Abstract: The present invention provides a gastrointestinal liquid biopsy sampling device. The sampling device includes an enclosure and expandable materials. The enclosure includes through holes cut in the wall of the enclosure, and targeted dissolution membranes covering the through holes that can be dissolved at targeted regions. The expandable materials are arranged at the positions corresponding to the through holes. The expandable materials expand after absorbing liquid and close the through holes.

Abstract: A magnetic guide device for intraoral radiography is described. The magnetic guide device comprises a metal rod having a first rod end and a second rod end. The magnetic guide device further comprises a ring slidably attached to the metal rod between the first rod end and the second rod end. The magnetic guide device further comprises a plurality of magnetic attachments. The magnetic guide device further comprises a rectangular collimator attached to the ring by the magnetic attachments. The magnetic guide device further comprises a CMOS sensor. The magnetic guide device further comprises a metal fork having a fork handle slidably attached to the metal rod between the CMOS sensor and the first rod end. The metal fork is configured to hold the CMOS sensor during an intraoral radiography procedure.

Abstract: A spectrally encoded flow cytometry (SEFC) technique for imaging blood in the microcirculation. Since the dependency of one of the axes of the image on time prevents effective quantification of essential clinical parameters, the optical path in an SEFC system is split into two parallel imaging lines, followed by data analysis for recovering the flow speed from the multiplexed data. The data analysis may be auto-correlation of a pair of images obtained from a sequence of images of the imaged blood vessel.

Abstract: A method for creating a flexible fastener line is disclosed. The fastener line comprises fasteners oriented in directions which are transverse or oblique to a tissue incision created by a cutting member. The fasteners can translate and/or rotate within the tissue when the tissue is stretched thereby creating flexibility within the tissue.

Abstract: A charging device for a physiological signal transmitter is disclosed, wherein the physiological signal transmitter is to receive and externally transmit a physiological signal from a subcutaneous tissue of a living body, and has a first electrical connecting port. The charging device comprises a transmitter placing seat, a charging module and a locking module. The transmitter placing seat includes a bearing surface, and a first opening. The bearing surface disposes thereon the physiological signal transmitter; and the first opening aligns therewith the first electrical connecting port of the physiological signal transmitter. The charging module includes a second electrical connecting port, a third electrical connecting port and a circuit assembly. The second electrical connecting port is disposed in the first opening and moveable between a first position and a second position. The third electrical connecting port is for connecting thereto a power source.

Abstract: New activity recognition, recording, analysis and control techniques, systems and sensors are provided. In one embodiment, multiple sensory tags with unique identification and data transfer attributes, create positional, movement, orientation and acceleration data and supply it to a control system. The tags may be placed at location(s) on the user's body, clothing, personal effects, exercise equipment and other activity-relevant locations, to enhance activity recognition and mapping. The system may define a personal activity space, sample data preferentially from that space, and perform a simplified form of object-recognition to determine, record and analyze user activities.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube insertion apparatus configured to assist in the proper placement of an endotracheal tube during patient intubation. The present invention includes an external member wherein the external member has a housing with an arcuate formed bottom surface configured to be superposed a patient's neck during intubation. The external member includes a proximity sensor and a magnet. The endotracheal tube insertion apparatus further includes an insertion member that is elongated in form and has movably coupled thereto an end member. The end member is positioned so as to extend beyond the end of the endotracheal tube. The end member includes a proximity tag member and a magnet member wherein the magnet member is configured to be attracted to the magnet located in the external member so as to guide the endotracheal tube to the correct location. A plurality of lights further provides visual confirmation of the proper location.

Abstract: A method classifies vibrational data acquired for a swallowing event to identify a possible swallowing impairment in a candidate. The method includes receiving axis-specific vibrational data for an anterior-posterior (A-P) axis and a superior-inferior (S-I) axis and representative of the swallowing event, for example from a sensor operatively coupled to a processing module that is a local or remote computing device. A portion of the axis-specific vibrational data for the A-P axis can be combined with a portion of the axis-specific vibrational data for the S-I axis on the processing module using one or more of linear combination, squared (power) sum, moving window correlation of the two signals, local minimum or local maximum of the two signals, and trigonometric relation. The method can include outputting from the processing module a classification of the swallowing event based on the combined vibrational data.

Abstract: A method for quantifying swallowing function can include subjecting swallowing segments and non-swallowing segments of vibrational data to processing selected from the group consisting of adaptive trimming, false positive reduction, and a combination thereof. Preferably the vibrational data represents swallowing activity, is from a sensor positioned on the throat of a patient, and is associated with at least one axis selected from the group consisting of an anterior-posterior axis and a superior-inferior axis. Preferably a processing module operatively connected to the sensor performs the processing of the swallowing segments and the non-swallowing segments of the vibrational data. A device comprising a processing module and a sensor such as a single-axis accelerometer or a dual axis accelerometer can perform one or more steps of the method.

Abstract: A device detects infection associated with a prosthetically implanted device, such as a prosthetic knee. The device includes a sensor to detect the presence of one or more proteins secreted by body tissues in response to infection. The sensor may include a surface with a molecular imprint of the protein connected with a potentiometric or amperometric measuring device to detect when the protein bonds with the implanted surface. The device further includes an inductive coil coupled with a corresponding coil located outside the body. Electrical power for operating the measuring device and other circuitry is provided by inductive coupling between the coils. Signals indicating whether the protein is detected are communicated from the device to the external circuitry connected with the external coil.

Abstract: An artificial sphincter and method closing the artificial sphincter includes a plurality of bodies, a plurality of links, a coupling body, and a coupling assembly. The plurality of bodies each have respective magnets and are arranged from a first terminal body to a second terminal body. The plurality of links respectively resiliently extend and connect between the plurality of bodies. The coupling body has a first end segment and a second end segment respectively connected to a first terminal link and a second terminal link respectively extending from the first and second end segments. The coupling assembly has a clasp configured to close to form a closed loop and a coupling guide configured to be manipulated to thereby orient portions of the clasp to a predetermined orientation for connection in the connected state.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include a balloon membrane. The balloon membrane may include an opening, an exterior surface, and an interior surface. The interior surface may include one or more fiducial markers forming a pattern detectable by a scanner imaging the interior surface of the balloon membrane. Scanned portions of the interior surface of the balloon membrane may be combined based on the fiducial markers forming the pattern. Related methods and articles of manufacture, including computer program products, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for esophageal panometry are provided. An example method includes capturing measurement data including an area and a pressure of an esophageal body via a measurement device positioned with respect to the esophageal body; generating representations of the exported measurement data; analyzing the measurement data to determine esophageal reactivity based on the area and pressure; assessing esophageal function based on the determined esophageal reactivity; and outputting an indication of esophageal function.

Abstract: An ingestion monitoring system (100) comprising: one or more acoustic transducers (102); an analogue to digital converter (208) arranged to convert electrical signals from the acoustic transducer to digital form; and a processor (210) arranged to process the digital signal to detect an ingestion event.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and method for effecting the total and partial occlusion of a blood vessel, e.g., the aorta. The systems include a balloon catheter, a reservoir for an inflation fluid, a switch, and a pressure regulator/accumulator. The systems are configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode as established by the switch. During the first mode the balloon is fully inflated by the inflation fluid to completely occlude the blood vessel. During the second mode the balloon is partially inflated so that blood can flow past the balloon in the blood vessel. The pressure regulator/accumulator includes a chamber for receipt of the inflation fluid during the second mode to automatically regulate the pressure within the balloon to a desired operating pressure. The system is configured to operate in a third mode to prime the pressure regulator/accumulator to establish a desired operating pressure in the second mode.

Abstract: A delivery capsule configured to be swallowed to deliver medication inside the gastrointestinal tract, including a pressure sensor for measuring the internal pressure in the delivery capsule; one or more compartments for storing medication; and a controller configured to control the release a dose of medication from a compartment responsive to the measurements of the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A system for monitoring dietary activity of a user includes a wearable device having at least one audio input unit configured to record an audio sample corresponding to audio from a user's neck. The system further includes a processor configured to execute programmed instructions stored in a memory to obtain an audio sample from the audio input unit of a wearable device, determine segmental feature values of a set of selected features from the audio sample by extracting short-term features in the set of selected features from the audio sample and determining the segmental feature values of the set of selected features from the extracted short-term features. The processor is further configured to, using a classifier, classify a dietary activity based on the determined segmental feature values of the audio sample and generate an output corresponding to the classified dietary activity.

Abstract: A gastrectomy device includes an elongated member defining a centerline that extends through proximal and distal ends thereof. A shape modification member coupled to the elongated member is movable relative to the centerline of the elongated member. The shape modification member is movable between a first state, adjacent to the elongated member, and a second state, spaced from the elongated member. The shape modification member conforms to a portion of a patient's stomach in the second state.

Abstract: A method for creating a flexible fastener line is disclosed. The fastener line comprises fasteners oriented in directions which are transverse or oblique to a tissue incision created by a cutting member. The fasteners can translate and/or rotate within the tissue when the tissue is stretched thereby creating flexibility within the tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for treating symptoms of IBS. The apparatus includes a base material comprising a material that fits to the body of a user, an elastic portion capable of applying compression across the abdomen of a user, and a tension adjusting mechanism for adjusting the compression applied to the abdomen in order to treat the symptoms of IBS. A system for treating IBS may include a processor configured to receive a first set of data from biosensors configured to measure contractions in the bowel, receive a second set of data from a galvanic skin response sensor configured to measure electrical conductance of the skin; and, analyze patterns between the first and second sets of data.

Abstract: An image recording system, for example of a motor vehicle, includes a carrier plate, an optics holder with a through hole of which one side is closed by a surface of the carrier plate, and an image recorder situated on the carrier plate surface, a needle channel that extends through the optics holder from the through hole to an outer side of the optics holder and that is suitable for, after the optics holder has been manufactured, injection molding of an encapsulation that forms an optical lens of the image recorder without having to protect a surface of the encapsulation during the manufacturing of the optics holder. Manufacturing of a microstructured protective lens directly after manufacturing of the optics holder on the same injection mold is thus enabled.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gait recognition method based on deep learning, which comprises recognizing an identity of a person in a video according to the gait thereof through dual-channel convolutional neural networks sharing weights by means of the strong learning capability of the deep learning convolutional neural network. Said method is quite robust to gait changes across a large view, which can effectively solve the problem of low precision in cross-view gait recognition existing with the prior art gait recognition technology. Said method can be widely used in scenarios having video monitors, such as security monitoring in airports and supermarkets, person recognition, criminal detection, etc.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods that can be used to obtain objective pressure measurements in a body cavity using one or more monitoring bladders mounted on a catheter. The monitoring bladders may be adapted to connect or be connected to a system capable of providing objective pressure measurements indicative of the compressive forces acting on the one or more monitoring bladder in the body cavity. The body cavity may include, for example, the rectum, esophagus, stomach, intestine, colon, reproductive tract, urethra, oronasopharnygeal tract, etc.

Abstract: Patient swallow frequency is automatically determined by collecting patient data, analyzing the patient data to automatically identify swallow events, and automatically calculating the swallow frequency based upon the identified swallow events. In some cases, the patient data is collected by a patient interface that wirelessly transmits the data to a computing device for analysis.

Abstract: An example radio frequency identification capsule is disclosed herein. An example radio frequency identification capsule includes a substrate layer; a radio frequency identification layer on the substrate layer, the radio frequency identification layer including a radio frequency identification tag formed from nanoparticle ink; and a protective layer surrounding the radio frequency identification layer.

Abstract: A method of distinguishing leak detection and canister disengagement in a reduced pressure treatment system includes monitoring an actual power level and a source pressure of a reduced pressure pump. The actual power level is compared to a target power level, and the source pressure is compared to a first alarm pressure and a second alarm pressure. A leak alarm is indicated when the actual power level is greater than the target power level and the source pressure is greater than the first alarm pressure. A canister disengaged alarm is indicated when the actual power level is greater than the target power level and the source pressure is less than the second alarm pressure.

Abstract: The invention provides a save and non-invasive alternative to the traditional modified Evans blue dye test for dysphagia in intubated patients. The method employs direct application of dye to the tongue, in combination with a tracheal tube that provides suction in the subglottal region above the cuff. By keeping the cuff inflated, the aspiration of food and liquid, as used in the traditional test, is avoided entirely.

Abstract: A method for performing dynamic classification of a breathing session is disclosed. The method comprises capturing breathing sounds of a subject using a microphone. Further, it comprises recognizing a plurality of breath cycles and a plurality of breath phases within each of the plurality of breath cycles from the breathing sounds. It also comprises detecting characteristics regarding the plurality of breath cycles and the plurality of breath phases. Finally, it comprises extracting metrics concerning a breath pattern quality of the subject using the detected characteristics.

Abstract: Foley type catheter embodiments for sensing physiologic data from a urinary tract of a patient are disclosed. The system includes the catheter and a data processing apparatus and methods for sensing physiologic data from the urinary tract. Embodiments may also include a pressure sensor having a pressure interface at a distal end of the catheter, a pressure transducer at a proximal end, and a fluid column disposed between the pressure interface and transducer. When the distal end is residing in the bladder, the pressure transducer can transduce pressure impinging on it into a chronological pressure profile, which can be processed by the data processing apparatus into one or more distinct physiologic pressure profiles, for example, peritoneal pressure, respiratory rate, and cardiac rate. At a sufficiently high data-sampling rate, these physiologic data may further include relative pulmonary tidal volume, cardiac output, relative cardiac output, and absolute cardiac stroke volume.

Abstract: A swallowing estimation device includes: a sound detection part configured to detect sound of a larynx portion; a respiration detection part configured to detect respiration; and a swallowing estimation part configured to estimate swallowing based on sound information outputted from the sound detection part and based on respiration information outputted from the respiration detection part. The swallowing estimation part obtains a value of a parameter for swallowing estimation with respect to a biological sound generation interval that corresponds to a respiratory cessation interval longer than or equal to 400 msec, and estimates whether swallowing has occurred in the biological sound generation interval based on whether the obtained value of the parameter satisfies a swallowing determination condition.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a controller and an input for receiving a signal from a microphone. The controller processes the signal from the microphone to detect a sound associated with the use of a consumable by a user, and generates an output in response to detecting that sound. For example the consumable may be pre-packaged and the sound may be associated with the packaging. In embodiments the controller controls ambient lighting in response to the sound of a first action (e.g. opening the cap of a container), and controls task lighting in response to the sound of a second action (e.g. dispensing the product from the container). In another embodiment the controller detects a sound indicative of the consumable running out (e.g. the hollow sound of the container being put down on a surface), and in response generates a visible indicator or transmits a signal over a network.

Abstract: A connection device has a male connector and a female connector. The female connector will only accommodate the dedicated male connector, thereby prohibiting a misconnection with the wrong male connector. In certain embodiments, a member prohibits male connectors, other than a dedicated male connector, from being inserted into the female connector. In certain other embodiments, a post prohibits male connectors, other than a dedicated male connector including a slot, from being inserted into the female connector. In still certain other embodiments, a series of prongs in the male connector and corresponding grooves in the female connector ensure the proper connection. Once the male connector is inserted and secured within the female connector, a fluid-tight seal is formed between the male connector and the female connector.

Abstract: A gastroscopic method of treating obesity of a patient using a device adapted to stretch a part of the stomach wall of said patient. The method comprising the steps of: inserting said device into the stomach of said patient through the esophagus, placing said device in contact with the stomach wall and fixating said device to the stomach wall such that said device can stretch a part of said stomach wall.

Abstract: A device and method for mapping, diagnosing and treating the intestinal tract is provided using a capsule passing through the intestinal tract. Further, a capsule tracking system is provided for tracking a capsule's location along the length of an intestinal tract as various treatment and/or sensing modalities are employed. In one variation, an acoustic signal is used to determine the location of the capsule. A map of sensed information may be derived from the pass of a capsule. Capsules may be subsequently passed through to treat the intestinal tract at a determined location along its length. One variation uses an electrical stimulation capsule to treat and/or diagnose a condition in the intestinal tract.

Abstract: A medical system provides navigation assistance to a surgeon so that the surgeon may navigate a flexible medical device through linked passages of an anatomical structure to a target in or adjacent to the anatomical structure. As the medical device moves through the linked passages, images are captured by an image capturing element at its distal end and pose and shape information for the medical device are received from sensors disposed in the medical device. A 4-D computer model of the anatomical structure is registered to the medical device using one or both of 4-D shape registration and virtual camera registration so that the captured image and a virtual image generated from the perspective of a virtual camera are registered to each other and displayed while providing an indication of a navigational path to the target.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device and method for measuring skin elasticity that comprises: a probe, wherein the probe comprises one or more holes, a vacuum source, a pressure sensor, and one or more proximity sensors aligned about the one or more holes; and a processor for recording the deformation of the skin using a control unit comprising a microcontroller connected to the proximity and the pressure sensors, wherein the proximity sensor and the processor is adapted to automatically initiate a test when the sensor is positioned at a pre-determined distance from the skin, wherein a vacuum in the probe is capable of pulling skin into the one or more holes and the proximity sensor is capable of measuring an amount of skin drawn into the one or more holes to determine an elasticity of the skin.

Abstract: Methods and devices to diagnose and treat fecal incontinence in females and males are provided. A multiple sensor-enabled catheter for positioning in a patient's rectum allows for the visualization and manipulation or positioning of an anatomical reference point(s) in the patient's body. A multiple sensor-enabled catheter for rectal insertion in a patient allows for the visualization and implementation of efficient and effective exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles.

Abstract: Apparatuses for detecting swallowing disorders and methods for using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the apparatuses include a disposable sensor base and a sensor that is received by the disposable sensor base. The sensor base includes a sensor interface having a predetermined cut-away shape and a directionally-keyed mating surface. The sensor includes a handle portion having a shape that corresponds to the predetermined shape of the sensor interface, a support portion configured to be received by the directionally-keyed mating surface when the sensor is inserted into the sensor interface, and electronics configured to collect data sensed by the sensor. The apparatuses of the present disclosure can be attached to a patient's neck to detect and/or diagnose swallowing disorders during a swallowing test.

Abstract: Methods and devices to diagnose and treat male urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction are provided. A multiple sensor-enabled catheter for rectal insertion in a male patient allows for the visualization and manipulation or positioning of the bladder. A multiple sensor-enabled catheter for rectal insertion in a male patient allows for the visualization and implementation of efficient and effective exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles.

Abstract: Described is a method and products for testing patients having difficulty swallowing specialized capsules. Capsules of various sizes are manufactured. One group of capsules, gels or tablets is manufactured containing s non-active composition and the second group of capsules, gels or tablets are manufactured using an X-Ray imaging agent. The method comprises testing the patient swallowing difficulty utilizing each group of products.

Abstract: Dual-axis swallowing accelerometry is an emerging tool for the assessment of dysphagia (swallowing difficulties). These signals however can be very noisy as a result of physiological and motion artifacts. A novel scheme for denoising those signals is proposed, i.e., a computationally efficient search for the optimal denoising threshold within a reduced wavelet subspace. To determine a viable subspace, the algorithm relies on the minimum value of the estimated upper bound for the reconstruction error. A numerical analysis of the proposed scheme using synthetic test signals demonstrated that the proposed scheme is computationally more efficient than minimum noiseless description length (MNDL) based de-noising. It also yields smaller reconstruction errors (i.e., higher signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio) than MNDL, SURE and Donoho denoising methods. When applied to dual-axis swallowing accelerometry signals, the proposed scheme improves the SNR values for dry, wet and wet chin tuck swallows.

Abstract: An enteral tube includes a built-in Gastric Residual Volume (GRV) detection sensor at the distal end and a GRV indicating device at the proximal end for indicating the current GRV without requiring the aspiration of any stomach contents. The enteral tube with integrated GRV detection sensor is flexible and long enough to be looped around within the stomach. Weights may be employed to keep the sensor located generally at the lowest portion of the gastric cavity. The GRV detection sensor may include a sealed air column terminating with a flexible membrane. When the enteral tube and sealed air column are inserted into the stomach and submerged in gastric contents, pressure is exerted against the flexible membrane, and therefore against the sealed air column. A pressure sensor detects the pressure within the sealed air column and provides a signal or level representative of the amount of gastric contents in the stomach.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining an optimal amount of tissue compression for applying a surgical element to tissue is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for compressing tissue which supports a measuring device adapted to detect a tissue parameter upon the compression of tissue. The measuring device communicates with an indicator. Upon compressing tissue, when the measuring device determines that the compressed tissue parameter reaches a predetermined threshold, the measuring device sends a signal to the indicator such that the indicator provides an indication to a surgeon that the threshold has been reached. The measuring device may include a load cell and the tissue parameter may be a viscoelastic reactive force of the tissue per unit time.

Abstract: A method for characterization of a patient's esophagus may include receiving data measured by an impedance and high resolution manometry catheter in an esophagus in which the data may be representative of a pressure and/or an impedance associated with a swallowing event. The method may also include determining a cross-sectional area of the esophagus based on the received data and a pre-determined amount of a bolus consumed during the swallowing event. Systems and apparatus for characterizing a patient's esophagus may also include measuring data with a high resolution manometry catheter to determine the cross-sectional area, work, and compliance of the esophagus as a function of time during a swallowing event. Averaged data may establish a database of normal values for work done and compliance and allow for comparison of a patient to normal pathology.

Abstract: An implantable device system is disclosed. The implantable device system comprises, a first energy transceiver system, a second energy transceiver system at least partially implanted within an organic tissue and capable of being interrogated by the first energy transceiver system, and a sensing system, wherein a state of the sensing system is available at the second energy transceiver system.

Abstract: A device and method for mapping, diagnosing and treating the intestinal tract is provided using a capsule passing through the intestinal tract. Further, a capsule tracking system is provided for tracking a capsule's location along the length of an intestinal tract as various treatment and/or sensing modalities are employed. In one variation, an acoustic signal is used to determine the location of the capsule. A map of sensed information may be derived from the pass of a capsule. Capsules may be subsequently passed through to treat the intestinal tract at a determined location along its length. One variation uses an electrical stimulation capsule to treat and/or diagnose a condition in the intestinal tract.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining an optimal amount of tissue compression for applying a surgical element to tissue is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for compressing tissue which supports a measuring device adapted to detect a tissue parameter upon the compression of tissue. The measuring device communicates with an indicator. Upon compressing tissue, when the measuring device determines that the compressed tissue parameter reaches a predetermined threshold, the measuring device sends a signal to the indicator such that the indicator provides an indication to a surgeon that the threshold has been reached. The measuring device may include a load cell and the tissue parameter may be a viscoelastic reactive force of the tissue per unit time.

Abstract: A probe (1) for enteral nutrition includes a tubular element (2) of elongated shape and flexible, with a first extremity (2a) having a supply mouth (4) for the introduction of nutritional substances or the like and a second extremity (2b) positionable inside the stomach of a patient and having at least a dispensing hole (6) for dispensing the nutritional substances, the tubular element (2) having a main channel (7) of communication between the supply mouth (4) and the dispensing hole (6). The probe (1) includes at least a first and a second reading element (8, 9) for reading the pressure inside the digestive system of the patient at two distinct sections of the tubular element (2).

Abstract: Apparatus is described including a sensing electrode that detects electrical activity of a duodenum of a subject. The apparatus includes a control unit configured to facilitate a treatment of the subject responsively to the detected electrical activity. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining anatomical properties of a patient, the patient having an oral cavity and a throat, comprising a) projecting at least one structured light pattern into the patient's oral cavity; b) detecting at least one reflected light pattern, each of the reflected light patterns emanating from reflection of a corresponding projected structured light pattern; c) analysing the at least one reflected structured light pattern in view of the at least one structured light pattern, thereby determining anatomical properties of the patient; and an associated imaging device.