Abstract: A compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the upper esophageal sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective upper esophageal sphincter anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the compression device is used in conjunction with an external pressure sensing device to determine the external pressure that is to be applied to the cricoid for a specific patient. The compression device can be a means for the management and/or treatment of abnormal upper esophageal sphincter functionality, or a means for strengthening an esophageal sphincter of a subject, or a means for curing esophageal reflux disease of a subject, or a means for improving vocal function in a subject, or a means for managing lung aspiration, or a means for applying cricoid pressure during anesthesia intubation, or a means for stabilizing body structures such as during medical imaging or radiation treatment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of determining health risk for a user are described. The method includes obtaining heart rate values and motion information indicative of motion of the user recorded over a monitoring period, wherein the heart rate values are obtained according to a variable sampling rate selected based on a comparison of at least one previous heart beat measurement to a heart rate range determined as a difference between a maximum heart rate of the user and a resting heart rate of the user; determining an expected heart rate level based on the motion information; determining, for the user over the monitoring period, an aggregate heartbeat value by weighting the heart rate values based on both the motion information and a comparison of the heart rate values with the expected heart rate level; and determining a health-predictive activity score based on the aggregate heartbeat value for the user.

Abstract: A guidewire comprising a hydrophilic surface coating encasing a core and a metal coil along a longitudinal length of the hydrophilic surface coating to form a distal closed tip, the metal coil circumscribing the core along a predetermined length, the core extending longitudinally beyond the metal coil in both a proximal direction and a distal direction, wherein a proximal section of the guidewire includes a hydrophobic surface coating.

Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a reliability degree calculation section that calculates a reliability degree of pulsation variability data or a body index; and a control unit that controls various kinds of processing on the basis of the calculated reliability degree. The pulsation variability data is acquired from sensing data acquired by a pulse wave sensor worn by a user. The body index is calculated from the pulsation variability data and indicates a physical state of the user.

Abstract: A biocompatible medical device may include an electrochemical sensor including a common reference electrode; at least one counter electrode; and a work electrode platform comprising a plurality of respective work electrodes, each respective work electrode electrically coupled to the common reference electrode and comprising a respective reagent substrate configured to react with a respective analyte to produce a respective signal indicative of a concentration of the respective analyte; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the electrochemical sensor, and configured to receive from the electrochemical sensor a plurality of signals from the plurality of respective work electrodes; identify the respective signal corresponding to a respective selected work electrode; and process the identified signal to determine the concentration of the respective analyte associated with the respective selected work electrode.

Abstract: A catheter, such as a fractional flow reserve catheter, includes an elongate shaft having a pressure sensing wire extending to the distal portion of the elongate shaft. The wire has a pressure sensor mounted on the distal end for measuring a pressure of a fluid within lumen of vessel. The pressure sensor wire is disposed within a pocket formed adjacent to the pressure sensor thereby minimizing the profile of the catheter. Bending stresses experienced by a pressure sensor mounted to a fractional flow reserve catheter when tracking the catheter through the vasculature creates a distortion of the sensor resulting in an incorrect pressure reading or bend error. In order to isolate the sensor from bending stresses, the sensor is spaced apart from the pressure sensor wire to allow the pressure sensor and the pressure sensor wire to move independently from one another.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for direct photoplethysmography or direct PPG comprises obtaining during a time interval plural PPG signals for respective sensors in a wearable device; and combining the plural PPG signals to thereby obtain a multi-sensor PPG signal.

Abstract: A mouthpiece for a device for measuring analytes in exhaled air includes a gas path configured to convey exhaled air to the device and a film arranged so as to block the conveying of the exhaled air through the gas path. A system, in one embodiment, includes the mouthpiece and a device configured to measure analytes in the exhaled air. The mouthpiece is configured to be releasably connected to the device. The device includes a pressure sensor and, in one embodiment, a pump configured to pump air via the mouthpiece when connected to the device. The device is configured to be enabled to measure predefined analytes in the exhaled air when a pressure curve measured via the pressure sensor satisfies one or more predefined conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for discovery of knowledge, interest and experience of individuals indicated by measured psychophysiologic response (e.g., electroencephalograph) to sensible stimuli (e.g., images). Stimuli are selected to explore targeted topics described in various levels of detail and sub-categories organized as hierarchal trees. The degree of psychophysiologic response to stimuli associated with sub-categories of topics in the hierarchal tree guides selection of additional stimuli to systematically explore hierarchal tree nodes, levels and branches to discover the extent of knowledge, interest or experience related to the targeted topic.

Abstract: An optical physiological sensor configured to perform high speed spectral sweep analysis of sample tissue being measured to non-invasively predict an analyte level of a patient. An emitter of the optical physiological sensor can be regulated to operate at different temperatures to emit radiation at different wavelengths. Variation in emitter drive current, duty cycle, and forward voltage can also be used to cause the emitter to emit a range of wavelengths. Informative spectral data can be obtained during the sweeping of specific wavelength regions of sample tissue.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a system having at least one sensor configured to monitor a muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2) level of a patient who is undergoing cardiac arrest and to generate a signal representing SmO2 level; a user interface device; a processor communicably coupled to the user interface device, the processor configured to cause the user interface device to present an array of two or more possible nodes of a clinical decision support tree, wherein at least one of the nodes indicates cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) treatment of the patient with no ventilation, and wherein at least another of the nodes indicates CPR treatment of the patient with active ventilation; determine which of the two or more possible nodes should be emphasized based on the SmO2 level; and update the array of the two or more possible nodes based on the determination.

Abstract: A system for contactless monitoring of gas levels within an incubator, the system comprising at least one gas sampling line having a proximal end exposed to the internal space of the incubator, and a distal end associated with a monitoring unit for receiving a gas sample obtained from the incubator via the proximal end.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measurement of end tidal carbon dioxide, including a device having a body and a tubular gas line. The body is adapted to be attached to a patient airway and has a first gas line securing portion which has an aperture through it and is adapted to secure the gas line to the body. The tubular gas line is secured in the aperture. The tubular gas line has a proximal portion extending from a proximal end of the aperture and has a proximal end which is adapted to be connected to an end tidal CO2 monitor. The tubular gas line also has a distal portion extending from a distal end of the aperture and having a distal end which provides an inlet for end tidal CO2 exhaled by a patient.

Abstract: A plurality of sets of simulated optical inputs that is simulated to travel through an animal model of tissue, thereby generating simulated light transmission data, and corresponding oximetry vales may be used to train a simulated fetal oximetry model to predict, or calculate, oximetry values for subsequently received sets of simulated light transmission data. The simulated fetal oximetry model may be adapted to train an in vivo fetal oximetry model that may be configured to predict, or calculate, fetal oximetry values for subsequently received sets of light transmission data received from an in vivo study of a pregnant mammal and her fetus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to predict the risk of obtaining a stress related mood disorder or syndrome by a person, comprising a. Measuring at least three parameters comprising at least one sympathetic, one parasympathetic and one hormonal parameter during a stress response, said result of the measurement depicted as RS, RP and RH respectively; b. Estimate the value of one of these parameters by calculating it from the other two parameters; c. Predict the risk on basis of the deviation between calculated and measured value of the parameter that has been estimated in step b).

Abstract: There is described a wearable respiration sensor generally having a stretchable substrate to be worn around a user's torso; and a dipole antenna having two flexible conductive elements extending in opposite directions from a center, relative to a dipole axis, and being secured to the stretchable substrate, each of the two flexible conductive elements having a proximate end near the center, a distal end away from the center, and a curved portion curving away from and back towards the dipole axis between the proximate end and the distal end, the two flexible conductive elements being in a point reflection symmetry relative to one another relative to said center in a manner that, when the stretchable substrate is stretched along the dipole axis, the curved portions of the two flexible conductive elements are flattened and the distal ends are moved away from one another.

Abstract: A method and system for indicating a breathing pattern is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of smart wearable devices, a plurality of mobile devices, an application server and a database. The plurality of smart wearable devices is either connected to the mobile devices or directly connected to the application server. The database is connected to the application server to store the data transmitted by the smart wearable device or the mobile device. The plurality of smart wearable devices is capable of monitoring the health index and identifying the variation in health conditions of the user, in real-time and activating a suitable breathing pattern to normalize such medical condition.

Abstract: A traumatic brain injury (“TBI”) guideline system employing a patient monitoring sensor (30) and a patient monitoring device (10). In operation, the patient monitoring sensor (30) generates data for monitoring a TBI parameter of a patient (e.g., systolic blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation or carbon dioxide expiration of the patient), and the patient monitoring device (10) generates a TBI indicator derived from a comparison of the TBI parameter data to parameter guideline data associated with a potential TBI of the patient. The patient monitoring device (10) may include a patient data monitor module (17a) to monitor the TBI parameter data, and a TBI monitor module (17b) to generate the TBI indicator. The TBI indicator is informative of a TBI status of the patient (e.g., a hypotension status, a hypoxia status or a ventilation status of the patient), and/or a TBI treatment for the patient (e.g., a ventilation treatment for the patient).

Abstract: A system for detecting potential for infection includes a wound dressing and an electronics component. The wound dressing includes a temperature sensing layer and a cover layer comprising a substrate and a backing layer. The electronics component includes a power source, an electronic control unit (ECU), and a communications interface positioned within a housing and removably coupled to the temperature sensing layer of the wound dressing. The electronics component is configured to receive a plurality of temperature readings from the temperature sensing layer, and provide an indication of potential infection of the wound based the plurality of temperature readings. In various embodiments, each of the plurality of temperature readings corresponds to a temperature of an area around a wound. Methods for preventing infections using the system are also described.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for a non-rigid wearable device comprising electrical circuitry and a support structure supporting the electrical circuitry. The support structure having rigid sections that rigidly support components of the electrical circuitry to protect components and/or solder joints from stress due to deflection and having non-rigid or flexible sections where there are no solder connections present on the electrical circuitry and/or where there are interconnecting traces present on the electrical circuitry that can tolerate stress due to deflection.