Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating the efficacy of entertaining elements during physical and cognitive therapeutic sessions are disclosed. The system is comprised of a means for providing visual and auditory information, and prompting a patient to perform physical and cognitive tasks of varying difficulty. The system is further comprised of a means of tracking the patient's movements to provide feedback to the patient and assess the performance of the patient's movements. Prompted movements are designed to provide therapeutic mental, behavioral, and physical health benefits to the patient, and may increase or decrease in difficulty based on prior assessments of a patient's movements. Entertaining elements are introduced in the visual and auditory information and assessed for their impact on the patient's performance of the movements.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide a wireless communications hub device and services enabling remote access to electronic medical or fitness devices in a manner that simplifies device networking. A wireless communication hub device may include a processor and wireless communication transceivers configured to connect to cellular and/or WiFi networks to access a remote server, and wired and/or wireless local networks for connecting to electronic medical or fitness devices. The wireless communication hub device may plug into a power source, connect to an electronic medical or fitness device, and communicate via a second wireless network with an associated server-based service. The system enables discovery of the wireless communication hub device and connected electronic medical or fitness devices.

Abstract: A wearable otoscope may be capable of wireless or wired communication with a second device, such as a smart phone. Some dual-ear otoscope implementations may be provided in a headphone-like configuration, which may include a headband attachable to earbuds of the dual-ear otoscope. However, some alternative implementations do not include a headband. At least a portion of the dual-ear otoscope may be a disposable component in some examples. In some implementations, functionality of the dual-ear otoscope (such as an illumination angle of light, imaging functionality, etc.) may be controlled according to commands received from the second device. Some examples may include one or more additional sensors, such as temperature sensors.

Abstract: A stethoscope system may include an array of sensors, which may include pressure sensors. The array may be implemented in a wearable “patch” that is conformable to a patient's body. The stethoscope system may include a control system that is capable of receiving signals from the array of sensors. The signals may, for example, correspond to measurements from multiple pressure sensors of the array. The control system may be capable of combining signals from multiple pressure sensors to produce combined signals. The control system may be capable of filtering the combined signals to remove, at least in part, breathing signal components and to produce filtered signals. The control system may be capable of determining a correspondence between heart signal components of the filtered signals and corresponding heart valve activity.

Abstract: A stethoscope system may include an array of sensors, which may include pressure sensors. The array may be implemented in a wearable “patch” that is conformable to a patient's body. The stethoscope system may include a control system that is capable of receiving signals from the array of sensors. The signals may, for example, correspond to measurements from multiple pressure sensors of the array. The control system may be capable of combining signals from multiple pressure sensors to produce combined signals. The control system may be capable of filtering the combined signals to remove, at least in part, breathing signal components and to produce filtered signals. The control system may be capable of determining a correspondence between heart signal components of the filtered signals and corresponding heart valve activity.

Abstract: A wearable otoscope may be capable of wireless or wired communication with a second device, such as a smart phone. Some dual-ear otoscope implementations may be provided in a headphone-like configuration, which may include a headband attachable to earbuds of the dual-ear otoscope. However, some alternative implementations do not include a headband. At least a portion of the dual-ear otoscope may be a disposable component in some examples. In some implementations, functionality of the dual-ear otoscope (such as an illumination angle of light, imaging functionality, etc.) may be controlled according to commands received from the second device. Some examples may include one or more additional sensors, such as temperature sensors.

Abstract: Methods and devices provide a wireless communications hub device and services enabling remote access to electronic medical or fitness devices in a manner that simplifies device networking. A wireless communication hub device may include a processor and wireless communication transceivers configured to connect to cellular and/or WiFi networks to access a remote server, and wired and/or wireless local networks for connecting to electronic medical or fitness devices. The wireless communication hub device may plug into a power source, connect to an electronic medical or fitness device, and communicate via a second wireless network with an associated server-based service. The system enables discovery of the wireless communication hub device and connected electronic medical or fitness devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wafer inspection. The apparatus is capable of testing a sample having a first layer that is at least partly conductive and a second, dielectric layer formed over the first layer, following production of contact openings in the second layer, the apparatus includes: (i) an electron beam source adapted to direct a high current beam of charged particles to simultaneously irradiate a large number of contact openings at multiple locations distributed over an area of the sample; (ii) a current measuring device adapted to measure a specimen current flowing through the first layer in response to irradiation of the large number of contact openings at the multiple locations; and (iii) a controller adapted to provide an indication of the at least defective hole in response to the measurement.

Abstract: A method for process monitoring includes receiving a sample having a first layer that is at least partially conductive and a second layer formed over the first layer, following production of contact openings in the second layer by an etch process, the contact openings including a plurality of test openings having different, respective transverse dimensions. A beam of charged particles is directed to irradiate the test openings. In response to the beam, at least one of a specimen current flowing through the first layer and a total yield of electrons emitted from a surface of the sample is measured, thus producing an etch indicator signal. The etch indicator signal is analyzed as a function of the transverse dimensions of the test openings so as to assess a characteristic of the etch process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wafer inspection. The apparatus is capable of testing a sample having a first layer that is at least partly conductive and a second, dielectric layer formed over the first layer, following production of contact openings in the second layer, the apparatus includes: (i) an electron beam source adapted to direct a high current beam of charged particles to simultaneously irradiate a large number of contact openings at multiple locations distributed over an area of the sample; (ii) a current measuring device adapted to measure a specimen current flowing through the first layer in response to irradiation of the large number of contact openings at the multiple locations; and (iii) a controller adapted to provide an indication of the at least defective hole in response to the measurement.

Abstract: A method for process monitoring includes receiving a sample having a first layer that is at least partially conductive and a second layer formed over the first layer, following production of contact openings in the second layer by an etch process, the contact openings including a plurality of test openings having different, respective transverse dimensions. A beam of charged particles is directed to irradiate the test openings. In response to the beam, at least one of a specimen current flowing through the first layer and a total yield of electrons emitted from a surface of the sample is measured, thus producing an etch indicator signal. The etch indicator signal is analyzed as a function of the transverse dimensions of the test openings so as to assess a characteristic of the etch process.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method of detecting defects in a patterned substrate, including: (a) positioning a charged-particle-beam optical column relative to a patterned substrate, the charged-particle-beam optical column having a field of view (FOV) with a substantially uniform resolution over the FOV; (b) operating the charged-particle-beam optical column to acquire images of a region of the patterned substrate lying within the FOV by scanning the charged-particle beam over the patterned substrate; and (c) comparing the acquired images to a reference to identify defects in the patterned substrate.