Abstract: A hearing prosthesis arrangement is described for a hearing assisted patient. A microphone senses an acoustic environment around the hearing assisted patient and generates a corresponding microphone output signal. An audio signal processor processes the microphone output signal and produces a corresponding prosthesis stimulation signal to the patient for audio perception. The audio signal processor includes a dereverberation process that measures a dedicated reverberation reference signal produced in the acoustic environment to determine reverberation characteristics of the acoustic environment, and reduces reverberation effects in the hearing prosthesis stimulation signal based on the reverberation characteristics.

Abstract: Absorbable composite medical devices such as surgical meshes and braided sutures, which display two or more absorption/biodegradation and breaking strength retention profiles and exhibit unique properties in different clinical settings, are made using combinations of at least two types of yarns having distinctly different physicochemical and biological properties and incorporate in the subject construct special designs to provide a range of unique properties as clinically useful implants.

Abstract: A process for producing a daughter radionuclide from a parent radionuclide includes a) loading the parent radionuclide on a first solid medium contained in a generator and onto which the parent radionuclide is retained and whereby the daughter radionuclide is formed by radioactive decay of the parent radionuclide; b) eluting this medium with a A0 solution so as to recover a A1 solution comprising the daughter radionuclide; c) optionally adjusting the pH of the A1 solution so as to obtain a A1? solution, d) loading this A1 or A1? solution onto the head of a second solid medium contained in a chromatography column; e) first washing said second solid medium with a A2 solution; f) second washing said second solid medium with a A2? solution; g) eluting the daughter radionuclide with a A3 solution. The first washing step is conducted from head to tail of the column and the second washing step and the second eluting step are conducted from tail to head of the column.

Abstract: A heartbeat analyzing method and a heartbeat analyzing system are provided. The heartbeat analyzing method includes: sensing a user using a wearable device and acquiring a physiological signal record; performing a dispersion calculation to the physiological signal record using the wearable device and generating a Poincaré plot of the physiological signal record; and inputting the Poincaré plot into a heart rhythm classifier model and determining a heartbeat classification of the user based on personal health data of the user.

Abstract: A method and system for making an orthodontic aligner, as well as an orthodontic aligner. The method comprising: determining at least one super contact region between upper teeth and lower teeth of a subject, the super contact region comprising identifying an area around an at least one contact region between the upper teeth and the lower teeth which exceeds a predetermined magnitude of contact between the upper and lower teeth during a predefined upper/lower teeth position; and generating a digital model of the aligner comprising applying the determined super contact region to a digital model of a pre-form aligner such that a thickness of the aligner body at the determined super contact region is less than a thickness of the aligner body at regions which are not determined super contact regions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an instrument kit tracking system that includes a housing that has tracking electronics that is contained in either a compartment or wall of the medical instrument kit or in a standalone unit that is affixed to a medical instrument kit to contain and protect an electronic device from external temperatures between 120-135° C.; where the medical instrument kit contains at least one medical instrument. The internal temperature of the instrument kit tracking system is maintained such that the electronic device contained therein is operable when the external temperature is between 120-135° C. A further layer, such as of a thickness of 1 mm, resides between the electronic device and the outer walls of the compartment or module. Access to the tracking electronics may also be selectively lockable.

Abstract: A biopsy marker having a spring-loaded anchor. The biopsy marker includes an insertion orientation and an anchored orientation. In the insertion orientation, the biopsy marker is manipulated under force to reduce the lateral span/cross-sectional area of the marker. In the anchored orientation, the biopsy marker is released and free to actively spring into a configuration in which the lateral span/cross-sectional area is greater than the lateral span/cross-sectional area of the biopsy marker when in the insertion orientation. In an embodiment, the spring-loaded anchor is configured to spring about a predefined rotational axis. An embodiment of the biopsy marker may be comprised of a single wire construction.

Abstract: A magnet arrangement for an implantable medical device is described. An implantable coil case contains a communications coil and is made of biocompatible resilient material with a top lateral surface. A magnet receptacle is located within the coil case and has a receptacle opening in the top lateral surface. An implant magnet fits within the magnet receptacle and has opposing end surfaces, and a center body region located between the end surfaces. An elastic opening clamp is located radially around the receptacle opening and is configured to normally be closed around the receptacle opening to maintain the implant magnet within the magnet receptacle. The elastic opening clamp also is configured to cooperate with a surgical handling tool to expand the receptacle opening to permit the implant magnet to be removed from the magnet receptacle through the receptacle opening without needing to move the coil case.

Abstract: A flexible arm for use in a medical procedure includes a plurality of bushings and a plurality of double-ball members engaged with one another to thereby provide flexibility to the flexible arm. The double-ball members include a concave bore having a convex interior surface. The flexible arm further includes a wire extending through the concave bore of the double-ball members. An exterior diameter of the wire closely approximates or matches an interior diameter of the concave bore at its smallest point such that the curved members are operable to guide the wire as the flexible arm is flexed. The wire may be adjusted to thereby manipulate the amount of engagement between the bushings and the double-ball members to thereby manipulate the flexibility of the flexible arm.

Abstract: Suturing devices and systems used to apply sutures and/or to close openings at, within, or into a biological structure. The suturing device can comprise an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, one or more distal arms, one or more proximal extensions, and one or more needles. A sheath may be used with the device to maintain or substantially maintain haemostasis while the device is used and while a procedure is performed in the biological structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to purify water and reduce the operation costs by regulating the basicity of the aluminium based coagulants in situ as one of the parameters, such as purification of water in water—or waste water treatment plants.

Abstract: A biodegradable blood vessel narrowing device, comprising: a biodegradable element; an anchoring element; wherein said anchoring element is anchored to a blood vessel wall and at least one external dimension of said biodegradable element is reduced upon biodegradation of said biodegradable element thereby pulling said blood vessel walls toward one another.

Abstract: A method for noninvasive analysis of subcutaneous tissue includes irradiating a surface of the tissue with short wave infrared (SWIR) radiation in a first spectral band that is strongly absorbed by water, and with SWIR radiation in a second spectral band such that an interaction of the radiation in both spectral bands with a component of the tissue other than water is substantially identical. An intensity of the radiation in each of the spectral bands that emerges from the tissue is measured. A relative absorption by the tissue of radiation in one of spectral bands relative to absorption by the tissue of radiation in the other of the spectral bands is calculated. A state of the tissue is determined in accordance with the calculated relative absorption.

Abstract: A cutting tool for cutting a workpiece such as a rope or a web includes a body defining first and second channels closed by respective first and second movable gates. A first cutting member is at a narrow end of the first channel, and a second cutting member is at a narrow end of the second channel. The body has surface portions adjacent to the second cutting member that are adapted to deform a flat workpiece engaging the second cutting member into a non-flat shape to increase the stiffness of the workpiece as it engages the second cutting member.

Abstract: A fluorescence reader includes a base frame having an open part formed at the front thereof so that a diagnostic cartridge is inserted therein and having an inner space therein, an optical module disposed in the inner space of the base frame, and disposed to be positioned above the diagnostic cartridge inserted through the open part to irradiate a light to the diagnostic cartridge; a driving module for moving the optical module; and a sensor module for sensing the insertion of the diagnostic cartridge and the position of the optical module. The fluorescence signal reader automatically calculates a measurement time when a user loads a solution, thus improving detection accuracy and shortening a detection time.

Abstract: A combined magnetic and bioabsorbable device for ventral hernia closure and/or tension distribution for maintenance of tissue apposition for healing, while avoiding a long-term footprint of foreign material and precluding materials spanning the interior layer of the abdominal closure where risk to visceral structures exists.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel wound dressing design. Particularly, this invention relates to a wound dressing which incorporates multiple distinct layers, each providing useful features and together providing a novel method of managing a variety of wound types. Moist healing, exudate management, ease of use and patient comfort are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the new dressing comprises a thin layer of gel continuously coated onto a thin film material which is laminated to an apertured mesh. Preferably, the gel coated thin film material is fenestrated or perforated. This construction improves dressing fixation, provides a semi-occlusive wound environment while simultaneously managing copious amounts of exudate.

Abstract: The present invention is a dermal-exfoliation system that uses positive pressure to deliver salt and/or bio-inert crystalline particle abrasives or saline solution to the stratum corneum, combined with a minimal amount of negative pressure to close the loop when in contact with the skin to evacuate spent particles and dislodged skin cells and debris. An applicator handpiece is optimized for the use of the combined pressure system discussed herein for the removal of epidermal layers.

Abstract: An endovascular catheter for vein ablation comprising: an elongated rod sized for insertion into a vein; at least one irritation element coupled to the distal end portion of the rod, the at least one irritation element having an expanded irritation state for contacting an inner wall segment of the vein to irritate the vein segment to trigger spasm of the vein segment and a non-irritation state, the at least one irritation element arranged for iterative changes between the irritation state and the non-irritation state; and at least one support element coupled to the distal end portion of the rod, the support element arranged to apply a mechanical force from the distal end portion to iteratively return the irritation element to the expanded irritation state in response to dynamic feedback of vein walls pressing against the irritation element to force the irritation element into the non-irritation state.

Abstract: A therapeutic level medical gas delivery system includes a pressure regulator with a control point for a flow of medical gas through a critical flow orifice; a variable flow restrictor; and a mixing chamber for the combination of fixed flows.