Abstract: A tissue sampling device including a flexible sheath, a cannula inserted into the sheath so as to be movable back and forth and punctured into body tissue, and an operation unit provided on a proximal end side of the sheath to move the cannula back and forth, wherein the cannula has a distal end part including a slit extending from a distal end opening toward a proximal end side.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system to help manage a patient that is at risk of forming one or more pressure ulcers is disclosed. The system includes a patient-worn wireless sensor that senses the patient's orientation and wirelessly transmits information indicative of the sensed orientation to a patient monitor. The patient monitor receives, stores, and processes the transmitted information. It also displays and transmits information indicative of the patient's orientation to help caregivers manage the patient's risk of formation of one or more pressure ulcers. The patient monitor detects patient turns from one position to another. The system can identify the present orientation of the patient and determine how long the patient has been in the present orientation. If the patient remains in an orientation beyond a predefined duration, the system can notify the patient and/or caretakers that the patient is due to be repositioned.

Abstract: One embodiment of an apparatus for analysis of body composition and hydration status by detecting resistance of the human subject at zero and infinite frequency including a method for measuring indirectly extracellular water mass, intracellular water mass, lean body mass, and body fat mass; daily changes of extracellular water mass, intracellular water mass, lean body mass, and body fat mass; and acute changes of extracellular water mass and intracellular water mass; and for individualized calibration of these indirect measurements.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein improve digital stethoscopes and their application and operation. A first method detects of a respiratory abnormality using a convolution. A second method counts coughs for a patient. A third method predicts a respiratory event based on a detected trend. A fourth method forecasts characteristics of a future respiratory event. In a fifth embodiment, a base station is provided for a digital stethoscope.

Abstract: The following description provides a biotissue sampling apparatus comprising a housing, a firing button configured on a rear-end of the housing; a tube with an aspirating hole configured to inject medicine in a tissue according to a longitudinal direction of a lower end and extended from a front-end of a housing; and a needle assembly that may move from the tube to a biopsy region by a button thereby cut a solid tissue and store or aspire a fluid tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for determining and monitoring a neurological disorder using key action cadence is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for continuous monitoring of central nervous system diseases are provided in which typing cadence is used to measure cognitive function at a very granular level, providing hard, specific and detailed data to the neurologists about the central nervous system diseases. The system may also be used by a patient with a central nervous system disease to experiment with changes to diet, exercise and other things and test the effectiveness of those changes and patients can understand better why an unexpected improvement or worsening occurred.

Abstract: A powered or automatic air management system for measuring pressure from an air pressure catheter located within a patient. Powered pumps are included in a remote pump assembly to automatically adjust the air volume to a desired level. A pressure transducer assembly is located at the bed of the patient and is connected to an air catheter, and a separate pump assembly is fixed to an IV pole away from the patient and connected to a pressure monitor to display the pressure readings. By locating the pressure transducer to a location relatively close to the connection point of the catheter, more accurate pressure readings can be achieved.

Abstract: A gait posture meter that evaluates a gait posture of a measurement subject includes an accelerometer affixed to a centerline of the measurement subject's waist area and a computation unit. The computation unit calculates a Z feature amount and an X feature amount indicating a degree of a difference between up-down and front-rear axis direction accelerations of the waist area in a left leg reference period and up-down and front-rear axis direction accelerations of the waist area in a right leg reference period using a timewise change waveform in three axis accelerations outputted by the accelerometer, and calculates a Y feature amount indicating a degree of a difference between a displacement of a left-right axis direction trajectory of the waist area in the left leg reference period and a displacement of the left-right axis direction trajectory of the waist area in the right leg reference period by finding a second-level integration of the left-right axis acceleration outputted by the accelerometer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting worsening cardiac conditions such as worsening heart failure events are described. A system may include sensor circuits to sense physiological signals and signal processors to generate from the physiological signals first and second signal metrics. The system may include a risk stratifier circuit to produce a cardiac risk indication. The system may use at least the first signal metric to generate a primary detection indication, and use at least the second signal metric and the risk indication to generate a secondary detection indication. The risk indication may be used to modulate the second signal metric. A detector circuit may detect the worsening cardiac event using the primary and secondary detection indications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for high frequency impedance spectroscopy detection of daily changes of dielectric properties of the human body to measure body composition and hydration status. According to an aspect, a method at a computing device to determine a set of indirect dynamic human metabolism parameters includes using a sensor on an individual to acquire a set of electrical measurements. The method also includes combining a ratio technique with a canonical model form technique. The also includes performing a series of mathematical calculations on the acquired set of electrical measurements to determine the set of indirect dynamic human metabolism parameters for the individual based on the combined ratio technique and the canonical model form technique.

Abstract: Methods and devices for performing minimally invasive procedures useful for Fallopian tube diagnostics are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the proximal os of the Fallopian tube is accessed via an intrauterine approach; an introducer catheter is advanced to cannulate and form a fluid tight seal with the proximal os of the Fallopian tube; a second catheter inside the introducer catheter is provided to track the length of the Fallopian tube and out into the abdominal cavity; a balloon at the end of the second catheter is inflated and the second catheter is retracted until the balloon seals the distal os of the Fallopian tube; irrigation is performed substantially over the length of the Fallopian tube; and the irrigation fluid is recovered for cytology or cell analysis.

Abstract: A lancing device having a domed structure that can be depressed by application of a force by a user's finger so as to expose the tip of a needle. The domed structure is configured to move from a non-depressed state to a depressed state in a manner that allows for the piercing the users finger. The domed structure may then recoil to its original, non-depressed position upon the user ceasing to apply the force.

Abstract: There is provided a urine analysis device for bed side monitoring of a patient, comprising: an inlet sized and shaped for fluid communication with a urine collecting tube that receives urine from a patient; a drip chamber through which the urine flows towards an outlet; at least one sensor that analyzes each drop of urine and estimates a respective volume of each drop; a timing element that measures a reference time for each drop; a program store storing code; and at least one processing unit coupled to the program store for implementing the stored code, the code comprising: code to calculate a urine output flow rate of the urine output flowing through the chamber according to the estimated volume of each drop of the urine and the reference time for each drop; and code to output the urine output flow rate.

Abstract: Methods and devices for performing minimally invasive procedures useful for Fallopian tube diagnostics are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the proximal os of the Fallopian tube is accessed via an intrauterine approach; an introducer catheter is advanced to cannulate and form a fluid tight seal with the proximal os of the Fallopian tube; a second catheter inside the introducer catheter is provided to track the length of the Fallopian tube and out into the abdominal cavity; a balloon at the end of the second catheter is inflated and the second catheter is retracted until the balloon seals the distal os of the Fallopian tube; irrigation is performed substantially over the length of the Fallopian tube; and the irrigation fluid is recovered for cytology or cell analysis.

Abstract: A coil is made by helically winding a wire rod. A cross-sectional shape of the wire rod of the coil includes a curved portion that is arcuately curved toward a center axis of the coil; a flat portion that is provided on an outer circumference of the coil, and is formed in a flat shape with a curvature that is smaller than a curvature of the curved portion; and at least one protruding portion that is provided at the boundary between the curved portion and the flat portion or in the vicinity of the boundary, and protrudes toward an adjacent wire rod.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a body, a needle, a hollow cutter, and a tissue sample holder. The needle extends distally from the body and includes a lateral aperture. The cutter is movable relative to the needle to sever a tissue sample and defines a cutter lumen. The tissue sample holder includes a manifold and an outer cover. The manifold includes a plurality of passages and an indexing portion. Each passage of the plurality of passages is configured to selectively index relative to a proximal end of the hollow cutter. The outer cover includes a resilient member. The resilient member is configured to engage with the indexing portion of the manifold to selectively index a passage of the plurality of passages with the distal end of the hollow cutter.

Abstract: A method is presented for determining onset of hypoxia of an occupant in an aircraft. The method includes measuring a physiological parameter of the occupant and comparing a value based on the physiological parameter with a threshold value. The method also includes measuring a pressure within a cabin of the aircraft and comparing the pressure with a pressure threshold value. The method also includes determining onset of hypoxia of the occupant based on both of the comparing steps. The method also includes communicating an alert to the occupant using a device detectable by one or more senses of the occupant. An apparatus is also provided for determining onset of hypoxia. The apparatus includes a pressure sensor to measure the pressure, a pulse oximeter to measure the physiological parameter, an alert device to communicate the alert to the occupant and a processor to perform one or more steps of the method.

Abstract: A pressure measuring system, including a tube system having at least one first device for measuring pressure in a fluid. The at least one first device includes a coupling element, at least one pressure transducer and at least one measuring chamber, which can be filled with a fluid. Between the first device and the feed of the fluid, the tube system has a second device for regulating a fluid flow, the second device having a tube section through which fluid can flow and at least one tube clamp, which can be set in the regulation positions open, closed and perfused.

Abstract: Guide wires, systems and methods can improve advancement through the vasculature, particularly when the catheter tip encounters resistance or an obstruction and cannot advance. The guide wire can include an enlargement spaced proximally from a distal tip of the elongated member alone or in combination with a configured portion of the wire. The configured guide wire can be positioned in the vasculature and a medical device such as a catheter can track over the guide wire. The catheter can get caught-up in the vasculature or on implanted devices during advancement. When that occurs, the configured guide wire can be retracted back to the catheter tip and the guide wire configuration can cause the catheter distal tip to move and/or deflect away from the obstruction or resistance allowing the system to advance. The guide wire can be returned to its distal position and the procedure can continue.