Test Equipment for the LUCAS Chest Compression System: Incorporating Biomechanical Insights for Future Design Enhancements

Sammanfattning: The LUCAS Chest Compression System is a market leading mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation device, assisting medical professionals worldwide when treating patients with sudden cardiac arrest. The objective of this master thesis project was to develop a new, adjustable test equipment for the LUCAS device, allowing for tests on varying chest heights and stiffness levels. Product development strategies were utilized to develop the new test equipment, alongside with a biomechanical study, consisting of a literature search and a clinical data analysis. The biomechanical study unveiled realistic ranges and averages for chest height and stiffness that could be directly implemented in the test equipment. Possible future enhancements, for example using non-linear spring modules to more accurately mimic the chest's behaviour during compression were also identified. The final outcome includes a detailed CAD-model and a first physical prototype of a new test equipment for the LUCAS device, which is adjustable in chest height but not yet chest stiffness. The concept is based on an innovative tension-compression spring module that was developed to replicate the biomechanics of the chest during both compression and decompression. Serving as a proof of concept, this prototype is a first step towards a new, fully adjustable test equipment, made to validate the lifesaving LUCAS device.