Abstract: Method and apparatus for the non-invasive detection of certain breathing conditions, certain sleep disordered breathing conditions, or assessment of the person's myocardial contractility and its dynamic changes, comprising steps of: determining the sleep or wake status of a person, monitoring circulatory pulse waveforms and amplitude normalized pulse wave systolic upstrokes recorded from a person's body and determining at least one index of the upstroke to characterize the strength of the contraction of the heart during the systolic upstroke during a series of heart beats relating to a breathing cycle or an absent anticipated breathing cycle of the patient, and determining that a certain change in a breathing condition, a sleep disordered breathing condition, or assessment of the person's myocardial contractility and its dynamic changes, has occurred when a specific change in the sleep disordered breathing analysis, and the at least one index of the upstroke has been detected.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring arterial pulse waves includes at least one separator ring receivable on at least one digit of a limb effective to tether a feed tube supplying a measuring device to a digit. Each separator ring is of a compliant material, of a non-interrupted tubular configuration, designed to avoid interference of blood supply to or from the digit to which it is applied, and of sufficient resilience and thickness to enable it to distance each adjacent digit from a digit mounted tubular socket probe so as to prevent contact between the tubular socket probe and adjacent digits, without interference to blood circulation, irrespective of the thickness of the digit on which the separator ring is received.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the non-invasive detection of certain breathing conditions, certain sleep disordered breathing conditions, or assessment of the person's myocardial contractility and its dynamic changes, comprising steps of: determining the sleep or wake status of a person, monitoring circulatory pulse waveforms and amplitude normalized pulse wave systolic upstrokes recorded from a person's body and determining at least one index of the upstroke to characterize the strength of the contraction of the heart during the systolic upstroke during a series of heart beats relating to a breathing cycle or an absent anticipated breathing cycle of the patient, and determining that a certain change in a breathing condition, a sleep disordered breathing condition, or assessment of the person's myocardial contractility and its dynamic changes, has occurred when a specific change in the sleep disordered breathing analysis, and the at least one index of the upstroke has been detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for examining a subject for a particular physiological condition according to a technique which utilizes sounds generated by the subject and sensed at a predefined distance from the site of sound generation of the subject, by locating a first sound sensor, e.g., a sound level meter which measures the sound levels in decibels, on a particular region of the subject's body to produce an output corresponding to the sound level sensed thereby; modifying the output of the first sound level meter by a pre-calculated Transfer Function equating its output to that of a second sound level meter located at a predefined distance from the site of sound generation of the subject's body; and utilizing the modified output of the first sound level meter in determining the existence of the particular physiological condition.

Abstract: Non-invasively measuring a physiological parameter by applying to a subject's body part a venous occlusion plethysmographic device including a first section having a first fluid chamber and at least a second region having a second fluid chamber to engage a first region of the body part and a second region of the body part, proximal of the first region; pressurizing the first chamber to a pressure sufficient to compensate for hydrostatic pressure added to the inherent venous pressure at the maximal vertical lowering level of the body part relative to the subject's heart level; intermittently raising and lowering the pressure in the second fluid chamber to a pressure above or equal to the pressure in the first chamber, but below the arterial blood pressure; measuring changes in volume of the first region of the body part; and utilizing the measured volume changes to provide a measure of the physiological parameter.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring arterial pulse waves includes at least one separator ring receivable on at least one digit of a limb effective to tether a feed tube supplying a measuring device to a digit. Each separator ring is of a compliant material, of a non-interrupted tubular configuration, designed to avoid interference of blood supply to or from the digit to which it is applied, and of sufficient resilience and thickness to enable it to distance each adjacent digit from a digit mounted tubular socket probe so as to prevent contact between the tubular socket probe and adjacent digits, without interference to blood circulation, irrespective of the thickness of the digit on which the separator ring is received.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for delivering a drug to a preselected treatment site, includes a rupturable film capsule enclosing a quantity of the drug to be delivered; an array of micro-needles formed with passageways therethrough carried by the device; a covering layer overlying the capsule and forming a fluid-tight seal with the perimeter of the micro-needle array such that when the device is located with the micro-needles facing the treatment site, the application of pressure to the device causes the micro-needles to penetrate the treatment site and the capsule film to rupture to deliver the drug via the passageways to the treatment site; and an open mesh layer adjacent to the array of micro-needles effective, upon rupture of the capsule film, to uniformly distribute the drug to the micro-needles and also to reduce the possibility of clogging of the passageways.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for examining a subject for a particular physiological condition according to a technique which utilizes sounds generated by the subject and sensed at a predefined distance from the site of sound generation of the subject, by locating a first sound sensor, e.g., a sound level meter which measures the sound levels in decibels, on a particular region of the subject's body to produce an output corresponding to the sound level sensed thereby; modifying the output of the first sound level meter by a pre-calculated Transfer Function equating its output to that of a second sound level meter located at a predefined distance from the site of sound generation of the subject's body; and utilizing the modified output of the first sound level meter in determining the existence of the particular physiological condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the diagnostic performance of a probe system (30) for detecting a medical condition in a patient by sensing volume changes in a monitored body part due to pulsatile arterial blood flow in the body part, characterized in calibrating the probe system (30) for the respective measurement site according to a predetermined characteristic of the monitored body part of the patient and quantifying the arterial pulsatile volume thereat. Such calibration is described with respect to probes including: (1) a pressure sensor (63), which senses pressure changes in a compressible fluid system to which the patient's body part (e.g.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring the sleep state condition of an individual by using an external probe applied to a peripheral body location, such as the individual's finger or toe, for detecting changes in the peripheral vascular bed volume of the individual. A predetermined pressure field is applied to the distal end of the peripheral body location, including its distal-most extremity, to prevent the occurrence of venous pooling within and distal to the peripheral body location. The probe produces an output corresponding to changes in the peripheral arterial bed volume at the peripheral body location, which output provides an indication of the sleep state condition of the individual. Such information is useful in diagnosing and/or in treating, a number of sleep disorders as well as other conditions, such as impotence, diabetes, and various disorders in children.

Abstract: A probe for application to a selected area of a subject's skin covering a body part, which selected area serves as a measurement site for measuring changes in the pulsatile arterial blood volume thereat, includes: a base for application to the selected area of the subject's skin at the measurement site; a pressure applicator for applying a static pressure to the subject's skin at the measurement site; and a sensor for sensing changes in the pulsatile arterial blood volume at the measurement site. The pressure applicator is designed to apply to the measurement site a static pressure of a magnitude to partially unload the wall tension of, but not to occlude, the arteries. The pressure applicator is configured to substantially prevent venous distention and blood pooling at the measurement site by permitting free venous drainage through tissues surrounding the measurement site.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for delivering a drug to a preselected treatment site, includes a rupturable film capsule enclosing a quantity of the drug to be delivered; an array of micro-needles formed with passageways therethrough carried by the device; a covering layer overlying the capsule and forming a fluid-tight seal with the perimeter of the micro-needle array such that when the device is located with the micro-needles facing the treatment site, the application of pressure to the device causes the micro-needles to penetrate the treatment site and the capsule film to rupture to deliver the drug via the passageways to the treatment site; and an open mesh layer adjacent to the array of micro-needles effective, upon rupture of the capsule film, to uniformly distribute the drug to the micro-needles and also to reduce the possibility of clogging of the passageways.

Abstract: A non-invasive probe for application to a body part, such as a finger, toe or limb, for the detection of a medical condition of the subject includes a housing defining a compartment closed at one end and open at the opposite end for receiving the distal end of the subject's body part including its terminal-most extremity, a sensor for sensing a predetermined condition of the body part after being received within the compartment, and a removable liner lining the inner surface of the housing, to facilitate the insertion of the body part into the compartment. The described probe is one which senses changes in the peripheral arterial tone as manifested by changes in the pulsatile arterial blood volume and/or changes in the oxygen saturation level in a terminal extremity of a body part, and includes a number of other features particularly useful in such probes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively evaluating endothelial activity in a patient, particularly for indicating the presence of an endothelial dysfunction condition, by applying an occluding pressure to a predetermined part of an arm or leg of the patient to occlude arterial blood flow therein; maintaining the occluding pressure for a predetermined time period; removing the occluding pressure after the elapse of the predetermined time period to restore arterial blood flow; monitoring a digit of the arm or leg by a digit-probe for changes in the peripheral arterial tone therein before and after the application of the occluding pressure to the arm or leg of the patient; and utilizing any detected changes in the peripheral arterial tone for evaluating endothelial activity in the patient.

Abstract: A probe for application to a body part particularly a finger of a patent to detect a change in the physical condition of the patient includes a housing defining a compartment closed at one end and open at the opposite end for receiving the distal end of the patient's finger and a medium wholly self-contained within the probe for applying a static pressure field substantially uniformly around the distal end of the patient's finger, of a predetermined magnitude sufficient to substantially prevent distention of the venous vasculature, uncontrolled venous backflow, and retrograde shockwave propagation into the distal end, and to partially unload the wall tension of, but not to occlude, the arteries in the distal end when at heart level or below. A sensor senses changes in the distal end of the patient's finger related to changes in arterial blood volume therein.

Abstract: A probe for application to a body part particularly a finger of a patent to detect a change in the physical condition of the patient includes a housing defining a compartment closed at one end and open at the opposite end for receiving the distal end of the patient's finger and a medium wholly self-contained within the probe for applying a static pressure field substantially uniformly around the distal end of the patient's finger, of a predetermined magnitude sufficient to substantially prevent distention of the venous vasculature, uncontrolled venous backflow, and retrograde shockwave propagation into the distal end, and to partially unload the wall tension of, but not to occlude, the arteries in the distal end when at heart level or below. A sensor senses changes in the distal end of the patient's finger related to changes in arterial blood volume therein.

Abstract: A non-invasive probe for application to a body part, such as a finger, toe or limb, for the detection of a medical condition of the subject includes a housing defining a compartment closed at one end and open at the opposite end for receiving the distal end of the subject's body part including its terminal-most extremity, a sensor for sensing a predetermined condition of the body part after being received within the compartment, and a removable liner lining the inner surface of the housing, to facilitate the insertion of the body part into the compartment. The described probe is one which senses changes in the peripheral arterial tone as manifested by changes in the pulsatile arterial blood volume and/or changes in the oxygen saturation level in a terminal extremity of a body part, and includes a number of other features particularly useful in such probes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively evaluating endothelial activity in a patient, particularly for indicating the presence of an endothelial dysfunction condition, by applying an occluding pressure to a predetermined part of an arm or leg of the patient to occlude arterial blood flow therein; maintaining the occluding pressure for a predetermined time period; removing the occluding pressure after the elapse of the predetermined time period to restore arterial blood flow; monitoring a digit of the arm or leg by a digit-probe for changes in the peripheral arterial tone therein before and after the application of the occluding pressure to the arm or leg of the patient; and utilizing any detected changes in the peripheral arterial tone for evaluating endothelial activity in the patient.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring the sleep state condition of an individual by using an external probe applied to a peripheral body location, such as the individual's finger or toe, for detecting changes in the peripheral vascular bed volume of the individual. A predetermined pressure field is applied to the distal end of the peripheral body location, including its distal-most extremity, to prevent the occurrence of venous pooling within and distal to the peripheral body location. The probe produces an output corresponding to changes in the peripheral arterial bed volume at the peripheral body location, which output provides an indication of the sleep state condition of the individual. Such information is useful in diagnosing and/or in treating, a number of sleep disorders as well as other conditions, such as impotence, diabetes, and various disorders in children.

Abstract: A device for application to a body part of a patient to determine the physiological condition of the patient. The device includes a housing, in the form of a hollow socket closed at its distal end and open at its proximal end, for receiving the body part, a pressurizing device for applying a pressure field around the body part when received in the housing, and a sensor for sensing changes in the body part related to changes in pulsatile blood volume therein. The housing includes at least three contiguous but separate sections including a distal end section at its distal tip, a proximal end section at its opposite end, and at least one middle section between the end sections. The pressurizing device applies a pressure field to the portions of the body part received within at least the distal end section and the middle section of the housing. The distal end section is configured to apply pressure to all of the distal portion of the body part including its distal most tip.