A wearable thorax percussion device for dislodging mucous buildup in the airways of a human patient, the device comprising a garment fitting over the thorax, a rigid element attached to the external surface of the garment, an electromechanical actuator retained by the rigid element to intermittently percuss the thorax, and an electronic controller for generating and modulating an electrical signal to energize the actuator. The rigid element may be adjustably positioned on the garment to accommodate thoraxes of different dimensions. The actuator may be compressible between the rigid element and the thorax to better maintain contact with the thorax.

A trunk supporting exoskeleton comprises: a supporting trunk; thigh links configured to move in unison with a person's thighs; and first and second torque generators located on both left and right halves of the person substantially close to the person's hip. The torque generators couple the supporting trunk to the thigh links, and generate torque between the thigh links and the supporting trunk. When the person bends forward such that a predetermined portion of the supporting trunk passes beyond a predetermined angle from vertical, a torque generator(s) imposes a resisting torque between the supporting trunk and the thigh link(s), causing the supporting trunk to impose a force against the person's trunk, and the thigh link(s) to impose a force onto the person's thigh. When the predetermined portion does not pass beyond the predetermined angle, the torque generators impose no resisting torques between said supporting trunk and respective thigh links.

Disclosed are devices and methods for mitigating insulin resistance in a human subject by contacting one or more regions of the neck, the supraclavicular, and the interscapular regions of the human subject with a part of a cooling device, wherein the part of the cooling device has a temperature at about 15 or less Celsius degrees; cooling the one or more regions of the neck, the supraclavicular, and the interscapular regions of the human subject for a cooling period of at least 15 minutes; and performing previous two steps daily for about 14 or more days. The devices and methods may also be used to preventing, delaying or treating type 2 diabetes in a human subject or activating brown fat without incurring a sympathetic nerve-mediated cold feeling in a human subject.

Apparatus (60) for supporting a subject (2) in an inverted state comprises a ground engaging plinth (8) and a support platform (12) pivotally coupled to the plinth (8) about a first pivot axis (15) so that the support platform (12) is pivotal between a first state with a subject (2) in a supine state on the support platform (12) and a second state with the subject (2) inverted on the support platform (12). The subject is supported in the inverted state on the support platform (12) by shoulder engaging elements (24), and is secured to the support platform (12) by a torso strap (35). A foot engageable element (77) connected to a weight carrying bar (84) through connecting members (79,82) extending through an elongated slot (80) in the support platform (12) allows leg and abdominal muscles to be exercised by urging the foot engageable element (77) in the direction of the arrow A against weights (85) carried on the weight carrying bar (84). A carrier element (81) slideable on a guide bar (83) guides the foot engageable element (77). Handgrips (86) are connected by steel cables (87) around pulleys (88,89,90,91) to the weight carrying bar (84) for facilitating exercising of arm, shoulder, chest and back muscles.

Disclosed is a backbone retraction apparatus which includes a support member supporting a hip of a user, a center member coupled to the support member by a hinge structure, a backrest member inserted into the center member, a neck support member inserted into the backrest member, moving means comprising a wire having a first side fixed to the center member and a second side fixed to the neck support member and a first latching protrusion protruded from the backrest member and adapted to have the wire hung on the first latching protrusion, the second side of the wire being fixed under the first latching protrusion, and length adjustment means adapted to be connected to the support member and the backrest member.

Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for receiving, from a sensor array, three-dimensional sensory data associated with an environment of a person. The three-dimensional sensory data is converted into a two-dimensional representation. An obstacle is located within the environment based upon the sensory data. The obstacle is mapped onto the two-dimensional representation and the two-dimensional representation is mapped onto a plurality of actuators within a vibrotactile interface. One or more of a plurality of actuators are controlled based upon the mapping of the two-dimensional representation onto the plurality of actuators to provide tactile input to the person that represents a location of the obstacle.

A movement assistance device includes: a back plate that is fitted onto the back of a wearer; a back frame that has an elongated shape and is supported by a rotating shaft fixed to the back plate so as to be rotatable in a plane parallel to the back plate; a side frame that is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft fixed to the back frame and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the back frame and extends from the back frame toward the vicinity of the side waist of the wearer; a thigh holding portion that is fitted onto the anterior thigh of the wearer; and a drive portion that is connected to each of the side frame and the thigh holding portion and generates force that increases the angle between the side frame and the thigh holding portion.

Systems and methods of monitoring medical therapies performed by wearable devices using electrical probes. In one example, a pulmonary physiotherapy device implements a treatment protocol function gated and modulated using electrical impedance sensors and metrics. The sensors operate to measure electrical impedance of bodily tissue. An electronic controller controls operation of the wearable device. The medical therapy can be modified based on the impedance measurements to maximize efficacy.

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.

Techniques and devices for extending a piston, for example connected to a medical device such as a mechanical CPR device, to accommodate different sized patients, are described herein. In some cases, a piston of a mechanical CPR device may include an inner piston at least partially slidable into an external piston sleeve. In one aspect, an external piston spacer may be attached to an outward surface of the inner piston to extend the length of the piston. In another aspect an internal bayonet sleeve may contact one or more locking rods at various positions, enabling adjustment of the length of the inner piston. In yet another aspect, a piston adapter may be removably attached to the end of the piston. In all aspects, the change in length of the piston may be detected and used to modify movement of the piston, for example to more safely perform mechanical CPR.