[Development of self-generating lower body negative pressure device].
OBJECTIVE
To develop a kind of self-generating lower body negative pressure device.


METHODS
The device consists of a flexible bellows, reinforced by several steel rings and sealed by gasproof adhesive plaster. An adjustable valve, a one-way flap valve, shoulder straps and handles are incorporated on the top of the bellows. The user's lower body was contained in the bellows. As the user's legs were extended, the bellows was elongated and the air pressure in it decreased.


RESULTS
Negative pressures of -58, -46, -38 and -26 mm-Hg respectively was created with the adjustable inlet valve completely closed, one-quarter open, half open, or fully open.


CONCLUSIONS
This self-generating lower body negative pressure device combines exercise and LBNP into one thing and is safe and easy to use. It might be used in preventing cardiovascular deconditioning during spaceflight or for anti-G training of pilots.
Department of Aerospace Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Chang-bin
CB
Yang
Xi-qing
XQ
Sun
Yong-chun
YC
Wang
Yong-jie
YJ
Yao
Bao-min
BM
Wu
D000337:Aerospace Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation; D018493:Cardiovascular Deconditioning / Q000502:physiology; D004867:Equipment Design; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008150:Lower Body Negative Pressure; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014893:Weightlessness; D018544:Weightlessness Countermeasures