A method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) includes elevating the heart of an individual to a first height relative to a lower body of the individual. The lower body may be in a substantially horizontal plane. The method may also include elevating the head of the individual to a second height relative to the lower body of the individual. The second height may be greater than the first height. The method may further include performing one or more of a type of CPR or a type of intrathoracic pressure regulation while elevating the heart and the head. The first height and the second height may be determined based on one or both of the type of CPR or the type of intrathoracic pressure regulation.

An elevation device used in the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and after resuscitation includes a base and an upper support operably coupled to the base. The upper support is configured to elevate an individual's upper back, shoulders and head. The elevation device also includes a chest compression device coupled with the base. The chest compression device is configured to compress the chest and to actively decompress the chest.

A communication system for a vehicle includes an assistance mode for communication between a user of the vehicle and a remote assistance unit. The assistance mode is activable during a concerning situation. The assistance mode includes multiple pre-coded subroutines selectively executable to provide audio instruction and video instruction to the user, via a display in the vehicle. The multiple pre-coded subroutines are triggered by the remote assistance unit. Operating the assistance mode includes relaying of selected data from the vehicle to the remote assistance unit. The selected data includes actions performed by the user. The assistance mode is activable by at least one of the remote assistance unit, the user via the user interface, and the vehicle. The communication system may include a controller adapted to at least partially execute the assistance mode.

Systems and methods of assisting a subject to reach a target state include obtaining input of the target state of the subject; and generating a transcutaneous vibratory output to be applied to a portion of a body of the subject to assist the subject in achieving the target state, the transcutaneous vibratory output having variable parameters comprising a perceived pitch, a perceived beat, and a perceived intensity wherein the step of generating the transcutaneous vibratory output further comprises the step of modifying the variable parameters to correspond to the target state.

Systems, devices and methods for providing active and/or passive compression therapy to a body part can include a compression device worn over a compression stocking. The compression device can have a pulley based drive train that is driven by a motor to tighten and loosen compression elements, such as compression straps, in a precise, rapid, and balanced manner. Sensors can be used in the compression device and/or compression stockings to provide feedback to modulate the compression treatment parameters.

An elevation device used in the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) includes a base and an upper support pivotably coupled to the base. The upper support is configured to elevate the individual's upper back, shoulders and head when pivoted. The upper support is expandable lengthwise. The upper support includes a neck support that is configured to support the individual's spine in a region of the individual's C7 and C8 vertebrae throughout elevation of the upper back, shoulders and head.

A method to improve neurologically-intact survival rates after cardiac arrest may include performing CPR on an individual in cardiac arrest while the individual is in a supine position in general alignment with a horizontal plane. The method may include elevating the individual's head, shoulders, and heart relative to the individual's lower body while the individual's lower body remains generally aligned with the horizontal plane to cause blood to actively drain venous blood from the brain to reduce intracranial pressure. The method may include performing chest compressions on the individual and actively decompressing the individual's chest while the individual's head, shoulders, and heart are elevated.

Described herein are methods for determining a target musculoskeletal activity cycle (MSKC) to cardiac cycle (CC) timing relationship. The method may include detecting a signal responsive to a cyclically-varying arterial blood flow at a location on a head of a user; providing a recurrent prompt at a frequency of the heart pump cycle using the signal, such that the signal correlates with a magnitude of blood flow adjacent to the location, and the recurrent prompt is provided to guide the user to time performance of a component of a rhythmic musculoskeletal activity with the recurrent prompt; and guiding the user to adjust a timing of the component of the rhythmic musculoskeletal activity to substantially maximize a magnitude of the signal. In some embodiments, the method further includes generating the recurrent prompt by amplifying the sound generated by the blood flow in or in proximity to an ear of the user.

A device includes a first vibrational transducer and a second vibrational transducer. The first vibrational transducer has a first vibrating property. The second vibrotactile stimulator has a second vibrating property different than the first vibrating property. A collar may be configured to position the first vibrational transducer and the second vibrational transducer over a neck of a subject. A method for stimulating swallowing in a subject includes applying a first vibrotactile stimulation and applying a second vibrotactile stimulation to a throat area of the subject. The first vibrotactile stimulation has a first vibrating property and the second vibrotactile stimulation has a second vibrating property different than the first vibrating property. Example vibrating properties include vibrating frequency, vibrating frequency range, wave shape, continuousness, frequency phase, and direction of mechanical force.

A method for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) includes elevating the heart of an individual to a first height relative to a lower body of the individual. The lower body may be in a substantially horizontal plane. The method may also include elevating the head of the individual to a second height relative to the lower body of the individual. The second height may be greater than the first height. The method may further include performing one or more of a type of CPR or a type of intrathoracic pressure regulation while elevating the heart and the head. The first height and the second height may be determined based on one or both of the type of CPR or the type of intrathoracic pressure regulation.