The present invention relates to devices and methods for assisting breathing in a subject. In one embodiment, the device of the present invention is a splint that can be used to apply negative distending pressure, i.e., outward pull, to one or both of the chest walls and/or the abdomen of a subject. In certain embodiments, the splint comprises an air bladder that can be attached to the skin of the subject's chest and/or abdomen. When the air bladder is inflated, negative distending pressure is applied to the subject's chest and/or abdomen, thereby assisting or promoting respiration. In another embodiment, the splint comprises a piezoelectric material that when activated can provide negative distending pressure to the subject's chest and/or abdomen. In another embodiment, the subject is a neonate. In another embodiment, the inflated air bladder can apply a compressive force on the chest to facilitate expiration, and the removal of secretions in the airways.

A carrying case has first and second clam shell members hingedly connected along one side thereof and defines a interior cavity when in a closed position. At least a portion of an oral device is disposed between the first and second clam shell members with a support member engaging and supporting the oral device such that an intraoral bolus simulator is suspended in the interior cavity free of any engagement with the carrying case. The intraoral bolus simulator may include lubricated patches transformable from a first state, wherein the lubricated patches each comprise water soluble thermoplastic particles suspended in a silicone matrix, to a second state, wherein the water soluble thermoplastic particles are depleted from the silicone matrix. A method of stimulating an oral cavity includes depleting the water soluble thermoplastic particles from the silicone matrix, and presenting a rough surface to the user with the depleted lubricated patches.

An example device for stimulating a clitoris includes a housing; a drive device configured to provide a drive movement; a pressure chamber at least partially surrounded by a chamber wall; a chamber wall portion forming a portion of the chamber wall, the drive device to cause the chamber wall portion to repeatedly move between different wall positions to cause a chamber volume of the pressure chamber to repeatedly increase and decrease to generate a variable pressure field; a housing opening fluidly connected to the pressure chamber, the variable pressure field to be output via the housing opening in the form of negative and positive pressures; the drive device including a coil device through which an electrical current is to flow, the drive device disposed in a stationary permanent magnetic field and coupled to the chamber wall portion to transmit the drive movement to cause the chamber wall portion to move.

An apparatus (10) for minimally-invasive, including non-invasive, prevention and/or treatment of hydrocephalus and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the apparatus (10), a housing (50) is sized for superjacent contact with a skull having a fontanel. Within the housing (50), a compartment (12) includes a pressure applicator (88), such as a fluid-filled bladder (22), under the control of a pressure regulator (14). The pressure applicator (88) is configured to selectively apply an external pressure to the fontanel. The compartment (12) includes a pressure sensor (90) configured to measure intracranial pulse pressure of the fontanel. Further, in one embodiment, the apparatus (10) can cause pulse pressure modulation by adjusting the intracranial pulse pressure via the pressure applicator (88). This enables a non-invasive measurement of the pulse pressure and modulation thereof in infants, for example.

A respiratory acoustic analysis system for sensing and analyzing respiratory sounds of a patient may include a High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation (HFCWO) vest, at least one sensor coupled with the HFCWO vest, and an algorithm stored in a processor for processing sensed data from the at least one acoustic sensor to provide processed data describing the respiratory sounds of the patient, in a form that can be used by a physician or other user.

A pneumomassage device, and method of using the device, which includes a sleeve sized to cover a first and a second adjacent body parts and an anatomical joint therebetween; and a securing assembly for securing the first and the second adjacent body parts in a fixed position relative to one another, to allow sleeve adjustment to the lengths of the adjacent body part.

An apparatus is provided for lip conditioning, including a mouthpiece having an opening configured to press against a portion of tissue or lips of a user; and a chamber configured to receive the portion of the tissue or lips of the user through the opening, wherein the apparatus is configured to generate suction within the chamber, and to apply a negative pressure to a portion of tissue or lips of a user.

A pressure therapy device includes a pressure chamber, an inflatable padding, a seal, and a positioning mechanism. The pressure chamber has an opening arranged for admitting the inflatable padding and a limb of a user. The inflatable padding is inflatable to enclose and fix the limb in position. The seal covers the opening, including the inflatable padding and the limb to seal the pressure chamber from ambient atmospheric pressure. A pump unit is provided to generate a non-atmospheric pressure within the pressure chamber and includes a first valve system and a piston with safety release features for preventing unsafe pressure levels.

A high frequency chest wall oscillation apparatus includes an air pulse generator carried by a housing. Circuitry is carried by the housing and configured to control the air pulse generator. A control panel is carried by the housing and coupled to the circuitry. The control panel permits a user to select first and second respiratory ailments to be treated by application of pressure pulses from the air pulse generator to a chest of a patient.

An inflatable compression wrap comprises two sheet members, two bonding wires and a surrounding pattern. The sheet members are connected from each other through the surrounding pattern and the bonding wires, so that a plurality of latitudinal air chambers are formed between the sheet members. Wherein a plurality of first airbag sections and at least one second airbag section are alternately arranged in the odd sequence of the latitudinal air chambers, and at least one first airbag sections and a plurality of second airbag sections are alternately arranged in the even sequence of the latitudinal air chambers; so that the first and the second airbag sections are alternately arranged along the latitudinal direction and a longitudinal direction. When the latitudinal air chambers are inflated, the different compression forces are respectively generated by the first and second airbag section of the latitudinal air chamber to improve the blood circulation of the patient.