Advice for personal project - Mechanical CPR Compression Device

[radiolistener]

if they need cpr they are already dead before the device would be in use

they are NOT dead, they still alive, but needs proper medical help, otherwise they can die.

Certification means that you're used proper development life-cycle for a medical device with proper testing and logging, it needs all required records and it also requires mandatory staff learning and periodic examination with external audit. It needs to allow proper investigation of the root of cause in case of patient death or when patient will get injured or become disabled...

You're needs to have tracking system to keep all records related to the device, accept and solve all issues and implement fixes for entire device life-time.

If you didn't used proper development life-cycle, you will not be able to get certification for your device. All this cost money, and this is why medical devices are expensive.

[AndyC_772]

They are as a rule - but they're not all hugely expensive to buy.

I'm a member of a sports club. Last year we installed an AED machine (defibrillator) on the outside of the clubhouse; these machines cost hundreds of pounds, not hundreds of thousands, and they're designed to deliver an electric shock to the heart.

I don't doubt that the machine was expensive to develop and certify, but clearly, somehow, it is possible to develop machines like this, and sell them for use by the general public, not just trained emergency medical personnel.

We should be thankful for this. They save lives.

With that in mind, I don't think we should be so quick to dismiss the idea of a life saving device, just because of the cost of approvals. As engineers, we should encourage ideas that might work, not dissuade people from ever trying.

[jonpaul]

OP plan for fail safe detection and emergency stop, eg actuator/motor runs too long and cracks ribs, uncontrolled motion due to

Sensor failure
SW/FW errors
CPU fails
Failed Connectors

etc?

j

[underratedbot56]

Thank you I will remember this

[underratedbot56]

Andy I love your message, thank you for pointing this out

[golden_labels]

Others have mentioned certification and the need for the device to not hurt the patient. What may not be clear is that this work both directions. The malfunction can be damaging the body, but may as well provide insufficient compression. You must guard against both.

On top of certifications, the unit price includes costs of variance. Usually insurance, unless your organization is big and rich enough to swallow the hit. And that can go into hundred thousand dollars per single serious malfunction.

I do not want to discourage you. I believe others don’t have the intention too. But to fight a problem effectively, one has to understand it first. Be aware what you are facing.