Abstract: A compensation circuit has a predetermined, known complex impedance and is located in a handle of a catheter or in a distal end of a cable that connects to the catheter. The compensation circuit is probed with a pilot signal produced by a compensation control that is external to the catheter, by way of an electrical connection through the connecting cable. The compensation control measures the complex impedance, which is the combination of the circuit's known impedance as well as that of the cable. The compensation control then determines the difference between the measured and the known complex impedances. The difference represents that which is attributable to the cable, and is used to compensate or cancel out such cable-related contributions to complex impedance in measurements made over other electrical connections in the same cable.

Abstract: An endoscopic puncture needle includes a sheath, an outer needle, an outer needle moving member, an inner needle, an inner needle moving member, and an operation portion. The outer needle moves along an axial direction of the sheath in the sheath, and is retractable with respect to a distal end of the sheath. The outer needle moving member is arranged at a proximal end portion of the outer needle, and moves the outer needle with respect to the sheath. The inner needle moves in the outer needle along the axial direction of the sheath, and is retractable with respect to a distal end of the outer needle. The inner needle moving member is arranged at a proximal end portion of the inner needle, and moves the inner needle with respect to the outer needle. The operation portion operates the outer needle moving member and the inner needle moving member.

Abstract: A device for sampling body fluid, the device comprising, a main body, a lancet disposed within the main body, a carrier disposed within the main body fixedly attached to the lancet, a biasing means in communication with the lancet and the carrier, an annular space disposed within the main body adjacent the lancet, and a means for measuring a body fluid. Wherein the means for measuring the body fluid may include micro-porous test strips, an electronic testing device, an optical/reflectance testing measuring device, or a visual inspection.

Abstract: The present subject matter is suited for evaluating biomechanics and electrophysiology of an infant's orofacial system during sucking. The present subject matter includes at least one orofacial sensor and a processor. In various examples, the present subject matter additionally includes one or a combination of: a pacifier having a baglet, a receiver assembly, a stimulation device, a memory, a display, and data acquisition and analysis software. Advantageously, the present subject may non-invasively sample and analyze suck and may stimulate nerve endings in the face of an infant.

Abstract: Implantation of an accommodating intraocular lens in an eye may require the accurate measurement of the size, circumference, or diameter of the capsular bag of the eye. A flexible ring or ring portion may be temporarily or permanently inserted into the capsular bag for measuring the circumference of the capsular bag, for example, after extraction of a natural lens from the capsular bag. The ring or ring portion is generally compressible to fit through a surgical incision, then expands to fill the capsular bag along an equatorial region. The ring or ring portion includes a central component that changes shape and/or angle as the ring or ring portion is compressed. The shape change is generally correlated to the size of the capsular bag and may be visually measured through the cornea, the measurement being generally independent of corneal magnification. The measurement may be used to determine or calculate information about the capsular bag such as its size, elasticity, accommodative range, and so forth.

Abstract: A biopsy tissue sampling treatment instrument includes a stem portion having a predetermined length sufficient to puncture living tissue; a puncturing portion formed at a distal end of the stem portion and having a protruding surface portion expanding rearward along a puncture direction of the stem portion; a tissue holding surface provided on a rear side of the protruding surface portion in the puncturing portion and having an area large enough to hold the living tissue; a stopper member provided at a rear end of the stem portion and having an abutting portion capable of abutting against the living tissue punctured by the stem portion; and an operating member provided on the stopper member and configured to hold the stem portion to the living tissue, allowing the stem portion to puncture the living tissue.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring impaction of a femoral component of a hip prosthesis into a femur in which impaction data generated during the impaction of the femoral component into the femur is received from at least one measurement transducer attached to the femoral component and is normalized by a data acquisition and analysis device. An impaction monitoring metric is calculated based on the normalized impaction data, and femoral component fit and stability data is then generated and output to a user interface based on the impaction monitoring metric.

Abstract: A system for measuring the size of a capsular bag of an eye of a subject includes a size indicator and a sizing gauge. The size indicator is configured for insertion into a capsular bag and includes a peripheral portion and a pair of arms. The peripheral portion is configured to engage the capsular bag. Each of the arms has a proximal end and a distal end, the arms being joined to one another at the proximal ends. The peripheral portion is joined to the distal ends of the arms. The arms form an angle that depends on a size of the capsular bag into which the size indicator is placed. The sizing gauge has a body having a front surface, along with first and second features disposed along or behind the front surface. The features are configured to correspond to an angle that is within a predetermined range of angles of the arms of the size indicator when the size indicator is placed within a capsular bag.

Abstract: Anastomosis leak testers for testing for leaks in gastrointestinal anastomoses in patients include an inflation pump and a conduit part. The inflation pump has a compressible portion and a mechanism for providing a uni-directional flow of air through the inflation pump upon intermittent compressing thereof. Conduit parts have an interior space, a portion to be inserted into an anus of a patient or arm to be mated to a gastric tube, rectal tube or endoscope, a pressure relief valve and an indicator pin, and a rearward arm connected to the inflation pump. Upon actuation of the inflation pump, air flows through the inflation pump and through the conduit part into the patient's bowel. When the air pressure in the bowel exceeds a specified pressure, air is released through the pressure relief valve and ejects the indicator pin, which alerts the surgeon that the desired rectal pressure has been reached.

Abstract: Distance measuring device comprising an emitter and a receiver, said emitter being arranged to produce a magnetic field by means of a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, said receiver being arranged to pick up at said resonant frequency the magnetic field emitted by the emitter and convert the strength of the magnetic field picked up into a first signal having an energy value, said emitter being arranged to produce said magnetic field intermittently, each emission having a predetermined energy, said receiver being connected to a detector arranged to determine, by correlation of said first signal with a second predetermined signal having a waveform representative of a signal to be picked up by the receiver, a distance measurement signal representing the distance between the emitter and the receiver. The device finds its application in detectors for sleep disorders or other forms of illness.

Abstract: A meter system for analyzing body fluids includes a supply magazine for storing a stack of test elements, a meter for analyzing fluid samples, and a transport system for transporting test elements from the supply magazine to the meter. The test element in one embodiment includes a lancet integrated test element that has a lancet coupled to a test strip. The transport system is configured to minimize damage to the test element. In one form, the transport system includes a shuttle that slides the top-most test element from the stack onto a connection portion of the meter. In another form, the transport system includes a drum that rotates to transport test elements from the supply magazine to a testing position and, once used, to a waste magazine for disposal. In a further form, the transport system includes a disc that rotates to transport the test elements.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing contact of a medical device against a tissue surface within a subject body, the method comprising determination of the geometrical configuration of the distal portion of the medical device, and using this together with known control variable information to determine and control the contact force of the distal tip of the medical device against the tissue surface.

Abstract: A biopsy apparatus having a disposable cutting element and a reusable handpiece is disclosed. The disposable cutting element includes an inner cannula that defines an inner lumen and terminates in a cutting edge. The inner cannula is slidably disposed within an outer cannula that defines an outer lumen that has a tissue-receiving opening. The inner cannula is driven by a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. Both motors are constructed of a MRI compatible material.

Abstract: Implants or systems of implants and methods apply a selected force vector or a selected combination of force vectors within or across the left atrium, which allow mitral valve leaflets to better coapt. The implants or systems of implants and methods make possible rapid deployment, facile endovascular delivery, and full intra-atrial retrievability. The implants or systems of implants and methods also make use of strong fluoroscopic landmarks. The implants or systems of implants and methods make use of an adjustable implant and a fixed length implant. The implants or systems of implants and methods may also utilize a bridge stop to secure the implant, and the methods of implantation employ various tools.

Abstract: An elastic hysteretic palpatory training apparatus includes a plunger, a solenoid disposed around a longitudinal axis of the plunger, and a controller for controlling electrical power supplied to the solenoid as a function of a palpatory force applied to an end of the plunger and a position of the plunger in the solenoid in response to the applied palpatory force whereupon the plunger emulates at least one of the following: an elastic material responding to the application of the palpatory force thereto or a series of elastic materials being engaged one-at-a-time in response to the application of the palpatory force thereto.

Abstract: Support structures for positioning sensors on a physiologic tunnel for measuring physical, chemical and biological parameters of the body and to produce an action according to the measured value of the parameters. The support structure includes a sensor fitted on the support structures using a special geometry for acquiring continuous and undisturbed data on the physiology of the body. Signals are transmitted to a remote station by wireless transmission such as by electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared, sound and the like or by being reported locally by audio or visual transmission. The physical and chemical parameters include brain function, metabolic function, hydrodynamic function, hydration status, levels of chemical compounds in the blood, and the like. The support structure includes patches, clips, eyeglasses, head mounted gear and the like, containing passive or active sensors positioned at the end of the tunnel with sensing systems positioned on and accessing a physiologic tunnel.

Abstract: A method of hysteretic palpatory training includes providing a wire or a computer controlled actuator having a plunger that hysteretically resists the application of a palpatory force. An increasing palpatory force is applied in a first direction to the wire or the plunger, whereupon the wire or plunger hysteretically resist displacement from a first position to a second position. The palpatory force is then withdrawn whereupon the elasticity of wire or the elasticity emulated by the plunger causes it to return to a position intermediate the first and second positions. The applied palpatory force versus displacement in response to applying and withdrawing the palpatory force to the wire or the plunger is then detected.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a blood withdrawal system for withdrawing blood for diagnostic purposes. The blood withdrawal system comprises housing with a lancet, which can be moved within the housing. The housing also includes a lancet drive with a drive spring and a cocking mechanism that includes an actuation element. The blood withdrawal system of the present invention also includes a lancet ejection mechanism that can be moved from an active position to remove the lancet to a passive position where such removal of the lancet is not possible.

Abstract: A centesis instrument, wherein a patient applies a contact part to a palm, a finger, or an arm in the state of gripping an outer tube by hand and presses the outer tube against its measured portion. A third coiled spring is compressed to increase spring power. When the outer tube reaches a prescribed position, the tip face of the vertical portion of a centesis button reaches a hole part, and a projected part is allowed to be pressed. When the patient presses a button body from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the button body by using a finger at that position, a locking piece is separated from a locking part and the centesis needle of a centesis needle unit is instantaneously projected from the opening part of the contact part to the measured portion by the spring power of the third coiled spring for centesis. Thus, a prescribed amount of blood can be taken out from the measured portion.

Abstract: A method of operating a local body fat measurement device including: measuring a body fat thickness of the at least one predetermined measurement point of the predetermined anatomical area; displaying a measured body fat thickness at each measurement point on a output device; and maintaining a memory device storing a local body fat measurement table storing the at least one measurement point. The local body fat measurement table comprises an anatomical area image portraying a shape of the predetermined anatomical area, and the at least one measurement point is displayed in the anatomical area image.