Abstract: A system for facilitating conversational communications in an environment with background noise, the system including a microphone for sensing the background noise, a signal processor configured to process the microphone output and produce an anti-noise electrical output, and a directional speaker array configured to receive the anti-noise electrical output and directionally broadcast anti-noise audio output, the anti noise audio output destructively interfering with the environmental background noise.

Abstract: A portable patient treatment device for treating tinnitus includes a sound producing device, and an audio circuit for producing, through the sound producing device, a treatment sound pattern. The treatment sound pattern has a frequency matched to said patient's tinnitus with phase shifting to reduce the patient's tinnitus. A method for treating tinnitus with a portable patient treatment device includes producing, with said portable device, the treatment sound pattern, where the treatment sound pattern comprises a frequency matched to the patient's tinnitus with phase shifting to reduce the patient's tinnitus.

Abstract: A spinal compression device includes a shoulder harness, a footplate assembly connected to the shoulder harness by at least one connecting member, At least one hydraulic actuator is mechanically coupled to the footplate assembly. The hydraulic actuator has proximal and distal ends and a piston mechanically coupled to the connecting member. A hydraulic energy source is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator through hydraulic lines. The footplate assembly is only connected to the hydraulic source by the hydraulic lines.

Abstract: A device for axial compression of a patient's spine includes a footplate assembly, and a shoulder harness connected to the footplate assembly. The footplate assembly is configured to rest on a stationary surface and to be movable relative to the stationary surface. A method of imaging an intra-disc region includes coupling a shoulder harness to a patient; placing the feet of the patient in contact with a footplate, the footplate being configured to be movable along a stationary surface of an imaging device; establishing a pressure within the intra-disc region by coupling the shoulder harness to the footplate assembly and selectively controlling pressure applied to the coupling between the shoulder harness and the footplate assembly; and imaging the intra-disc region.

Abstract: Reciprocal noise cancellation of a patient's mono-frequency tinnitus tone is achieved utilizing an externally generated tone which is subjectively defined by a mono-frequency tinnitus patient to match his/her tinnitus tone in frequency and amplitude. An externally generated sound wave, selectively designated by subjective observations of a patient to match the patient's tinnitus tone is first applied to the tinnitus patient via earphones or a speaker system and then the same externally generated sound wave is sequentially phase shifted through a plurality of angularly shifted sequence steps to shift or slide the external sound wave through at least a 180 degree phase shift of the generated signal as it is applied to the patient to achieve a series of reductions of the patient's tinnitus tone and in one of such shifted steps a reciprocal, canceling relationship with the patient's tinnitus tone.