Aspects of this disclosure describe methods and systems for nerve stimulation using a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter includes a catheter, an inflatable balloon with a surface, and a set of electrodes positioned along the surface of the inflatable balloon. The balloon catheter may be positioned in a vessel of a patient, such as the esophagus. The patient may be concurrently undergoing mechanical ventilation. The balloon catheter is secured in the vessel by inflating the inflatable balloon. When the inflatable balloon is inflated, the surface of the inflatable balloon and the set of electrodes is positioned at an internal wall of the vessel. Stimulation is provided to a nerve near the vessel, via the set of electrodes, based on stimulation parameters. Values for the stimulation parameters may be adjusted based on breathing parameters of the patient. The stimulation parameters may also be adjusted to wean a patient off mechanical ventilation.

Devices and methods for allowing for improved assisted ventilation of a patient. The methods and devices provide a number of benefits over conventional approaches for assisted ventilation. For example, the methods and devices described herein permit blind insertion of a device that can allow ventilation regardless of whether the device is positioned within a trachea or an esophagus.

A rehabilitation assistant system for a patient with depression is provided, comprising a support unit, an audio stimulation unit, an acupoint stimulation unit, an electronic stimulation unit, a display and optical frequency-flashed stimulation and an exercise unit. The audio stimulation unit comprises two speakers configured for broadcasting a binaural beats with frequency following response which has an audio frequency difference to two ears of the user. The acupoint stimulation unit comprises acupoint agents, and at least a part of the acupoint agents are arranged on the support unit. The electronic stimulation unit comprises two electrical stimulation agents arranged on the support unit, and the display and optical frequency-flashed stimulation is arranged on the support unit and is switchable between a display mode and an optical frequency-flashed stimulation mode so that multiple stimulations are performed simultaneously in a single treatment course.

A rehabilitation assistant system for patients with cognitive impairments, including an audio stimulation unit, an acupoint stimulation unit, a phototherapeutic unit, an electronic stimulation unit, a display and optical frequency-flashed stimulation unit and a control unit. The audio stimulation unit broadcast a binaural beats with frequency following response, and the acupoint stimulation unit includes several acupoint agents to output physical stimulation to a user. The phototherapeutic unit includes two near-infrared light groups, and the electronic stimulation unit includes two electrical stimulation agents to output physical stimulation to the user. The display and optical frequency-flashed stimulation unit is switchable between a display mode and an optical frequency-flashed stimulation mode, and the control unit simultaneously controls the audio stimulation unit to broadcast the binaural beats with frequency following response so as to improve the rehabilitation efficiency in patients with cognitive impairment.

Methods and therapeutic devices with noninvasive means for improving brain function and treating senile dementia including Alzheimer’s disease are described. The noninvasive means is selected from electrical stimulation, heat stimulation, IR (infrared) radiation or their combinations. In some embodiments, the method and device utilize electrical current passed through acupuncture sites on the human head to achieve desired therapeutical effects.

Neuromodulation is used to enhance left ventricular relaxation and/or left ventricular contractility, during contemporaneous use of a mechanical circulatory support device to increase cardiac output or aid in unloading the heart. An exemplary neuromodulation system includes a therapy element positionable in proximity to at least one nerve fiber, and a stimulator configured to energize the therapy element to delivery therapy to the at least one nerve fiber such that left ventricular relaxation and left ventricular contractility are contemporaneously enhanced.

A non-invasive method and device for promoting a localized change in a flow of blood through a blood vessel in a limb segment of a body by a series of electrically stimulated contractions of muscle tissue in the limb segment, the method including the steps of: (a) providing a device including: (i) first, second and third electrodes, each adapted to operatively contact the limb segment; (ii) a signal generator, operatively connected to the electrodes, adapted to produce a series of electrical impulses to the limb segment via the electrodes, and (iii) a control unit adapted to control the signal generator to produce the series of electrical impulses; (b) positioning the electrodes on the limb segment, wherein the first electrode is positioned on a lower end of the lower leg, the second electrode is positioned on the lower leg, and the third electrode is positioned on an upper end of the lower leg, whereby the first and third electrodes are disposed on opposite ends of the lower leg, and the second electrode and one of the first and third electrodes are disposed on a same end of the lower leg; (c) effecting a sequence of muscular contractions of the lower leg, by operations including: (i) applying a first electrical impulse between the electrodes on the same end of the lower leg to induce a first muscular contraction of a first portion of the tissue; and (ii) applying at least a second electrical impulse between the first and third electrodes to induce a longitudinal muscular contraction of a second portion of the muscular tissue; and (d) repeating operations (i) and (ii), to repeatedly induce the contractions, to effect the increased flow of blood.

A pessary system for providing pelvic floor support for USL and other ligaments. The pessary has an elongated probe with independently inflatable balloons each located substantially the same distance from the insertion end of the probe and which inflate into separate radial sectors. The probe can be inserted into a vaginal cavity and the balloons inflated provide mechanical support to the USLs. Independent inflation of each balloon allows the mechanical USL support provided to be varied on left and right sides to compensate for differences in the degree of degradation and positioning of the USL ligaments on either side.

A ventilation arrangement (1) comprises an induction device (2) and a control unit (3). The induction device (2) has an electro-magnetic field generator (21) with a coil design (211) configured to generate a spatial electro-magnetic field having a targeted shape. The control unit (3) is in communication with the induction device (2) and configured to control the induction device (2) to generate the electro-magnetic field. The electro-magnetic field generator (21) of the induction device (2) is configured to be positioned at a human or animal patient (5) such that, for activating a diaphragm of the patient (5), a Phrenic nerve of the patient (5) is stimulatable by the spatial electro-magnetic field generated by the coil design (211). The control unit (3) is connectable to a ventilation machine (6) to receive ventilation data about a ventilation of the patient (5). The control unit (3) is configured to evaluate the ventilation data and to operate the induction device (2) in accordance with the evaluated ventilation data.

A pessary system for providing pelvic floor support for USL and other ligaments. The pessary has an elongated probe with independently inflatable balloons each located substantially the same distance from the insertion end of the probe and which inflate into separate radial sectors. The probe can be inserted into a vaginal cavity and the balloons inflated provide mechanical support to the USLs. Independent inflation of each balloon allows the mechanical USL support provided to be varied on left and right sides to compensate for differences in the degree of degradation and positioning of the USL ligaments on either side.