Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for assessing the cognitive style of a person. The system comprises an input interface (12) for receiving speech spoken by the person, a language processor (16) for analyzing the speech to identify predetermined natural language elements, and a style identifier (18, 18?) for identifying the cognitive style of the person based on the identified natural language elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for vital sign measurement of a person (2), comprising presentation means (10) for presenting a person (2) with a visual theme (20), illumination means (11) for illuminating an illumination area (3), in which said person (2) is located, whose vital signs shall be measured, optical measurement means (12) for optically detecting optical detection signals (23) from said illumination area (3), evaluation means (13) for evaluating said optical detection signals (23) and deriving a vital sign information (24) from them, and control means (14) for controlling said illumination means (11) to illuminate said illumination area (3) allowing the detection of optical detection signals (23), from which a vital sign information (24) can be derived despite changes of the visual theme (20).

Abstract: A system and method for radiotherapeutic treatment of a patient (20) are provided. The system comprises a patient carrier (11) for receiving the patient (20), means for monitoring (12) positions of at least two different body parts of the patient (20), a processor (14) and feedback means (13). The processor (14) is coupled to the means for monitoring (12) positions and is operative to analyze the monitored positions to determine, for each body part of the at least two body parts, a displacement of the respective body part with respect to a particular desired position. The feedback means (13) are coupled to the processor (14) for interacting with the patient (20) and to provide feedback concerning the displacement of the respective body part.

Abstract: A breath pacing apparatus and a method for pacing a respiration of a person include a haptic output unit with a variable haptically perceivable feature. The haptic output unit is configured to change the haptically perceivable feature periodically according to a sequence of desired respiration cycles, where a characteristic of the change of the haptically perceivable feature is related to a length of the respiration cycles in the sequence of desired respiration cycles.

Abstract: A method of controlling an influence on a user in a rendering environment includes obtaining signal data representing one or more physiological conditions of a user in response to an influence caused by system feedback of the rendering environment; obtaining data corresponding to a user's desired emotional state, which data is based on the user's self-reports and data representative of accompanying signal data representing one or more physiological conditions of the user over a last period before the accompanying self-report; determining whether the desired emotional state is reached; and if the state is not reached, adapting the system feedback provided by the rendering environment correspondingly.

Abstract: A system and a method include a display configured to display video and/or still images, and an image source that is in communication with the display and configured to allow content of the image source to be displayed on the display. Further, the system and method include a physiological information gatherer configured to obtain a current physiological information of a patient when the patient is positioned to see the video and/or still image on the display. A processor is configured to receive the current physiological information from the physiological information gatherer, and the processor, being in communication with the image source, is further configured to transmit to the display the current physiological information and a target breathing rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for assessing the cognitive style of a person. The system comprises an input interface (12) for receiving speech spoken by the person, a language processor (16) for analyzing the speech to identify predetermined natural language elements, and a style identifier (18, 18?) for identifying the cognitive style of the person based on the identified natural language elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control system (100) for an ambient light environment in a room in a hospital environment. The control system is configured to time and synchronize light effects of the ambient light environment (170, 190) in response to sensor signals (111-113) from patient location sensors (121) or other sensors (122,123) for detecting if a clinical instrument is activated, moved or taken into use or for detecting heart rate. Light effects may be used by the clinical personnel to improve quality and speed of the examination and to create a calming atmosphere for the patient. However, different light effects are required at different times and for different durations. Therefore, timing of the light effects relative to sensor signals may improve workflow and patient comfort.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a sensing unit configured to detect a physiological response from a user of a breast pump and to trigger a change in an operation of the breast pump in dependence of the detected physiological response, the sensing unit being located separately from a funnel of the breast pump.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing anxiety of a patient during medical scanning in a medical scanner which may produce significant levels of acoustic noise. A processor or control unit receives a measure of variation in a parameter of the scanner noise during the medical scanning. The processor then generates outputs to audio and video playback units that present an audio-video scenery to the patient during the scanning in accordance with the measure of variation in the parameter of the scanner noise. An image object in the video imagery is linked to the audio signal, so as to distract the patient's attention away from the scanner noise. The audio-video scenery may be switched according to an estimated scanner noise level. An effective distraction of the patient is obtained with a limited audio signal level which is far lower than the scanner noise.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for avoiding that brown adipose tissue is stimulated due to low body temperatures. By avoiding such stimulation of the brown adipose tissue, unintended uptake of a radioactive glucose tracer in the brown adipose tissue may be minimized which may be important in PET imaging to avoid generation of false positive images. An embodiment of the invention suggests an apparatus (100) configured with a thermoregulation device (101) for heating e.g. the chest area and a controller (103) for controlling the thermoregulation device on the basis of a temperature reference (Tr) and measurements of the body temperature, e.g. a local body temperature (Tbm).

Abstract: A system and method for radiotherapeutic treatment of a patient (20) are provided. The system comprises a patient carrier (11) for receiving the patient (20), means for monitoring (12) positions of at least two different body parts of the patient (20), a processor (14) and feedback means (13). The processor (14) is coupled to the means for monitoring (12) positions and is operative to analyze the monitored positions to determine, for each body part of the at least two body parts, a displacement of the respective body part with respect to a particular desired position. The feedback means (13) are coupled to the processor (14) for interacting with the patient (20) and to provide feedback concerning the displacement of the respective body part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control sys tem (100) for an ambient light environment in a room in a hospital environment. The control system is configured to time and synchronize light effects of the ambient light environment (170, 190) in response to sensor signals (111-113) from patient location sensors (121) or other sensors (122,123) for detecting if a clinical instrument is activated, moved or taken into use or for detecting heart rate. Light effects may be used by the clinical personnel to improve quality and speed of the examination and to create a calming atmosphere for the patient. However, different light effects are required at different times and for different durations. Therefore, timing of the light effects relative to sensor signals may improve workflow and patient comfort.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (10) comprising a display unit (12) configured for displaying video and/or still images, an image source (14) in communication with the display unit (12) so as to allow content of the image source (14) to be displayed on the display unit (12), a physiological information gathering unit (16) configured to obtain current physiological information of a patient when the patient is positioned to see the video and/or still image on the display unit (12), a processor (18) for receiving current physiological information from the physiological information gathering unit (16), the processor (18) being in communication with the image source (14), the processor (18) being configured to transmit to the display unit (12) a combination of the current physiological information and a target breathing rate. Further the present invention relates to a respective method (36) for using the system (10).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for vital sign measurement of a person (2), comprising presentation means (10) for presenting a person (2) with a visual theme (20), illumination means (11) for illuminating an illumination area (3), in which said person (2) is located, whose vital signs shall be measured, optical measurement means (12) for optically detecting optical detection signals (23) from said illumination area (3), evaluation means (13) for evaluating said optical detection signals (23) and deriving a vital sign information (24) from them, and control means (14) for controlling said illumination means (11) to illuminate said illumination area (3) allowing the detection of optical detection signals (23), from which a vital sign information (24) can be derived despite changes of the visual theme (20).

Abstract: A system and method for reducing anxiety of a patient during medical scanning in a medical scanner which may produce significant levels of acoustic noise. A processor or control unit (CU) receives a measure of variation (ESN) in a parameter of the scanner noise (SN) during the medical scanning, e.g. estimated scanner noise level based on the actual type of scanning. The processor then generates outputs (A1, V1) to audio and video playback units (AS, VS) that accordingly present an audio-video scenery (A, V) to the patient during the scanning, in accordance with the measure of variation (ESN) in the parameter of the scanner noise (SN). An image object, e.g. a moving image object, in the video imagery (V) is linked to the audio signal (A), so as to distract the patient's attention away from the scanner noise (SN). The audio-video scenery (A, V) may be switched according to an estimated scanner noise level, e.g.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system comprises a probe module (10) to acquire data of a patient to be monitored. An evaluation module (20) to determines a patient's state of anxiety on the basis of the acquired data. An indicator module (30) to feedback the determined state of anxiety to attending staff. Thus, the staff is enabled on the basis of the feedback from the patient monitoring system to re-assure patients where that is needed and beneficiary.

Abstract: The invention relates to a breath pacing apparatus, comprising a haptic output unit with a variable haptically perceivable feature, said haptic output unit being provided to change said haptically perceivable feature periodically according to a sequence of desired respiration cycles, wherein a characteristic of the change of said haptically perceivable feature is related to the length of the respiration cycles. The invention is further related to a corresponding method for pacing the respiration of a person.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a sensing unit configured to detect a physiological response from a user of a breast pump and to trigger a change in an operation of the breast pump in dependence of the detected physiological response, the sensing unit being located separately from a funnel of the breast pump.

Abstract: A method of controlling an influence on a user (14) in a rendering environment comprises: obtaining signal data (16) representing one or more physiological conditions of a user (14) in response to an influence caused by system feedback (13) of the rendering environment; obtaining data corresponding to a user's desired emotional state (19,20;32-36), which data is based on the user's self-reports and data representative of accompanying signal data (16) representing one or more physiological conditions of the user (14) over a last period before the accompanying self-report; —determining whether the desired emotional state (19,20;32-36) is reached; and if the state (19,20;32-36) is not reached, adapting the system feedback (16) provided by the rendering environment correspondingly.