Among other things, in one aspect, we describe a system for assisting with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The system includes at least one sensor; and one or more processors configured for calculating a chest compliance relationship based on data received from the at least one sensor, and determining a neutral position of chest compression based at least in part on a feature of the chest compliance relationship. The system can take the form of an active compression-decompression device.

Patient therapy and patient condition sensing devices and methods can be operated as a function of estimated internal hydrostatic pressure of a body part, for example at a position where a pressure or compression therapy is applied. Information relating to a patient's position, posture, ambulation and/or a physiological condition such as blood pressure can be used to control pressure or compression therapy.

This invention relates to a device (1) for performing personal care operations on a subject. The device (1) comprises a handheld base body (3), a driving unit (400) to receive and drive an interchangeable treatment head (2) to perform the personal care operation, a sensor (7) for measuring the amount of current drawn from a motor arrangement (5, 6) while the driving unit (400) is being operated. The device (1) further comprises a control unit (8) operably connected to the sensor (7) and the driving unit (400) and configured to control the driving unit (400). The control unit (8) is configured to identify the individual treatment head (2) fitted on the driving unit (400) by comparing the measured motor current at the predefined measuring time (t1) with at least one predefined current threshold (C).

A soft-inflatable exosuit for knee rehabilitation is fabricated in two different beam-like structures (I and O cross-section actuators) and mechanically characterized for their torque performance in knee-extension assistance. The fabrication procedure of both types of actuators is presented as well as their integration into a light-weight, low-cost and body-conforming interface. To detect the activation duration of the device during the gait cycle, a soft-silicone insole with embedded force-sensitive resistors (FSRs) is used. In evaluation studies, the soft inflatable exosuit device is tested for its ability to reduce muscle activity during the swing phase of the knee. Using sEMG (surface electromyography) sensors, the rectus femoris muscle group of a healthy individual is recorded while walking on a treadmill at a constant speed, with and without the soft device.

A safety device for a walker includes a distance measuring sensor for determining whether a user is at too far or too close distances relative to the front side of the walker. The sensor provides data to a CPU processor indicative of such events. The processor includes logic which analyzes such data and provides audial, visual and/or tactile stimuli to the user warning the user that he/she is at undesirable distances relative to the walker. The process logic can be modified so as to vary the type and/or frequency of warnings given to the user.

The invention relates to a device for controlled cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which allows the user to reanimate a human body quickly and simply during a cardiac arrest. The geometric dimensions of the claimed device are comparatively small and lie between approximately 10 and 25 cm in diameter and approximately 6 and 12 cm in height. During use, a force K is exerted onto a first force transmission means, a clearly audible signal being generated when a maximum adjustable force exertion Kmax is reached. Said clearly audible signal is primarily generated by the interaction of oscillatory elements of said device.

A hip traction device and associated methods is disclosed. Such a device may include a base having a proximal end and a distal end, a guide coupled to the base, a carrier configured to move along the guide, a tensioner coupled to the base and configured to provide a force to the carrier to move the carrier toward the distal end of the base, causing a leg to be put in tension, and a single body coupling mechanism being removably attached to the carrier and being configured to securely attach to a lower portion of a leg when the body coupling mechanism is detached from the carrier.

A respiratory device of negative pressure type comprising a shell fastened to the user's chest and/or abdomen with minimal dead space, one or more vacuum and compressed air chambers attached to the shell; vacuum generating and compressed air generating sources connected to the vacuum and compressed air chambers respectively, one or more openings on the shell to allow exchange of the air enclosed between shell and user's body, with the vacuum and compressed air chambers; a valve shuttling between the vacuum and compressed air chambers. By having low dead space, pre-generated vacuum and compressed air close to the user, and the use of fast acting valves in some embodiments, the power requirement, weight, and size are reduced, making the device low cost and portable. In some embodiments, the vacuum and compressed air generating sources can be mounted on the shell itself, making the device ambulatory.

A patient support for supporting a patient includes an inflatable mattress defining a support surface and a pneumatic system for inflating the inflatable mattress. The pneumatic system includes a pressurized reservoir for holding pressurized air and selectively releases pressurized air from the reservoir to the mattress.

A cardiopulmonary resuscitation support device for assisting a rescuer with cardiopulmonary resuscitation using chest compressions, including: a pressure detecting device provided with a pressure sensor including a pressure sensing part which is configured to be overlapped on a chest, the pressure sensing part having a sheet form and being capable of flexural deformation in a flexible manner; and a displacement detecting device provided with a displacement sensor to detect a displacement of a hand of the rescuer compressing the chest, the displacement detecting device being configured to be retained by the hand of the rescuer at a part away from a chest compression surface.