An assist for divers breathing a dense gas mixture reduces the fatigue otherwise caused by inspiring and expiring the dense mixture. A respiratory assist cuirasse is fitted to cover the upper abdomen and lower rib cage. The cuirasse has an outer semirigid shell and a flexible bladder inside connected to a pump module which creates positive and negative pressures inside of the covered area to assist normal breathing. A control module and sensors respond to humidity, temperature, or pressure variations in the breathing mixture and breathing apparatus to actuate the pump module. While normal breathing is being facilitated and augmented, there is a greater pulmonary flow and resultant increase in the oxygenation of the blood due to the negative pressure created by the respirator assist cuirasse. As a consequence, a diver will be able to more efficiently perform the demanding tasks during periods of heavy exertion in the cold water.

An abdominal restraint system for protecting a patient from the strain of a cough or the like in which an abdominal belt is tightened around the patient in response to physiological conditions of the patient associated with onset of a cough or the like. Detection of cough onset is achieved by means of pressure sensors, body movement sensors or both. Controlled restraint is achieved by selective inflation or mechanical tightening of the belt.

A system for pneumatically controlling the blood circulation in the lower body extremities in enhancing effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a subject is described which comprises an inflatable garment for covering a preselected portion of the lower body and legs of a subject, a source of pressurized air operatively connected to the garment through a control valve configured for controllably deflating and inflating the garment in response to the application and removal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation pressure applied to a sensor disposed on the chest of a subject.

An automatic blood pressure measuring device includes a flexible inflation system which quickly and accurately inflates neonatal, pediatric and adult cuffs without significant pressure overshoot. The device uses an electric pump having two intake orifices. A restricted orifice provides air to the pump for all cuff sizes. An unrestricted orifice, which may be opened or closed by actuating a valve, provides air to the pump only when an adult or pediatric cuff is being used. In addition, the pump is controlled by a motor controller which provides dynamic breaking to stop the pump quickly when the threshold pressure has been reached. An overpressure mechanism, separate from the pressure sensor that controls the pump, removes operational power from the pump when a predetermined cuff pressure level, greater than the threshold pressure, has been reached.

A resuscitation breathing apparatus includes a high pressure source of breathable gas and an inhalation chamber having an inlet and an outlet. A face mask is connected to the outlet of the inhalation chamber. Inhalation and exhalation check valves in the face mask allow air to enter and exit a patient's lungs. An inhalation valve, connected between the inhalation chamber and the high pressure source, is controlled to open and close the inhalation valve when the pressure reaches first and second values, respectively. The inhalation chamber is vented to lower the pressure within the chamber after the inhalation valve is closed. The apparatus further includes a chest compressor in the form of an inflatable cuff for applying pressure to the patient's lungs during the exhalation phase. The cuff is inflated by gas from the high pressure source when the inhalation valve is closed.