NONINVASIVE CARDIAC ASSIST BY EXTENSION OF PHASED COMPRESSION CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (PCCPR).

Abdominal compression out of phase with the thoracic pressure wave (PCCPR) greatly increases the efficiency of CPR. Thus, the application of external pressure pulses to the thorax and abdomen can serve as a noninvasive technique to transfer energy to the circulation and thus assist the failing heart. The exact timing of the thoracic and abdominal pressure waves during the cardiac cycle is highly important in determining the optimal way of assisting the failing heart. This paper reports on work to extend the PCCPR technique to be used as a noninvasive cardiac assist technique. The study is based on an analysis of a computerised model of the cardiovascular system and supported with animal experiments.