AU614298B2 - Timing device - Google Patents

Description

AU-AI-20895/88 PrT WORLD INTELLECTL AL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION cf A A N-Tnternat nal au INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION P IS D D H T COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 4 International Publication Number: WO 89/ 00416 A61H 31/00 A l (43) International Publication Date: 26 January 1989 (26.01.89) (21) International Application Number: PCT/AU88/00259 (74) Agent: PIZZEY, John, Pizzey Company, G.P.O.

Box 1374, Brisbane, QLD 4001 (AU).

(22) International Filing Date: 18 July 1988 (18.07.88) (81) Designated States: AT, AT (European patent), AU, BB, (31) Priority Application Numbers: PI 3181 BE (European patent), BG, BJ (OAPI patent), BR, PI 3831 CF (OAPI patent), CG (OAPI patent), CH, CH (European patent), CM (OAPI patent), DE, DE (Euro- (32) Priority Dates: 17 July 1987 (17.07.87) pean patent), DK, FI, FR (European patent), GA 19 August 1987 (19.08.87) (OAPI patent), GB, GB (European patent), HU, IT (European patent), JP, KP, KR, LK, LU, LU (Euro- (33) Priority Country: AU pean patent), MC, MG, ML (OAPI patent), MR (OA- PI patent), MW, NL, NL (European patent), NO, N' N (OAPI pa- SECTI4ON ia) DIRECTION SEE FUD. patent),US.

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OFFICE

(54) Title: TIMING DEVICE (57) Abstract A timing device for c is disclosed. It is in the ing a set of auxiliary push bu Spush button (13, 14 or 15) is pi I ted from a beeper (16) at a r, push buttons (13, 14 or 15) is pi heart massage. The approprial lights (23, 24 or 25) associated buttons (13, 14 or 15) flashes ii Ssignals for timing C.P.R. in noi records the elapsed time since nals and the number of timing

PATNTOFIC

ardio-pulmonary resuscitation Sform of a wrist watch (10) havttons (13, 14 and 15). When a ressed, audible signals are emitate dependent on which of the ressed for use in timing external te one of a set of push button with respective ones of the push n synchronism with the audible sy areas. The timing device also the initiation of the C.P.R. sig- ;signals produced.

I WO 89/00416 PCT/A L88/00259 "TIMING DEVICE" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved timine device and in particular it relates to a timin5 device which mav be used in emergency situations to provide'compression rates for manual cardio-pulmonary resuscitation techniques.

Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation techriques for revivinL patients are well known and their use is wide-spread, Such techniques, are extremely effective when correctly carried ou' and have resulted in the saving of many lives, While man' people have a basic understanding of the technique. most people are untrained and are incapable of effectively administerine cardio-pulmonary resuscitation techniques in an emergency. One of the critical factors in the techniaue is the timing of the chest compressions. This varies with the age of the patient. Skilled resuscitators are uracticed in performing the chest compression function at a relatively constant predetermined rate. Various techniques have evolved to enable the correct rate to be achieved, but practice is still needed to maintain reliable performance of the resuscitation technique.

In an emergency, the time taken to commence resuscitation is critical to the survival chances of the patient and it is desirable that there be no delay in commencing the technique. Thus a person skilled in the art of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation has a far areater chance of reviving a patient than does a person who is aware of the technique and its application, but who may have lost the necessary skill to accurately perform the reauired chest compressions.

Unfortunately, while the basic technique is relativeLv easy to remember, it is difficult for most people to remember SUBSTITUTE

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j r~- 'i techniques to perform the compressions at the required rate.

Furthermore, the duration of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation prior to clinical care may influence doctors' decisions as to the further treatment required for a patient, and this information is rarely recorded in any way during emergency treatment by other than highly experienced personnel.

This invention aims to alleviate the abovementioned problems and to provide timing apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With the foregoing and other objects in view this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation Said including: 15 chest compression indication means which provides chest eeoc compression signals; S"switching means for selecting a desired chest compression signal rate; pulmonary inflation indication means which provides :20 pulmonary inflLtion signals; counting means for counting the total number of chest compression signals; timing means which records the elapsed time corresponding to the total chest compression signals counted, and visual display means which displays the output of said counting means and said timing means.

Preferably, the chest compression indication means includes S" an audible alarm which will repeatedly sound at the desired chest compression rate and/or visual indication means which will provide a corresponding display of the selected compression rate.

The audible alarm may also be adapted to produce for producing pulmonary inflation signals at a selected lung inflation rate. The lung inflation rate may be any desired rate, but it is preferred that it be programmed to a selected fraction 7 2A of the chest compression rate whereby the lung inflation rate may be varied proportiLonally to the chest compression rate by operation of the switching means.

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~C.LIIY*- 1CIC NVO 89/004116 PCT/AL88/00259 3 The switching means may include a plurality of switch assemblies, for instance three switch assemblies, and each of the switch assemblies may be associated with a respective recognition means appropriate to a selected compression rate.

The recognition means may be the numerals 60. 80 and 100 applied to respective ones of the switching means corresponding to the compression rates appropriate for patients within various age groups and for the number of operators performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

Alternatively, the recognition means may include symbols relating to the physical condition of patients and/or the number of available operators, the symbols being applied to respective ones of the switch assemblies. If desired, the recognition means may include colours, such as yellow, blue and red applied to respective switch assemblies.

In a preferred form, each recognition means may be formed as a visual indication means associated with a respective switch, and the respective visual indication means associated with a selected switch may be designated by an annunciating action such as illumination. Suitably, this may be a light which flashes at the selected time interval in synchronism with the audible signal.

Elapsed time interval indication means may be provided, and may be associated with internal timing means in the form of a stop watch which commences timing upon activation of the indication means and operates a numerical visual display relating to the elapsed time or the number of time interval signals generated subsequent to the current activation of the indicating means. Preferably the arrangement is such that the numerical visual display is provided which indicates the duration of the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as well as the rate and/or number of chest compressions used during that period.

.4 -I'i 3 1 P I NVO 89/00416 PCT/A U88/00259 4 If necessary, a plurality of displays may be provided to display the duration of periods at varying rates of compression such as, for example, at start up anc during subsequent treatment. This arrangement has the advantage that, when clinical care becomes available, the clinicians may review the time history of the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation to determine the'duration and timing of the C.P.R. operations carried out to that point in time.

Alternatively, a single numerical display may be provided, and may be utilised for the successive display of a plurality of rates.

The timing device may be provided as a separate unit which provides no other function. However, it is preferred that the timing device be incorporated into a conventional watch, such as a wrist, pocket or fob watch or the like, so that it is readily available for use. Preferably the watch has an analogue/digital display having a second hand which sweeps a watch face divided into quarters whereby the watch may be conveniently usable for checking pulse rates. Of course the timing device can be in the form of a clock or the like which may be advantageously used as a fixed installation in hospital wards, ambulances and the like. In such installations, the digital display may be on L.C.D. type display so as to provide easy recognition in fully lit areas.

In a further embodiment a mode button is provided which actuates a cyclic display of functions which may be selected by stopping the display at the appropriate function. This may include functions for adult, child or infant as well as a function for changing the inflation timing and or compression rate for operations by a single operator (two inflations every fifteen compressions), or for operation by two operators (one inflation every five compressions), and a function for inflation cycle only for use on pa-ients with a WO 89/00416 PCT/AU88/00259 pulse or for practicing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

In a further aspect, this invention resides in a timing device as defined above, wherein there are incluced the following functional capabilities:sounding of an audible timing signal at a timing rate of approximately sixty cycles per minute; (ii) sounding of an audible timing signal at a timing rate of approximately eighty cycles per minute; (iii) sounding of an audible timing signal at a timing rate of approximately one hundred cycles per minute; (iv) accompanying said audible timing signal with a visual timing signal; counting and displaying the number of cycles or the elapsed timing period at a selected timing rate or a plurality of selected timing rates; (vi) displaying the time of day.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical affect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of a wrist watch made according to the present invention, wherein:- FIG. 1 illustrates an analog-display wrist watch according to the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates the digital display of the wrist watch illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the wrist watch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

WO 89/00416 PCT/AL88/00259 6 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, the analog-display wrist watch 10 is a modified watch having a conventional watch face 11 provided with second, minute and hour hands and a digital time display 12. In addition, the watch face 11 supports three colourcoded buttons 13, 14 and 15 which in this instance are marked with the numerals 60, 80 and 100. These numbers represent 4 the three rates of chest compression commonly required for performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

The buttons 13, 14 and 15 incorporate liquid crystal button displays 23, 24 and 25 respectively, and are colour coded. The button 13 is yellow, the button 14 is blue and the button 15 is red. An audible alarm or beeper 16 is built into the watch 10 and this is adapted to provide a repeating audible signal at the frequency indicated on the control buttons, namely 60 signals per minute, 80 signals per minute and 100 signals per minute respectively. It will also be seen that the watch face 11 includes quarter-minute segments to facilitate measuring of fifteen-second Dulse rates.

In an emergency, a person wearing the watch 10 can apply cardio-pulmonary resuscitation techniques in an accurate manner by firstly pressing the appropriate button 13, 14 or in accordance with the age group of the patient, or the number of operators performing and then regulating their rate of manual chest compressions to correspond to that I indicated by the audible signal provided by the watch 10 or by the flashing of the selected button display 23, 24 or which flashes in synchronism with the audible signal whereby the operator or operators may readily check that the appropriate rate is being used.

Thus in circumstances where external noise may drown out VWO 89/00416 PCT/A L88/00259 the noise from the beeper 16, the operator can maintain the selected rate by observing the watch face 11. In other circumstances in which the beeper 16 can oe clear:l neard, the person may direct their attention elsewhere while at the same time maintaining an accurate rate of chest depression in time with the audible signal.

In use, the mode button 17 is pressed to activate the C.P.R. functions and the appropriate button 13, 14 or 15 is pressed. The digital time display 12 is automatically replaced by the display shown in FIG. 2. This includes a pulse rate display 18, a pulse counter 19 and an inflation indicator 20. The latter is displayed at the appropriate pulse count sequence, depending upon the button 13, 14 or pressed, to indicate the appropriate timing for lung inflations such as by mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. At the same time, the stop watch display 21 provides the duration of resuscitation. This display remains as a reference until the reset button 22 is pressed. A further alarm or pause in the sequence may be provided to indicate to the operator to stop compressions and check for a patient's pulse.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrativ-e example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is defined herein in the appended claims.

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Claims (14)

1. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid including: chest compression indication means which provides chest compression signals; switching means for selecting a desired chest compression signal rate; pulmonary inflation indication means which provides pulmonary inflation signals; counting means for counting the total number of chest compression signals; timing means which records the elapsed time corresponding to the total chest compression signals counted, and visual display means which displays the output of said counting means and said timing means.

2. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid is included in a watch and includes mode selection means for selecting a time keeping mode or a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation mode.

3. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said chest compression indication means includes an audible alarm for producing chest compression signals at said desired chest compression rate.

4. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein said chest compression indication means includes visual indication means which provides a visual display 5 g S UL~ corresponding to the selected desired chest compression signal rate.

A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said switching means includes three switch assemblies, each said switch assembly being provided with recognition means whereby the actuated switch assembly may I be readily recognised.

6. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in claim Swherein said recognition means includes the numerals 60, 80 and ii 100 applied to respective ones of said switch assemblies. S

7. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in claim or 6, wherein said recognition means includes symbols relating to the age characteristics of patients applied to respective ones Sof said switch assemblies.

8. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the recognition means associated with a 0. 0. selected switch assembly includes visual indication means.

9. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in claim 8, wherein said visual indication means and said audible alarm are simultaneously actuated.

A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein said visual display means provides a plurality of numerical displays, each said numerical display indicating the output of said counting means for each selected desired chest compression rate.

11. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein said watch has an analog/digital display having a second hand which sweeps a watch face divided into quarters whereby the watch may be used for checking pulse rates. S

12. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid as claimed in any one *I preceding claim, wherein said cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid I utilises integrated circuitry.

13. A cardio-pulmonary resuscitation aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A, NT -zg 1

14. A cardia-pulmonary resuscitation aid substantially as hereinbef ore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 0S S SS 0 *0S S S S S S S. S S 0 5 0 S0 0005 0 0 5055 55 S SO 55 0 S

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