Coordinated Resuscitation Perfusion Support

Abstract

A system is provided that is configured to promote sternocostal inhalation for a patient. The system includes: at least one anodal electrode; at least one first cathodal electrode configured to be located above a first set of muscles, which attach to some portion of the patient's ribs; and at least one second cathodal electrode configured to be located above a second set of muscles. The system also includes a controller programmed to: cause the anodal electrode and the first cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the first set of muscles and cause the anodal electrode and the second cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the second set of muscles. Stimulation of the first set of muscles and/or the second set of muscles causes contraction of the second set of muscles resulting in an opposing motion of a spine of the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system configured to promote sternocostal inhalation for a patient, the system comprising:
 at least one anodal electrode;   at least one first cathodal electrode configured to be located above a first set of muscles, which attach to some portion of the patient's ribs;   at least one second cathodal electrode configured to be located above a second set of muscles; and   a controller programmed to:
 cause the anodal electrode and the first cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the first set of muscles, and 
 cause the anodal electrode and the second cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the second set of muscles, thereby causing contraction of the second set of muscles resulting in an opposing motion of a spine of the patient. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to cause the anodal electrode and the second cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the second set of muscles, thereby causing contraction of the second set of muscles resulting in an opposing motion of the spine in either a sagittal or a transverse axis of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first cathodal electrode is configured to be located above a rhomboid major muscle of the patient and the at least one second cathodal electrode is configured to be located above a serratus anterior muscle of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one anodal electrode is configured to be located above a scapula of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one anodal electrode comprises a left posterior anodal electrode configured to be located above the patient's left scapula and a right posterior anodal electrode configured to be located above the patient's right scapula. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the left posterior anodal electrode is associated with one of the first cathodal electrodes, which is configured to be located above a left rhomboid major muscle of the patient, and one of the second cathodal electrodes, which is configured to be located above a left serratus anterior muscle of the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , where the right posterior anodal electrode is associated with one of the first cathodal electrode, which is configured to be located above a right rhomboid major muscle of the patient, and one of the second cathodal electrodes, which is configured to be located above a right serratus anterior muscle of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the anodal electrodes and associated cathodal electrodes are configured to be arranged in bi-lateral symmetry relative to a sagittal axis of the patient's body. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a circumference of the at least one anodal electrode is approximately coincident with an inferior angle of a scapula of the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to cause the at least one anodal electrode and the second cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the second set of muscles at a time subsequent to electrical stimulation of the first set muscles by the first cathodal electrode. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor positioned to sense the presence of chest compressions administered to the patient, and wherein the controller is programmed to receive data generated by the sensor and, based on the received data, to detect a chest compression upstroke. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is programmed to cause the first cathodal electrode and the second cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the respective muscle groups during the chest compression upstroke. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to cause one or more of the at least one first cathodal electrode and the at least one second cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the respective muscles with a pulse width modulated waveform. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to cause one or more of the at least one first cathodal electrode and the at least one second cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the respective muscles with a waveform comprising a ramped leading edge. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one anodal electrode and the at least one first cathodal electrode are configured such that, upon electrical stimulation of the first set of muscles, a thoracic volume of the patient increases resulting from lifting of the patient's ribs. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first cathodal electrode is configured to be located along the spine above a trapezius of the patient, and the at least one second cathodal electrode is configured to be located at a position above and inferior to a coracoid process of the patient. 
     
     
         17 . A method for promoting sternocostal inhalation, comprising:
 electrically stimulating a first set muscles that attach to some portion of the ribs; and   electrically stimulating a second set of muscles that when contracted cause an opposing motion of the spine.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein electrically stimulating the second set of muscles causes an opposing motion of the spine in either the sagittal or transverse axis. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein electrically stimulating the first set muscles comprises electrically stimulating the first set muscles using a first cathodal electrode located above the right rhomboid major muscle and a second cathodal electrode located above the left rhomboid major. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein electrically stimulating the first set muscles further comprises electrically stimulating the first set muscles using an anodal electrodes located above the scapula. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein electrically stimulating the second set of muscles comprises electrically stimulating the second set of muscles using a first cathodal electrode located above the left serratus anterior muscle and a second cathodal electrode located above the right serratus anterior muscle. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein electrically stimulating the second set of muscles comprises electrically stimulating the second set of muscles at a time subsequent to electrically stimulating the first set muscles. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein electrically stimulating the first and second sets of muscles comprises electrically stimulating the first and second sets of muscles during an upstroke of a manual chest compression. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein electrically stimulating the first and second sets of muscles comprises electrically stimulating the first and second sets of muscles using a pulse width modulated waveform. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein electrically stimulating the first and second sets of muscles comprises electrically stimulating the first and second sets of muscles using a waveform comprising a ramped leading edge. 
     
     
         26 . A wearable defibrillator comprising:
 one or more therapy pads configured to deliver defibrillation therapy to a patient;   at least one sensor configured to detect a cardiac activity of the patient;   a set of electrodes positioned to stimulate sternocostal inhalation of the patient, the set of electrodes comprising:
 at least one anodal electrode; 
 at least one first cathodal electrode configured to be located above a first set of muscles, which attach to some portion of the patient's ribs; and 
 at least one second cathodal electrode configured to be located above a second set of muscles; 
   a wearable harness for securing the electrodes, therapy pads, and/or the at least one sensor to the patient; and   a controller programmed to:
 cause the anodal electrode and the first cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the first set of muscles, 
 cause the anodal electrode and the second cathodal electrode to electrically stimulate the second set of muscles, thereby causing contraction of the second set of muscles resulting in an opposing motion of a spine of the patient, and 
 cause delivery of the defibrillation therapy to the patient based, at least in part, on a signal received from the at least one sensor.