Cpr feedback system progressively diminishing target compression depth to prevent over-compression

Abstract

A CPR feedback system, software and methods are provided. A top height sensor can be used to track the height of the patient's chest during the CPR chest compressions, by detecting a top aspect of its location. A depth module may generate, from a detected top aspect, a depth value for a depth reached by a current compression. A counter may determine a compressions number, e.g. for the current compression. A memory may store a depth variable that can return different target values for the target depths of individual compressions. A user interface has an output device that may output an indication for the rescuer, which reflects how well the depth value of the current compression matched a corresponding target value for it. The target values may be set so as to follow a preset profile, or change according to optional measurements of force and other parameters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) system that is usable by a rescuer to care for a patient, the CPR system comprising:
 a base device;   a counter disposed in the base device, the counter to determine a first number of detected chest compressions during a first time period and a second number of detected chest compressions during a second time period; and   a processor disposed in the base device, the processor to compute a first target depth value based at least in part on the first number of detected chest compressions, and a second target depth value based at least in part on the second number of detected chest compressions, the second target depth value different from the first target depth value.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second target depth value is less than the first target depth value. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory, the memory storing a lookup table and the first target depth value and the second target depth value are determined based at least in part on the lookup table. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a force compression module to detect an amount of force that is exerted during a chest compression during the first time period, wherein the processor computes the second target depth value based at least in part on the amount of detected force. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first target depth value includes a first target depth value range and the second target depth value includes a second target depth value range, further wherein the second target depth value range is different from the first target depth value range. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the counter determines a third number of detected chest compressions during a third time period and the processor computes a third target depth value based at least in part on the third number of detected chest compressions. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the third target depth value is different from the second target depth value. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the third target depth value is the same as the second target depth value. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory, the memory storing a maximum decrease in depth value, wherein the difference between the first target depth value and the second target depth value is not more than the maximum decrease in depth value. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory, the memory storing an initial target depth value, the initial target depth value being greater than the first target depth value and the second target depth value. 
     
     
         11 . A Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) system that is usable by a rescuer to care for a patient, the CPR system comprising:
 a base device;   a processor disposed in the base device, the processor to compute a first target depth value based at least in part on a first number of chest compressions, and a second target depth value based at least in part on a second number of chest compressions, the second target depth value different from the first target depth value; and   a memory disposed in the base device, the memory storing an initial target depth value, the initial target depth value being greater than the first target depth value and the second target depth value.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second target depth value is less than the first target depth value. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory stores a lookup table and the first target depth value and the second target depth value are determined based at least in part on the lookup table. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a force compression module to detect an amount of force that is exerted during a chest compression during the first time period, wherein the processor computes the second target depth value based at least in part on the amount of detected force. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first target depth value includes a first target depth value range and the second target depth value includes a second target depth value range, further wherein the second target depth value range is different from the first target depth value range. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor computes a third target depth value based at least in part on a third number of detected chest compressions. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the third target depth value is different from the second target depth value. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the third target depth value is the same as the second target depth value. 
     
     
         19 . A Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) system that is usable by a rescuer to care for a patient, the CPR system comprising:
 a base device;   a processor disposed in the base device, the processor to compute a first target depth value based at least in part on a first number of chest compressions, and a second target depth value based at least in part on a second number of chest compressions, the second target depth value different from the first target depth value; and   a memory disposed in the base device, the memory storing a maximum decrease in depth value, the difference between the first target depth value and the second target depth value not more than the maximum decrease in depth value.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a force compression module to detect an amount of force that is exerted during a chest compression during the first time period, wherein the processor computes the second target depth value based at least in part on the amount of detected force.