Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing milk volume changes within a breast are described. Also described are systems and methods for assessing volume changes in the stomach of an infant.

Abstract: A steerable device, such as a steerable catheter, may include a control handle and an insertion shaft extending outwardly therefrom. In use, the insertion shaft is navigated to an area of interest for examination and/or treatment thereof. The steerable device may include a steering system that controls the deflection angle of the distal end of the insertion shaft in two or more non-planar directions for navigating the insertion shaft to the area of interest. The steering system may also include a locking mechanism for arresting or partially arresting the movement of the distal end of the insertion shaft in a first direction independent of arresting or partially arresting the movement of the distal end in a second non-planar direction.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods, and kits for monitoring one or more physiologic and/or physical signals from a subject are disclosed. A system including a head mounted display to monitor one or more physiologic signals from the face or head of the subject is disclosed. A method for analyzing an ocular parameter of the subject to determine a sympathetic and a parasympathetic outflow thereto is disclosed.

Abstract: A dermal patch for collecting a physiological sample includes a housing with a collection chamber, a sample channel and a pin within a receptacle of the housing. The sample channel is configured to direct a physiological sample drawn from a subject to the collection chamber. The pin is removably positioned within the receptacle and is configured to move from an undeployed position to a deployed position. The pin is configured to seal the receptacle when in the undeployed position and is further configured to facilitate generation of negative pressure in the sample channel when the pin is moved from the undeployed to the deployed position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring system for endoscopic treatments, in particular for endourological interventions, comprising an evaluation unit (10) and a guide wire (20) which has at least one measurement device (40). According to the invention, the evaluation unit (10) can receive data of the at least one measurement device (40), and the evaluation unit (10) comprises a comparator that compares the data with a comparison value.

Abstract: An example device includes an elongated body defining a lumen, the elongated body comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion; and one or more sensors configured to: stimulate a fluorescence response from one or more fluorescent probes released into a fluid and flowing with the fluid through the lumen; and detect the fluorescence response, wherein the fluorescence response is indicative of a composition of the fluid.

Abstract: A system and method is used to monitor, control, and/or provide feedback relative to one or more factors related to a patient's body, such as a shoulder, pursuant to a treatment process. The system monitors, controls, and/or provides feedback relative to shoulder factors including shoulder motion, shoulder muscle contraction, and external pressure on the shoulder.

Abstract: Presented are methods and systems for determining, monitoring, and displaying the relative positioning of two rigid bodies such as during a surgery. In particular, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for positioning a prosthesis relative to a bone during a surgery as well as to systems and methods for verifying resulting relative positioning of adjacent bones.

Abstract: An active electrode has an electrode for sensing an electric potential and generating an input signal, and a shield placed near the electrode but being electric insulated from the electrode. An integrated amplifier (10) has an input connected to the at least one electrode for receiving the input signal, and providing a buffered path outputting a buffered output signal. The shield being connected to the output of the integrated amplifier to actively drive the electrical potential of the shield, thereby providing an active shielding of the electrode. The buffered path includes a first mixer (11) in front of the integrated amplifier for frequency shifting the input signal from a basic frequency range to a higher frequency range, and a second mixer (12) on the output of the integrated amplifier for frequency shifting the amplified signal from the higher frequency range back to the basic frequency range. The active electrode may be used for recording EEG signals.

Abstract: A force measurement system is disclosed herein. The force measurement system includes at least one user input device, a force measurement assembly configured to receive a subject, at least one visual display device, and one or more data processing devices operatively coupled to the user input device, the force measurement assembly, and the visual display device. The one or more data processing devices being programmed to receive the one or more input signals from the user input device based upon one or more selections by the user, the one or more selections including a scene movement setting and a force measurement assembly movement setting; display the one or more scenes on the output screen of the at least one visual display based upon the scene movement setting selected by the user; and control the force measurement assembly based upon the force measurement assembly movement setting selected by the user.

Abstract: A diagnostic system includes an array of electrodes, which are coupled to a body surface of a living subject at different, respective positions in proximity to a region of interest within the body. A switched impedance network applies varying loads to the electrodes. A processor is coupled to receive and measure electrical signals from the electrodes as a function of the varying loads, and to analyze the measured signals so as to compute a local electrical characteristic of one or more locations within the region of interest.

Abstract: A system for monitoring muscle activity of a biological subject, the system including at least one garment including a number of arrays of electrodes positioned on the garment so that when the garment is worn by a subject in use, the electrodes contact skin of the subject and generate electrical signals indicative of electrical potentials within respective muscles of the subject and at least one electronic processing device that processes signals from the electrodes in each electrode array to determine a muscle activation for parts of the respective muscles and uses the muscle activation to determine at least one muscle indicator indicative of muscle activity of the subject.

Abstract: Blood sample optimization systems and methods are described that reduce or eliminate contaminates in collected blood samples, which in turn reduces or eliminates false positive readings in blood cultures or other testing of collected blood samples. A blood sample optimization system can include a blood sequestration device located between a patient needle and a sample needle. The blood sequestration device can include a sequestration chamber for sequestering an initial, potentially contaminated aliquot of blood, and may further include a sampling channel that bypasses the sequestration chamber to convey likely uncontaminated blood between the patient needle and the sample needle after the initial aliquot of blood is sequestered in the sequestration chamber.

Abstract: An oral measurement apparatus that extends in a longitudinal direction and includes a sensor, a processor, and a temperature information obtaining section. The sensor is disposed at a first end of the oral measurement apparatus in the longitudinal direction and obtains analog information inside a mouth. The processor is disposed closer to the sensor with respect to a central portion of the oral measurement apparatus in the longitudinal direction. The processor converts the analog information obtained by the sensor into digital information and outputs the digital information as a processing result. The temperature information obtaining section obtains temperature information indicating a temperature of the processor and outputs the temperature information.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, a fluid reservoir, a flow control mechanism, and an actuator. The housing defines an inner volume and has an inlet port that can be fluidically coupled to a patient and an outlet port. The fluid reservoir is disposed in the inner volume to receive and isolate a first volume of a bodily-fluid. The flow control mechanism is rotatable in the housing from a first configuration, in which a first lumen places the inlet port is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a second configuration, in which a second lumen places the inlet port in fluid communication with the outlet port. The actuator is configured to create a negative pressure in the fluid reservoir and is configured to rotate the flow control mechanism from the first configuration to the second configuration after the first volume of bodily-fluid is received in the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: An improved endoscopic tool easily and efficiently obtains samples of multiple polyps from a patient by debriding one or more polyps and retrieving the debrided polyps without having to alternate between using a separate cutting tool and a separate sample retrieving tool and may be used with an endoscope.

Abstract: A method of detecting hypoxia. Detecting hypoxia includes detecting, in exhaled breath, at least one indicator for hypoxia. The at least one indicator is selected from the group consisting of pentanal, 2-pentanone, 2-hexanone, 2-heptanone, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, and 4-butyrolactone.

Abstract: The saliva collection kit includes a housing, a plunger, and a gum-like hydrogel that can be removably disposed in the housing. The housing is defined by a cylindrical barrel, which receives the plunger at one end and is connected to a hub at an opposing end. The hub includes an open free end and a cotton filter disposed within the hub. The gum-like hydrogel can be chewed to collect saliva in the mouth and disposed in the barrel after chewing. The hydrogel can then be compressed with the plunger to release purified saliva from the hydrogel into the hub. As the purified saliva flows through the hub, the cotton filter can further purify the saliva to provide a filtered saliva.

Abstract: A system for utilizing wearable, wireless-connected sensors that record both IMU and EMG muscle activity for rehabilitation with kinematic monitoring is disclosed. The system runs an efficient quaternion-based complementary filter that estimates the sensor orientation while correcting for estimate drift and constraining magnetometer estimates to only influence heading. The difference in the two sensor orientations is used to estimate the joint angle, which can be further improved with joint axis estimation. Thus, successful tracking of joint angle and muscle activity in a home environment can be accomplished with the sensors and a smartphone. Further, a system utilizing these sensors may include video-capable cameras configured for capturing a video of a pose of the user, and a game framework executable by a processor in communication with the sensors and the cameras.

Abstract: The invention is generally a system, apparatus, and method for monitoring and measuring a change in intrauterine pressure without rupturing the amniotic sac. A catheter is coupled to a pressure sensing module. The pressure sensing module is configured with a chamber that is in fluid communication with a balloon of the catheter. The chamber includes a pressure-sensing membrane coupled to sensing circuitry. The sensing circuitry is configured to detect a pressure applied to the pressure-sensing membrane and communicate the condition to a monitor of the system. Methods include inserting the catheter through the cervix so that the balloon may be inflated and situated in the lower segment of the uterus, resting against the amniotic sac. Because the balloon of the catheter is in fluid communication with the pressure-sensing membrane, pulsations of the amniotic sac will be sensed by the sensing circuitry of the pressure sensing module.