Abstract:
A biomimetic mechanical joint for generating a variable torque between support members of a biomimetic robotic device, including a base support member, a rotary support member rotatably coupled to the base support member, and a variable-radius pulley operably coupled between the base support member and rotary support member. The variable-radius pulley comprises a sheave body having a variable radius and one or more tendon grooves formed in the circumferential outer surface. The mechanical joint further includes one or more flexible tendons and antagonistic actuator pairs, with each actuator pair being coupled to one or more tendons and configured to operate the tendon around the variable-radius pulley in either direction to create a variable torque between the base and rotary support members.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for stretching the vertebral column of a person, said apparatus comprising a table (1) equipped with a traction system having fixing means (24) for connecting a cable (21) to the person's feet, and traction means (23) acting on the cable to effect traction on the legs in order to stretch the legs and the column, and oscillating means (4) that act on the cable so as to obtain movements of lateral oscillation of both legs, said traction means and said oscillation means being able to be controlled by a control unit (3) in order to combine movements of lateral oscillation and movements of traction. This apparatus can be used to effect movements of lateral oscillation in order to achieve muscle relaxation in the region of the pelvis and the lumbar region, and thereby make the subsequent stretching of the lower back region more effective.
Abstract:
A chair (1) with a back (2) and a seat cushion (4) is outfitted on both sides of the middle lateral plane (10) of the seat (1) with a series of adjustable units (A, C, E, G and/or B, D, F, H) arranged on top of each other. By alternately adjusting the height-staggered elements that are allocated to each other (A through H) in both halves of the seat (1), it is possible to apply a rotating motion actively to the back and possibly the pelvis of the seat user comparable to the rotating motion of the back, and possibly the pelvis, while walking.
Abstract:
A pressurized medical device comprising an inflatable element arranged to contact a part of a patient; a fluid connector attached to the element and arranged to deliver fluid to the element; a control system arranged to control flow of fluid in the device; a first element pressure sensor arranged to measure the pressure exerted by the element on the part of the patient; and detection means arranged to detect malfunctioning of the first element pressure sensor.
Abstract:
A clitoris stimulator (10) having a vibrating device (20) with a clip assembly (40) adapted to be removably attached to the vaginal labia of a user. The clip assembly (40) removably attaches to the vaginal labia to cooperatively bring in contact the vibrating device (20) to the clitoris area. In an alternate embodiment (10'), the clip assembly (40') is mounted to a holder (60'), instead of the vibrating member (20'), and the holder (60') cooperates to receive the vibrating member (20'). The holder (60') comes in contact with the clitoris area. In still another embodiment (10') the clip assembly (40') is mounted to the vibrating device (20') directly. In all embodiments a sufficient and comfortable gripping action is exerted on the labia to keep the stimulator in place.
Abstract:
A positioning device, wherein pneumatically telescopable telescoping bodies (23, 24, 146) are disposed on both sides of reciprocatingly movable members (22, 144) in the moving direction, and valve devices (45, 46, 163, 164) for holding the telescoping bodies in any extended state by a valve closing operation are installed on air route devices (32, 37, 148, 149) for supplying air from air supply devices (25, 160) to the telescoping bodies. A massaging machine having the positioning device, wherein the movable members are movably vertically guided by guide members (44, 28, 141) installed on back rest parts (4, 104) of chair main bodies (1, 102), treating elements (16, 130) which project from the surface of the back rest parts and in contact with a human body seated on the chair main bodies are installed on the movable members, and the movable members are moved by the supply and exhaust of air from the air supply devices through the air route devices to the telescoping bodies located on both sides of the movable members in the movable direction so as to adjust the moving position by the valve devices installed on the air route devices.
Abstract:
A chair type air massaging machine comprises a chair body (1) having a seat portion (2) and a backrest portion (3) provided on the rear end of the seat portion; bags (4, 5, 10) provided on the seat portion and the backrest portion, respectively, and adapted to inflate and deflate as compressed air is supplied and discharged; and a compressed air control device (11) for controlling supplying and discharging of compressed air. The bags provided on the seat portion are secured to the seat portion at their rear edges positioned on the side of the backrest portion, and a bag provided on the backrest portion is secured to the backrest portion at its upper end. The compressed air control device (50, 50', 50', 50''') varies a period of time for supplying or discharging of the compressed air or volumes of the bags or flow resistance of supply and discharge pipes for the bags so that even if some bags (35, 39) receive more of weight of a person who is seated on the chair body (30) than the other bags (34, 36a, 36b, 37a, 37b, 38a, 38b, 41a, 41b, 42a, 42b) after the completion of supplying of the compressed air to the bags, they can be expanded just as the other bags.
Abstract:
Patient support apparatus comprising: a patient support assembly; a winch for vertically displacing the patient support assembly; yieldable force application apparatus operative to apply a restraining force to the patient support assembly; and a displacement limiter operative to limit the vertical displacement of the patient support assembly in at least one direction.
Abstract:
A personalized sauna (10) comprising an elongated, horizontally extending bed (14) which is connected to a supporting pedestal (12) and which supports an individual on the bed (14). The sauna has a cover (36) that has a duct (56) and blower (60) for circulating and uniformly directing heated air over the top of the bed (14) to provide an air shower and a flow of air over a person lying on the bed (14). The air inlets (64) from the duct (56) are spaced along the length of the duct (56) to provide a generally uniform air flow rate along the length of the body of a person lying on the bed (14).