Abstract: The invention relates to trans-epithelial frictionally abrasive tissue sampling devices for performing biopsies and methods of inducing an immune response against a pathogen, wherein epithelial cells containing the pathogen are disrupted with the frictionally abrasive tissue sampling device to introduce the pathogen into the bloodstream of a patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for measuring the biomechanical state of a subject using various sensors simultaneously with providing the subject with visual exercises for rehabilitation and assessment of disequilibrium, balance and motion disorders. The biomechanical state of a subject is measured during the subject's performance of a predetermined task. Such measurements are useful for the assessment of disequilibrium, balance and motion disorders and are also useful for the determination of therapeutic application of vibrotactile, auditory, or visual feedback to a subject during the subject's attempt to perform a predetermined task. An intelligent controller compares the subject's biomechanical state to a predetermined parameter to determine a variance. If the variance exceeds a threshold, feedback in the form of visual feedback, vibrotactile feedback or auditory feedback may be provided to the subject as a therapeutic means for enabling the subject to compensate for disorder effects.

Abstract: Systems, kits and methods are provided, which analyze the large intestine content and utilize acoustic signals detected during delivery of water into the large intestine and drained large intestine contents to derive large intestine characteristics such as microbiotal analysis. Systems may include a water delivery unit including a water supply and a nozzle connected thereto, configured to introduce water controllably into a patient's large intestine, and an analysis unit that provides information about the drained contents using optical examination or biological assays. The information may be related to acoustic analysis of signals from acoustic sensors that are attachable to a patient's abdomen. A variety of sensor configurations, positioning options, analysis strategies and large intestine characteristics are presented.

Abstract: A process for detecting activity of a person, in which movements of the person are measured by at least one sensor attached to the person, and respective components of the movements due to external activity and due to physiological activity are separated. The process obtains a signal of the sensor, filters the signal to derive a filtered signal, the filtering including partitioning the signal of the center into a low frequency component and high frequency component, and subtracts the filtered signal from the signal of the sensor. The filtering further variably extracts portions of the high frequency component according to a criterion of either a minimal level or a minimal instability of the signal of the sensor, and the filtered signal includes the low frequency component and the extracted portions of the high frequency components.

Abstract: A tube for an intravascular medical device has a longitudinal extension along a longitudinal axis. The tube comprises a tube wall having a specified thickness and a plurality of through-going slots, wherein each slot has an essentially elongated shape along a main extension extending along the circumference of the tube. At least two slots are provided in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the main extension of the at least two slots are in the perpendicular plane. The lengths of the slots in the same perpendicular plane P are essentially the same, and the lengths L of the slots in different planes vary along the longitudinal extension of the tube according to a predefined pattern. A sensor guide wire for an intravascular measurement of at least one variable in a living body may comprise such a tube.

Abstract: A temperature determination method includes temporarily contacting a forehead of a subject with a first surface of a removable patch, and exposing a second surface of the patch opposite the first surface to ambient conditions. The method also includes sensing a temperature of the first surface of the patch while the first surface is in contact with the forehead at a first location thereon, sensing a temperature of the second surface of the patch, and calculating a sub-skull temperature of the subject based on the sensed temperatures of the first and second surface.

Abstract: A device and method for mapping, diagnosing and treating disorders or other diseases, disorders or conditions (e.g., bleeding, ischemic or necrotic tissue, and presence of certain chemicals or substances) of the intestinal tract is provided using a capsule passing through the intestinal tract and sensing optical characteristics as the capsule passes through. Further, a capsule tracking system is provided for tracking a capsule's location along the length of an intestinal tract as various treatment and/or sensing modalities are employed. In one variation, an acoustic signal is used to determine the location of the capsule. A map of optical characteristics may be derived from the pass of a capsule to diagnose the disorder or disease. The capsule or subsequently passed capsules may treat, further diagnose or mark the intestinal tract at a determined location along its length.

Abstract: A device for penetrating tissue is provided that has a driving actuator with a body and motor shaft that is reciprocated. A coupler is attached to the motor shaft, and a key engages the driving actuator and coupler and limits rotational motion of the motor shaft and permits linear motion of the motor shaft. A penetrating member is carried by the coupler, and linear motion of the motor shaft is translated to the penetrating member to linearly reciprocate the penetrating member.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus includes a control system that measures changes in the pressure of one or more zones of a patient supporting surface and utilizes the changes in pressure to determine the mobility of a person supported on the patient supporting surface. The mobility of the person may be measured using one of several methods. The mobility measurement results in the determination of a mobility score. The mobility score is graphically displayed on a user interface that is interactive and allows a user to view additional information besides the mobility score.

Abstract: A strain sensor device having a biological substrate composed of a standalone bone graft or an isolated piece of bone that can be incorporated directly into, or attached to another piece of bone that is then implantable, in a biological subject, and a method thereof. The strain sensor device can includes a strain sensing circuit, which is composed of at least a first dielectric layer and a first conductive layer, that functions as a strain gauge. The first dielectric layer can be composed of dielectric material disposed over the biological substrate. The first conductive layer, which has a pattern, can be disposed over the first dielectric material. A bonding interface is disposed between the biological substrate and the first dielectric layer. The bonding interface can be composed of an underlayer of polydimethylsiloxane and a first interface layer. The underlayer can be disposed on the bone graft substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasive analysing the structure and chemical composition of bone tissue eliminating the influence of surrounding tissues, is provided. The method consists in using a system of at least four electrodes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) placed in electrical contact with tissues surrounding the analysed bone, preferably a long bone to establish screening potential distribution using screening electrodes (7, 8). Measuring current injecting electrodes (1, 2) are used to force the measuring current flow through the internal part of the analysed bone. At the same time the screening electrodes (7, 8) reduce the measuring current flow through the tissues surrounding the analysed bone almost to zero. Then measuring current and potential at the measuring current injecting electrodes (1, 2) as well as phase difference between potential at measuring current injecting electrodes (1, 2) and measuring current are measured.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, a tissue biopsy sampling device is located or oriented on a site within a body cavity or canal with a retention device. In various embodiments of the invention, a tissue biopsy sampling device is retained or held in place on a desired specific location on the epithelial tissue with the retention device. In various embodiments of the invention, the epithelial tissue within the cavity or canal is presented to the tissue biopsy sampling device using the retention device. In various embodiments of the invention, the retention device is used to assist withdrawal of the tissue biopsy sampling from within the body cavity or canal.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a first cannula disposed co-axially with a second cannula. A ratchet drive mechanism is operatively coupled to the first cannula and the second cannula. The ratchet drive mechanism includes a first gear, a second gear and a torsion spring. The first gear is fixedly attached to the first cannula. The second gear is fixedly attached to the second cannula. A second side surface of the second gear is oriented to face a first side surface of the first gear. The torsion spring is interposed between the first gear and the second gear. The torsion spring has a first end portion inserted into a hole of the first gear and has a second end portion inserted into a hole of the second gear. The torsion spring stores energy which when released drivably rotates one of the first gear and the second gear relative to the other.

Abstract: Provided are a medical insertion apparatus including a screw body to be inserted into a body, and a conductive portion provided in the screw body and including an externally exposed portion, wherein the conductive portion may extend in a longitudinal direction of the screw body and form a single closed loop, and a medical insertion apparatus including a screw body to be inserted into a body, a driver to engage with the screw body to be used to fasten or loosen the screw body, and a conductive portion provided in the screw body and the driver and including an externally exposed portion on one side of the screw body, wherein a portion of the conductive portion disposed in the screw body and another portion of the conductive portion disposed in the driver may be electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a frictional tissue sampling device with a head designed to be rotated without rotating off the designated site can be used to obtain tissue biopsy samples. A frictional tissue sampling device with a head designed to be rotated without rotating off the designated site can be used to obtain an epithelial tissue biopsy sample from lesions. The device can be otherwise used to sample specific locations. In various embodiments, the head of the device is narrow and pointed with a hybrid pear shaped diamond facet. The facet contour can be concave, convex or flat. Abrasive material can be adhered to the facet contour.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes an elongate member and a tissue anchor. The elongate member has a lumen and a sample receiving notch. The sample receiving notch has a proximal end wall, a distal end wall, and a floor between the proximal end wall and the distal end wall. The proximal end wall has a vacuum hole in fluid communication with the lumen. The tissue anchor has a plurality of cantilever portions. Each cantilever portion of the plurality of cantilever portions has a curved end, with a tip of the curved end configured to extend toward the floor of the sample receiving notch.

Abstract: A pressure-sensing device is disclosed, which includes a pressure sensor pad. The pressure sensor pad includes a first planar substrate, a second planar substrate, first signal lines, second signal lines, a plurality of rows of first sensor components, and a plurality of columns of second sensor components. The first signal lines and the rows of first sensor components are formed on the first planar substrate, and each row of the first sensor components is connected to a corresponding one of the first signal lines. The second planar substrate is disposed opposite to the first planar substrate. The second signal lines and the columns of second sensor components are formed on the second planar substrate, and each column of the second sensor components is connected to a corresponding one of the second signal lines, where the second sensor components face the first sensor components respectively.

Abstract: A system includes a wearable sensor configured to be worn by a person and to record sensor data during an activity performed by the person; an analysis element configured to receive the sensor data from the wearable sensor, determine sensor orientation data of the wearable sensor during the activity based on the sensor data, translate the sensor orientation data of the wearable sensor to person orientation data of the person during the activity, determine, for the person during the activity, (a) a lift rate, (b) a maximum sagittal flexion, (c) an average twist velocity, (d) a maximum moment, and (e) a maximum lateral velocity, and determine a score representative of an injury risk to the person during the activity based on such data; and a tangible feedback element configured to provide at least one tangible feedback based on the score so as to reduce the injury risk.

Abstract: A sensor guide wire for an intravascular measurement of a physiological variable in a living body may include a sensor element configured to measure the physiological variable based on exposure to fluid in the living body; and a cylindrical-shaped jacket forming an interior space housing the sensor element. The jacket comprises an outer circumferential wall with a circumferential surface extending between distal and proximal longitudinal ends of the jacket. The outer circumferential wall of the jacket does not include any apertures along its circumferential surface so as to prevent fluid from passing through the outer circumferential wall and/or the jacket has a constant cross section along its entire length.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and computer-accessible medium for monitoring sleep quality of a user are described. For example, using such exemplary Method, apparatus and computer-accessible medium, it is possible to collect body movement signals of the user during sleep, and calculate body movement energy of a preset time-slot, based on the body movement signals collected during the preset time-slot. It is also possible to calculate an estimation threshold of a preset estimation time-span including the preset time-slot, based on body movement energy of preset time-slots which are included in the preset estimated time-span. Further, a determination can be made as to a sleep state of the user based on a comparison between the body movement energy of the preset time-slot and the estimation threshold of the preset estimation time-span. Such exemplary Method, apparatus and computer-accessible medium facilitate a strong adaptive ability and highly reliable sleep monitoring.