Abstract: In one embodiment, the protective cover assembly has a hub that is to be mounted on a needle assembly, such as a biopsy needle assembly, a cap that is movable off the hub to move over a cannula or stylet of the needle assembly and a pair of rolls of film within the cap. The rolls of film are secured at one end to the hub to unwind over the cannula. Pressing rolls or springs press the longitudinal edges of the film strips together in sealed relation to encase the cannula while the cap receives the end of the cannula or stylet in sealed relation. In a second embodiment, the cap is integrated with a hub of a needle assembly having a cannula extending from the hub.

Abstract: A tissue sampling device includes a cannula having an elongate tubular body with a sharpened coring tip. A shaft extends within the cannula and is coupled with a cutter having an axially advancing wire extending between a distal end of the shaft and the sharpened coring tip. The axially advancing wire is movable in a cutting path defining an arc about the longitudinal axis, by way of rotating the shaft relative to the cannula.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having opposed jaws that can be selectively moved between open and closed positions. Various embodiments include components for measuring the thickness of tissue clamped between the opposed jaws. Some embodiments are configured to ascertain the amount of compressive force that is being applied to the tissue while the thickness of the tissue is being determined. The tissue thickness data is displayed on the instrument itself and/or on a display that is remote from the instrument. The various embodiments may comprise different types of surgical instruments such as surgical staplers and graspers. A jaw arrangement with jaws shaped to define a cradle that corresponds to a cross-sectional shape of an object is also disclosed. The components that generate the thickness data may be electrically or mechanically actuated.

Abstract: A device for detecting and measuring a change in angular position with respect to a reference plane is useful in surgical procedures for orienting various instruments, prosthesis, and implants with respect to anatomical landmarks. One embodiment of the device uses three orthogonal rate sensors, along with integrators and averagers, to determine angular position changes using rate of change information. A display provides position changes from a reference position. Various alignment guides are useful with surgical instruments to obtain a reference plane.

Abstract: A tissue cutting device is disclosed and described. The device includes a handpiece disposed along a first central longitudinal axis and an outer cannula in which a reciprocating inner cannula is disposed. The inner and outer cannulas are disposed along a second longitudinal axis that is axially spaced from the first central longitudinal axis. The device may also include an inner cannula stop position control for selectively controlling the position of the inner cannula when it is at rest.

Abstract: Methods and device for extracting and collecting tissue, which can be used for example in tissue engineering and grafting applications, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a device can include an outer tube. A rotatable shaft can be disposed within the outer tube can have a tissue harvesting tip formed on its distal end, the tissue harvesting tip being effective to excise tissue upon rotation thereof. A tissue collection device can be included to receive and collected excised tissue, and the tissue collection device can indicate the amount of tissue collected therein. For example, the tissue collection device can include a straining element which collects excised tissue and an indicator by which to assess the amount of collected tissue. In some embodiments, the tissue collection device can translate to indicate the amount of collected tissue.

Abstract: A lancing system comprising a lancing elements carrier tape carrying a plurality of lancing elements, a tape transport unit for moving the lancing elements consecutively into a usage position by transporting the lancing elements carrier tape, a lancing drive for causing a lancing element located in the usage position to perform a lancing movement, and test elements with detection reagents for analyzing a body fluid sample obtained by a puncture is presented. Additionally, a test elements carrier tape is provided, which carries the test elements. The lancing elements carrier tape and the test element carrier tape are located on top of one another with tape sections that carry unused test elements or unused lancing elements.

Abstract: A device for sampling and/or analyzing blood or other body fluid of a subject. A housing contains a plurality of lancets and optionally includes test elements to take up a sample of blood, an evaluation system and a display. A complete system that can be handled as a single device, for example in the form of a wristwatch, includes a multiplicity of test elements and lancets, which can be brought successively to a working position to perform multiple measurements. A cassette or carrier includes multiple lancets and/or test elements, for insertion into the device.

Abstract: Testing instruments having a handle with a first handle portion that is substantially linear and a second handle portion wherein the handle is not substantially linear, a first monofilament, and a second monofilament wherein the first monofilament detachably connects to the second handle portion and wherein the second monofilament detachably connects to the second handle portion are disclosed herein. Further, methods of evaluating cutaneous sensory detection in which an instrument is held with a digit proximate to a position indicator, a skin area is contacted with a monofilament, sufficient pressure is applied to flex the monofilament, and the monofilament is withdrawn from the skin area.

Abstract: A male coupler for a guidewire, the guidewire having a hollow walled tube, the male coupler comprising a connector section, coupled with the guidewire, a portion of the connector section having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the hollow tube, at least one conducting ring coupled with the connector section where the diameter of the connector section is smaller the diameter of the guidewire, wherein the diameter of connector section and the at least one conducting ring substantially equals the diameter of the guidewire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reliably positioning a 3-segment limb, such as a leg or arm for imaging and medical analysis, which can accommodate for the patient's “natural alignment”. The apparatus positions the limb in such a way that the position of the proximal segment is controlled while an known external torque is applied at a known rate to the distal segment. The location of each of the limb's three segments is recorded using either external or internal measurement techniques, and the relative motions between the proximal and intermediate segments are used in the orthopedic evaluation of the proximal joint. Furthermore, the relative motions between the intermediate and distal segments are used in the orthopedic evaluation of the distal joint. By applying a known torque at a known rate, clinicians will be provided with valuable information related to joint range of motion, stability, laxity, and compliance.

Abstract: A body fat measurement device includes hand electrodes that contact both hands, back area electrodes that contact the surface of a trunk area of the back, foot electrodes that contact both feet, a trunk area width detection unit for measuring the width and depth of the trunk area, a body impedance measurement unit that measures the body impedance of a body using the multiple electrodes and a body fat mass calculation unit that calculates a body fat mass based on the body impedance and the width and depth of the trunk area. The back area electrodes that make contact with the surface of the back of the trunk area are provided in a fitting unit in an exposed state, as well as the trunk area width detection unit. Accordingly, a body fat measurement device can measure a body fat mass easily and accurately in a household or the like.

Abstract: Methods for determining if a nerve is nearby a device. The neural stimulation tools described herein are configured to be flexible and low-profile, so that they can be used within body regions that may be tortuous or difficult to reach, such as within a compressed or partially occluded neural foramen. In most cases, these tools described herein are ribbon-shaped and adapted to be manipulated bimanually, applying force to the ends of the devices from separate locations outside of the patient's body. Thus, the distal end region of the device may be configured to couple to the proximal end of a guidewire. One or more surfaces of the devices may include an electrode or multi-polar network of electrodes configured to stimulate only nerves within a predetermined distance of a particular face of the device. Methods of using these devices are described.

Abstract: An arrangement for producing a sample of body fluid from a wound opening created in a skin surface at a sampling site includes at least one skin-penetration member having a first end configured to pierce the surface of the skin, and a inner lumen in communication with the first end; at least one actuator operatively associated with the at least one skin-penetration member; and at least one catalyst device configured to cause perfusion of body fluid at the sampling site; wherein the at least one actuator is configured to locate the at least one skin-penetration member so as to obstruct the wound opening while transporting body fluid through the inner lumen. Associated methods are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tissue collection apparatus. The tissue collection apparatus comprises a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, a first filter disposed within the housing, a second filter disposed within the housing, the second filter configured to isolate tissue particles of a desired size that pass through the first filter under the application of an aspiration force applied through the housing. A method of harvesting tissue is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for monitoring a physiological parameter of players engaged in a sporting activity. The system includes a plurality of reporting units, a controller, and a signaling device. The reporting unit has an arrangement of sensing devices that measure the physiological parameter of an individual player and generate parameter data. The controller receives the parameter data transmitted from each reporting unit and then processes the parameter data to calculate a parameter result. When the parameter result exceeds a predetermined value, the controller communicates with a signaling device that provides an alert to sideline personnel to monitor the player(s) in question. The system also includes a remote storage device for holding historical data collected by the system which permits subsequent analysis.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may describe systems and methods for reducing nuisance alarms using probability and/or accuracy of a measured physiological parameter, such as the pulse rate or SpO2 measurement generated by a pulse oximeter. Embodiments may include methods for adjusting a predetermined alarm threshold based on the probability distribution of the estimated pulse rate and/or oxygen saturation of a patient's blood.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for determining the hydro-dynamic properties of the fluid system surrounding the brain and the spinal cord, the so called cerebrospinal fluid system, whereby the method comprises continuous pressure measurement through a fluid contact passage and active infusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid through another fluid contact passage to a number of pressure-flow levels, and analysis of the connections between the measured pressures and flows. The method uses an adaptive way of procedure which on each pressure-flow level takes account for the measure time and the patient's fluctuations in physiologic signals for calculating in real time when the relation between the measure time and measure accuracy in pressure and flow on the actual pressure-flow level is sufficient and at an optimum, whereupon the investigation or examination is automatically proceeding to the next level according to a predetermined protocol.

Abstract: A stylet capable of being at least partially disposed within a lumen of a device is disclosed. This stylet may include an elongated body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one magnetic material. In certain embodiments, the elongated body may also include at least one core element, a tubular member circumferentially disposed about at least a portion of the core element, and/or at least one support member circumferentially disposed about at least a portion of the core element. In addition, a matrix material may be disposed between the core element and the tubular member to retain the magnetic material within the elongated body. A catheter assembly including a stylet and a corresponding method of manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: Optical coherence tomography (herein “OCT”) based analyte monitoring systems are disclosed. In one aspect, techniques are disclosed that can identify fluid flow in vivo (e.g., blood flow), which can act as a metric for gauging the extent of blood perfusion in tissue. For instance, if OCT is to be used to estimate the level of an analyte (e.g., glucose) in tissue, a measure of the extent of blood flow can potentially indicate the presence of an analyte correlating region, which would be suitable for analyte level estimation with OCT. Another aspect is related to systems and methods for scanning multiple regions. An optical beam is moved across the surface of the tissue in two distinct manners. The first can be a coarse scan, moving the beam to provide distinct scanning positions on the skin. The second can be a fine scan where the beam is applied for more detailed analysis.