摘要 |
A chest covering shell (40) of springy material for fitting over a patient's chest is coupled to an air oscillator. Changes in air pressure in the shell (40) cause ventilation of the patient. The shell (40) is used with a backing pad (58) or back plate which has vertically extending supports (66) for engagement with the sides of the shell (40) so as to support them and prevent their flexing during use. The edge of the shell (40) has a seal (50) which runs continuously around the periphery of the shell (40). The seal (50) can include an inwardly directed flap in order to provide an effective seal when positive pressures are applied under the shell (40). The backing pad (58) can be an evacuatable envelope (62, 64) containing a multitude of small particles. In use the backing pad (58) can first be conformed to the shape of the patient and then made stiff by extracting the air from the envelope (62, 64) through an air outlet (70). <IMAGE> |