Massage apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for use exteriorly of the human body for massaging and reactivating a heart by rhythmic depression of the breastbone, comprising: rigid support means including a base member having a platform for placing beneath the back of patient''s body; a vertically reciprocable, breastbone-engaging, pressure application means spaced from said platform and oriented toward said platform to reciprocate toward and away from it; said base member including portions adjacent one end of said platform; upright means securely mounted to said portions of said base, and extending over said platform at a spacing therefrom to enable a patient to be positioned therebetween, said upright means mounting said pressure application means on said base and over said platform; pressure-supplying means operably connected to said pressure application means to move it repeatedly toward said platform for depressing the breastbone and heart of a patient on said platform and then release to allow the rib cage of the patient to elastically expand again for expansion and filling of the heart to provide a massaging action on the heart; control means operably connected with said pressure application means for causing rhythmic cyclic movement of the pressure application means alternately toward and away from the heart at approximately the normal rate of heartbeat; and an augmentation control device for cyclically supplying output signals in response to heartbeat detection signals comprising a first electrical circuit adapted to transmit electrical power, a first switch means and a second switch means in said first electrical circuit, a second electrical circuit having a first relay means adapted to actuate said first switch means and a second relay means adapted to actuate said second switch means, a signal-receiving means adapted to receive electrical signals corresponding to said heartbeat detection signals and having a first signal input means and a first output means, a signal delay means, having a second input means and a second output means, said first output means connected to said second input means and to said first relay means whereby said first relay means is activated by an output of said signal-receiving means to thereby activate said first switch means, said second output means being connected to said second relay means whereby said second relay means is activated by an output of said signal delay means to thereby actuate said second switch means, and a feedback means connecting said second output means to said signal-receiving means, wherethrough an output of said signal delay means is fed back to said signal-receiving means to terminate the output of said signal-receiving means, at a period of time after the initiation thereof substantially equivalent to the physiological delay in the systolic cardiac contraction.

Claim 3

Apparatus for use exteriorly of the human body for massaging and reactivating a heart by rhythmic depression of the breastbone, comprising: rigid support means including a base member having a platform for placing beneath the back of a patient''s body; a vertically reciprocable, breastbone-engaging, pressure application means spaced from said platform and oriented toward said platform to reciprocate toward and away from it, said pressure application means comprising a telescoping cylinder and fluid-responsive means, said cylinder comprising an outer member closed at one end and a fluid-responsive member which is closed at the end nearest said body and disposed oppositely to said one end, comprising in addition a fluid inlet means to the interior of said telescoping cylinder means through which a fluid is admitted and removed to provide for actuation of said fluid-responsive member, a source of pressurized fluid, and conduit means connecting said source to said inlet means, said conduit means having valve means therein adapted to permit flow of fluid from said source to said telescoping cylinder means and to vent fluid from said telescoping cylinder means; said base member including portions adjacent one end of said platform; upright means securely mounted to said portions of said base, and extending over aid platform at a spacing therefrom to enable a patient to be positioned therebetween, said upright means mounting said pressure application means on said base and over said platform; pressure-supplying means operably connected to said pressure application means to move it repeatedly toward said platform for depressing the breastbone and heart of a patient on said platform and then release to allow the rib cage of the patient to elastically expand again for expansion and filling of the heart to provide a massaging action on the heart; control means operably connected with said pressure application means for causing rhythmic cyclic movement of the pressure application means alternately toward and away from the heart at approximately the normal rate of heartbeat; and an augmentation control device comprising a first electrical circuit adapted to transmit electrical power from a power source to said valve means, a first switch means and a second switch means in said first electrical circuit, a second electrical circuit having a first relay means adapted to actuate said first switch means and a second relay means adapted to actuate said second switch means, a signal receiving means adapted to receive electrical signals, and having a first signal input means and a first output means, a signal delay means, having a second input means and a second output means, said first output means connected to said second input means and to said first relay means whereby said first relay means is activated by an output of said signal-receiving means to thereby activate said first switch means, said second output means being connected to said second relay means whereby said second relay means is activated by an output of said signal delay means to thereby actuate said second switch means, and a feedback means connecting said second output means to said signal-receiving means, wherethrough an output of said signal delay means is fed back to said signal-receiving means to terminate the output of said signal receiving means.

Claim 4

Apparatus for use exteriorly of the human body for massaging and reactivating a heart by rhythmic depression of the breastbone, comprising: rigid support means including a base member having a platform for placing beneath the back of a patient''s body; a vertically reciprocable, breastbone-engaging, pressure application means spaced from said platform and oriented toward said platform to reciprocate toward and away from it, said pressure application means comprising a telescoping cylinder and fluid-responsive means, said cylinder comprising an outer member closed at one end and a fluid-responsive member which is closed at the end nearest said body and disposed oppositely to said one end, comprising in addition a fluid inlet means to the interior of said telescoping cylinder means through which a fluid is admitted and removed to provide for actuation of said fluid-responsive member, a source of pressurized fluid, and conduit means connecting said source to said inlet means, said conduit means having valve means therein adapted to permit flow of fluid from said source to said telescoping cylinder means and to vent fluid from said telescoping cylinder means; said base member including portions adjacent one end of said platform; upright means securely mounted to said portions of said base, and extending over aid platform at a spacing therefrom to enable a patient to be positioned therebetween, said upright means mounting said pressure application means on said base and over said platform; pressure-supplying means operably connected to said pressure application means to move it repeatedly toward said platform for depressing the breastbone and heart of a patient on said platform and then release to allow the rib cage of the patient to elastically expand again for expansion and filling of the heart to provide a massaging action on the heart; control means operably connected with said pressure application means for causing rhythmic cyclic movement of the pressure application means alternately toward and away from the heart at approximately the normal rate of heartbeat; and an augmentation control device comprising a first electrical circuit adapted to transmit electrical power from a power source to said valve means, a first switch means and a second switch means in said first electrical circuit, a second electrical circuit having a first relay means adapted to actuate said first switch means and a second relay means adapted to actuate said second switch means, a signal receiving means adapted to receive electrical signals, and having a first signal input means and a first output means, a signal delay means, having a second input means and a second output means, said first output means connected to said second input means and to said first relay means whereby said first relay means is activated by an output of said signal-receiving means to thereby activate said first switch means, said second output means being connected to said second relay means whereby said second relay means is activated by an output of said signal delay means to thereby actuate said second switch means, and a feedback means connecting said second output means to said signal-receiving means, wherethrough an output of said signal delay means is fed back to said signal-receiving means to terminate the output of said signal receiving means.

Claim 5

Apparatus for use exteriorly of the human body for massaging and reactivating a heart by rhythmic depression of the breastbone, comprising: rigid support means including a base member having a platform for placing beneath the back of a patient''s body; a vertically reciprocable, breastbone-engaging, pressure application means spaced from said platform and oriented toward said platform to reciprocate toward and away from it; said base member including portions adjacent one end of said platform; upright means securely mounted to said portions of said base, and extending over said platform at a spacing therefrom to enable a patient to be positioned therebetween, said upright means mounting said pressure application means on said base and over said platform; pressure-supplying means operably connected to said pressure application means to move it repeatedly toward said platform for depressing the breastbone and heart of a patient on said platform and then release to allow the rib cage of the patient to elastically expand again for expansion and filling of the heart to provide a massaging action on the heart; control means operably connected with said pressure application means for causing rhythmic cyclic movement of the pressure application means alternately toward and away from the heart at approximately the normal rate of heartbeat; and means for detecting a heartbeat and providing a detecting signal, and means for adjusting said control means responsive to said detective signal to synchronize the rhythmic, cyclic movement of the pressure application means with said detected Heartbeat.

Claim 6

Apparatus for use exteriorly of the human body for massaging and reactivating a heart by rhythmic depression of the breastbone, comprising: rigid support means including a base member having a platform for placing beneath the back of a patient''s body; a vertically reciprocable, breastbone-engaging, pressure application means spaced from said platform and oriented toward said platform to reciprocate toward and away from it; said base member including portions adjacent one end of said platform; upright means securely mounted to said portions of said base, and extending over said platform at a spacing therefrom to enable a patient to be positioned therebetween, said upright means mounting said pressure application means on said base and over said platform; pressure-supplying means operably connected to said pressure application means to move it repeatedly toward said platform for depressing the breastbone and heart of a patient on said platform and then release to allow the rib cage of the patient to elastically expand again for expansion and filling of the heart to provide a massaging action on the heart; control means operably connected with said pressure application means for causing rhythmic cyclic movement of the pressure application means alternately toward and away from the heart at approximately the normal rate of heartbeat; and means for detecting a heartbeat and providing a detecting signal, and means for adjusting said control means responsive to said detective signal to synchronize the rhythmic, cyclic movement of the pressure application means with said detected Heartbeat.