Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for corrective guidance of eating behavior of a patient equipped with a gastric restriction device. The apparatus provides continuous monitoring or one or more parameters related to food passing through the gastric restriction device. Each monitored parameter is processed to provide a visual indication of the current eating behavior. The visual indication is used as input to the patient or a caregiver to modify the eating behavior. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an emergency relief mechanism that automatically relieves excess pressure developing in the gastric restriction device. In some embodiments, the apparatus is enabled to deliver an appetite suppressant to modify the eating behavior.

Abstract: A method for calculating local part radiation doses in a radiotherapy system for applying a total radiation dose in a target volume with several beams is provided. The method includes determining at least one first control plane for controlling the dosing of the beams, determining at least one second control plane for controlling the positioning of the beams, and allocating beams to the first and second control planes. The method also includes, for at least one side of a first control plane, calculating in isolation of the corresponding local part radiation doses of all the beams allocated to the first control plane.

Abstract: A target tissue can be treated with a radioisotope. Some methods for treating a target tissue with a radioisotope include determining a distance between a target tissue and a surface of a matrix material to be positioned adjacent the target tissue and, based on the determined distance, determining an activity to be mixed with the matrix material to obtain a desired activity concentration. Some methods further include mixing the radioisotope with the matrix material. In some embodiments, the matrix material comprises bone cement, and the target tissue is a tumor in a bone. The radioisotope may be a beta-emitting radioisotope mixed in the cement at a concentration to form a radioactive cement.

Abstract: A prosthesis including an abutment, an operationally removable component including a coupling apparatus, and an adapter, wherein the abutment is connected to the adapter and the coupling apparatus of the operationally removable component is releasably coupled to the adapter.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of treating a patient to prevent or correct cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction. In general these methods may include inserting or implanting a device in a heart chamber to support the affected region within 72 hours after myocardial infarction. The device may be a support device (e.g., a resilient frame) and/or a partitioning device.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus, including a housing having an internal chamber, wherein the internal chamber includes a lever having a first end and a free second end, and a piezoelectric element adapted to deform in response to an applied voltage, wherein deformation of the piezoelectric element displaces the free second end of the lever, and wherein displacement of the free second end of the lever within the internal chamber imparts a vibration to the housing.

Abstract: Computer implemented method and system for achieving a preferred state of mind of a user are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises detecting a biological marker (biomarker) of a user utilizing one or more sensors; and inferring a state of mind of the user based upon data received from the one or more sensors that are provided to computational hardware. Finally the method includes providing an antidote to the user if the inferred state of mind is different than the preferred state of mind utilizing an actuator. In a second aspect, the system comprises one or more sensors for detecting a biological marker (biomarker) of the user and computational hardware for inferring a state of mind of the user based upon data received from the one or more sensors. Finally the system includes an actuator for providing an antidote to the user if the inferred state of mind is different than a preferred state of mind.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing at least one treatment to at least one tissue having a first structural arrangement configured to expand a first portion at a distal end of the apparatus, a second structural arrangement configured to expand a second portion at the distal end and at least one lumen associated with at least one of the first structural arrangement and/or the second structural arrangement. The first structural arrangement and/or the second structural arrangement can be configured to position the at least one lumen at a particular position with respect to the tissue. A tip is configured to aid in the insertion of the apparatus into the tissue(s).

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus including a lever arm apparatus including a living hinge, wherein the vibratory apparatus is configured such that at least a portion of the lever arm moves about the living hinge when the vibratory apparatus is generating vibrations.

Abstract: An active ossicular replacement device is configured to couple the malleus to the stapes, and conduct sound through the vibratory structures of the ear in response to the transmitted electromagnetic energy. The electromagnetic energy may comprise light so as to decrease interference from sources of noise external to the user. The prosthetic device may comprise an assembly that can be implanted in the middle ear in a manner that simplifies surgery. The assembly may comprise a narrow cross-sectional profile such that the assembly can be positioned in the middle ear through an incision in the eardrum, for example without cutting bone that defines the shape of the ear canal or the shape of the middle ear. The prosthetic device can be sized to the user based on a measurement of the ear.

Abstract: A method of training a classification algorithm for a Brain Computer Interface (BCI). The method includes the steps of: dividing a Electroencephalography (EEG) signal into a plurality of time segments; for each time segment, dividing a corresponding EEG signal portion into a plurality of frequency bands; for each frequency band, computing a spatial filtering projection matrix based on a Common Spatial Pattern (CSP) algorithm and a corresponding feature, and computing mutual information of each corresponding feature with respect to one or more motor imagery classes; for each time segment, summing the mutual information of all the corresponding features with respect to the respective classes; and selecting the corresponding features of the time segment with a maximum sum of mutual information for one class for training classifiers of the classification algorithm.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to devices and methods that allow an operator to position an implant into the body of a patient without the need for direct-vision of the operator or the need to hand-guide a needle in order to capture an implant. In one aspect, a multi-arm delivery device includes a receiving arm that releasably holds an implant in place for capture and a clamping arm that includes a needle deployment mechanism for advancing a needle directly to the implant for capture and for retracting the needle with the implant attached to deliver the implant into the desired location. In one embodiment, the needle includes a plurality of retaining slots. In another embodiment, an end portion of the implant is configured to receive a needle into the end portion and at least some of the end portion of the implant is configured to be retained into one or more retaining slots of the needle.

Abstract: A tool for driving a helical anchor into a target location, the tool including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a handle and an actuator, and a shaft extending distally from the proximal portion, the shaft comprising an outer shaft and an inner rotating shaft that is at least partially concentrically positioned within the outer shaft, the shaft having a length that facilitates accessing a location of a posterior pelvic region, wherein the inner rotating shaft is actuated by movement of the actuator in a predetermined motion.

Abstract: A system and a method include a display configured to display video and/or still images, and an image source that is in communication with the display and configured to allow content of the image source to be displayed on the display. Further, the system and method include a physiological information gatherer configured to obtain a current physiological information of a patient when the patient is positioned to see the video and/or still image on the display. A processor is configured to receive the current physiological information from the physiological information gatherer, and the processor, being in communication with the image source, is further configured to transmit to the display the current physiological information and a target breathing rate.

Abstract: Preparing a plan to synchronize radiation delivery to a target in a patient with patient breathing phase and amplitude as the independent variable comprising (a) obtaining simultaneous data on patient breathing and target shape and location, (b) correlating the data and optimizing the correlation, (c) establishing optimal parameters of radiation delivery for each breathing phase/amplitude or for each target shape/location; and (d) synchronizing radiation delivery to a target in a patient with patient breathing comprising (a) positioning the patient, (b) monitoring actual breathing or the shape/location of the target, and (c) while monitoring, delivering radiation to the target according to a plan; and a system for controlling radiation delivery by a device to a target in a patient comprising (i) a processor, which receives and processes data on breathing or the shape/location of the target, and (ii) a controller, which controls radiation delivery to the target according to a plan, which synchronizes radiation

Abstract: The invention provides a body-worn monitor that measures a patient's vital signs (e.g. blood pressure, SpO2, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature) while simultaneously characterizing their activity state (e.g. resting, walking, convulsing, falling). The body-worn monitor processes this information to minimize corruption of the vital signs by motion-related artifacts. A software framework generates alarms/alerts based on threshold values that are either preset or determined in real time. The framework additionally includes a series of ‘heuristic’ rules that take the patient's activity state and motion into account, and process the vital signs accordingly. These rules, for example, indicate that a walking patient is likely breathing and has a regular heart rate, even if their motion-corrupted vital signs suggest otherwise.

Abstract: Methods for performing dose determination and cost function gradients in a radiation therapy are disclosed, which include: discretizing a volume-of-interest (VOI) into a set of voxels; identifying a set of beamlets which deposit dose contributions of radiation to the VOI, and each beamlet has a weight factor; transforming the dose contributions into a first domain, and transforming the weight factors into a second domain orthogonal to the first domain; calculate the local derivatives of a cost function of dose and cost function gradients with respect to the weights of the beamlets.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and a system for thermally-assisted pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation for treatment of osteoarthritis are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises a multi-coil applicator adapted for positioning near or around of the treated joint, a pulse generator functionally coupled to the applicator, a power supply, and a feedback loop for stabilizing the temperature of the joint. The feedback loop includes a heating element, a temperature sensor and an electronic controller for maintaining the temperature of the joint in the range of 38 to 42 degree C. At elevated temperatures the healing effect of PEMF stimulation on the cartilage is maximized and overall efficiency of the treatment is improved. To produce a high electric field, the coils of the applicator are made with a low number of turns, for example less than 5 turns, and are spatially arranged to cover the whole joint without “dead” zones.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a software-based system, which may include a social networking website, implemented on a stand-alone computing device or over a network using computing devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to modifying the neurological structure or neurochemistry of a user of the system by improving mood, positivity level, or resilience level either over the Internet or on a stand-alone computing device so as to provide cognitive benefits to the user.

Abstract: The invention describes embodiments of apparatuses and methods of using a hysteropexy mesh.