Barany chair

The Bárány chair, named for the Austrian physiologist Robert Bárány, is a device used for aerospace physiology training, particularly for student pilots. The subject is placed in the chair, blindfolded, then spun rapidly about the vertical axis while keeping his head upright or tilted forward or to the side. The subject is then asked to perform tasks such as determine his direction of rotation while blindfolded, or rapidly change the orientation of his head, or attempt to point at a stationary object without blindfold after the chair is stopped. The chair is used to demonstrate spatial disorientation effects, proving that the vestibular system is not to be trusted in flight. Pilots are taught that they should instead rely on their flight instruments.

Vertical treadmill to improve workouts in space

"By changing how strongly runners' feet are pulled towards the treadmill, called the Standalone Zero Gravity Locomotion Simulator, researchers can simulate microgravity conditions on the space station as well as the Moon's gravity, which is one-sixth as strong as Earth's."

Vomit ejector

Patients who overdose on drugs or alcohol can easily drown on their own vomit because they are too intoxicated to cough. Doctors must dread the thought of giving mouth-to-mouth to such a patient in an emergency.

So inventor John Perrier from Queensland, Australia, has come up with an ultrasonic device that promises to make anyone cough, no matter how ill or sedated they are.

The handheld device, which resembles a rechargeable torch, has a curved section at the front that fits over a patient's throat. This section contains a transducer that generates ultrasound pulses at frequencies above 20 kilohertz.

When the device is pushed firmly against the patient's neck, the ultrasound penetrates the walls of the pharynx and excites the tiny hairs, called cilia, which line it.

Exciting the hairs causes such intense tickling that the patient's cough reflex is stimulated and their throat cleared. The device could also help people who are choking on dust or smoke to breathe again, the patent suggests.

Read the full patent here.