Abstract: A method and apparatus for helping healthcare professionals create clinical protocols or assist in direct entry of medical finding into a chart by intelligently prompting a healthcare professional with medical findings associated with at least one medical finding which has already been entered in the protocol is disclosed. First of all, at least one medical finding for a patient is inputted into the system wherein each finding is assigned a point value for each diagnosis within a knowledge base. A total number of points for each diagnosis is then totalled for all of the findings which have been entered into the system. The possible diagnoses are then ranked in descending point total and a predetermined plurality of the highest ranked diagnoses are selected. Once the highest ranked diagnoses have been selected, the healthcare professional is prompted with additional findings associated with the selected diagnoses which have not yet been inputted into the clinical protocol.

Abstract: A method for a preferably ambulatory measuring and registration of at least one parameter in relation to the bilirubin presence in a measuring region in the gastrointestinal tract of a patient to determine the bilirubin presence in the region. The method is characterized in that the bilirubin presence determination is made in relation to the pH-value of the fluids in the region. The invention relates also to a system for performing the method.

Abstract: A laser handpiece apparatus for use in therapeutic procedures employing selective cooling, the apparatus for use in conjunction with a controllable laser source, the apparatus including laser delivery device for controllably delivering a predetermined amount of laser energy to a preselected surface area, a reservoir having a predetermined volume, cryogen liquid contained in the reservoir, and a valve for controllably delivering a portion of the cryogen liquid to the preselected surface area.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described that examine a subject positioned between an input port and detection ports of a spectroscopic system applied to the subject. At least one source of a visible or infrared wavelength is provided that introduces electromagnetic radiation into the subject. The detection ports are optically connected to a detector circuit constructed to provide a detection signal of known sensitivity. The input and detection locations and the sensitivity define a null plane in the tissue. Radiation is introduced into the subject at the input port and the radiation that migrates through the tissue is detected at the detection ports. The detector circuit provides a first detection signal corresponding to a first detected radiation and a second detection signal corresponding to a second detected radiation. The first detection signal is subtracted from the second detection signal to obtain processed data.

Abstract: A method for selectively ablating targeted biological material uses real-time optical feedback control to measure incandescent photoemissions emitted from irradiated biological material and, based on the measured incandescent photoemissions, adjust laser pulse parameters to selectively ablate targeted biological material. Laser pulses are directed to a target area of the subject using a delivery system. During each laser pulse, incandescent photoemissions emitted from the biological material having a wavelength of less than that of the laser pulses are measured. Based on such measured incandescent photoemissions, at least one of the wavelenght, pulse duration and energy level of each laser pulse are adjusted in order to selectively ablate targeted soft or hard biological material.

Abstract: A handy blood glucose measurement apparatus irradiates the retina of the eye of the subject with light emitted from light-emitting elements having two different wavelengths, with the light of one wavelength serving as reference light and the light of the other wavelength serving as measurement light. The intensity of the reference light and of the measurement light is obtained and the blood glucose value of the subject is found based upon the difference between these two reflected-light intensities. By focusing his or her eye on a symbol or figure displayed on a display panel in the apparatus, the subject is capable of focusing the light emitted by the light-emitting elements on the retina of the eye in reliable fashion.

Abstract: An apparatus for impregnating tobacco with an expansion agent includes a chamber for confining a charge of tobacco under elevated pressure conditions. An accumulator connected to the chamber maintains a supply of an expansion agent in fluid form under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure but less than the desired tobacco impregnation temperature and pressure. The expansion agent is forcibly and rapidly moved from the accumulator and introduced into the chamber under conditions such that the pressure and temperature of the expansion agent are increased to the desired impregnation temperature and pressure, preferably including a pressure approaching or above the supercritical pressure thereof.

Abstract: A system for treating vision disorders is disclosed. The system includes a heating device able to heat predetermined areas of the corneal tissue of an eye. The energy for heating is typically generated in the form of laser light or infrared that cause the tissue at that predetermined area to heat and shrink. The shrinkage shifts a plug or portion of the cornea with respect to the remainder of the eye to change the shape of the corneal surface and correct the problematic refractive error. A heat absorption modifier is used to avoid damage to the epithelial layer as energy is passed therethrough.

Abstract: A portable, autonomous electronic device consisting of a barcode scanner, an updatable nutrition facts database, user memory to store product records of products eaten, and an integral readout display is disclosed that will allow a user to scan barcodes on food items consumed and keep a cumulative total of calories and other nutrients. Prepared packaged foods may have their barcodes read directly, while foods that are used in cooking or preparing other foods may be referenced by scanning from a printed generic foods barcode list provided with the device. Serving sizes can be adjusted to accurately reflect the intake of given food items. Daily cumulative totals of calories and several other nutrients can be displayed as bar graphs, and the incremental increase that would result from consuming a scanned item can be displayed with reference to what has already been consumed.

Abstract: An improved pulse oximeter apparatus and method for the measurement of oxygen saturation in the blood, which is faster and more accurate than conventional pulse oximeters. Improved speed and accuracy is attained by elimination of normalization and feedback circuitry and the use of analog to digital converting devices having a wide dynamic range along with a sophisticated computer analysis. The instant invention eliminates inaccuricies resulting from channel matching errors, and detects and eliminates aberrant input data.

Abstract: Arrangement for determining the oxygen saturation in human blood vessels and organs with a measurement sensor with at least two light sources of different wavelengths--preferably wavelengths of 660 nm and 940 nm--and with at least one receiver which receives the light transmitted and reflected from the oxygen particles which are bonded with the hemoglobin in the irradiated vessel or organ and transmits it as an electrical signal to a pulsoximeter for evaluation of the measurement results and readout on a display device. An additional measurement sensor is associated with the measurement sensor for locating a blood vessel or organ to be selected and the two measurement sensors are designed such that they can be handled together as a constructional unit.

Abstract: A movement-responsive system for conducting tests on freely-moving animals is disclosed. The invention includes a container for housing the animal, a mechanism for rotating the cage in response to rotational movement of the animal, and one or more test leads connected to the animal for performance of biomedical tests such as infusion, in vivo ultrafiltration, laser-doppler monitoring of blood flow, electrical stimulation, and in vivo microdialysis. The container is caused to rotate in the opposite (counter-rotation) direction of the sensed direction of rotation of the animal so that the one or more test leads do not become entangled, twisted, disconnected, or clamped. The rotating mechanism includes a simple, reliable sensor assembly including a pair of strategically placed, close-ended limit detectors which are activated by a triggering element, which is also a part of the sensor assembly.

Abstract: A therapeutic pad for heating or cooling has a liquid absorbent to prevent liquid leakage in the event the sealed envelope of the pad is ruptured. The method of forming the pad includes vacuuming the thermoplastic envelope prior to sealing. The pad can be used alone or with a comforter to provide warmth or to remove heat from the body of the user.

Abstract: A binocular indirect ophthalmoscope having an improved delivery system for a laser treatment beam includes a laser beam generator directed horizontally across the pupillary line of one eye path of the binocular arrangement. A single beamsplitter is placed directly in the one eye path to receive the laser beam and deflect it toward the visualized target. The beamsplitter is coated to reflect 90-100% of the laser beam, so that reflectivity of and visibility through the beamsplitter is optimized. A beam trap is disposed to receive the transmitted portion of the laser beam. Separate protective filters for laser protection of each eye of the physician are optimized for protection and visible throughput without limitations imposed by a combined beamsplitter function. The position of the beamsplitter in the optical axis of one eye eliminates losses in the illumination path.

Abstract: A remote center positioner used to support an instrument and provide a center of spherical rotation, remote from any bearings or mechanical supports, at a desired location of the instrument. The remote center positioner is particularly useful in laparoscopic surgery to constrain a surgical instrument to move around a fixed center of rotation remote from any bearings or mechanical supports and coincident with an entry incision in the abdominal wall.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for EEG monitoring provides multi-dimensional classification of EEG samples, using a neural network having multiple outputs trained upon a training set of samples to define an n-dimensional space in which to classify the samples and provide to the user a display of that space.

Abstract: A plurality of locally sensitive, far-field immune sensors are mounted in mutually spaced relation on the exterior of the body of a subject to detect electrical signals associated with voluntary skeletal muscle activity in the immediate physical vicinity of the sensors. The detected signals are used to determine which, if any, of a predetermined series of voluntary skeletal muscle maneuvers is performed by the subject. A signal bearing a predetermined relationship to the maneuver is then transmitted to a device to be controlled based on which maneuver the subject has performed. Also disclosed are a novel sensor and a method of making same.

Abstract: A thermotherapy device with a hood (4), two flaps (6, 7) pivotable around hinges (5) for closing longitudinally extending, essentially triangular access opening portions in the hood. The opening has an essentially horizontally extending base edge (15). First access areas (12, 13) with the greatest width are directed to the outside, and second access areas (14), which are arranged opposite the first access areas (12, 13), face each other. Objects can be introduced into the interior space of the incubator with both hands simultaneously, without the climate within the hood (4) being compromised in an unacceptable manner. This is achieved by the access openings being designed as areas passing over into each other in the area of the second access areas (14), as a result of which a contiguous access opening (8) is formed in the hood (4).

Abstract: A therapeutic pad for heating or cooling has a liquid absorbent to prevent liquid leakage in the event the sealed envelope of the pad is ruptured. The method of forming the pad includes vacuuming the thermoplastic envelope prior to sealing. The pad can be used alone or with a comforter to provide warmth or to remove heat from the body of the user.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the content of a constituent of blood of an individual are disclosed. In the method a whole blood stream is extracted from a blood vessel of said individual, the stream being directed through a path defining a substantially non-varying flow-through area wherein is provided a flow-through measuring cuvette including opposite first and second optical transparent surface parts defining an optical transmission path of the order of 0.5-2.0 mm. The whole blood stream flowing through the measuring cuvette is irradiated by irradiating the first optical transparent surface part of the measuring cuvette with multi-wavelength near infrared light. The near infrared absorption spectrum is detected and the content of the constituent is quantified on the basis of the detected near infrared absorption data. The method is particularly suited for measuring constituents of whole blood in an extracorporeal loop, for example in hemodialysis.