Methods are disclosed for treating a subject having a disease or disorder comprising providing the subject with an acoustic energy stimulus derived from a disease-specific, condition-specific, endogenous mediator-specific or pharmacologic agent-specific neurogram in an amount and manner effective to treat the disease or disorder.

Delivering vibratory therapy to a user may include using a system with a first transducer adapted to emit a first transcutaneous vibratory output; a second transducer adapted to emit a second transcutaneous vibratory output; and a processor in electronic communication with a user interface, the first transducer, and the second transducer, wherein the user interface accepts a user target state. The processor may be programmed to (i) generate a first transcutaneous vibratory output pattern comprising a first perceived pitch, a first perceived beat, and a first intensity; (ii) generate a second transcutaneous vibratory output pattern comprising a second perceived pitch, a second perceived beat, and a second intensity; (iii) cause the first transducer to emit a first transcutaneous vibratory output based on the first transcutaneous vibratory output pattern; and (iv) cause the second transducer to emit a second transcutaneous vibratory output based on the second transcutaneous vibratory output pattern.

Methods and devices that reduce stress, anxiety and/or depression in a human using mechanical affective touch therapy is provided. In on embodiment, the method comprises (1) generating mechanical vibrations using a sinusoidal waveform and a mechanical transducer of a transcutaneous mechanical stimulation device in response to an applied electronic drive signal, (2) controlling the mechanical vibrations of the electronic drive signal by a controller board so that the mechanical vibrations have a frequency of less than 20 Hz; and (3) delivering the mechanical vibrations to the body of the human via the mechanical stimulation device, thereby providing the human with transcutaneous mechanical stimulation that reduces the human's anxiety, stress and/or depression.

A multi-axis rotation control ankle brace, wherein the direction and magnitude of force can be controlled around three axes of the ankle joint through an adjustable tensioning apparatus. The device may be applied to address conditions such as chronic ankle instability, foot drop, or osteoarthritis by providing such forces around the joint as an external-muscle tendon system to improve function, reduce pain, or restore mobility of the user. While more are contemplated herein, five preferred embodiments are specifically disclosed in the current application. Three preferred embodiments comprise a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is anchored above the ankle joint and houses, in aspects, the adjustment mechanism. The proximal portion is connected to the distal portion by tensioning or compressive elements, through which forces can be controlled by the user via the adjustment mechanism. In other preferred embodiments, the device is comprised of one continuous mesh, sock or sleeve through which tension can be controlled by the user. In other preferred embodiments, the device is personalized to the user through multiple aspects including user-enabled adjustment of forces around the joint. The device may be customized by 3D printing a device based on a digital scan, and therefore conforms to the user's ankle and foot.

A distension/compression device for assisting breathing in a subject is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first tube includes a flexible and elastic material that forms a first tube lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the first tube. Longitudinal expansion of the first tube is restricted less than radial expansion of the first tube. A connection element including a first air supply port is in fluid communication with an open proximal end of the first tube lumen and attached to a proximal end of the first tube. A method for assisting breathing of a patient and a method for assisting the clearing of secretions is also included.

A system for assisting an operator in a work station includes a collaborative robot, with a robot electronic controller, configured for conducting an operation in an open, non-protected space, adjacent and in cooperation with the operator, an exoskeleton including one or more actuators, wearable by the operator for receiving assistance in conducting one or more operations, a plurality of sensors associable to the body of the operator and configured for detecting at least one parameter. An electronic controller is configured for receiving signals by the sensors and for sending signals to the one or more actuators of the exoskeleton and to the robot controller based on an elaboration of signals received by the sensors, wherein the system controller is configured and programmed for dynamically controlling the exoskeleton and the robot so as to avoid collisions or injuries between the robot and the operator or conditions of lack of safety for the operator, and to enable the robot to cooperate with the operator by assuming positions suitable to the physical and physiological features, to the workload and to the postures of the operator.

A rest for a mattress support system and which serves for sensory training of a person, and a method for sensory training of a person. This rest has a multiplicity of actuatable micro-stimulating elements for producing sensory stimuli. These elements are assigned to the rest. Using a control device, the person can actuate the micro-stimulating elements during the training. Moreover, this control device serves to generate a feedback signal in response to the sensory stimuli.

Determining whether a compression garment is worn by a wearer of the garment by analyzing a pressure signal waveform indicative of a fluid pressure in an inflatable and deflatable bladder of the compression garment. Variance detected in the pressure signal waveform during the analysis is indicative of a change in condition of the compression garment. In one aspect the change in condition is verified using confirmatory analysis. In another aspect, the variance is one of a pressure rise and a pressure impulse. In yet another aspect, the variance is an oscillating amplitude as a function of time representative of a pulse of the wearer.

A method for providing a therapeutic benefit includes receiving sensor data from one or more physiological sensors associated with a person and determining whether the sensor data exceeds a threshold. When the sensor data exceeds the threshold, a controller activates a first tactile stimulator to provide a first stimulation for a first period when the sensor data exceeds the threshold and then activates a second tactile stimulator to apply a second stimulation for a second period beginning at least commensurate with a cessation of (at the same time or overlapping) the first period. The bi-lateral stimulation is repeated for a therapeutically effective number of repetitions such that the first and second stimulations are applied bi-laterally to the body of the person without the individual perceiving a pause in stimulation between the first stimulation and second stimulation to provide the therapeutic benefit to the person.

The invention relates to a method for the stimulation, in particular laser acupuncture, of a test person (1) in a specified body region (10), wherein—a number of reference stimulation points (RS.sub.1, RS.sub.2, RS.sub.3) are specified with respect to a reference (R), in particular a three-dimensional reference, of the body region (10) to be stimulated, —an image (A), in particular a three-dimensional image, of the surface of the test person's (1) body region (10) to be stimulated is captured, points (P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3) are specified and/or ascertained in the captured image (A), the relative position of said points in the image (A) corresponding to the relative position of the reference stimulation points (RS.sub.1, RS.sub.2, RS.sub.3) on the reference (R), —the stimulation points (S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3) to be stimulated corresponding to the points (P.sub.1, P.sub.2, P.sub.3) in the image are ascertained on the surface of the body region (10), —at least one stimulation unit (4) is automatically aligned with at least one of the ascertained stimulation points (S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3) to be stimulated of the body region (10), and—the at least one stimulation point (S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3) to be stimulated is stimulated by means of the stimulation unit (4).