Abstract: A rhythmic biofeedback technique for inducing relaxation to counteract the adverse physiological and psychological effects of chronic stress on an individual. In this technique, the heart beat of the individual being treated is continuously monitored and the prevailing rate is displayed to him as he undergoes a rhythmic conditioning session constituted by successive exercise-relaxation cycles extending for a predetermined period. In the course of each cycle, the individual is required to raise his level of exertion, as indicated by his perceived heart beat rate, to a peak representing an established safe upper limit, following which he is required to decrease his exertion until he reaches a lower limit at which a recovery relaxation response takes place. The upper and lower limits are determined by the individual's existing capacity for exercise and define his target heart rate zone.

Abstract: A device for compressing a ventricle of a heart from one or more sides in synchronism with the natural contraction of the ventricle (systole), and providing arrhythmia control of the heart, is completely implantable in the body of a patient user externally of the heart. Compression of the ventricle is produced by a plurality of spaced compression plate assemblies and a ventricle apex-compression plate, a single compression plate-band assembly or tightenable bands. The compression plate assemblies comprise suitably located electrodes for heart monitoring purposes. A power supply of the implanted device can be recharged transcutaneously, and various other components of the device can be noninvasively programmed and interrogated by external circuits. The compression plate assemblies may be operated by a small brushless DC motor. An implantable manual pump mechanism, for operating the compression plate assemblies, also is provided for emergency purposes.