claim 2

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.

### Claim 3

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.

### Claim 4

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.

### Claim 5

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.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the controller sets a duration of a cycle of compression and decompression.

### Claim 7

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.