Abstract: Devices for controlling delivery of a breast milk supplement are described which include a housing sized for placement on a surface near a breast region of a lactating female, the housing including one or more supplement reservoirs, at least one of the supplement reservoirs including a port with a controllable valve, a data storage component including a breast milk supplement regimen, and a control unit including a microprocessor and circuitry, the control unit operably coupled to the data storage component and to the controllable valve, the circuitry including actuation circuitry configured to actuate the controllable valve based on the breast milk supplement regimen; and at least one delivery tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the at least one delivery tube in fluid communication with the port, the second end of the at least one delivery tube configured for placement in proximity to a nipple of the lactating female.

Abstract: An improved heat engine includes at least one heat pipe containing a working fluid flowing in a thermal cycle between vapor phase at an evaporator end and liquid phase at a condenser end. The heat pipe may have an improved capillary structure configuration with a continuous or stepwise gradient in pore size along the capillary flow direction. The heat engine may have an improved generator assembly configuration that includes an expander (e.g. rotary/turbine or reciprocating piston machine) and generator along with magnetic bearings, magnetic couplings, and/or magnetic gearing. The expander-generator may be wholly or partially sealed within the heat pipe. A heat engine system (e.g. individual heat engine or array of heat engines in series and/or in parallel) for converting thermal energy to useful work (including heat engines operating from a common heat source) is also disclosed. The system can be installed in a vehicle or facility to generate electricity.

Abstract: Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring user preference information of a user that indicates one or more customized food preferences of the user including at least one or more ingredient integrity preferences related to integrity of one or more ingredients; determining that there is no capable automated customized food generation machine present in nearby vicinity of the user that is able to currently generate one or more customized food items in compliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user; and identifying one or more substitute automated customized food generation machines present in the nearby vicinity of the user that are able to currently generate at least one substitute customized food item that is only in partial compliance with the one or more customized food preferences of the user. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.

Abstract: A method of customizing hardware by an end user for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving from an end-user a selection of a mobile phone shell from a set of mobile phone shells, sending to the end-user a subset of interchangeable hardware components having different functions, and receiving from the end-user a selection of at least one hardware component from the subset of interchangeable hardware components. The subset of interchangeable hardware components is generated based on a compatibility between the selected mobile phone shell and the set of available interchangeable hardware components.

Abstract: A system for capturing an image of a user includes a mobile device for requesting capture of the image of the user and a camera. The mobile device further includes a communications device configured to broadcast a request, a user input device, and a processing circuit structured to instruct the communications device to broadcast the request in response to an input received via the user input device. The camera is configured to receive the broadcasted request, determine the location of the user, and capture an image of the user.

Abstract: Multi-monodose containers are described including a row of at least two vials, a first vial connected to an adjacent second vial through an articulating joint, the articulating joint sufficiently flexible to reversibly mate a planar outer surface of the first vial with a planar outer surface of the adjacent second vial; wherein the row of the at least two vials is configured to form a first rectangular packing cross-sectional area in an expanded configuration and configured to form a second rectangular packing cross-sectional area in a folded configuration, the second rectangular packing cross-sectional area smaller than the first rectangular packing cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A medical equipment case is provided for containing and transporting at least one article of medical equipment and a two-way audio-visual system. Such equipment may be used, for example, for telemedicine applications by a patient discharged from a hospital, or other subject in need of remote health care monitoring. The medical equipment case may include features that provide for security and facilitate return of the medical equipment case and medical equipment and audio-visual system contained therein, such as machine-readable indicia encoding information for return of the case from a usage location. The medical equipment case and contained medical equipment and two-way audio visual system together form a medical support system that can be used by a patient discharged from a hospital. Methods of controlling the medical support system are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to devices, systems, and methods for monitoring pregnancy of a female pregnant subject. For example, a pregnancy monitoring system can detect movement or motion of a pregnant subject and/or of the fetus in the pregnant subject. Additionally or alternatively, the pregnancy monitoring system can detect internal and/or external source loads applied to the pregnant subject. In an embodiment, the pregnancy monitoring system can compare and/or correlate two or more loads, one to another (e.g., to produce an output that is at least partially based on such comparison and that is related to the wellbeing of the pregnant subject and/or of the fetus). For example, the pregnancy monitoring system can include a controller that is configured to determine and compare two or more loads based on signals received from one or more sensors that can be positioned on the pregnant subject.

Abstract: Structures and protocols are presented for signaling a status or decision (processing or transmitting a medical record or other resource, e.g.) conditionally. Such signaling may be partly based on one or more symptoms, regimen attributes, performance indicia (compliance indications, e.g.), privacy considerations (patient consent, e.g.), contextual considerations (being in or admitted by a care facility, e.g.), sensor data, or other such determinants. In some contexts this may trigger an incentive being manifested (as a dispensation of an item, e.g.), an intercommunication (telephone call, e.g.) beginning, a device being configured (enabled or customized, e.g.), data distillations being presented or tracked, or other such results.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device includes at least one sensor, a determiner, and a notifier. The at least one sensor is configured to be located on a body portion of a subject and to sense an object. The determiner is configured to determine, in response to the sensor, whether the body portion may contact the object. The notifier is configured to notify the subject in response to the determiner determining that the body portion may contact the object. Such a device (e.g., attached to, or part of, a shoe) may be useful to warn a subject of a potential collision between an object (e.g., stairs, furniture, door jamb, curb, toy) and a body part (e.g., foot, toes) in which the subject has lost feeling, the ability to feel pain, or proprioception. And such a warning may help the subject to avoid inadvertently and repeatedly injuring the body part.

Abstract: A system and method for payload management for an unmanned aircraft system is disclosed. The payload management system and method may comprise a containment system configured to contain payload carried by the UAV/aircraft. The UAV/aircraft may be configured to carry payload in an external pod as part of the containment system. The pod carried by the UAV/craft may be fillable/inflatable to contain payload and facilitate aerodynamic performance of the UAV/craft carrying payload (e.g. on a mission from originator to destination for delivery in operating conditions). Systems and methods may provide managing and monitoring for payload carried by UAV/aircraft (e.g. with instrumentation).

Abstract: Systems and related methods for controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device, based on analysis of an image of a user of the personal computing device captured with a camera associated with the personal computing device, are described. One or more parameter is determined from the processed image, including, but not limited, to user identity, emotion, physiological condition, or placement of a stimulator earpiece, and control of the ear stimulation device is based thereon. If the earpiece is located incorrectly, in an aspect, delivery of a stimulus is prevented. In another aspect, the user is notified of the need to reposition an incorrectly located earpiece.

Abstract: Appurtenances to a wound dressing and systems for monitoring wound dressings are described. In some embodiments, a system for monitoring a wound dressing includes: an appurtenance to a wound dressing, wherein the appurtenance includes a sensor unit, an electronic identifier, and a transmitter unit operably attached to the sensor unit and to the electronic identifier; and a local unit including a receiver for the transmitter unit, a processor operably attached to the receiver, and a communication unit operably attached to the processor.

Abstract: A cooling system includes a fluid delivery system configured to bring a working liquid (such as water) into thermal contact with a battery where it vaporizes into an exhaust gas, and an exhaust system configured to vent the exhaust gas.

Abstract: Residence structures, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Certain embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) a residence structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the residence structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before being released. The residence structure may be, in some cases, a gastric residence structure. In some embodiments, the structures and systems described herein comprise one or more materials configured for high levels of active substances (e.g., a therapeutic agent) loading, high active substance and/or structure stability in acidic environments, mechanical flexibility and strength in an internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), easy passage through the GI tract until delivery to at a desired internal orifice (e.g., gastric cavity), and/or rapid dissolution/degradation in a physiological environment (e.g., intestinal environment) and/or in response to a chemical stimulant (e.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a garment system including at least one sensor and at least one actuator that operates responsive to sensing feedback from the at least one sensor to cause a flexible compression garment to selectively constrict or selectively dilate, thereby compressing or relieving compression against at least one body part of a subject. Such selective constriction or dilation can improve muscle functioning or joint functioning during use of motion-conducive equipment, such as an exercise bike or rowing machine.

Abstract: A semiconductor-transistor-based system and device that are designed to, but are not limited to: electronically outputting electronic-semiconductor-transistor-voltage-level-based-state-machine-assisted-user-menu-selection display associated with electronic-semiconductor-transistor-voltage-level-based-state-machine-assisted collection of user-physiological information, associated with electronic-semiconductor-transistor-voltage-level-based-state-machine-assisted collection of user-conduct information, and associated with electronic-semiconductor-transistor-voltage-level-based-state-machine-assisted obtaining of food-based information. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An active wearable system includes a one or more positioning elements configured as a torso support and/or other wearable item, one or more sensors for sensing motion, posture, or gait of a subject, and at least one of force applying elements for applying force to selected regions of a body of a subject, and feedback device and other actuators, under the control of control circuitry responsive to sensed motion, posture or gait of the subject. In an aspect, force is applied according to spatial or temporal patterns. Related devices and methods are described.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described relating to detecting an indication of at least one attribute of an individual; accepting sensor data about the individual; and presenting a set of health care options at least partially based on the detecting an indication of at least one attribute of the individual and the accepting sensor data about the individual.

Abstract: Systems are described for analyzing an environment. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured for positioning proximate a respective environmental object, each sensor configured to generate output signals corresponding to a proximity of a human appendage with the sensor or an impact between the human appendage and the respective environmental object; a remote device configured to distinctly identify each of the plurality of sensors and to receive the output signals from each sensor; a processor configured to process the output signals to provide an indication of at least one of the proximity of the human appendage with the sensor or when an impact between the human appendage and the respective environmental object occurs based on a threshold value being exceeded; and an output reporter configured to generate communication signals responsive to instruction by the processor.