Flexible pad for direct myocardial tissue massage having thumb loop

Abstract

Abstract A surgical accessory, and method for using it, for facilitating manual cardiac massage. The device is a generally disc-shaped pad adapted to receive the thumb of the user and to append from the inner thumb surface. The pad is approximately 3-10 centimeters in diameter, 0.5-2 centimeters in width and may secure the thumb by a loop, indentation aperture or the like. The generally disc-shaped pad may be a fluid-filled, foam or solid resilient structure. In order to use the present device, the practitioner attaches the disc to the inside surface of the thumb on the hand which he or she intends to use for cardiac massage. The disc is aligned to oppose the curved surface defined by the palmar skin on the fingers. Cardiac massage is executed as usual, and the device displaces the pressure exerted by the thumb over the myocardial surface in contact with the disc. A more even pumping pressure is thus exerted, and the chances of perforating or distressing the heart with the thumb are minimized.

Inventors

• 👤 George J. Magovern

Bibliographic Details