Abstract: A system uses a wearable electronic device to monitoring behavior of an operator of a vehicle. The wearable device is worn on the head of the operator of the vehicle and includes one or more motion sensors. A processor of the wearable device or of a proximate portable electronic device receives data from the one or more motion sensors and detects a pattern of motion based on the data. The system then may determine a physiological state or physical behavior of the driver based on the detected patterns or motion. Detected physiological states may include head bobs associated with sleepiness. Detected physical behaviors may include dangerous behaviors such as phone usage, prolonged gazes, sudden lane changes, or hard braking or steering.

Abstract: An EIT system 1 adapted to detect internal bleeding in a body portion, the EIT system 1 comprising a plurality of electrodes 3 adapted in use to extend in a substantially linear orientation across one side only of the body portion and to be applied in electrical contact with the skin of the body portion, a current source adapted to cyclically apply an electric current between one pair of the electrodes 3, a voltage measuring means to measure the voltage across each of the other pairs of the electrodes resulting from the current, a data collection system 2 and a data analysis system 4 to analyze data resulting from the voltages that are measured by the voltage measuring means, wherein the analysis system 4 is configured to obtain quantitative information related to amounts and rates of conductive tissue changes occurring in the body, based on an EIT analysis equivalent to that obtained from data derived from electrodes spaced around the full perimeter of the body portion.

Abstract: An EIT system 1 adapted to detect internal bleeding in a body portion, the EIT system 1 comprising a plurality of electrodes 3 adapted in use to extend in a substantially linear orientation across one side only of the body portion and to be applied in electrical contact with the skin of the body portion, a current source adapted to cyclically apply an electric current between one pair of the electrodes 3, a voltage measuring means to measure the voltage across each of the other pairs of the electrodes resulting from the current, a data collection system 2 and a data analysis system 4 to analyze data resulting from the voltages that are measured by the voltage measuring means, wherein the analysis system 4 is configured to obtain quantitative information related to amounts and rates of conductive tissue changes occurring in the body, based on an EIT analysis equivalent to that obtained from data derived from electrodes spaced around the full perimeter of the body portion.

Abstract: An alarm (35) provided by a fall detection system (2) may be caused by an accidental drop of the system. Therefore prior to issuing the alarm the fall detection system a confirmation is needed that a potential fall originates from a fall detection system that is worn by a user (4). A fall of a fall detection system that is not attached to a user is characterized by the occurrence of one or more full rotations of the system. Said rotations are identified by analyzing the output signal of a magnetometer, and by detecting a periodicity in said output signal. The fall detection system (2) provides the alarm in dependence of an identified absence of at least one full rotation.

Abstract: Devices and systems have a sensor probe configured to measure tissue oxygen saturation in the intestine or mesentery. The devices and systems can determine the oxygenation state of the entire thickness of the intestine or mesentery. Embodiments of the invention also include methods for inducing a temporary ischemic period in an intestine or mesentery tissue and analyzing changes in oxygen saturation of the tissue during the temporary ischemic period or during a recovery phase. The devices, systems, and methods can be applied in diagnosing intestinal ischemia in a patient, as well as in monitoring tissue oxygen saturation of the intestine or mesentery during or after a surgical procedure.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) exhaust valve-based impact attenuating fluid filled cell for use in cushioning impact and decelerating of a wearer's body portion (e.g. head, shoulder, torso, etc.) after an impact. In combination with the use of accelerometers, pressure sensors, location and other electronics supply signals to a microcontroller, the controlled opening/closing of said exhaust valve (resulting in the expelling of said fluids with an optional combination with cell refill means) when certain parameters exceed a threshold.

Abstract: A method of controlling lancing speed of a lancing structure of a portable handheld medical diagnostic device includes providing an elongated lancet structure having a skin piercing end and a blood transport portion adjacent the skin piercing end. The skin piercing end when displaced makes an incision at a skin site to produce an amount of bodily fluid from the skin site and in which the blood transport portion transports the amount of bodily fluid away from the skin site for use by a measurement system in making a physiological measurement. A spring-driven motor assembly is operatively connected to the lancet structure. The spring-driven motor assembly displaces the lancet structure toward the skin site to make the incision for producing the amount of bodily fluid and retracts the lancet structure to carry the amount of bodily fluid away from the skin cite.

Abstract: Among other things, there are disclosed embodiments of full-core biopsy needles having an outer needle component and a middle cannula through a lumen in the outer component, through which a mandrel may be placed. The outer component includes an internal boss that reduces its internal diameter, and the cannula includes fingers that extend distally. When the needle is inserted for biopsy, tissue enters the outer component and cannula. Moving the cannula forward causes the fingers to engage a surface of the internal boss, resulting in the fingers curving into the tissue. The fingers pinch the tissue while reducing or eliminating compression of the sample to provide an easier removal of the tissue from adjacent tissue, as well as providing a block or backstop keeping the tissue within the needle. Gaps are provided between the fingers to further reduce damage to the tissue sample.

Abstract: A biopsy device and method are provided for obtaining a tissue sample, such as a breast tissue biopsy sample. The biopsy device may include an outer cannula having a distal piercing tip, a cutter lumen, a side tissue port communicating with the cutter lumen, and at least one fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue port. The inner cutter may be advanced in the cutter lumen past the side tissue port to sever a tissue sample. After the tissue sample is severed, and before the inner cutter is retracted proximally of the side tissue port, the cutter may be used to alternately cover and uncover the fluid passageway disposed distally of the side tissue.

Abstract: A biopsy apparatus includes a driver assembly and biopsy probe mechanism drivably coupled to the driver assembly. The biopsy probe mechanism includes a biopsy cannula having a cylindrical side wall that defines a lumen and has a side port located near a distal end that extends through the side wall to the lumen. A thumbwheel mechanism includes a thumbwheel mounted to the driver assembly to rotate about a first rotational axis, the first rotational axis being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A first gear is mounted to the thumbwheel for coaxial rotation with the thumbwheel about the first rotational axis. A second gear is mounted to the biopsy cannula for coaxial rotation with the biopsy cannula about the longitudinal axis, the second gear being located to be drivably engaged by the first gear. The housing is grasped and the thumbwheel rotated with a single hand.

Abstract: Medical apparatus for diagnosing of a diseased condition of the skin of a subject. The apparatus comprises an electrically conducting probe including a plurality of electrodes, each electrode comprising a plurality of micro-needles, wherein each electrode comprises a base substrate, said micro-needles being integrally formed with said substrate and arranged in a laterally spaced relationship apart from each other and having a length being sufficient to penetrate the stratum corneum, said micro-needles being arranged with an at least partially oblique shape. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an electrode for use in the device, arrays of micro-needle and method for the diagnostics of biological conditions using impedance measurements. The diagnostics is in particular related to cancer, and preferably skin cancer, wherein skin cancer is a basal cell carcinoma, a malignant melanoma, a squamous cell carcinoma, or precursors of such lesions.

Abstract: An interactive virtual care system may include a user sensory module to acquire multi-modal user data related to user movement. A data analysis module may compare the multi-modal user data to predetermined historical user data and/or statistical norm data for users to identify an anomaly in the user movement.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a vacuum source, and an elongate member having a lumen and a sample receiving notch. The sample receiving notch has a proximal hole, a distal end wall, and a floor. The proximal hole is separated from the distal end wall along the longitudinal axis. The proximal hole is in fluid communication with the lumen. A tissue anchor has a cantilever portion with a free end. The cantilever portion is configured to extend in a direction from the distal end wall toward the proximal hole. The free end has a tip portion configured to extend toward the floor. The tissue anchor and the proximal hole are collectively configured to place tissue received in the sample receiving notch in a state of tension between the tip portion and the proximal hole when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source to the proximal hole via the lumen.

Abstract: A method for operating a medical probe includes pressing a distal end of the medical probe, which includes one or more arms that extend diagonally outward from a central shaft and have respective position transducers coupled thereto, against an intra-body surface, so as to cause the arms to exert pressure on the surface and bend with respect to the central shaft in response to the pressure. Positions of the respective position transducers coupled to the arms are measured, and the pressure exerted by the arms is estimated responsively to the measured positions.

Abstract: A device for measuring an expanded internal orifice of a patient includes an orifice-expanding device, a pressure measuring device, and a size-measuring device. The size-measuring device measures a dimension of the orifice after it has been expanded by the orifice-expanding device.

Abstract: A system tracks an object in computer-assisted surgery. The system comprises a sensor unit secured to the femur. Gyroscopes on the sensor unit produce readings related to orientation data about three axes of rotation. A tracking unit receives the gyroscope readings. An axis calibrator on the tracking unit comprises a calculator for adding at least part of the gyroscope readings for specific movements of the object about a desired axis. An axis normalizer on the tracking unit determines an orientation of the desired axis with respect to the sensor unit from the added gyroscope readings. A tracking processor tracks the desired axis from the gyroscope readings. An interface displays orientation data for the object from a tracking of the desired axis. A method for tracking an object with a gyroscope sensor unit is also provided.

Abstract: A device for measuring temperature comprising: first and second temperature sensors enclosed in a first material having one or more material components; a contact surface for contacting a body whose temperature is to be measured, at least part of the contact surface being parallel to a lateral direction; wherein the first and second temperature sensors are arranged at different depths from the contact surface and the net thermal conductivity across the device from the contact surface through the first and second temperature sensors is greater than the net lateral thermal conductivity of the device through the first and second temperature sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide patient position information to a user. A patient positioning device is placed on a patient in a predefined location. The patient positioning device determines a relative patient position with respect to at least one known reference axis. The patient positioning device communicates patient position information including or with reference to the at least one known reference axis. The communicated patient position information allows the user to position the patient and/or a surgical tool using the communicated patient position information.

Abstract: A non-invasive endometrial sample collector has an outer body of absorbent material configured for insertion into a vaginal cavity of a patient such that a distal end of the body is positioned proximate a uterine cervix of the patient. The collector has an internal collection assembly disposed within the outer body of absorbent material. The internal collection assembly includes a funnel having an opening at the distal end of the outer body configured to face the uterine cervix when the outer body is positioned in the vaginal cavity, and a reservoir in fluid communication with the funnel. During a menstruation cycle of the patient when endometrial tissue cells are shed within menstrual fluid that passes through the uterine cervix, or during any type of normal or abnormal bleeding episode, at least a portion of said fluid is directed to the reservoir via the funnel under the force of gravity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the expression of bodily fluid from an incision in the skin include devices which bear against the skin in a manner to retain the fluid adjacent the incision site and urge the fluid inwardly toward the incision. Systems utilize a constricting member, a bi-stable expression member, or a pressing member. The present invention further encompasses combinations of the foregoing expression systems with each other, as well as with other expression devices known in the art. Moreover, the invention includes the combination of the expression systems with incising, sampling and/or testing systems, particularly in a single, integrated device. The present invention also contemplates the associated methods for expressing bodily fluid from an incision, including in combination with methods for incising, sampling and/or testing of the bodily fluid.