Design of a portable external cardiac compression device

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines emphasize that external chest compressions should be started as soon as possible when CPR is performed in patients with cardiac arrest. Moreover, those guidelines stress on fast and hard compressions to make the chest fully rebound and minimize non-pressing time. Current mechanical recovery device has several problems such as displacement of the pressing position, high price, difficult to move, and easy dislocation of piston. Because of the physical loss of high-intensity unarmed CPR, the depth and frequency of external chest compression will decrease with the extension of CPR time, leading to CPR failure. Besides, there are other problems caused by non-professional staff, such as the deviation of compression position, the inaccuracy of compression depth and the unsatisfactory rebound of the chest wall. Based on the above factors, the medical staff from the intensive care unit of the Eighth Medical Center of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital designed a portable external chest cardiac compressor based on international CPR guidelines which obtained the National Utility Model Patent of China (ZL 2018 2 1173254.3). The portable external chest cardiac compressor is composed of a positioning sucker, elastic body, mounting shell, and pressing components. Rapid and accurate compression positioning, visible compression depth and full chest rebound can be achieved. This device is mobile, easy to operate, and suitable for a broad crowd and various occasions.