A method of controlling the amount of compressed gas used for driving a reciprocating apparatus for cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) comprising a valve means for controlling the provision of driving gas comprises operation of the valve means during the compression phase to stop provision of driving gas, which operation is separated in time from the venting of the driving gas from the apparatus at the end of the compression phase. Also disclosed are; a CPR apparatus operated by the method; a method of compression depth sensing.

There is provided an apparatus for upper body movement. The apparatus comprises a H-shaped cable-driven mechanism; two motors for driving the H-shaped cable-driven mechanism; and a manipulandum coupled to the H-shaped cable-driven mechanism for independent movement along x and y axes.

A system and method for mechanical CPR can include a device for providing compressive force to various locations on a patient, and biological monitoring systems to measure the effectiveness of the various locations of compressive force in pumping blood through the patient. The system can also include providing decompressive force to increase the efficacy of blood flow.

The invention relates to a system for adjusting pressure locally acting on the skin. Said system includes a set of adjacent modules distributed so as to form a layer. Each module includes a cushion capable of changing shape and comprising a cavity, a valve, a tank, and a pressure sensor, wherein the cavity and the tank are in communication with each other by means of the valve, and the sensor is placed so as to sense pressure directly or indirectly acting on the cushion. The system also includes a feedback loop arranged such as to increase or decrease the change in the shape of the cushion on the basis of the pressure detected by the sensor. The system according to the invention can be built into a shoe so as to re-establish normal plantar pressure under the entire sole of the foot, which is particularly desirable for athletes or for patients suffering from diabetes mellitus or leprosy. It is also possible to incorporate the system according to the invention into a (bed or wheelchair) mattress so as to prevent decubitus ulcers in patients with neurological diseases (hemiplegia, paraplegia, tetraplegia, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and any other sensory and/or motor deficit diseases.

A robotic orthosis device for assisting users to rotate their wrist with a pair of fabric-based helical actuators and a sleeve or rigid interfaces configured to attach to a user's forearm. Each of the helical actuators includes a cylinder and a pneumatic bladder configured to inflate the cylinder. Each cylinder includes an anisotropic sheet material and a base sheet material running the length of the cylinder. The anisotropic sheet material comprises elastomeric strands that enable the material to stretch in a direction parallel to the orientation of the elastomeric strands, but different than the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The base sheet material, which is affixed to the anisotropic sheet material, is strain-limiting along the longitudinal axis. When the bladder is pressurized, the expansion of the bladder causes the cylinder to stretch and twist, thus generating a helical force on the user' wrist relative to the elbow.

A stretching machine includes a table having a surface for supporting a patient and a first leg rest for supporting and moving a first leg of the patient. The first leg rest has a first vertical frame operable to rotate around a first horizontal pivot point at an end of the table and a first horizontal frame operable to rotate around a first vertical pivot point on the first vertical frame. A first vertical actuator is for rotating the first vertical frame around the first horizontal pivot point to move the first leg rest in a vertical direction relative to the surface of the table, and a first horizontal actuator is for rotating the first horizontal frame around the first vertical pivot point to move the first leg rest in a horizontal direction relative to the first vertical frame.

A traction device for treating or alleviating back pain and/or sciatica. The traction device is designed to provide the user with a mechanism to pull their lower body, allowing for traction of the lower back. The traction device may also include mechanisms to orient the user's feet at different angle orientations, thus allowing traction to the user's hips, user's hips and back, or the user's back. The traction device may include an upper section designed to support a user's upper body, an intermediate section designed to support a user's mid-section, and a lower section designed to support a user's lower body.

Provided are an assistance device, an assistance garment, and an assistance method that enable easy replacement of a part of structure, suppression of fatigue of a wearer, and reduction of a load in an action of the wearer, without requiring time and effort for putting on and taking off. An assistance device 1 is art assistance device 1 that is provided on a garment and reduces a load in an action of a wearer 5. The assistance device 1 is provided with an assisting part 10 that is replaceable and applies force for assisting the an action to the body of the wearer 5 by changing flexibility, and an assist-control part 12 that controls the flexibility.

Systems and methods for exerting forces on a body, including a support structure defining a space and a plurality of surface contacting units that are configured to exert force upon the body, such that the weight is distributed away from the primary weight bearing regions to non-weight bearing regions of the body, or vice versa, without exerting significant shear or frictional forces on surfaces of the body. The systems and methods may be used to exert forces to cause fluid shift in different compartments of the body. Applications include treatment of various disease conditions including pressure ulcers, heart failure, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, osteoporosis, injuries of spine and to slow microgravity-induced bone and muscle loss. The systems and methods may be used to simulate gravity, weightlessness or buoyancy, in rehabilitation medicine. The system may include a chair, bed, a wearable suit or an exoskeleton.

A system provides compression of a limb of a patient and out-of-axis restraint of a joint of the limb being compressed and application of vibration to a first end of the limb so that the vibration is transmitted through the first end of the limb, the compressed joint, and through the remainder of the limb.