Cardiac treatment apparatus.

摘要

The apparatus includes a reciprocating cardiac compressor (10) for cyclically compressing a patient's chest. The cardiac compressor includes a resuscitator for ventilating the patient's lungs. A first internal electrode (60) is positioned in the oesophagus of the patient with an oesophageal-pharyngeal airway. The resuscitator ventilates the patient's lungs through the oesophageal-pharyngeal airway. The cardiac compressor includes a compressor pad (17) positioned anterior to the patient's heart (45) for compressing the patient's sternum and heart. An external electrode (48) is disposed on the face of the compressor pad for compression between the compressor pad and the patient's sternum (46). A cardiac defibrillator (100) is connected between external and internal electrodes for establishing a defibrillating electric current therebetween. A monitor (101) is connected to the external and internal electrodes for monitoring the electrical activity of the patient's heart. Means for synchronising the defibrillator and the compressor is provided comprising a pressure sensitive switch for synchronising the defibrillator and compressor such that defibrillating current is applied to the patient's heart only during a systolic portion of the compression cycle of the compressor, i.e. when the path between the internal and external electrodes is short and electrical contact between the electrodes and adjacent parts of the body is good.