Abstract: A massage device comprising a head which defines a cavity and an opening to the cavity. The head has one or more contact surfaces and a post connected to the head. The post is positioned within the cavity and extends toward the opening. The post also has one or more contact surfaces. A vacuum source communicating with the cavity provides a means for creating negative pressure within the cavity.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the application of a varying pressure to a limb from a sleeve positioned on the limb in order to augment the flow of venous blood and thus reduce the incidence of embolism and deep venous thrombosis in the limb. The apparatus includes a transducer for producing a sleeve pressure signal that is indicative of pressure applied by the sleeve to the limb. This signal is used for periodically measuring the value of a preselected pressure waveform parameter (such as maximum pressure produced in the sleeve). The microprocessor-controlled apparatus also generates an interval signal that is indicative of a time interval during which the value of the selected waveform parameter remains within a particular range.

Abstract: A massaging apparatus (1) comprising a housing (5) having a bottom wall (11) and a suction chamber (12) bounded by chamber walls (13, 14, 15, 16) and a pump (19) for the generation of a partial vacuum inside the suction chamber (12) and thus forming a skin fold (20) which is drawn into the suction space inside the suction chamber (12), as well as at least one roller (21, 22) to be placed onto a body area (3), comprises at least in an area of at least one wall (14), preferably a chamber wall (14), an apparatus part, preferably two cylinders (32, 33), which is movable with respect to this chamber wall (14), and these cylinders (32, 33) are movable, i.e. rotatable, with respect to the chamber wall (14) by the skin of the skin fold (20) drawn into the suction chamber (12), which results in only a comparatively low friction between the chamber wall (14) and the skin of the skin fold (20).

Abstract: A system is disclosed for the use of two mechanical ventilators, wherein one of the ventilators is used to ventilate both lungs of a patient and the second ventilator is used to inflate a pneumobelt or similar device. Both ventilators are controlled to asynchronously cycle off and on at different times. Alternatively, the first and second ventilators are used to ventilate the first and second lung, respectively, of a patient using a double-lumen endotracheal tube, with both ventilators being controlled to asynchronously cycle off and on at different times.

Abstract: A method of stimulation of a body surface with application of a fluid matter pressure over a part of the body surface, a mechanical pressure on local points of the body surface, and a temperature change of the part of the body surface, the method comprises the steps of applying a negative fluid matter pressure over the whole part of the body surface; increasing the mechanical pressure on the local points distributed over the whole part of the body surface simultaneously with the applying the negative fluid matter pressure; cooling the part of the body surface simultaneously with the applying the negative fluid matter pressure and increasing the mechanical pressure on the local points; maintaining said negative fluid matter pressure, said increased mechanical pressure on the local points and said cooling over a preset period of time; then raising the pressure of the fluid matter over the whole part of the body surface; reducing the mechanical pressure on the local points of the part of the body surface simulta

Abstract: An air massaging device having at least one inflatable air bag adapted to be laid against a portion of the human body. The device includes an air pump generating a pressurized air and a distributor valve which has an open position of feeding the pressurized air to the air bag and a closed position of allowing the pressurized air to be discharged from the air bag to the atmosphere in order to repeat inflating and deflating the air bag. A single pressure sensor is disposed upstream of the distributor valve to monitor a pressure level developed on the side of the air pump. A control circuit is included to activate the air pump on a time-period basis in order to give a desired pressure level to which the air bag is inflated. The control circuit operates to provide one or more initial inflation cycle and subsequent inflation cycles alternated by deflating cycles.