ITMI20150132A1 - SUPPORT DEVICE FOR CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING AN OPERATOR DURING CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a device comprising a glove, in support of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, also active as an individual protective device (PPE).

The present invention also refers to? to a method for the assistance of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation operator. Cardiac arrest? a dramatic clinical condition in which the activity? mechanics of the heart fails. This situation leads to an immediate absence of blood circulation and organ oxygenation.

The causes can be manifold but in any case an ineffectiveness of the electrical and mechanical component of the activity is created. heart that lead to cardiocirculatory arrest.

In industrialized countries, cardiac arrest is one of the most common. important causes of death. Cardiocirculatory arrest in an out-of-hospital emergency? responsible for 60-70% of all causes of cardiovascular death. According to epidemiological data from the WHO, cardiac arrest has an incidence of 1 per 1000 inhabitants / year.

Cardiac arrest? a condition of reversible clinical death, which if not adequately treated,? destined to evolve into irreversible biological death due to cerebral non-oxygenation. The only therapy capable of replacing the activity? pump of the heart? external heart massage (MCE). This maneuver, together with any electrical therapy, carried out with a semi-automatic external defibrillator (AED) and the support of ventilation are the basic elements of cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Scientific research has amply demonstrated that the main determinants for the success of cardiopulmonary resuscitation are precociousness. of the alarm to the emergency health system and of the start of the cardiac massage as well as? the correct execution of external chest compressions both in terms of frequency and depth.

The aforementioned aspects establish both the success rate of resuscitation maneuvers and the quality? of life of the survivor as for every lost minute, the possibility decreases by 10%? of survival.

The international guidelines (GL) have been in agreement for decades on what are the fundamental actions to be carried out and on their time sequences. The metaphor of the Chain of Survival unequivocally represents which actions to take, in what sequence and at what times and also defines which actors play a fundamental role in achieving the common goal of restoring life and quality? of life to people affected by cardio circulatory arrest (ACC) in any context they find themselves living such a dramatic experience.

Fundamental context element? the time that taken individually? the factor that most affects above all the quality? of life after ACC. Precisely on the basis of the concept of time, all the actions included in the Chain of Survival have undergone an important conceptual anticipation of time so as to shift the focus from the Rescue carried out by Professionals to the First Aid actions carried out by anyone who is in contact with a person victim of ACC. Today, in the pi? modern Health Emergency Systems, the concept of timeliness? is combined with that of spreading cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques (CPR) to the laity so that the resuscitation intervention is timely and has already begun. on the place of the event even before the arrival of professional help.

Another crucial element and as we will unfortunately also see potentially critical? the quality? of the CPR which today has precise and rigorous reference standards, the result of decades of international clinical studies, experiments and trials. AND? clear that in this case the focus? the quality? of the basic training but above all the quality? and the temporality? ongoing formation programs; relatively simple concepts for organized contexts such as emergency health services, firefighters and law enforcement agencies in their entirety, but difficult to obtain when it comes to lay people. Self ? easy to advertise, plan and carry out their training, difficult? the task of keeping such and many unorganized people performing. Furthermore, unlike professionals, lay people also have few opportunities to deal with real events and therefore require more permanent training to maintain performance.

Are they already on the market? present auxiliary instruments for cardiac massage mainly developed for professional use. The pi? known and / or widespread on the market are proprietary devices to be applied on the patient's chest during cardiac massage which, connected via cable to your own defibrillator monitor, provide information on the quality? of the maneuver or pads integrated into the early defibrillation electrodes connected to your semi-automatic defibrillator.

To work, these devices must be connected to your own defibrillator monitor and therefore possession of the same becomes mandatory condition, limiting its availability. by lay staff.

Furthermore, by placing themselves between the patient's chest and the operator's hands, they limit their sensitivity.

Technical task proposed by the present invention? to create a portable device, free from any other device but usable with any other, which is in support of cardio pulmonary resuscitation.

In the context of this technical task, an object of the invention? that of creating a device for cardio pulmonary resuscitation that at the right moment can give the necessary support to every person, both professional and not, to undertake an effective cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

Another purpose of the invention? to create a cardio pulmonary resuscitation device that does not require the physical presence of a telephone.

Another purpose of the invention? to create a device for cardio pulmonary resuscitation that is simple to use, practical, portable, light, stowable even in a trouser pocket and reusable.

The technical task, including other purposes beyond those already? cited above, is achieved by realizing a device for cardiopulmonary resuscitation characterized in that it comprises a glove and a process module integrated in the glove and equipped with an activation button; said glove has a first portion of covering and integral protection of the palm, of the back and of the fingers of a hand, and a second portion of covering and integral protection of the wrist of the hand; said process module has a microcontroller, a radio telecommunication module equipped with a cellular mobile phone card, a satellite tracking module, an accelerometer, a loudspeaker, a microphone and a visible light emission module, housed in a container arranged in correspondence with said second portion of the glove.

The present invention also discloses a method for assisting a cardiopulmonary resuscitation operator, characterized in that:

- said operator wears the cardio pulmonary resuscitation device and activates said activation button;

- said process module activated automatically: it locates the position of the operator through the satellite localization module; generates and sends an emergency call SMS (Short Message Service) to a reference health emergency system via the radio telecommunication module containing the indication of the position detected by the satellite localization module; receives the call from the emergency health system via the mobile phone card; performs a comparison between real measurement values carried out at least by said accelerometer and reference measurement values and on the basis of the result of said comparison generates in real time through said loudspeaker and said visible light emission module a feedback for the depth? heart massage and heart massage rate.

Other characteristics of the present invention are also defined in the subsequent claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device for cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a rescuer with the resuscitation device worn, activated and in connection with the reference health emergency system;

Figure 2 shows a top plan view of the resuscitation device;

Figure 3 shows a bottom plan view of the resuscitation device;

figure 4 shows a block diagram of the process module; Figures 5a and 5b show the container in plan from above and from below with schematically illustrated the arrangement of the components inside it;

Figure 6 shows a flow chart of the assisted resuscitation procedure performed by the resuscitation device; Figure 7 shows the voice tutorials and the feedback algorithm for assisted resuscitation.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, a device for cardiopulmonary resuscitation indicated as a whole with the reference number 1 is shown.

The cardio pulmonary resuscitation device 1 comprises a glove 2 and a process module 3 integrated in the glove 2 and equipped with an activation button 19.

The glove 2 has a first portion 2a for covering and integral protection of the palm, back and fingers of a hand, and a second portion 2b for covering and integral protection of the wrist of the hand.

The process module 3 has a microcontroller 5 and, connected to the microcontroller 5, a radio telecommunication module 6 equipped with relative antenna 6a and a cellular mobile phone card 6b (SIM card), an accelerometer 8, a loudspeaker 10, a microphone 11, a visible light emission module 16, and a satellite localization module 9 equipped with relative antenna 9a. All these components of the process module 3 are housed in a container 18 arranged in correspondence with the second portion 2b of the glove 2.

The container 18 has a rigid, watertight structure which, in addition to insulating, also mechanically protects the components housed inside it.

In particular the container 18? positioned in correspondence with the side of the second portion 2b of the glove 2 which in use covers the upper side of the wrist of the hand.

Are the components of the process module 3 mounted directly on a printed circuit board (PCB), with the exception of the activation button 11 which having to be easily operated? supported directly by the container 18, and by the loudspeaker, also supported directly by the container 18.

Process module 3? connected by means of a suitable harness 4a to an electric power supply battery 4 integrated in the glove 2 in correspondence with the side of the second portion 2b of the glove 2 which in use covers the lower side of the wrist of the hand.

Glove 2? in material impermeable to fluids and has a construction suitable for integrating the process module 3 and the battery 4: the container 18 and the battery 4 in particular are incorporated in the wall thickness of the glove 2 and, in the case envisaged in which the glove 2 has a construction which provides at least two layers of material, they are placed in special openable and resealable pockets obtained between the two layers of material.

The glove 2 preferably has a differentiated construction between the first portion 2a and the second portion 2b suitably reinforced with respect to the first portion 2a for the integration of the process module 3 and the battery 4. In particular the first portion 2a of the glove 2 at the limit can be made from a single layer of material.

The container 18 as referred to above? advantageously arranged in a protected position outside the area of the back of the glove 2 on which the resuscitator must exert pressure with the other hand to perform the cardiac massage.

Ultimately, the components of the resuscitation device 1 housed in the container 18, both for the special location of the container 18 and also for the protective function performed by the container 18 itself, are exempt from the risk of damage which can be damaged. accidentally be caused by any organic fluids and above all by the energetic pressure action on the back of the glove 2 by the other hand of the resuscitator.

Advantageously, the loudspeaker 10 and the visible light emission module 16, in the pose naturally assumed by the arm and hand of the resuscitator during the execution of the cardiac massage, are arranged in such a position that their emissions are perceived directly without obstacles. interposed and therefore without distortion n? attenuation by the resuscitator who does not even have to take his gaze and attention away from the action he is carrying out. Process module 3? configured to automatically perform, once activated, the location of the operator's position via the satellite localization module 9, and the generation and transmission of a telephone request message via the radio telecommunication module 6 and the mobile phone card 6b rescue containing the indication of the position of the operator.

Process module 3? also configured to automatically perform, once activated, a comparison between real measurement values carried out at least by the accelerometer 8 and reference measurement values and, based on the result of the comparison, generate in real time through the loudspeaker 10 and the module of emission of visible light 16 a feedback for the depth? heart massage and heart massage rate.

The process module 3 further comprises a memory module 12 also housed in the container 18 and connected to the microcontroller 5.

Preferably the device 1 also comprises a camera (not shown).

The memory module 12, for example an SD memory card, is advantageously also used for environmental recording during rescue as well as for recording the monitoring data detected in terms of adherence to the cardio pulmonary resuscitation sequence, correct frequency of compressions external thoracic, correct depth? of external chest compressions, adequacy of pauses by identifying those due to the sequence compared to the arbitrary / incorrect ones.

If the device 1 is also equipped with a camera, the environmental recordings include audio and video data.

The device 1 also comprises, as shown, a pressure sensor 13 which cooperates with the accelerometer 8 to carry out a precise evaluation of the depth. of chest compression.

The pressure sensor 13? connected via a signal cable 13a to the microcontroller 5.

In particular, the microcontroller 5, processing the signal received from the pressure sensor 13? able to compensate the offset of the measurement obtained from the signal received by the accelerometer 8.

The microcontroller 5 also processes the signal received from the pressure sensor 13 also to discriminate a false from a true reading of the accelerometer 8.

The device 1 can? optionally also comprise electrocardiogram sensors 14 and a suitable interface 14a between the electrocardiogram sensors 14 and the microcontroller 5.

In particular, and the electrocardiogram sensors 14 are connected via signal cables 14b to the microcontroller 5.

The pressure sensor 13 and the electrocardiagram sensors 14, if provided, are arranged in correspondence with the side of the first portion 2a of the glove 2 which in use covers the palm of the hand. Optionally, the device can? also include other sensors, for example a temperature probe, an oximeter, motion and speed sensors, etc., and / or a display connected to the microcontroller 5 and mounted directly on the container 18.

The device can? finally understand one or more? environmental sensors integrated in the glove 2, for example a carbon monoxide sensor connected to a corresponding emitter of an alarm signal.

For the processing of the feedback to the operator, the microcontroller 5 executes a calculation algorithm whose input data are provided as seen by the accelerometer 8 and by the pressure sensor 13.

Feedback from speaker 10? formed by a voice message whose content? correlated to the result of the calculation algorithm.

The visible light emission module 16 can? comprise an LED bar 16a and in this case the feedback emitted by the visible light emission module 16? formed by a coded and incremental sequence (red = too weak compression? green = correct compression? red = excessive compression) of 16a LEDs lit whose number, progression and color,? correlated to the result of the calculation algorithm.

It must also be noted that all the feedback information is immediately and naturally perceptible as it stimulates two distinct senses, sight and hearing, which can be received simultaneously and without hierarchy of precedence by the resuscitator as they are led to the cerebral cortex by two ways. very distinct sensitive.

The operation of the cardio pulmonary resuscitation device, with reference to figures 1, 6 and 7,? briefly the following.

The rescuer 20 puts on the glove 2 and activates the process module 3 by pressing the button 19.

The process module 3, as soon as it is activated, automatically generates and sends an alarm SMS message to the health emergency service 22 through the radio telecommunication module 6, the antenna 6a and the telephone card 6b and in parallel through the loudspeaker 10 starts the vocal tutorial indicated with A in figure 7 and essentially related to a series of preliminary instructions for the recognition of the cardio-circulatory arrest (ACC) conditions of the patient 21.

The SMS telephone message contains the phone number of the caller (device) and, if available via satellite location, its geographic coordinates.

The display of the telephone number of the device allows the emergency health service (EMS) 22 to call the device itself to which it answers, with an integrated hands-free system? Hands-free? who is performing CPR. During the phone call, which does not imply the interruption of the CPR sequence, the operator of the Health Emergency System will have? both the confirmation of the patient's clinical condition and the address where to send help.

The telephone call from the medical emergency service 22 (EMS) is received automatically by the device, i.e. without activating any key, via the radio telecommunication module 6, the antenna 6a and the telephone card 6b and automatically interrupts the voice tutorial A.

Upon indication of the emergency health service operator, or by autonomous decision, by pressing the activation button 19, the process module 3 starts, through the loudspeaker 10, the voice tutorial C, see in figure 7, relating to the sequence of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and at the same time starts the processing of the feedback for the guided correction of the massage according to the algorithm A in figure 7.

To further assist the rescuer's action, the microcontroller 5 activates a metronome function, generating through the loudspeaker 10 a succession of? Beeps? at a constant pace to give rhythm to the execution of external chest compressions. The volume of the? Beeps? it is automatically modulated when the vocal feedback is superimposed, which will be? always predominant.

As mentioned, the microcontroller 5 acquires the depth measurement from the accelerometer 8 and the pressure sensor 13. and frequency of external chest compressions and as a function of the comparison between the actual measurement and the reference measurement generates a specific feedback.

In particular, a vocal message is generated by the loudspeaker 10 with the request to increase / decrease the compression rate if the measured compression frequency? respectively lower / higher than a reference value of 100 (? 10) compressions per minute.

At the same time a red light is generated by the visible light emission module 16 if the depth? compression measured? insufficient or excessive, and a green light if the depth? compression measured? within the reference value. How many green LEDs are lit? the greater the more? next ? the measured value of depth? compression to the correct reference value, and similarly the number of red LEDs lit? the greater the more? distant? the measured value of compression from the correct reference value.

In the event that the process module 3 after activation does not receive a telephone call from the emergency medical service 22 within a predetermined time limit, it automatically interrupts the tutorial A and starts the voice tutorial indicated with B in figure 7 relating to the request. making a telephone call by other means, for example a mobile phone, a satellite telephone, a landline telephone, to the relevant health emergency service.

In this case, tutorial C is started at the appropriate time by the rescuer by pressing button 19.

In conclusion, the process module 3 then activates a tutorial that guides the healthcare professional step by step to perform a quality CPR. and effective and an on-site correction of the behavior to be adopted.

In fact, the process module 3 provides guidance, monitoring and feed-back functions through the use of vocal and / or visual prompts that guide the performer in the right CPR sequence, corrective vocal and / or visual prompts on frequency and depth. of external chest compressions.

In this way the device 1 unifies the two main links of the survival chain through which both the call to the health emergency service and the early cardiac massage are performed in a simple, safe, effective way, being guided precisely by a recognition system and correction of the work carried out by the operator.

The cardio pulmonary resuscitation device can? present various interfaces with the outside (eg. Wifi, Bluetooth, Aux In, Aux Out, USB, Bridge 2.4G), including special means of wireless connection to a central internet server capable of concentrating, managing and maintaining all data of the interventions and trace the position of the intervention itself. The data can be used both for statistical purposes as a basis for the training of the operator who uses the equipment, and as a remote assistance system.

The connection to the central server can? take place in different ways? operation: offline, hybrid, or online.

In the mode? offline operation device 1 establishes a wireless connection with a local MOBILE client, for example an app for Apple devices equipped with an IOS operating system or an app for devices equipped with an ANDROID operating system or to a STANDALONE client executable on a PC or MAC . In this mode? the client application works as a data concentrator and possibly as a service monitor, making the system usable even in the total absence of telephone coverage. As soon as a place in sufficient network coverage is reached, the client will provide? to copy the data of the interventions stored locally on the central server.

In the mode? of hybrid operation the device 1 establishes a wireless connection to one of the available clients which in turn, being in network coverage, will provide? immediately to make the data available in real time on the central server as well as to perform all the functions provided in the mode? offline operation.

The mode? online operation does not require the use of a local application, but the device? directly connected to the central server via GSM or via wireless connection, and the server carries out all the functions? provided by the mobile or stand-alone client, creating a true online telemedicine and remote assistance service, led by professionals in the sector remotely and in real time. This possibility? to have real-time support? also common to the mode? of hybrid operation. In case of Mobile Client (IOS-ANDROID), the latter? conceived for a simple and immediate use, taking into account the context of normal operation where the effectiveness is reached if it is possible to be operational without having to think about the setting of parameters or the configuration of the system itself.

In case of stand alone Client Application for PC-MAC, the latter can? be much more? sophisticated and contain many configurations. This client, suitable for fixed locations such as ambulances, hospitals or care institutions, allows the connection of different types of sensors, such as pulse oximeters, thermometers, cameras and external microphones, and can? be equipped with a learning system to allow exercises and activities? distance learning.

The device for cardio pulmonary resuscitation assumes a fundamental role of guide and feed-back, in every moment and context linked to cardio pulmonary resuscitation, and? usable not only for the execution of cardiopulmonary resuscitation but also for the training of the rescuer, for data collection, case analysis and quality control. of the services provided.

The device for cardio pulmonary resuscitation can? be used by anyone who has basic training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and in particular by health personnel (belonging to this class there are all health professionals, whether they carry out their professional activity mainly in out-of-hospital emergency, or those who who carry out health activities in other contexts such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, doctors' offices); by lay staff belonging to private / public institutions (firefighters, police and other law enforcement agencies, employees in offices - supermarkets - stadiums - public places - public transport vehicles - university schools); and by lay staff made up of ordinary citizens.

The device for cardio pulmonary resuscitation so? conceived? susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as? the dimensions may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Device (1) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation characterized by the fact of comprising a glove (2) and a process module (3) integrated in the glove (2) and equipped with an activation button (19), called glove (2) presenting a first portion (2a) covering and integral protection of the palm, back and fingers of a hand, and a second portion (2b) covering and integral protection of the wrist of the hand, said process module (3) presenting a microcontroller (5), a radio telecommunication module (6) equipped with a mobile phone card (6b), a satellite tracking module (9), an accelerometer (8), a loudspeaker (10), a microphone (11) and a visible light emission module (16), housed in a container (18) arranged in correspondence with said second portion (2b) of the glove (2). Device (1) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to claim 1, characterized in that said container (18)? positioned in correspondence with the side of said second portion (2b) of the glove (2) which in use covers the upper side of the wrist of the hand. 3. Device (1) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a battery (4) for powering the process module (3) integrated in the glove (2) at the side of said second portion (2b) of the glove (2) which in use covers the lower side of the wrist of the hand. Device (1) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to claim 1, characterized in that said activation button (19)? housed on said container (18). 5. Device (1) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to claim 1, characterized in that said process module (3) further comprises a memory module (12) housed in said container (18), and a pressure sensor ( 13) arranged in correspondence with the side of said first portion (2a) of the glove (2) which in use covers the palm of the hand. 6. Device (1) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises environmental sensors integrated in the glove (2). 7. Method for the assistance of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation operator, characterized by the fact that: - said operator wears a device (1) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to any preceding claim and activates said activation button (19); And - said process module (3) activated automatically: it locates the position of the operator through the satellite localization module (9); generates and sends an emergency call SMS (Short Message Service) to a reference health emergency system via the radio telecommunication module (6) containing the indication of the position detected by the satellite localization module; receives the call from the emergency health system via the mobile phone card; performs a comparison between real measurement values carried out at least by said accelerometer (8) and reference measurement values and on the basis of the result of said comparison generates in real time through said loudspeaker (10) and said visible light emission module (16 ) a feedback for the depth? heart massage and heart massage rate. 8. Method for assisting a cardiopulmonary resuscitation operator according to claim 7, characterized in that said process module (3) automatically initiates said feedback (A) upon activation of a vocal tutorial (C). 9. Method for assisting a cardiopulmonary resuscitation operator according to claim 7, characterized in that said process module (3) automatically initiates said feedback (A) upon activation of a vocal tutorial (C) during a telephone call received through said telephony card (6b). Method for assisting a cardiopulmonary resuscitation operator according to claim 7, characterized in that said activated process module (3) automatically performs an environmental recording at least through said microphone (11).