An example of a system for providing emergency care to a patient is described that includes a backboard arranged to support the patient, a chest compressor attached to the backboard and positioned to engage the patient at the chest, the chest compressor configured to provide multiple chest compression cycles to the patient, a cuirass attached to the backboard and positioned to engage the patient at the abdomen, the cuirass configured to generate negative pressure to pull outward on the abdomen and to provide multiple abdominal compression cycles to the patient and a controller including processors configured to: control the chest compressor to perform the multiple chest compression cycles according to a programmed sequence, control the cuirass to perform the multiple abdominal compression cycles according to the programmed sequence, and control the cuirass to generate the negative pressure to pull outward on the abdomen during the multiple abdominal compression cycles.

A patient support apparatus for releasably securing a chest compression system for providing automatic chest compressions. A patient support surface of the patient support apparatus is sized to support a back plate of the chest compression system and at least a majority of the patient. A harness assembly includes at least one retention strap coupled to each of opposing lengthwise sides of the frame, and a coupler near an end of each of the retention straps. The couplers releasably engage complementary couplers of the chest compression system when the back plate is positioned on the patient support surface. A tension adjustment mechanism is coupled to the retention straps to selectively adjust tension of one or more of the retention straps to secure the chest compression system to the patient support apparatus when the couplers are coupled to the complementary couplers of the chest compression system.

A chest compression device with a chest compression belt assembly including guards and sensors operable with a control system to control operation of the system depending on detection of proper installation of the guards.

A belt for use in a BFR system with an outer belt material hermetically sealed to an inner belt material along a perimeter, thereby forming at least one inflatable chamber, the inflatable chamber having an input port for accepting a gas into the chamber, the belt further comprising a first fastening means in communication with the outer belt material, for attaching to a second fastening means in communication with the outer belt material, thereby locking a circumference of the belt, when wrapped around a user's limb, and the belt further comprising a pre-tensioning system for prescribing and applying a known amount of initial compression to the limb by the belt.

In some embodiments, a system may include a first wearable harness worn, during use, on a torso of a subject. The system may include a second wearable harness worn, during use, on a torso of a subject on an outer surface of the first wearable harness. The system may include a plurality of engines which when activated apply an oscillation force to at least one treatment area. At least one of the plurality of engines may be releasably couplable to the first wearable harness using a positioning system such that the oscillation force is applied to the treatment areas. The oscillation force may mobilize, during use, at least some secretions in an airway within the subject at least adjacent the treatment area. The second wearable harness, when activated, may provide a compressive force to at least some of the activated plurality of engines positioned above the treatment area.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a garment system including at least one sensor and at least one actuator that operates responsive to sensing feedback from the at least one sensor to cause a flexible compression garment to selectively constrict or selectively dilate, thereby compressing or relieving compression against at least one body part of a subject. Such selective constriction or dilation can improve muscle functioning or joint functioning during use of motion-conducive equipment, such as an exercise bike or rowing machine.

A blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise strap. The strap is configured with a coupling at a first end of an elastic band. A second free end of the band is releasably retained in the coupling by a lever arm that is biased in a closed configuration against a plurality of teeth carried on an interior surface of the base. The band has graduated indicia carried thereon for determining a constriction level applied by the band to a limb of the user. The graduated indicia allow the user to set a desired level of constriction on each of a left limb and a right limb to provide the user to develop bilateral symmetry of targeted muscle groups of the limbs.

In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to an exemplary inventive method having steps of: providing at least one housing having a pre-determined physical structure; fixing a first edge of at least one electro-active polymer (EAP) film within the at least one housing; connecting a first edge of at least one pulling mechanism to a second edge of the at least one EAP film; where a second edge of the at least one pulling mechanism extends outside of the at least one housing; sufficiently pulling at the second edge of the at least one pulling mechanism to form at least one pre-stretched EAP film that has been stretched in a first axial direction within the at least one housing by a first pre-determined, pre-stretched amount; and where the pre-determined, pre-stretched amount is limited by the pre-determined physical structure of the housing.

A method for providing emergency care to a patient of an adverse cardiac event is disclosed that includes causing multiple chest compressions to be provided to the patient, and causing multiple inducements of ventilation to be provided to the patient. Particular ones of the multiple chest compressions can overlap time-wise with corresponding ones of the multiple inducements of ventilation, and can be substantially out of phase with the corresponding ones of the multiple inducements of ventilation.

A compression device can include an adjustable belt, an inflation bladder, and a control module. The adjustable belt can be sized to fit circumferentially around a subject's abdomen. The inflatable bladder and the control module can be secured to the belt. The control module can include a housing that encloses at least one of a pump, a pressure relief valve, and a controller. The pump and the pressure relief valve can be in fluid communication with the bladder. The pump can be configured to inflate the bladder to a pre-determined pressure and apply a compressive pressure to the subject's abdomen. The pressure relief valve can be configured to decrease the pressure within the bladder. The controller can be configured to automatically adjust the compressive pressure in response to a change in the subject's posture. The controller can be in electrical communication with the pump and the pressure relief valve.