Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for remotely and/or automatically controlling a probe to measure signals.

Abstract: In described embodiments, the present invention is a cup assembly including a cup holder having a base having a microcontroller, weight sensor and accelerometer incorporated therein, a handle extending upwardly from the base, and a camera support extending upwardly from the base. The camera support supports a digital camera. The digital camera is electronically coupled to the microcontroller. A cup is removably insertable into the cup holder. A method of using the cup assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: In described embodiments, the present invention is a cup assembly including a cup holder having a base having a microcontroller, weight sensor and accelerometer incorporated therein, a handle extending upwardly from the base, and a camera support extending upwardly from the base. The camera support supports a digital camera. The digital camera is electronically coupled to the microcontroller. A cup is removably insertable into the cup holder. A method of using the cup assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for the formation of surface enhanced Raman scattering substrates. The method produces thin substrates that have a nanoparticle ink deposited thereon. The nanoparticle ink may be any suitable nanoparticle ink such as silver, gold or copper nanoparticle ink which includes stabilized nanoparticles. The substrates and nanoparticle ink undergo a first step of heating in order to remove liquid vehicle from the ink The substrates and nanoparticles then undergo a second step of heating for an amount of time sufficient to remove a substantial portion of the stabilizer and provide a fractal aggregate nanoparticle layer on the substrate having a certain resistivity or conductivity suitable for Raman scattering. This creates SERS substrates with enhanced amplification properties.

Abstract: Optical changes of tissue during wound healing measured by Near Infrared and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy are shown to correlate with histologic changes. Near Infrared absorption coefficient correlated with blood vessel in-growth over time, while Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) data correlated with collagen concentration. Changes of optical properties of wound tissue at greater depths are also quantified by Diffuse Photon Density Wave (DPDW) methodology at near infrared wavelengths. The diffusion equation for semi-infinite media is used to calculate the absorption and scattering coefficients based on measurements of phase and amplitude with a frequency domain or time domain device. An increase in the absorption and scattering coefficients and a decrease in blood saturation of the wounds compared to the non wounded sites was observed. The changes correlated with the healing stage of the wound.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for measuring a state of anesthesia in a noninvasive manner. Optical techniques may be used to measure changes in a functional near-infrared (fNIR) signal, where the fNIR signal is received in response to directing wavelengths of light in a near-infrared range on a patient. The optical density change may be used to obtain a change in deoxyhemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) concentration and/or a change in an oxyhemoglobin concentration (oxy-Hb). The changes in the deoxy-Hb and/or the oxy-Hb may then be compared to determine a state of anesthesia. The effect of artifacts (e.g., strong surgery room lighting, patient-table tilting, patient intubation/extubation) on the fNIR signal may be removed using a noise removal algorithm. In selecting the noise removal algorithm, a switching technique may be used to select the component analysis algorithm, such as a principal component analysis (PCA), an independent component analysis (ICA), or the like.

Abstract: Optical changes of tissue during wound healing measured by Near Infrared and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy are shown to correlate with histologic changes. Near Infrared absorption coefficient correlated with blood vessel in-growth over time, while Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) data correlated with collagen concentration. Changes of optical properties of wound tissue at greater depths are also quantified by Diffuse Photon Density Wave (DPDW) methodology at near infrared wavelengths. The diffusion equation for semi-infinite media is used to calculate the absorption and scattering coefficients based on measurements of phase and amplitude with a frequency domain or time domain device. An increase in the absorption and scattering coefficients and a decrease in blood saturation of the wounds compared to the non wounded sites was observed. The changes correlated with the healing stage of the wound.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for measuring a state of anesthesia in a noninvasive manner. Optical techniques may be used to measure changes in a functional near-infrared (fNIR) signal, where the fNIR signal is received in response to directing wavelengths of light in a near-infrared range on a patient. The optical density change may be used to obtain a change in deoxyhemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) concentration and/or a change in an oxyhemoglobin concentration (oxy-Hb). The changes in the deoxy-Hb and/or the oxy-Hb may then be compared to determine a state of anesthesia. The effect of artifacts (e.g., strong surgery room lighting, patient-table tilting, patient intubation/extubation) on the fNIR signal may be removed using a noise removal algorithm. In selecting the noise removal algorithm, a switching technique may be used to select the component analysis algorithm, such as a principal component analysis (PCA), an independent component analysis (ICA), or the like.

Abstract: A method for the formation of surface enhanced Raman scattering substrates. The method produces thin substrates that have a nanoparticle ink deposited thereon. The nanoparticle ink may be any suitable nanoparticle ink such as silver, gold or copper nanoparticle ink which includes stabilized nanoparticles. The substrates and nanoparticle ink undergo a first step of heating in order to remove liquid vehicle from the ink The substrates and nanoparticles then undergo a second step of heating for an amount of time sufficient to remove a substantial portion of the stabilizer and provide a fractal aggregate nanoparticle layer on the substrate having a certain resistivity or conductivity suitable for Raman scattering. This creates SERS substrates with enhanced amplification properties.

Abstract: A method for the formation of surface enhanced Raman scattering substrates. The method produces thin substrates that have a nanoparticle ink deposited thereon. The nanoparticle ink may be any suitable nanoparticle ink such as silver, gold or copper nanoparticle ink which includes stabilized nanoparticles. The substrates and nanoparticle ink undergo a first step of heating in order to remove liquid vehicle from the ink. The substrates and nanoparticles then undergo a second step of heating for an amount of time sufficient to remove a substantial portion of the stabilizer and provide a fractal aggregate nanoparticle layer on the substrate having a certain resistivity or conductivity suitable for Raman scattering. This creates SERS substrates with enhanced amplification properties.

Abstract: Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) imaging is utilized to measure the influence of stimulation in real time. An fNIRS imaging device is integrated into a transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) stimulator by embedding fNIRS optodes on the tDCS stimulating electrodes. During tDCS stimulation, blood oxygenation levels are measured. For example, concentrations of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin are measured and compared to the concentrations of a baseline resting state to provide feedback on the efficacy of tDCS. Based on the feedback, a tDCS threshold and a dose-response relation for a particular subject can be quantified, and individualized stimulation parameters can be determined for the particular subject.

Abstract: Functional near-infrared (fNIR) neuroimaging is used to assess credibility, detect deception, and implement a query methodology for determining deception via neuroimaging. Oxygenation levels of portions of the brain are imaged via fNIR spectroscopy and utilized to determine if the subject is telling a lie or a truth. In an example configuration, oxygenation levels in the inferior and/or middle prefrontal cortical areas of the brain, such as the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal and/or inferior frontal cortex, are measured to determine if a subject is lying relative to telling the truth. An example system includes a portable, flexible, belt like sensing device that is positioned proximate the subjects scalp. Sensed neural activity is transmitted either through wired or wireless means, to a processor for analysis of the sensed neural activity. The query methodology utilizes an attestation assertion that mitigates variance in brain responses due to the length or form of a question.

Abstract: Optical changes of tissue during wound healing measured by Near Infrared and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy are shown to correlate with histologic changes. Near Infrared absorption coefficient correlated with blood vessel in-growth over time, while Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) data correlated with collagen concentration. Changes of optical properties of wound tissue at greater depths are also quantified by Diffuse Photon Density Wave (DPDW) methodology at near infrared wavelengths. The diffusion equation for semi-infinite media is used to calculate the absorption and scattering coefficients based on measurements of phase and amplitude with a frequency domain or time domain device. An increase in the absorption and scattering coefficients and a decrease in blood saturation of the wounds compared to the non wounded sites was observed. The changes correlated with the healing stage of the wound.

Abstract: A method for the formation of surface enhanced Raman scattering substrates. The method produces thin substrates that have a nanoparticle ink deposited thereon. The nanoparticle ink may be any suitable nanoparticle ink such as silver, gold or copper nanoparticle ink which includes stabilized nanoparticles. The substrates and nanoparticle ink undergo a first step of heating in order to remove liquid vehicle from the ink. The substrates and nanoparticles then undergo a second step of heating for an amount of time sufficient to remove a substantial portion of the stabilizer and provide a fractal aggregate nanoparticle layer on the substrate having a certain resistivity or conductivity suitable for Raman scattering. This creates SERS substrates with enhanced amplification properties.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of using one or more biomarkers to identify individuals with inflammatory disease using Quantum Dots conjugated to targeting moieties that will specifically bind to biomarker proteins or nucleic acids encoding the biomarker, where detection of the biomarker is associated with the inflammatory disease.

Abstract: Functional near-infrared (fNIR) neuroimaging is used to assess credibility, detect deception, and implement a query methodology for determining deception via neuroimaging. Oxygenation levels of portions of the brain are imaged via fNIR spectroscopy and utilized to determine if the subject is telling a lie or a truth. In an example configuration, oxygenation levels in the inferior and/or middle prefrontal cortical areas of the brain, such as the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal and/or inferior frontal cortex, are measured to determine if a subject is lying relative to telling the truth. An example system includes a portable, flexible, belt like sensing device that is positioned proximate the subjects scalp. Sensed neural activity is transmitted either through wired or wireless means, to a processor for analysis of the sensed neural activity. The query methodology utilizes an attestation assertion that mitigates variance in brain responses due to the length or form of a question.

Abstract: The invention includes apparatus and method for detecting defects in various barrier materials including surgical gloves and food packaging. Voltage is applied across electrodes and a barrier material and the voltage measured and compared with voltage control measurements for the same barrier material without a defect. Sensitivity of measurements is increased by adjusting partial pressure across the barrier material which is subjected to the passage of an ionized gas detected by suitable instrumentation.

Abstract: Catheters and other medical devices include plural layers of metals applied to the outer surfaces, which tend to close minuscule cracks through which corrosion may attack the underlying support. In some avatars, the initial layer of material is preferably silver, applied following specific preparation steps. In other embodiments, succeeding layers of metal completely cover the initial layer, and are also of silver. The succeeding layers are deposited after deposition of the prior layer, and tend to reduce the incidence of microscopic pores or cracks and are less prone to delamination. The succeeding layers are preferably of mutually different metals between layers. In a particular avatar, in which the exposed metals are oligodynamic silver and more noble platinum, the exposed silver layer lies over a portion of the platinum layer, to thereby prevent corrosion of the silver layer from disconnecting portions of the silver layer.

Abstract: A urinary catheter and system includes a catheter with a drain lumen which is coated with oligodynamic metal and preferably arranged with a coating of a more noble metal for creating an iontophoretic galvanic couple, which drives antimicrobial ions into solution. The exterior of the catheter is also coated in a similar manner to inhibit microbes migrating toward the bladder along the outer surface of the catheter. The system includes a flow rate control device which may be a one-way valve, a filter or both. A collection bag is coupled to the control device. The interconnecting hoses, the flow rate control device(s) and the collection bag are also coated on the interior with oligodynamic metal, preferably silver, and also with a more noble metal, preferably platinum.