Resuscitimer






On / Off Button This black button turns the ResusciTIMER™ on and off. Push once to turn on, and push again to turn off.



Breathing Modes By pressing this button, the ResusciTIMER™ changes between 'CPR' and 'Rescue Breathing' modes. A green flashing light indicates the ResusciTIMER™ is in the 'CPR' mode at a rate of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. A blue flashing light indicates the ResusciTIMER™ is in the 'Rescue Breathing' mode at either 10 or 18 ventilations per minute depending on the setting of the patient mode (see below).



Patient Modes The ResusciTIMER™ can be set for either adult or child mode by pushing this button. A green light indicates the 'Adult' mode at 10 ventilations per minute, as well as the child ventilation rate when the child is intubated and CPR is being performed. A blue light indicates 'Child' mode at a ventilation rate of 18 ventilations per minute (this mode assumes the child has a pulse and only ventilation is required).


Timing Lights The ResusciTIMER™ comes with a row of timing lights to visually assist in the correct ventilation of the patient. These will turn on one by one over the duration of the ventilation with the ventilation ideally ending on the 4th or 5th light. The lights will then turn off one by one as a visual countdown to the time for the next ventilation. A set of green lights indicates that the ventilation given met the recommended AHA guidelines, whilst a red row of lights indicates the ventilation given failed to meet the recommended AHA guidelines.




Inspiratory This figure represents the amount of time the ventilation is performed for each breath. The current recommended guidelines is 1 second of inspiration. During ventilation, intrathoracic pressure increases reducing blood return to the heart. Therefore the longer the ventilation time, the greater the reduction in blood flow return to the heart, ventilation induced hypotension develops, and reduced cerebral and coronary blood flow can occur. The ResusciTIMER™ is set for 1 - 1.5 seconds. Outside these times, an alarm will sound and red flashing lights will display, highlighting the potential dangers as described above. To assist the Health Care Provider, there is an audible guide for the length the ventilation should be.



BPM BPM stand for breaths (or ventilations) per minute. The display shows the current rate of ventilations being delivered every minute. When performing CPR at the 30 compressions to 2 ventilations over a 24 second period, the ResusciTIMER™ will chirp highlighting when it is time to ventilate. The current recommended guidelines for Rescue Breathing, or during CPR once an advanced airway (e.g. endotracheal tube) is used, is 10 BPM in an adult. For an infant/child, Rescue Breathing (where CPR is not required) is suggested to be 18 . Studies suggest exceeding these rates is thought to reduce survival. To assist the Health care worker, a chirp will sound highlighting when it is time to ventilate. The ResusciTIMER™ will warn the user if these ventilation limits are exceeded by the showing of red lashing lights and failing to make a chirping sound until the correct rate of ventilation is re-established.



Airway Pressure The ResusciTIMER™ measures the peak pressure that occurs during each ventilation. It is well accepted that in the cardiac arrest patient, a pressure greater than 17 cm H2O in the unintubated patient may cause the stomach's lower oesophageal sphincter to open, resulting in regurgitation with the potential for aspiration into the lung to occur. As the CPR continues, some research suggests this may lower even further. At greater than 60cm H2O, there is also increased potential for pneumothoraces in the non breathing patient to develop. The ResusciTIMER™ allows the Health Care Provider to monitor these pressures so as to potentially avoid such complications.




Specifications

Operating Temperature		10C to 38C
Storage Temperature:		-29C to 60C
Powered by:		9 volt battery
Battery life:		4.5 hrs approximately
Weight:		0.15 kg
Dimensions:		69 x 36 x 99 mm



For studies supporting the need for the ResusciTIMER™, click here