Brysthjulet

Brysthjulet, literally “the chest wheel,” is a term used in speculative design and science fiction to describe a compact, wheel-shaped actuator incorporated into a thoracic support system to simulate or assist respiration. It is a fictional device and not part of clinical practice.

Design and operation: The Brysthjulet is envisioned as a small rotary actuator or a wheel with cams, housed within a chest-facing panel or a wearable exosuit. As it turns, the wheel's geometry causes periodic expansion and compression of the chest wall, thereby driving lung inflation and deflation in sync with an artificial pacing signal or spontaneous breathing. In rehabilitation scenarios, it is proposed to encourage thoracic mobility and lung ventilation.

Context and usage: The concept appears in Nordic design fiction and speculative medical discourse to explore themes of body augmentation, autonomy, and the ethics of machine-mediated breathing. It has no clinical validation and is not a standard medical device. The term is used primarily as a thought experiment or narrative device rather than a product.

Implications: If realized, Brysthjulet would intersect with fields such as assistive technology, biomechanics, and human–machine integration. Potential benefits considered in literature include reduced need for external ventilators and improved chest mobility; concerns include safety, comfort, privacy, and the risk of over-reliance on mechanical respiration.

See also: Exoskeleton, thoracic prosthesis, assisted ventilation.