This invention generally provides two tactile stimulation modules, or “tappers”. One tapper is held by a person in each of his hands. Alternatively, a tapper is secured to each wrist or to other parts of the body on opposite sides. Each tapper is powered by a rechargeable battery, and contains both a tactile stimulation transducer, such as an electric motor having either a balanced or unbalanced mass on its output shaft, and a transceiver that communicates with a host or master. Each tapper includes at least one control button and a status indicator. Each tapper contains a micro-controller that performs tasks such as communication, motor activation, user monitoring and control, battery monitoring, low-power sleep, and algorithm execution. At least one tapper can contain at least one optional sensor, which measures a physiological function. Measurements can be used to modify performance of the tactile stimulation transducers.

An apparatus for a heart of a patient having a cardiac assist device adapted to be implanted into the patient to assist the heart with pumping blood. The apparatus has a sensor adapted to be implanted into the patient. The sensor in communication with the cardiac assist device and the heart which measures native volume of the heart. Alternatively, the sensor monitors the heart based on admittance while the cardiac assist device. Alternatively, the sensor monitors the heart based on impedance.

Systems and methods for nitric oxide generation are provided. In an embodiment, an NO generation system can include a controller and disposable cartridge that can provide nitric oxide to two different treatments simultaneously. The disposable cartridge has multiple purposes including preparing incoming gases for exposure to the NO generation process, scrubbing exhaust gases for unwanted materials, characterizing the patient inspiratory flow, and removing moisture from sample gases collected. Plasma generation can be done within the cartridge or within the controller. The system has the capability of calibrating NO and NO.sub.2 gas analysis sensors without the use of a calibration gas.

A plurality of flow rate values associated with pressurized air directed to an airway of a user of a respiratory therapy system is received. A plurality of pressure values associated with the pressurized air directed to the airway of the user is received. A first time associated with a first breath of the user and a second time associated with a second breath of the user are identified. The plurality of flow rate values is filtered based at least in part on the identified first time and the identified second time. The filtering produces a subset of the plurality of flow rate values. An intentional leak characteristic curve for the respiratory therapy system is determined using at least two of the subset of the plurality of flow rate values and the corresponding pressure values for said at least two of the subset of the plurality of flow rate values.

An autonomic nerve control device includes an obtainer that obtains a physiological quantity of a user before the user occupies a moving body, and a controller that controls the autonomic nerves of the user occupying the moving body based on the physiological quantity of the user obtained by the obtainer.

The present invention relates to an integrated sleep diagnosis and treatment device, and more particularly to an integrated apnea diagnosis and treatment device. The present invention additionally relates to method of sleep diagnosis and treatment.

The present invention relates to a method and a respiration device having a respiration unit for generating an airflow for the respiration and having a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit is used to detect a respiration parameter and to classify events in the respiration on the basis of monitoring of the respiration parameter. In this case, the monitoring unit is configured to carry out an event analysis to recognize an occurrence, which is characteristic for Cheyne-Stokes respiration, of chronologically successive events and for this purpose to ascertain the period length thereof and to compare them to one another and to register the presence of Cheyne-Stokes respiration when the compared period lengths each deviate by less than 40% from one another.

A breathing device includes a first and second nasal insert for each nostril of a user. Each insert includes an opening and a valve provided at the opening for selectively restricting or allowing the passage of air through the opening. The breathing device also includes a controller adapted to control each of the valves so that the passage of air is restricted at one of the nasal inserts and allowed at the other.

An apparatus for oxygenation and/or CO2 clearance of a patient. The apparatus comprising: a flow source or a connection for a flow source for providing a gas flow, a gas flow modulator, a controller to control the gas flow. The controller is operable to: receive input relating to heart activity and/or trachea gas flow of the patient, and control the gas flow modulator to provide a varying gas flow with at least two oscillating components. One oscillating component has a frequency based on the heart activity and/or trachea flow of the patient. One oscillating component has a frequency to: promote bulk gas flow movement, or promote mixing.

Transdermal electrical stimulation (TES) applicators that are wearable and configured to attached to a subject's pinna (ear) and adapted to apply TES to modulate the subject's cognitive and/or physiological state. These apparatuses may be configured so that they can be worn against the ear (e.g., the cymba of the ear) to deliver TES. Also described herein are methods of using them to modulate a subject's cognitive state. These TES applicators may also be adapted to function as audio headphones for concurrent delivery of TES and audible signals (e.g., music).