Pneumatic somatosensory stimulation device and method

A device for providing tactile stimulation via a pulse of compressible fluid, said tactile stimulation device comprising:

• a high pressure fluid source;
• a low pressure fluid source;
• an outlet conduit being fluidly connectable to the fluid sources and including an applicator configured to direct the pulse against a first area of skin of a subject;
• a pressure valve fluidly interposed between the applicator and the fluid sources,
• said pressure valve being shiftable between a high pressure position, in which the high pressure fluid source is fluidly connected to the outlet conduit, and a low pressure position, in which the low pressure fluid source is fluidly connected to the outlet conduit, with positioning of the pressure valve in the high pressure position and the low pressure position supplying the pulse of compressible fluid to the applicator;
• a vacuum pressure source;
• and
• a vacuum valve shiftable between a vacuum position, in which the vacuum pressure source is fluidly connected to the outlet conduit, and a pulse position, in which the vacuum pressure source is not fluidly connected to the outlet conduit.