Abstract: Apparatus and methods for therapeutically treating bone fractures, osteopenia, osteoporosis, or other tissue conditions, postural instability, or other conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease and kidney and gall bladder stones. An oscillating platform apparatus supports a body to be treated. An oscillator is positioned within the platform apparatus and is configured to impart an oscillating force on the body. Two accelerometers are mounted to the platform apparatus for determining the acceleration and weight of the body. Once the weight of the body is determined, the amplitude of the frequency of the oscillating force and/or frequency of the oscillating force is adjusted to provide a desired therapeutic treatment to the patient. Information received from the two accelerometers is also used to determine the posture of the patient and the transmissibility of the mechanical vibration energy generated by the oscillating force through the body.

Abstract: A second-stage regulator for scuba divers is disclosed that reduces considerably the inhalation effort required by the user through reduction in friction between selected components of the regulator. A flexible sleeve is sealingly connected to the regulator poppet and the baffle, and coaxially with the poppet, so as to avoid blow-by of gaseous mixture through an opening in the baffle. A tail of the poppet extends through the opening, the tail being connected to a lever of the regulator projecting into an outlet chamber thereof. The head of the poppet is or includes a ferrule with an at least partially-circular profile and abuts a selected inner portion of the inlet's intermediate chamber to allow oscillation of the poppet. The lever end of the regulator contacts a diaphragm, the diaphragm separating the outlet chamber from the external environment.

Abstract: There is provided a manifold for use in a medicament dispenser device for the delivery of medicament powder from an open blister pocket of a blister pack. The manifold comprises a body, the body defining a chimney having a chimney inlet and a chimney exit for directing airflow from the chimney inlet to the chimney exit; the body further defining a chamber having a chamber inlet and a chamber exit. The chimney exit and said chamber inlet lie side-by-side each other such that when said open blister pocket of said blister pack is positioned adjacent thereto said airflow may be directed from the chimney exit to the chamber inlet via the open blister pocket to entrain said medicament powder and enable transport thereof in the airflow from the chamber inlet to said chamber outlet. The manifold is arranged such as to delay the emptying of the medicament powder from the blister pocket.

Abstract: A massage nozzle is disclosed including a vortex chamber having a water intake section provided to form a vortical flow therein, a spouting port provided to spout the vortical flow to form a negative pressure region, a water-spray plate provided at a distal end of the spouting port, the water-spray plate having an opening at a center thereof and a plurality of water-spray holes around the opening. The water-spray plate allows a large area suction and smooth movement while moving in contact with the skin. Further a movable member having an opening may be provided with at least a part inserted into the vortex chamber. Some part of a first portion of the movable member has a larger outside dimension than the spouting port, allowing physical vibration of the movable member in addition to the suction massage effect.

Abstract: A circumferential compression sleeve has bladder openings extending through a bladder, making the sleeve generally breathable and comfortable for the wearer. The openings include at least about 4% of a total surface area of the bladder. The device also has a static evaporation rate through the device of at least about 20 mg/minute. In one example, the device includes a wicking layer for contacting the wearer's skin. The wicking layer wicks moisture from the wearer's skin and generally moves the moisture to portions of the layer in registration with the openings where the moisture is allowed to evaporate therethrough.

Abstract: A compression device has improved cooling capability. The device includes a wicking layer adapted to move moisture. A portion of the wicking layer is exposed from under bladder material defining a bladder. In use, the wicking layer wicks moisture from the patient's limb and the wicked moisture is able to evaporate through the device at the portion of the wicking layer that is exposed.

Abstract: A connector includes a mask end for connecting with the interior of a respiratory mask, a supply conduit end, and a gas washout vent passage having an inlet adjacent to, or forming part of, the mask end in fluid communication with the interior of the respiratory mask and an outlet in fluid communication with atmosphere. The vent outlet of the vent passage is disposed on the side of the connector remote from the mask end. A respiratory mask includes a mask shell, a mask inlet for connecting with the outlet of a breathable gas supply conduit, and a gas washout vent passage. A vent outlet is disposed on the side of the mask remote from the mask interior and is adapted to direct the washout gas in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mask inlet and away from the mask inlet.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a ventilation control system for controlling the ventilation of a patient. The ventilation control system utilizes a user-friendly user interface for the display of patient data and ventilator status. The user interface includes a graphic representation of a breath cycle that displays the breath cycle currently being ventilated, and is also responsive to changes in ventilation settings to assist the user in evaluation the effect of those changes on the ventilator strategy before the changes are implemented.

Abstract: A massaging apparatus includes a control unit for controlling first to third drive units so as to drive movement of a second guiding rail unit along a first guiding rail unit in a transverse direction, movement of a mounting seat on the second guiding rail unit in a longitudinal direction, and movement of a post on the mounting seat in a vertical direction such that a massage member mounted on a bottom end of the post is moved to contact a user's body that lies on a bed body at a desired acupuncture point. Thereafter, the control unit further controls the third drive unit so as to drive further downward movement of the post corresponding to a desired massage pressure, and controls the first and second drive units so as to drive movement of the massage member around the desired acupuncture point of the user's body.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas includes a conveyor device for conveying the respiratory gas, a conduit for feeding the respiratory gas conveyed by the conveyor device to a person, and a humidification device for humidifying the respiratory gas. A sensor device is configured to generate a signal indicative of the respiratory gas humidity and a control device is configured to control the humidification device with regard to the signal which is generated by the sensor device. A method of supplying a respiratory gas to a patient, in which the respiratory gas is introduced by means of a conveyor device into the conduit leading to the patient and is humidified, includes operating the conveyor device so that a respiratory gas pressure which is above ambient pressure is provided in the conduit, and adjusting the humidity on the basis of signals indicative of the relative and/or absolute humidity of the respiratory gas generated by the sensor device.

Abstract: A forehead support device for a breathing mask includes a forehead support portion adapted to contact a forehead region of a user, a conduit element adapted to couple a respiratory gas conduit to the breathing mask, and a coupling structure provided between the forehead support portion and the conduit element and structured to support the conduit element at a predetermined spacing from the forehead support portion. The forehead support portion is displaceably engaged with the coupling structure such that the forehead portion can be selectively displaced relative to the coupling structure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a medical mask includes a rigid sealing portion configured to cover and seal around at least a portion of a user's nose including the user's nostrils and a rigid stabilizing frame coupled to the rigid sealing portion. The rigid stabilizing frame includes a generally horizontal upper support member configured to bear against the user's forehead, a generally vertical support member coupled between the rigid sealing portion and the upper support member, and lower left and right support members coupled between the rigid sealing portion and the upper support member and configured to bear against the user's cheeks. The rigid stabilizing frame defines two openings configured to allow the user to see through the medical mask when the medical mask is positioned on the user's face.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling air supplied under pressure to a patient suffering from sleep disorders such as apnoea. The apparatus measures and/or calculates the inspiratory air flow, volume and pressure to the airway. Controlled pressurized air is supplied to the patient's upper anatomical airway, wherein the apparatus measures the air flow and pressure to the airway. The apparatus determines whether to increase or decrease the pressure to the patient's airway based on a determination of one or more factors, such as the occurrence of hypopnoea, hyperventilation, obstructive or central apnoea, air leakage and acoustical vibrations. Occurrences of events representing a sleep problem may be stored by the apparatus and retrieved by a clinician at a later date.

Abstract: A ventilation system for intensified breathing that includes both a manual ventilation system and automatic ventilation system. The gas mixture from a gas supply system is supplied to a switching valve that is operable between a manual position and an automatic position. When the switching valve is in the manual position, the inhalation gas from the supply system is guided to a manual ventilation bag. When the ventilation bag is squeezed during manual inhalation, the gas flow from the manual bag is directed to the inhalation limb of the patient circuit. When the manual ventilation bag is released, the pressure within the ventilation bag falls below the exhalation pressure, thereby indicating the beginning of the exhalation phase and the re-inflation of the manual ventilation.

Abstract: An optimized system for providing medical support to a patient is disclosed. The system has a plurality of modular components that may be assembled to create a connection between a support machine and the patient wherein at least one of the modular components comprises an information tag for the storage of data and at least one of the modular components comprises an information sensor for the reading and transmission of the data. Once read and transmitted by the sensor, the data may be used to optimize the operation of the support machine.

Abstract: Actuator for an inhaler for delivering medicament by inhalation, having a mouthpiece for guiding medicament to the mouth of a user; and a removable protection cap for the mouthpiece. The cap is secured to the mouthpiece by a cap retaining member that engages a mating recess in the mouthpiece outer periphery. The cap includes at least one release button arranged to provide an elastic deformation of the cap inner periphery that disengages the cap retaining member from the recess.

Abstract: A circulation apparatus and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, tubing provides gas communication between an air intake portion disposed at a first end and a breathing sub-apparatus at a second end. A bladder, which may be incorporated into a clothing garment or sleeping gear, is coupled to the tubing between the first and second ends. At least one valve is disposed within the tubing in order to selectively allow gas communication from the air intake portion to the breathing sub-apparatus and selectively allow gas communication from the breathing sub-apparatus to the bladder. Following an inhalation, heated exhaled air is circulated through the bladder to maintain a healthy core temperature and prevent hypothermia.

Abstract: As a respiration synchronized-type gas supplying apparatus which has a function for setting the flow rate during continuous supply and at the same time can be miniaturized by simplifying the structure, the present invention provides an oxygen supplying apparatus comprising an oxygen generating means, an oxygen supplying means for supplying the oxygen generated by the oxygen supplying means to a user and an automatic closing valve placed on the oxygen-supplying passage, wherein the oxygen supplying apparatus is provided with the following: a respiration sensor which detects the respiration of a user; a supply method setting means which selects the supply in a continuous flow or the supply in synchronism with the respiration of the user; a flow rate setting means for a supply flow rate; and a controlling means which controls the aperture of the closing valve corresponding to the set value of the flow rate setting means by receiving a supply method setting signal of the continuous flow, or opens the automatic cl

Abstract: A nasal cannula for delivering air to a patient's nares. Two delivery tubes are provided to supply air to a pair of nasal inserts each of which conform to the shape of the nare. Properly placed bleed ports reduce noise and reduce carbon dioxide retained in the system. The cannula is positioned on the face with the aid of a strap system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing positive pressure (PP) therapy alone or in combination with an aerosol delivery apparatus. The positive pressure apparatus includes a positive pressure valve having a continuously variable respiratory window. The PP valve may be associated with a patient respiratory system interface alone, such as, but not limited to, a mask or mouthpiece, or in combination with an aerosol delivery apparatus.