A headgear for securing a mask to a user's face is described. The headgear requires a first load force to elongate the headgear and, when fitted to a user, applies a balanced fit force that substantially equals a load force applied to the headgear during respiratory therapy. In some embodiments, the headgear includes an elastic portion configured to provide a retraction force, a non-elastic portion configured to be inelastic in comparison to the elastic portion, and a restriction mechanism connected to the non-elastic portion and to the elastic portion. The restriction mechanism is configured to apply a first resistance force to the user's head on elongation of the headgear and a second resistance force to the user's head on retraction of the headgear.

Disclosed are various examples and embodiments of a cardiac mapping catheter configured for electrophysiological (EP) mapping and suitable for intravascular insertion in a patient's heart, and methods of making same. The cardiac mapping catheter comprises a plurality support arms having electrodes disposed thereon. Various configurations of the cardiac mapping catheter are described and disclosed which provide improved spatial resolution and sensing of EP signals acquired from inside a patient's heart.

An intravascular device (200) comprising an active member (202) for reversibly expanding a radial extension of the intravascular device inside a luminal extension of the vessel and comprising a reversibly deformable active membrane (206) that is arranged and configured to change its shape against a variable intravascular fluid pressure exerted on the active membrane in an inserted state by an intravascular fluid, an intravascular pressure compensation cavity (208), which is fluidicly sealed from the intravascular fluid and which includes a first chamber (208.1) that is covered by the active membrane (206), and a second chamber (208.2) that is covered by a compensation membrane (210), which is reversibly deformable in response to the variable intravascular fluid pressure, wherein the first chamber (208.1) and the second chamber (208.2) are in pressure communication with each other and, via the active membrane (206) and the compensation membrane (210), with the intravascular fluid.

A headgear for securing a mask to a user's face is described. The headgear requires a first load force to elongate the headgear and, when fitted to a user, applies a balanced fit force that substantially equals a load force applied to the headgear during respiratory therapy. In some embodiments, the headgear includes an elastic portion configured to provide a retraction force, a non-elastic portion configured to be inelastic in comparison to the elastic portion, and a restriction mechanism connected to the non-elastic portion and to the elastic portion. The restriction mechanism is configured to apply a first resistance force to the user's head on elongation of the headgear and a second resistance force to the user's head on retraction of the headgear.

The disclosure discloses a drive component of a micro-needle system, a method for driving the same, a micro-needle system and a method for fabricating the same; wherein the drive component includes a substrate with a groove; a bottom electrode in the groove; an electro-active polymer layer, covering the bottom electrode, in the groove; and an upper flexible electrode covering the electro-active polymer layer; wherein the upper flexible electrode and the bottom electrode are configured to generate a voltage, and the electro-active polymer layer is configured to generate a strain under the voltage.

A fluid system 10 according to the present disclosure includes an EAP sensor 13 disposed on an outer surface of a circuit conduit 11. The EAP sensor 13 includes a polymer element 131 including electrode layers 133A, 133B provided at respective surfaces of an ion-conductive polymer layer 132. The EAP sensor 13 is configured to output a signal corresponding to a deformation of the circuit conduit 11.

An electrically conductive plastic (ECP) material can be used to heat water in a reservoir of a respiratory humidifier to encourage heating and/or humidification of gases passing through the respiratory humidifier. The electrically conductive plastic material can at least in part overmould the base and/or walls of the chamber and/or the reservoir of the respiratory humidifier. The reservoir can also partially or fully be formed from the electrically conductive plastic material. Furthermore, the humidification system can be configured to create substantially equal or differential heating of water in the reservoir.

Devices, systems, and methods for detecting a sealing condition between a patient interface and a patient, and adjusting the patient interface to maintain the patient interface in sealing contact with the patient. The patient interface may include a sealing structure to form a seal on the patient, and a positioning structure to secure the sealing structure to the patient. The patient interface may include a sensor coupled to the sealing structure. A processor determines the sealing condition between the sealing structure and the patient based on a signal from the sensor, and adjusts at least one of the sealing structure and the positioning structure to maintain the sealing structure in sealing contact with the patient. A prediction system predicts a leak between the sealing structure and the patient based on the sensor signal. A learning system learns how to fit the sealing structure to the patient to form a seal.

A negative pressure wound therapy system includes at least one sensor coupled to a wound dressing for a wound of a patient, and a control circuit. The at least one sensor is configured to output an indication of a displacement of the wound dressing. The control circuit is configured to receive the indication of the displacement of the wound dressing, calculate a therapy parameter corresponding to the indication of the displacement, and output the therapy parameter.

A medical device includes: an elongated tube having a wall defining a lumen for the elongated tube, wherein the wall of the elongated tube comprises a first opening; and a first actuating element coupled directly or indirectly to the wall of the elongated tube; wherein at least a part of the first actuating element and the first opening of the wall are located at a same longitudinal position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated tube; and wherein the first actuating element is configured to change size to induce stress and/or displacement at the wall of the elongated tube to cause the elongated tube to bend.