The present disclosure describes a novel therapeutic apheresis system and, more specifically, methods and an apparatus for performing therapeutic apheresis. The present disclosure provides highly efficient methods for therapeutic apheresis that modulate the immune system, thereby resulting in treatment of one or more underlying immunological disease processes. In some embodiments, the disclosed methods return at least a portion of blood from an extracorporeal circuit to a patient in pulsatile flow, where the portion of blood that is returned is augmented. In other embodiments, the disclosed methods and apparatus use the central arterial system to exchange volumes of plasma to immunomodulate disease processes.

A self-righting device is disclosed having a support body for supporting a medicament delivery device, where the support body has a mass, a center of gravity (G) and a shape such that the self-righting device, when positioned on a substantially horizontal surface, moves from an unbalanced position to an upright position. The self-righting device can also have a mechanical adaptor configured for attachment to the support body and for holding an elongated medicament delivery device at an angle less than 30 degrees from a vertical axis when the self-righting device is in the upright position. An assembly of a self-righting device and an elongated medicament delivery device is also provided.

Techniques for robotic control using profiles are disclosed. Cognitive state data for an individual is obtained. A cognitive state profile for the individual is learned using the cognitive state data that was obtained. Further cognitive state data for the individual is collected. The further cognitive state data is compared with the cognitive state profile. Stimuli are provided by a robot to the individual based on the comparing. The robot can be a smart toy. The cognitive state data can include facial image data for the individual. The further cognitive state data can include audio data for the individual. The audio data can be voice data. The voice data augments the cognitive state data. Cognitive state data for the individual is obtained using another robot. The cognitive state profile is updated based on input from either of the robots.

An atomizer is disclosed. The atomizer includes: a pump housing including an internal chamber extending in an axial direction of the pump housing and a mounting seat disposed at a first end of the pump housing and being in communication with the internal chamber; a seal disposed in the mounting seat, the seal including a sealing sleeve and a first bore in the sealing sleeve and coaxial with the internal chamber, and at least a part of the seal resting against a mounting surface of the mounting seat; a pressing member at least partially disposed within the mounting seat and resting against the seal to press and keep the seal in the mounting seat, the pressing member including a second bore coaxial with the internal chamber; and a plunger, a first end of the plunger being disposed within the internal chamber of the pump housing through the second bore of the pressing member and the first bore of the seal, and the first end of the plunger being capable of reciprocating in the internal chamber to pump fluid in or out of the internal chamber; wherein the pump housing, the pressing member and the plunger together define a sealing cavity to accommodate the seal.

In a configuration in which a holder holding a controller is mounted on a seat part with a plate-shaped member, the exposure of the mounting part of the plate-shaped member on which the holder is mounted is eliminated. A seat device includes a pressure sensor measuring a value relating to the seated person's state, a vibration imparting device a vibration imparting operation, an ECU controlling the vibration imparting device corresponding to the measurement result of the pressure sensor, a holder holding the ECU, and a mounting bracket fixed to a lower frame such that the holder is mounted on the lower frame of a seat part. The mounting bracket includes a mounting projection on which a side wall of the holder is mounted in a predetermined mounting direction. When the side wall is mounted on the mounting projection, the mounting projection is covered with the side wall.

A bed frame system and a movable frame may simulate movement of a body of water. The bed frame system and the movable frame may improve sleep and sleep patterns of a user and may provide additional health benefits. An intensity of movement of the bed frame system and the movable frame may be controlled by utilizing a controller and/or a mobile application. A predetermined time period of movement may also be controlled by utilizing a controller and/or a mobile application.

Devices, systems, and methods for minimization of backlash in a syringe pump are described herein. Syringe pumps may comprise a syringe including a cylindrical body and a plunger, and a controller. The plunger may comprise a linear gear that may operably couple with a circular gear in the controller. The controller may be configured to bias the circular gear in a biasing rotational direction, thereby positioning the plunger to move towards a biasing translational direction. The methods may comprise determining a backlash compensation amount, determining a fluid transfer movement amount, moving at least one component of the syringe pump the backlash compensation amount and the fluid transfer movement amount in a first direction, and moving the at least one component of the syringe pump a biasing movement amount in a second direction opposite the first direction to re-engage the first gear and the second gear to minimize backlash.

An airway device includes an outertube and a scope channel partially enclosed by the outertube. An intraluminal space in the outertube, not occupied by the scope channel, provides a passageway for air flow to the patient. An esophageal cuff is disposed distally on the scope channel. When inflated, the esophageal cuff secures the airway device in the proximal esophagus of the patient and helps to prevent gastric reflux by mechanically blocking gastric content from entering into the larynx. An inflatable bladder is attached at an anterior surface of the scope channel between the esophageal cuff and a distal opening of the outertube. When inflated, the bladder forms a tubular ring that pushes against the epiglottis and/or other soft tissue towards a wall of the hypopharynx to produce an unhindered air passage into the patient's trachea.

A wearable device for providing haptic stimulations is provided. The wearable device includes: (i) a wearable structure to be worn on a portion of a user's body and (ii) an inflatable bladder, coupled to the wearable structure, that includes two or more pockets positioned at a target location on the wearable structure. Furthermore, the two or more pockets are configured to, when inflated, impart directional force(s) onto the user at the target location that impede movement of the portion of the user's body. Additionally, the directional force(s) are caused by the two or more pockets interfering with each other, when inflated. In some embodiments, (a) the portion of the user's body is a hand of the user, (b) the target location is a finger joint on the user's hand, and (c) the directional force(s) imparted onto the user at the target location impede flexion of the user's finger.

Various systems and methods are provided for treating pulmonary edema. In general, a pump can be configured to be implanted within a patient at risk of developing edema. The pump can be configured to pump fluid out of the patient's lungs, e.g., out of the patient's interstitial and alveolar spaces. The pump can be configured to be fully implanted within the patient's body. The pump can be configured to continuously pump fluid, or the pump can be configured to be selectively actuatable in response to a trigger event. In an exemplary embodiment, the pump can include an inflow port coupled to an inflow tube in fluid communication with a lymphatic vessel of the patient, and can include an outflow port coupled to an outflow tube in fluid communication with a vein of the patient.