Hand Mounted CPR Chest Compression Monitor

Abstract

A chest compression monitor for measuring the depth of chest compressions achieved during CPR. A displacement detector produces a displacement signal indicative of the displacement of the CPR recipient's chest toward the recipient's spine. A signaling mechanism provides chest compression indication signals prompting a CPR provider to provide a chest compression force at a desired depth and rate. The device is held to the dorsal surface of the hand during use and provides a display for feedback, which is readily visible to the CPR provider.

1 . A method for monitoring the compression of the chest of a patient during CPR, said system comprising:
 providing a chest compression monitor comprising an accelerometer adapted to sense upward and downward acceleration of the chest compression monitor, said compression monitor further adapted to output an acceleration signal indicative of the upward and downward acceleration of the chest, said compression monitor housed in a housing fixed to a releasable fixing mechanism for fixing the module to the CPR provider's wrist;   attaching the chest compression monitor to a CPR provider's first hand, with the housing of the chest compression monitor disposed on the dorsal surface of the first hand with the releasable fixing mechanism;   performing CPR chest compressions by placing the CPR providers second hand on the patient's chest, and placing the CPR provider's first hand on top of the second hand, with the chest compression monitor atop the dorsal surface of the first hand, and thereafter providing numerous CPR chest compressions with the CPR provider's hands;   measuring an acceleration signal provided by the accelerometer while the CPR provider is compressing the chest of the patient;   providing a microprocessor operable to process the acceleration signal to determine the depth of chest compression and produce a compression signal indicative of the depth of compression of the patient's chest, and processing the acceleration signal to determine the depth of chest compression and produce a compression signal indicative of the depth of compression of the patient's chest.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of operating the microprocessor to provide an audible signal modulated to indicate when the proper chest displacement is achieved by the CPR provider. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of operating the microprocessor to determine the start of a compression without reference to a signal derived from a source external to the module, and thereafter calculate downward displacement of the chest using the acceleration signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of operating the microprocessor to determine the start of a compression based on the acceleration signal, a zero-point of acceleration and changes in the direction of velocity of the module. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of operating the microprocessor to determine the end of a compression based on the acceleration signal, a zero-point of acceleration and changes in the direction of velocity of the module. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing memory within the chest compression monitor for storing historical compression data, and providing removable flash memory or communications hardware for retrieving compression data, retrieving compression data with a computer, and thereafter analyzing compression data to determine the effectiveness of CPR compressions. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a bedside monitor, remote monitor or central control system operable to communicate with the compression depth monitor; 
 providing communications hardware and associated software in the chest compression monitor for transmitting chest compression data to the bedside monitor, remote monitor or central control system. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 providing additional chest compression monitors to a plurality of additional potential CPR providers, said additional chest compression monitors operable to communicate with the bedside monitor, remote monitor or central control system; 
 operating the bedside monitor or remote monitor to notify the additional potential responders that the first chest compression monitor is in use. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 operating the additional chest compression monitors to communicate to the bedside monitor, remote monitor or central control system in order to confirm to the first CPR provider the ability of additional CPR providers to response and provide additionally cardiac arrest therapy. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 providing additional chest compression monitors to a plurality of additional potential CPR providers, said additional chest compression monitors operable to communicate with the bedside monitor, remote monitor or central control system; 
 operating the bedside monitor or remote monitor to transmit notifications to additional CPR providers regarding hospital codes; 
 operating the additional chest compression monitors to communicate to the bedside monitor, remote monitor or central control system to confirm that necessary responses to various codes have occurred. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing memory within the chest compression monitor; 
 operating the memory, microprocessor and display within the device to store and display instructions for common hospital procedures, CPR guidelines, hospital-specific cardiac arrest procedures, instructions for responding to Code Red, Code Pink, and other codes. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing identification means within the chest compression monitor; 
 using the identification means to track the location of CPR providers with a hospital setting. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing identification means within the chest compression monitor; 
 using the identification means control access to spaces with a hospital, to control access to emergency vehicles, or control access to emergency medical equipment. 
 
     
     
         14 . A system for monitoring the compression of the chest of a patient during CPR, said system comprising:
 a chest compression monitor comprising an accelerometer adapted to sense upward and downward acceleration of the chest compression monitor, said compression monitor further adapted to output an acceleration signal indicative of the upward and downward acceleration of the chest, said compression monitor housed in a module adapted to be held in fixed relationship to a dorsal surface of a CPR provider's hand while the CPR provider is manually compressing the patient's chest.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a releasable fixing mechanism for attaching the chest compression monitor to a CPR provider's hand. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a microprocessor programmed to process the acceleration signal to determine the depth of chest compression and produce a compression signal indicative of the depth of compression of the patient's chest. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to provide an audible signal modulated to indicate when the proper chest displacement is achieved by the CPR provider. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to determining the start of a compression without reference to a signal derived from a source external to the module, and thereafter calculate downward displacement of the chest using the acceleration signal; said microprocessor further programmed to output a compression signal. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14  wherein:
 the microprocessor is further programmed to determine the start of a compression based on the acceleration signal, a zero-point of acceleration and changes in the direction of velocity of the module. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14  wherein:
 the microprocessor is further programmed to determine the end of a compression based on the acceleration signal, a zero-point of acceleration and changes in the direction of velocity of the module. 
 
     
     
         21 . A system for monitoring the compression of the chest of a patient during CPR, said system comprising:
 personnel identification badge or card comprising an identification card or badge adapted to be worn by a CPR provider, said identification badge or card comprising a housing containing an accelerometer adapted to sense upward and downward acceleration of the badge or card and output an acceleration signal indicative of the upward and downward acceleration of the chest, a microprocessor programmed to receive the acceleration signal and determine from said acceleration signal the depth of compressions being provided by a CPR provider, and a display operable by the microprocessor for display of chest compression depth achieved by the CPR provider, said badge or card being adapted to be held in fixed relationship to a dorsal surface of a CPR provider's hand while the CPR provider is manually compressing the patient's chest, and a releasable fixing mechanism for attaching the badge or card to a CPR provider's hand while said CPR provider is performing CPR compressions while holding the badge or card such that the display is visible to the CPR provider.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to provide an audible signal modulated to indicate when the proper chest displacement is achieved by the CPR provider. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to determining the start of a compression without reference to a signal derived from a source external to the module, and thereafter calculate downward displacement of the chest using the acceleration signal; said microprocessor further programmed to output a compression signal. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21  wherein:
 the microprocessor is further programmed to determine the start of a compression based on the acceleration signal, a zero-point of acceleration and changes in the direction of velocity of the module. 
 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21  wherein:
 the microprocessor is further programmed to determine the end of a compression based on the acceleration signal, a zero-point of acceleration and changes in the direction of velocity of the module.