Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for calculating a pulse wave velocity based on a plurality of intravascular ultrasonic pulses directed along a vessel. For each ultrasonic pulse, a plurality of echoes is received from a plurality of distances along the vessel. A first ultrasound Doppler signal is received from a first distance from the pulse origin and a second ultrasound Doppler signal from a second distance from the pulse origin. A first and second flow velocity metric is obtained based on the first and second ultrasound Doppler signal, respectively. The pulse wave velocity is calculated based on the time delay, which is based on the first flow velocity metric and the second flow velocity metric.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system and method for monitoring and for facilitating pulmonary and systemic hemodynamics in the treatment and/or prevention of cardiac arrhythmias or structural cardiac changes, caused by altered preload. The system comprises: a pressure generator; a first sensor configured to generate output signals conveying information related to venous blood accumulation during cardiac preload in the subject; a second sensor configured to generate output signals conveying information related to systemic arterial circulation in the subject; and one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructions to control the pressure generator to adjust the pressure levels of the flow of breathable gas during one or both of inhalation and exhalation to facilitate the pulmonary and systemic circulation based on the output signals from the first sensor and the second sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus that detects a tip of an interventional tool based on at least two ultrasound images reconstructed for different beam steering angles within a volumetric region that includes the tool. The apparatus includes an image processor. The image processor includes a tip detection module used to perform a tip tool detection procedure. The tip tool detection procedure involves identifying shadow regions of the tool in the at least two ultrasound images and determining the position of the tip of the tool within the volumetric region.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for calculating a pulse wave velocity based on a plurality of intravascular ultrasonic pulses directed along a vessel. For each ultrasonic pulse, a plurality of echoes is received from a plurality of distances along the vessel. A first ultrasound Doppler signal is received from a first distance from the pulse origin and a second ultrasound Doppler signal from a second distance from the pulse origin. A first and second flow velocity metric is obtained based on the first and second ultrasound Doppler signal, respectively. The pulse wave velocity is calculated based on the time delay, which is based on the first flow velocity metric and the second flow velocity metric.

Abstract: An intraluminal sensing system is provided, which includes an intraluminal device. The intraluminal device includes a flexible elongate member that can be positioned within a body lumen of a patient, and an ultrasound sensor at a distal portion of the flexible elongate member and configured to emit an ultrasound pulse in a longitudinal direction and to receive ultrasound echoes from the pulse. The system also includes a processor circuit in communication with the ultrasound sensor. The processor circuit is configured to compute a velocity spectrum of particles moving within the body lumen based on the received ultrasound echoes and, based on the velocity spectrum, compute a skew index indicative of a position or alignment of the ultrasound sensor within the body lumen. The processor circuit is also configured to output an indication of the skew index.

Abstract: Presented is a system and method for assessing the functional ability of a person to perform a task. The system comprises: a task identification unit adapted to identify the task to be performed by the person; and a task complexity unit adapted to obtain a task-specific complexity signal representative of a required level of functional ability to perform the identified task. A functional ability unit is adapted to obtain a functional ability signal representative of a determined functional ability of the person. An assessment unit is adapted to determine an ability of the person to perform the identified task based on the task-specific complexity signal and the functional ability signal.

Abstract: A control unit (12) and method for deriving a measure of arterial compliance based on an acquired arterial volume variation signal and measured diastolic and systolic blood pressure measurements. An oscillometric blood pressure measurement device is used to obtain a first signal representative of arterial volume variations and to obtain blood pressure measurements. Both are measured as an applied pressure to an artery is varied by the oscillometric blood pressure measurement device. The first signal is processed to compile a dataset of values, ?V, representative of the change in the arterial volume for set step changes, ?P, in applied pressure, at different transmural pressure values. This set of values is numerically integrated to derive a function of arterial volume with transmural pressure. This function is differentiated to thereby derive a function of arterial compliance with transmural pressure.

Abstract: A system determines a risk level of a respiratory attack of a user of the system. The system comprises part of a network of systems, and it reports information to, and receives information from, the network. The system comprises a local activity monitoring device for tracking the physical activity level of the user. Location information and activity levels in respect of other users of the network of systems are received, relating to when they have suffered a respiratory attack. A warning can then be given to the user which takes account of the location of the user and the activity level or planned activity level of the user, and the received location information and activity levels in respect of other users.

Abstract: Presented are concepts for monitoring cardio-respiratory function of a patient. One such concept employs an optical sensor unit (10) for sensing light from tissue of the patient in response to temporary airway pressure changes provided via a respiratory support unit (50). By sensing variations in blood volume in the central site vein in response to temporary airway pressure changes, venous information of the person may be obtained.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for use in measuring blood pressure. The apparatus comprises a processor configured to acquire a signal indicative of pressure oscillations detected inside a cuff inflated to pressurize a measurement site of a subject undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The pressure oscillations detected inside the cuff are indicative of a pulse of the subject. The processor is also configured to trigger a blood pressure measurement for the subject based on the pressure oscillations detected inside the cuff.

Abstract: Presented are concepts for monitoring cardio-respiratory function of a patient. One such concept comprises detecting light or sound from the sublingual vasculature using a sublingual sensor unit adapted to be positioned at a sublingual vasculature of the patient's tongue and to generate a sensor output signal based on the detected light or sound. A processing unit adapted to receive at least one of the sensor unit output signal, wherein the sensor unit and the processing unit are arranged to analyze the venous component in the sensor output signal. An output signal from the sublingual sensor may then be used to provide information on cardio-respiratory parameters like respiration rate and respiration rate variability, for example.

Abstract: There is provided a method of assessing the reliability of a measurement of blood pressure of a subject, the method in a control unit of an apparatus comprising obtaining a first measurement of at least one physiological characteristic of the subject that is indicative of the level of pain and/or stress of the subject, wherein the first measurement is made prior to a measurement of blood pressure being made; obtaining the measurement of blood pressure of the subject; obtaining a second measurement of the at least one physiological characteristic of the subject, wherein the second measurement is made after the measurement of blood pressure is made and prior to a subsequent measurement of blood pressure being made; and determining if the measurement of blood pressure is reliable based on the first measurement and the second measurement, wherein the measurement of blood pressure is determined to be reliable if the first measurement and the second measurement indicate a low level of pain and/or stress.

Abstract: The invention provides a control unit (12) and method for deriving a measure of arterial compliance based on an acquired arterial volume variation signal and an acquired pulse arrival time signal. An oscillometric blood pressure measurement device is used to acquire the arterial volume variation signal. Arterial volume and variation in pulse arrival time are both measured as an applied pressure to an artery are varied by the oscillometric blood pressure measurement device. The arterial volume signal is transformed into a corresponding signal representative of variation in peak-to-peak amplitude of the arterial volume. A first model fitting procedure is used to transform this peak-to-peak amplitude signal into a signal indicative of arterial volume as a function of transmural pressure. A second model fitting procedure is used to generate from the derived arterial volume vs. transmural pressure signal, and the derived pulse arrival time variation signal a final output measure of arterial compliance.

Abstract: There is provided a cuff (10) for use with an inflation-based non-invasive blood pressure, NIBP, measurement apparatus. The cuff (10) comprises an inlet (12) configured to be coupled to an outlet of the inflation-based NIBP measurement apparatus to receive a flow of fluid and a bladder (14) coupled to the inlet (12) and inflatable to pressurize a measurement site of a subject by receiving the flow of fluid. The cuff (10) also comprises a valve (16) disposed along a flow path between the inlet (12) and the bladder (14) or disposed on the bladder (14). The flow resistance of the valve (16) is such that the valve (16) passes part of the flow of fluid received in the bladder (14) to the atmosphere in order to inflate the bladder (14) at a required flow rate for inflating the cuff.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus (12) for use with a wearable cuff (14). The wearable cuff (14) is for use in measuring blood pressure. The apparatus (12) is configured to acquire a plurality of pressure signals. Each of the plurality of pressure signals are indicative of a pressure in the wearable cuff (14) during a period for measuring blood pressure. The apparatus (12) is configured to, for each of the plurality of acquired pressure signals, determine a measure of a quality of the acquired pressure signal based on one or more parameters derived from artifacts identified in the acquired pressure signal. The apparatus (12) is also configured to determine a measure of a quality of the wearable cuff (14) based on the determined measures of the quality of the acquired pressure signals.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for calculating a pulse wave velocity based on a plurality of intravascular ultrasonic pulses directed along a vessel. For each ultrasonic pulse, a plurality of echoes is received from a plurality of distances along the vessel. A first ultrasound Doppler signal is received from a first distance from the pulse origin and a second ultrasound Doppler signal from a second distance from the pulse origin. A first and second flow velocity metric is obtained based on the first and second ultrasound Doppler signal, respectively. The pulse wave velocity is calculated based on the time delay, which is based on the first flow velocity metric and the second flow velocity metric.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus (12) for use with a wearable cuff (14) in measuring blood pressure. The cuff (14) is inflatable to pressurize a measurement site (20) of a subject (18). The apparatus (12) is configured to estimate a size of the cuff (14) during a current inflation of the cuff (14) and compare the estimated size of the cuff (14) to a previous size of the cuff (14) estimated during an inflation of the cuff (14) that immediately preceded the current inflation of the cuff (14). The apparatus (12) is also configured to, if the estimated size of the cuff (14) differs from the previous size of the cuff (14) by more than a predefined amount, change a pressure up to which the cuff (14) is inflated before deflation of the cuff (14) starts.

Abstract: The invention relates to determining a representation of cardiac output in a patient. Provided are a method and a system for monitoring a cardiac output using a single device inserted into a Central Venous Catheter (CVC) or Peripheral Inserted Central Catheters (PICC) line. In an embodiment, the device contains an elongated body that fits the lumen of a Central Venous Cava or Peripheral Inserted Central Catheters line and has an ultrasound transducer at the tip. By operating the device such that the velocity in both the Superior Vena Cava and Inferior Vena Cava can be sampled continuously the CO is monitored.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the context of renal denervation. In order to provide further improvement in relation to the outcome of renal denervation, an apparatus (10) for renal denervation preparation is provided that comprises an input unit (12), ha processing unit (14) and an output unit (16). The input unit is configured to receive first artery parameter data and second artery Ge parameter data. The first artery parameter data relates to artery stiffness of a renal artery part of a subject, and the second artery parameter In data relates to artery stiffness of a non-renal artery part of the subject.

Abstract: A system determines a risk level of a respiratory attack of a user of the system. The system comprises part of a network of systems, and it reports information to, and receives information from, the network. The system comprises a local activity monitoring device for tracking the physical activity level of the user. Location information and activity levels in respect of other users of the network of systems are received, relating to when they have suffered a respiratory attack. A warning can then be given to the user which takes account of the location of the user and the activity level or planned activity level of the user, and the received location information and activity levels in respect of other users.