A novel augmented reality system to improve pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance: A device that could save children's lives

Over 20,000 children experience a cardiac arrest annually in the U.S., only 17-50% survive. There is massive variability in the quality of lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that children receive due to limited availability of pediatric specialized emergency resources, suppressing the survival rate. High quality CPR is performed to replace the function of the beating heart during a cardiac arrest, preventing the asphyxiation of the vital organs, while the inciting process can be investigated. A collaboration between the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and School of Medicine was developed to address this critical healthcare gap, with the goal of saving the lives of dying children. We developed a novel effective, portable, usable, affordable, and equitable augmented reality system, called AR-CPR, that provides real-Time CPR feedback. AR-CPR improves the rate of Pediatric Advanced Life Support guideline adherence to 73% (SD 18%) from 17% (SD 26%) (p<0.001). We engineered a custom array of inertial measurement units (IMU) and microprocessors to sense and analyze the quality of CPR. This information is then wirelessly transmitted to an AR head mounted display. The medical practitioner receives imperative feedback on their performance with actionable guidance. AR-CPR has promise as the preeminent CPR feedback tool and is the first such device being developed for international clinical use. With continued development, AR-CPR could be used anywhere a child may experience a cardiac arrest, including emergency departments, ambulances, and/or malls, households airports, or schools in conjunction with automated external defibrillators (AED). Thousands of children's lives could be saved.