Abstract: An apparatus includes a first engaging member to engage a first portion of a finger, a second engaging member to engage a second portion of the finger, and a plurality of assemblies connecting the first engaging member and the second engaging member to maintain a distance between bones of a body portion comprising a joint of the finger, wherein the body portion resides between the first and second portions, and wherein each assembly comprises a plurality of rods coupling the first engaging member and the second engaging member, and a coupling tube with a first rod of the plurality of rods secured to a proximal end and a second rod of the plurality of rods secured to a distal end, wherein rotation of the coupling tube adjusts a gap between the first and second rods in the coupling tube to control the distance between the bones of the body portion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body engaging member to engage a first portion of a body including a leg, a base member to engage a second portion of the body including a foot, and a plurality of assemblies connecting the body engaging member and the base member to maintain a distance between bones of a body portion comprising a knee. Each assembly comprises a plurality of rods coupling the body engaging member and the base member, and a coupling tube with a first rod of the plurality of rods secured to a proximal end and a second rod of the plurality of rods secured to a distal end. Rotation of the coupling tube adjusts a gap between the first and second rods in the coupling tube to control the distance between the bones of the body portion. A method of using the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first and second engaging member to engage a first and second portion of a body toward an upper and lower portion of a back, and a plurality of assemblies connecting the first and second engaging members to maintain a distance between bones of a body portion comprising an area of the back, wherein the body portion resides between the first and second portions, and wherein each assembly comprises a plurality of rods coupling the first engaging member and the second engaging member, and a coupling tube with a first rod of the plurality of rods secured to a proximal end and a second rod of the plurality of rods secured to a distal end, wherein rotation of the coupling tube adjusts a gap between the first and second rods in the coupling tube to control the distance between the bones of the body portion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a pair of engaging members to engage a first and second portion of a body toward an upper and lower portion of a neck, and a plurality of assemblies connecting the first engaging member and the second engaging member to maintain a distance between bones of a body portion comprising an area of the neck, wherein the body portion resides between the first and second portions, and wherein each assembly comprises a plurality of rods coupling the first engaging member and the second engaging member, and a coupling tube with a first rod of the plurality of rods secured to a proximal end and a second rod of the plurality of rods secured to a distal end, wherein rotation of the coupling tube adjusts a gap between the first and second rods in the coupling tube to control the distance between the bones of the body portion.

Abstract: An airflow perturbation device for measuring respiratory resistance of a patient breathing with the use of a ventilator comprises a sealed housing having a first port and a second port each configured to couple to a ventilator hose, a perturbation mechanism to periodically alter air flow resistance between the first port and the second port, a pneumotachometer comprising a flow sensor to measure airflow between the first port and the second port, a pressure sensor to measure a difference in air pressure between the first port and the second port, and a computing system comprising at least one processor configured to receive data from the flow sensor and pressure sensor. The computing system determines an airflow resistance based on the received data. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for measuring respiratory resistance of a ventilated patient in substantially the same manners described above.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of determining respiratory parameters comprises determining a ratio of pressure changes to flow changes induced in the breathing of a patient by an airflow perturbation device at each of a plurality of perturbation frequencies to form a dataset. Resistance, compliance, and inertance parameters of a model of a respiratory system are determined by comparing a predicted frequency dependence of the model to the dataset. Embodiments of the present invention further include a system and computer program product for determining respiratory parameters in substantially the same manners described above.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, an airflow perturbation device for detecting airway sensitivity to temperature comprises a pneumotachometer including a flow sensor to measure airflow through the apparatus; a perturbation mechanism to periodically alter air flow resistance in the apparatus; an air cooler; a pressure sensor to measure a difference in air pressure across the pneumotachometer and perturbation mechanism; and a computing system comprising at least one processor configured to receive data from the flow sensor and pressure sensor; and determine an airflow resistance based on the received data. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method for detecting airway sensitivity to temperature in substantially the same manners described above.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, an airflow perturbation device for detecting airway sensitivity to temperature comprises a pneumotachometer including a flow sensor to measure airflow through the apparatus; a perturbation mechanism to periodically alter air flow resistance in the apparatus; an air cooler; a pressure sensor to measure a difference in air pressure across the pneumotachometer and perturbation mechanism; and a computing system comprising at least one processor configured to receive data from the flow sensor and pressure sensor; and determine an airflow resistance based on the received data. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method for detecting airway sensitivity to temperature in substantially the same manners described above.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of determining respiratory parameters comprises determining a ratio of pressure changes to flow changes induced in the breathing of a patient by an airflow perturbation device at each of a plurality of perturbation frequencies to form a dataset. Resistance, compliance, and inertance parameters of a model of a respiratory system are determined by comparing a predicted frequency dependence of the model to the dataset. Embodiments of the present invention further include a system and computer program product for determining respiratory parameters in substantially the same manners described above.

Abstract: An airflow perturbation device for measuring respiratory resistance of a patient breathing with the use of a ventilator comprises a sealed housing having a first port and a second port each configured to couple to a ventilator hose, a perturbation mechanism to periodically alter air flow resistance between the first port and the second port, a pneumotachometer comprising a flow sensor to measure airflow between the first port and the second port, a pressure sensor to measure a difference in air pressure between the first port and the second port, and a computing system comprising at least one processor configured to receive data from the flow sensor and pressure sensor. The computing system determines an airflow resistance based on the received data. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for measuring respiratory resistance of a ventilated patient in substantially the same manners described above.