A patient (10) having cardiocirculatory arrest is resuscitated using a supple band (12) that is passed around the thorax (14). The thorax is clasped at its side portions, for example, between contoured band-guide assemblies (16 and 18), one (16) being fixed and the other (18) adapted for traversing movement. The band is guided, as by the assemblies (16 and 18), over the clasped portions of the thorax so that a tautening of the band exerts the clasping action and produces force components (62, 64...

A resuscitation device having a specific frame design with an integrated hydraulic plunger frame which is adapted to be strapped over a patient's chest. The frame is designed with two protruding arms stretching towards the patient's armpits. The frame includes flexible straps coiled onto spring biased rotatable reels. The straps end in respective armpit stays which are looked into recesses in a back support. The plunger of the frame stops against a limiting means which limits the travel of the p...

A cardiac assist cuirass is disclosed that acts to alternately apply compression and vacuum to the torso of a patient. This draws venous blood back from the periphery into the lungs and forces oxygenated blood out from the lungs through the left heart to the rest of the body, while at the same time ventilating the lungs. Thus, it can maintain life even during complete cardio-pulmonary arrest. It can also be synchronized with a weakly beating heart for assistance in congestive heart failure or ca...

Respiration apparatus including a jacket having a collapsible bladder supported in the abdominal area of the patient. Pressurization means are connected to the bladder by conduit means; including a control valve having an exhaust port. Control means which may include cascaded fluidic amplifiers, controls flow of pressurization air through the valve and includes a sensing element for sensing the patients respiration cycle. The control means is responsive to a positive signal, caused by initial ex...

A method and device to support blood circulation during ventilation of the lungs which include controlling the application of the respiratory gases to occur at a particular point in time in the heart activity, and applying a uniform pressure to resist expansion of the thorax cavity to increase pressure on the heart during the heart's systole. The device which applies a respiratory gas and the uniform pressure includes a control device which senses the heart's activity to determine the desired po...

Hand-held device for personal hygiene purposes dispensing a cosmetic and/or cleansing agent with an exchangeable container containing said agent, an exchangeable container being positionable within the hand-held device.

A device for providing assistance to persons with emphysema and problems relating to breathing. Essentially the invention provides means for applying pressure to the abdominal and lower rib region which assists in forcing air from a person's lung. The pressure is applied during the exhalation phase of the breathing cycle and the pressure applying means is activated by the person's efforts to exhale. The pressure is released upon completion of the exhalation phase avoiding interference with the i...

A novel method of treating aphthous stomatitis, lesions, sores and blisters affecting the mucous membranes and surrounding areas comprising topical application of tape dosage forms containing minor amounts of topically effective active ingredients is disclosed.

An apparatus for mechanical stimulating of the heart comprising a girdle provided to be stretched over the chest of a human body and carrying power means arranged to mechanically treat said chest in a rhythmical sequence thereby stimulating the heart whereby according to the invention the bloodstream from the heart is directed towards the brain by means of a further girdle provided to be stretched over the body in the level of the abdomen and provided with means arranged to be extended and to ex...

Methods and apparatus for capture management in multi-chamber pacing are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention includes determining a combination of electrodes from a plurality of electrodes that yields the lowest polarization potential immediately following delivery of an electrical stimulus to a heart; and performing capture detection using that combination of electrodes. In order to distinguish loss of capture in one ventricle in bi-ventricular pacing, certain embodiments may also inclu...