Abstract: A blood viscosity measuring system and method that monitors the rising head of a column of fluid representing a living being's blood in-vivo to determine the blood viscosity over a range of shears. The system includes a capillary tube, at least a portion of which is located within the vascular system of the being, and a riser tube, having a liquid therein coupled to the capillary tube. A sensor and associated microprocessor are provided to determine the change in the height of the liquid in the riser tube at plural points along the length of the tube from which the viscosity is calculated.

Abstract: A biopsy forceps for an endoscope has a flexible sheath and a control wire axially movably inserted in the sheath. A control part is connected to the proximal end of the sheath. The control wire is advanced or retracted at the control part to open or close a pair of forceps cups pivotally provided at the distal end of the sheath. The sheath is formed from a member that does not twist in at least one direction about an axis thereof. A rotation control member is provided on or near the control part to rotate the sheath about the axis in a direction in which the sheath does not twist.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bone marrow biopsy device 10 that includes a handle 12, an outer cannula 16, a stylet 14, and an inner member 18. The outer cannula 16 is secured in the handle 12. The outer cannula defines a distal tip 29 that is tapered to provide a distal cutting edge. The stylet 14 is designed to be inserted in the outer cannula 16. The stylet defines a sharp distal tip 30. The inner member 18 is designed to be inserted in the outer cannula 16. The inner member 18 defines a cuffing finger 45.

Abstract: According to the present invention, physical health indicators computed for a particular user are received in a common transmittable data format at a computer system, wherein each of the physical health indicators is output by an electronic health measurement device from among multiple diverse electronic health measurement devices monitoring the physical health of the particular user. Each of the physical health indicators is analyzed at the computer system in view of acceptable health levels retrieved at the computer system from a personal storage device proffered by the particular user. Output of an indicator of acceptability of the physical health indicators for the particular user is controlled from the computer system, in response to the analysis of each of the physical health indicators, such that a computer system monitors the physical health of an individual in view of acceptable health levels retrieved from the personal storage device.

Abstract: A hybrid catheter guide wire includes an elongate solid body having a tapered distal end over which is disposed a tubular section—about which a catheter may be threaded for guidance to a target location in a vasculature passageway of a body. Cuts are formed either by saw-cutting, laser cutting or etching at spaced-apart locations along at least a portion of the tubular section to increase its lateral flexibility, while maintaining its rotational torquability, and to control the direction and degree of flexure.

Abstract: A biopsy system is provided including a housing and a biopsy instrument operatively associated with the housing and configured and dimensioned to remove a tissue sample from a patient. A firing module is included that is detachably engageable with the housing and operatively associated with the biopsy instrument to facilitate selective rapid advancement of at least a portion of the biopsy instrument toward a targeted location with the patient. The biopsy instrument includes a tissue receiving portion. The system may include an indexing assembly disposed within the housing and configured to cooperate with the biopsy instrument to selectively orient the tissue receiving portion. The indexing assembly may include a manual gearing assembly configured for selective orientation of the tissue receiving portion. The system may include a linear advancement control assembly disposed within the housing and configured to effect linear actuation of a tubular knife member.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system and method for implementing a rehabilitation protocol in a monitoring system for an orthopedic restraining device. The monitoring system provides clinician-recommended parameters for a wide number of exercises in the rehabilitation protocol, instructs a patient on how to perform the exercises, stores data relating to the patient's performance, and presents data to a clinician for analysis of the data. The orthopedic restraining device includes visual indicia while a monitoring device includes demonstration and review protocol modes.

Abstract: A patient module comprising an 8 channel EEG pre-amplifier whose signal acquisition and processing characteristics are optimized for use in the operating room and intensive care unit. This patient module comprises at least an optimized multistage input filter, an optimized input stage circuit topography, ultra-isolation, oversampling, a multiplexer inter-sample charge dump, and high performance low-frequency-enhanced shielding.

Abstract: A forecasting system takes advantage of an E-mail system of the internet to forecast different days of a following menstruation period of a woman via different terminals, such as a mobile telephone which supports WAP and a personal computer which is capable of connecting with the internet. The working of the forecasting system includes entering via a terminal relative information of menstruation of a woman, establishing a data base in a data server of the internet depending on the entered information, calculating an ovulation day, impregnable days, starting and ending days of a following menstrual flow of the woman, and sending out inquired forecast information to the woman via the different terminals.

Abstract: A biopsy forceps for obtaining multiple tissue specimens of an organ through a biopsy channel of an endoscope is disclosed. The biopsy forceps comprises a tubular body, a central wire, a set of jaws, and an activating handle. The central wire is disposed in the tubular body with the distal end of the central wire extending therethrough. A set of jaws is cooperatively mounted to the distal end of the central wire such that as the central wire is displaced by the activating handle, the distal end of the central wire is drawn toward the tubular body, which forces the jaws to close. A space is provided between the wire and the housing for retaining multiple tissue specimens.

Abstract: This invention relates to a surgical device and methods for accessing and retrieving a tissue mass from a body cavity through a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure. The device consists of a handle comprising an inner rod, which is rotatably engaged within a tubular member, and a loop adapted to hold a surgical bag. The loop comprises first and second bowed leaf elements, wherein the first bowed leaf element is attached to the inner rod and the second bowed leaf element is attached to the tubular member. The device further has a rotatable articulation, such as a hinge, joining the first and second bowed leaf elements, wherein rotation of the inner rod causes the first bowed leaf element to rotate about the articulation, such that the surgical bag may be opened and closed by rotation of the inner rod.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sensor and method for detecting very low frequency acoustic signals. The sensor is capable of detecting low frequency acoustic signals in the frequency range of one tenth Hertz to thirty Hertz. The sensor comprises a chamber having portions that form a cavity and a low frequency microphone placed within the cavity. An alternate embodiment of the invention comprises a chamber having portions that form a resonant cavity, a low frequency microphone placed within the resonant cavity, and a membrane that covers the resonant cavity. Low frequency acoustic signals that are incident on the membrane cause the membrane to move and amplify the acoustic signals within the resonant cavity.

Abstract: A method for automatedly administering an audiometric test includes the steps of controlling an audiometer to selectively switch the audiometer output between test tones generated by the audiometer and sound signals generated from digital information; first switching the audiometer output to sound signals when the step of controlling indicates a beginning of a new test, a completion of a current test, or a test error; outputting sound representative of the sound signals after the step of first switching; second switching the audiometer output to test tones after the step of outputting; and outputting test tones until the next step of first switching.

Abstract: A skin-conductivity sensor is configured as a wearable device, such as an article of clothing worn on the hand but covering it only partially. The device may include an on-board power source and a source of illumination that provides a continuous visual indication of skin conductivity.

Abstract: A method for temperature compensation is disclosed which comprises the excitation of sensors in a guide wire sensor assembly so as to produce two distinguishable signals. At least a component of at least one of the signals is representative of the cable resistance and can be used for compensation purposes. There is also provided an apparatus suitable for such measurements having temperature compensation circuitry. The compensation circuitry comprises circuitry for selectively and independently registering a resistance value for a passive resistor on the chip.

Abstract: Endoscopic biopsy forceps that allows a non-deformed, high-quality tissue specimen to be readily collected from the correct target position. Needles that extend forward to project into a pair of forceps cups are offset from the center of said pair of forceps cups.

Abstract: An evoked response audiometer method and apparatus in which a patient receives an auditory stimulus signal comprising a carrier frequency which is periodically amplitude modulated and frequency modulated whereby the stimulus is at least substantially frequency specific, the brain potential signals of the patient evoked by the auditory signal being sampled to determine whether phase locking to the modulated auditory signal has occurred, the auditory signal being selectively controlled to advance or delay one modulation with respect to the other modulation to cause enhancement of the evoked response to the auditory stimulus.

Abstract: A blood viscosity measuring system and methods for measuring blood viscosity monitors the change in height of one of two, oppositely-moving, columns of blood from the circulating blood of a patient and, given the dimensions of a capillary tube through which the blood flows and by detecting a single blood position of the other oppositely-moving column, determines the blood viscosity over a range of shears, especially low shears. The system includes a tube set (disposable or non-disposable) that includes a pair of riser tubes, a capillary tube of predetermined dimensions that is coupled between the riser tubes (or that forms a portion of one riser tube) and a valve mechanism for controlling the circulating flow of blood from the patient into the riser tubes.

Abstract: Described are methods of tissue marking using microparticles that have carbon surfaces, and that contain a contrast agent. Preferred microparticles include a permanently radiopaque particle substrate and a pyrolytic carbon surface.

Abstract: An instrument and method of the present invention facilitates accurate IOP determination, both before and after any laser eye treatment. A tonometer according to the present invention is specially designed to measure IOP by contacting the sclera instead of the cornea. To ensure accurate pressure measurement, the programmable logic of the tonometer assumes and compensates for normal sclera thickness, normal sclera radius of curvature, and normal sclera tissue modulus of elasticity. The tonometer preferably comprises a housing that is contoured such that it is easily grasped, in a manner of a writing pen. The functioning components of the instrument include an activation button, located on the anterior dorsal surface in close approximation to the index fingertip of the user, a liquid crystal display, a reset button, and a removable battery cover. The tip of the instrument is a solid state pressure transducer element that produces a change in voltage with a change in intraocular pressure.