Determination of the noise source in the electrocardiogram during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

During cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the electrocardiogram (ECG) is often obscured by noise. This noise is in the form of baseline variations in the ECG, which often necessitate stopping chest compressions to adequately assess the ECG. Because survival from cardiac arrest has been shown to be related to blood flow generated during CPR, and because interruption of chest compressions will reduce blood flow, survival may be compromised by these interruptions.

Implementing the FDA performance standard on electrode lead wires and patient cables in hospitals.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Performance Standard on Electrode Lead Wires and Patient Cables became mandatory for all relevant devices on May 9, 2000.

Canine sternal force-displacement relationship during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

A viscoelastic model developed to model human sternal response to the cyclic loading of manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) [8] was used to evaluate the properties of canine chests during CPR. Sternal compressions with ventilations after every fifth compression were applied to supine canines (n = 7) with a mechanical resuscitation device. The compressions were applied at a nominal rate of 90/min with a peak force near 400 N.

Hemodynamic effects of direct biventricular compression studied in isovolumic and ejecting isolated canine hearts.

Background: Biventricular direct cardiac compression (DCC) can potentially support the failing heart without the complications associated with a blood/device interface. The effect of uniform DCC on left and right ventricular performance was evaluated in 7 isolated canine heart preparations.

Methods And Results: A computer-controlled afterload system either constrained the isolated heart to contract isovolumically or simulated hemodynamic properties of physiological ejection.