Abstract: A surgical access system comprising a tissue dilation assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures and one or more pressure sensors for determining and monitoring pressure on neural structures near the tissue dilation assembly or the tissue retraction assembly.

Abstract: A blood analyzer device has a housing with a top section coupled to a bottom section, a driver and a plurality of penetrating members housed in a disposable positionable in the housing. A gripper engages each penetrating member. A manually actuated button advances the disposable to move penetrating members into launch positions. A power is source coupled to the driver. A display is at the housing.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that employ a monitoring device to monitor at least one patient physiological response to a change in temperature of the patient (e.g. pursuant to induced hypothermia therapy), wherein a monitoring signal is provided by the monitoring device. In turn, an output (e.g. a visual and/or auditory output) may be provided to a user indicative of at least one measure of patient response to the change in temperature. Alternatively or additionally, a processor may be provided to process the monitoring signal and provide an output employable by medical personnel to control a patient shivering response to the patient temperature change. Such information may comprise information regarding one or more anti-shivering medicament(s), e.g. corresponding dosage and/or frequency information for use by medical personnel in the administration of the anti-shivering medicament.

Abstract: A lancet driver is provided wherein the driver exerts a driving force on a lancet during a lancing cycle and is used on a tissue site. The driver comprises of a drive force generator for advancing the lancet along a path into the tissue site, and a manual switch for a user interface input.

Abstract: A method of visual cognitive training is performed at a device with a display. The method includes sequentially displaying a plurality of visual stimuli in a first region of a subject's field of view. While sequentially displaying the plurality of visual stimuli, the device moves the first region periodically along a predefined path within the subject's field of view. The device prompts the subject to respond to a task associated with the sequential display of the plurality of visual stimuli. The device receives a response to the task associated with the sequential display of the plurality of visual stimuli and records information corresponding to the subject's response to the task associated with the sequential display of the plurality of visual stimuli.

Abstract: A spring type firing mechanism applied to an endoscope accessory includes a housing, a cap, a bottom cover, a driving module, a buffering module and a spring pipeline, and the spring pipeline includes a push-rod coupled to the sensor, and the driving module includes a firing spring and a restoring spring, and the two springs have different rigidities so as to form a reciprocating structure of the firing mechanism. After the sensor of the firing mechanism is triggered, the resilience of the restoring spring compresses the firing spring back to its firing length, so as to restore its position by a single driving point and allow users to complete the firing operation by one hand and simplify the operation of doctors to improve convenience and efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one sensor, a connector and a conversion unit. The sensor is coupled to a patient body so as to measure a physiological parameter of the body. The connector coupled to a patient monitor, which measures a value of the physiological parameter by applying a test signal via the connector and measuring a response signal on the connector in response to the test signal. The conversion unit is coupled between the at least one sensor and the connector, and is configured to determine a corrected value of the physiological parameter, to calculate an auxiliary signal that, in combination with the test signal produced by the patient monitor, causes the response signal on the connector to represent the corrected value of the physiological parameter, and to generate and output the auxiliary signal to the connector so as to cause the patient monitor to measure the corrected value.

Abstract: A system and a method are described for monitoring a medical care environment. In one or more implementations, a method includes identifying a first subset of pixels within a field of view of a camera as representing a bed. The method also includes identifying a second subset of pixels within the field of view of the camera as representing an object (e.g., a subject, such as a patient, medical personnel; bed; chair; patient tray; medical equipment; etc.) proximal to the bed. The method also includes determining an orientation of the object within the bed.

Abstract: A medical probe includes an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into a body of a patient and containing a lumen for conveying an irrigation fluid and an electrical conductor for conveying electrical energy. A conductive cap is attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor. The conductive cap has an outer surface perforated by multiple apertures and defines an inner cavity in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion tube so as to permit the irrigation fluid from the lumen to flow out of the cap through the apertures. A plurality of temperature sensors are mounted within the conductive cap in thermal communication with the outer surface and are thermally insulated from the irrigation fluid in the inner cavity.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to computer-assisted joint replacement surgery, and corresponding navigation systems. The systems and methods presented find particular use in performing hip replacement surgery. For example, in one embodiment, there is provided a system and method for: (a) measuring a pre-dislocation positional relationship between a patient's pelvis and the patient's femur; (b) performing a post-dislocation femoral registration of the femur; (c) tracking the position of the femur relative to the pelvis during a reduction procedure; (d) calculating a change in leg length and a change in offset, after the reduction procedure, based on the femoral registration and the pre-dislocation positional relationship between the pelvis and the femur; and (e) conveying the change in leg length and the change in offset.

Abstract: An interactive research device comprised of an orally ingested capsule with pockets rendering the capsule capable of sampling intestinal tracts (gut) substances and microbes before, during and after delivery of system perturbation substances and methods of use and associate system are described. Sensors are provided to simultaneously measure, monitor, record, and transmit data in real time obtained from within the exact vicinity of substance deployment and location of microbial assisted digestive processes. In vivo collected samples are also collected and preserved for in vitro analysis. Digestive processes and dysfunctions involving proteins that result in “gluten sensitivities” and dozens of gut-based diseases that develop in stages, and have been mysteries for over 2,000 years, can be analyzed. The capabilities were developed to permit research within the heretofore inaccessible and important regions of the small intestine where villi functions are compromised, and in the upper colon.

Abstract: According to embodiments, sensors and systems for medical spectroscopy may include adaptive optical components, such as digital light processing components. Adaptive light emitting elements may allow such sensors to alter the intensity profile of emitted light photons to change the distribution of photons through the tissue or to scan areas of tissue to determine if certain areas may be associated with improved measurements. In addition, sensors with adaptive light detecting elements as provided may adapt to selectively detect light of certain wavelengths or from certain regions of the tissue.

Abstract: An implantable medical device and associated methods monitor thoracic fluid status and discriminate thoracic fluid conditions. Intrathoracic impedance is measured along multiple intrathoracic measurement vectors using implanted electrodes. A map of thoracic conductivity is computed using the measured intrathoracic impedances. A thoracic fluid condition is detected in response to the computed map.

Abstract: A blood collection assembly includes a housing and a cannula extending distally from the housing including a patient end, and a cannula shield removably engaged with a portion of the housing. The cannula shield is capable of shielding at least the patient end of the cannula, and includes a safety shield engagement. The assembly includes a pivoting safety shield engaged with a portion of the housing, which is transitionable from a retracted position in which the patient end of the cannula is exposed, to an extended position in which the patient end of the cannula is shielded by at least a portion of the safety shield. The safety shield includes at least one locking tab releasably engageable with the safety shield engagement, wherein the locking tab is fixedly engageable with a portion of the housing in the extended position.

Abstract: A method for scaling the impedance measured during the course of an electrophysiology study accounts for impedance drifts. By scaling the impedance there is greater assurance that previously recorded positional information can be used to accurately relocate an electrode at a prior visited position. The scale factor may be based upon a mean value across several sensing electrodes. Alternatively, the scale factor may be calculated specifically with respect to an orientation of a dipole pair of driven electrodes.

Abstract: A system and methods that provide for visualization and/or characterization of manometry data. Visual representations of pressure information represent pressure information measured over time by sensors positioned within an organism. Markers may be provided on the visual representations. Using the system and methods described herein, various characteristics of an organism and/or events that occur within the organism may be determined.

Abstract: A safety device is presented for securely stowing a double sharp-ended needle. The device comprises a tubular adapter with a longitudinally-elongated channel. A needle holder is located in the channel to move from a distal orientation, in which one needle end projects from a distal adapter opening, and a proximal orientation, in which both needle ends are enclosed within the adapter body. A top plate transitions from a distal orientation, in which the plate is distal from a proximal adapter opening, and a proximal orientation, in which the top plate obstructs the proximal adapter opening. An actuator plate is attached to the adapter body to transition from a first position where the actuator plate retains the needle holder and top plate in distal orientations, and a second position where the needle holder and top plate move to proximal orientations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) to allow providing testing of tissue of prostate gland (3) using two or more biopsy needles (4, 5, 6, etc.) essentially simultaneously. According to the invention a guiding (7) for said needles (4-6) is arranged to act on said needles, which preferably have a built-in curvature,-.so that the needles (4-6) are curved by said guiding to get the needles, when using the device, to extend along a peripheral part of the prostate gland (3) in question to allow testing in said peripheral part (2) of the same.

Abstract: A piercing system has a carrier band carrying piercing elements with test elements disposed in-between. The carrier band holder, which is coupled to a piercing drive, holds a segment of the carrier band and moves together with the segment and a piercing element at the segment during lancing. A wind-up roll displaces the band in a band transport direction. A measuring device measures analyte concentration of a bodily fluid sample received by a test element. A segment of the band having an unused test element is guided past a carrier band segment disposed in the holder or behind the holder in the band transport direction. The two carrier band segments are pressed against each other for transferring the sample from the piercing element to the test element. A method for transferring a bodily fluid sample from a piercing element to a test element is described.

Abstract: A body fluid sampling device includes a firing mechanism that is configured to be automatically cocked and fired. In one form, the device includes an electric motor that is operable to cock the firing mechanism and fire an integrated lancet/sampling device to form an incision in skin. Subsequent to formation of the incision, the integrated lancet device is temporarily removed from the skin to promote bleeding from the incision. After a specified period of time, the integrated lancet device is then repositioned against the skin in order to collect a fluid sample.