Abstract: A blood viscosity measuring system and method that monitors the rising head of a column of fluid representing a living being's blood in-vivo to determine the blood viscosity over a range of shears. The system includes a capillary tube, at least a portion of which is located within the vascular system of the being, and a riser tube, having a liquid therein coupled to the capillary tube. A sensor and associated microprocessor are provided to determine the change in the height of the liquid in the riser tube at plural points along the length of the tube from which the viscosity is calculated.

Abstract: A biofeedback method and apparatus for applying a physical action to a subject for treatment purposes and for other applications is disclosed. The method and apparatus disclosed include the steps of coordinating the physical action to systolic upstroke and diastolic drain cycles of subject's peripheral blood flow. Coordination to the cycles of blood flow synchronizes the treatment action with homoeostatic rhythms of the body, which along with automatic dose individualization substantially enhance efficiency and predictability of the treatment effect. The method and apparatus are also used for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for altering a function of neural tissue in a patient. An electromagnetic signal is applied to the neural tissue through an electrode. The electromagnetic signal has a frequency component above the physiological stimulation frequency range and an intensity sufficient to product an alteration of the neural tissue, the alteration causing the patient to experience a reduction in pain, and a waveform that prevents lethal temperature elecation of the neural tissue during application of the electromagnetic signal to the neural tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for determining a characteristic point in the cardiac cycle that comprises means for calculating the curve of the blood flow rate D(t) in the aorta from the curve of the arterial blood pressure signal P(t) and determining from the curve of the blood flow rate D(t) in each cardiac cycle the time at which an [the] incisura point lies. The device can be used for activating an intra-aortal balloon pump (IABP).

Abstract: A preformed anchoring wire guide (10) for medical procedures such as renal angioplasty. The wire guide (10) is comprised of a superelastic memory alloy mandril (11), such as a nickel-titanium alloy, and includes a preformed bend (14) having an angle (15) with respect to the longitudinal axis (28) that corresponds with the takeoff angle of the renal artery (23) relative to the aorta (33). This preformed bend (14) allows easier access to the ostium (22) of the renal artery (23) and allows the distal portion (27) of the wire guide to anchor within the artery (23) and resist dislodgement and deformation, thereby improving trackability of a balloon angioplasty catheter (21), reducing the need for a guiding catheter, and reducing the likelihood of vessel damage or thrombus shear due to forces that are normally exerted against the wall of the vessel (33) by a standard wire guide.

Abstract: A method for determining the tidal volume (Vt) distribution in the lungs of a subject. The distribution is made among a plurality of compartments (i). Each compartment has an assigned tidal volume (Vti)/perfusion (Qi) ratio and an assigned tidal volume (Vti)/compartmental volume (Vai) ratio so that the compartments, collectively, cover a range of ventilation/perfusion ratio (Vt/Q) values and ventilation/volume (Vt/Va) ratio values. The subject inspires a bolus of analytical gases in his/her tidal volume of breathing gases. The analytical gases of the bolus have differing solubilities in the blood of the subject and are inspired in known amounts. The concentrations of the analytical gases expired by the subject are measured, preferably in a plurality of breaths. The expired analytical gas concentrations are expressed as a function dependent on the inspired bolus amounts, the ventilation/perfusion ratios, the ventilation/volume ratios, and the compartmental tidal volumes (Vti).

Abstract: The artificial blood vessel A comprises a front end wire ring 101, a rear end wire ring 102 arranged facing to the front end wire ring 101, a tubular cover 7 which connects the end wire rings 101, 102, and a plurality of intermediate wire rings 12 arranged spaced apart from each other between the front end wire ring 101 and the rear end wire ring 102. Each of the front end wire ring 101, the rear end wire ring 102 and the intermediate wire rings 12 are given flexibly foldable elasticity. The circumference of the front end wire ring 101 is equally divided into four by dividing points 411, 421, 431, 441. Hooking means 13 are formed for a front pull string to be passed through at the dividing points 411, 431.

Abstract: A miniature spherical-shaped internal temperature transponder. A temperature sensor (25) is fabricated in a spherical integrated transponder circuit (15) which may be placed in the human body by ingestion, implantation, or injection. In one aspect of the invention, a passive system is disclosed whereby an external monitoring station (13) generates an energy field using a magnetic field generator (19) which is coupled to a power coil (21) of the transponder (15). The power coil (21) passes power to a power regulator (23) to provide regulated power to all transponder (15) circuits. Temperature data obtained by the temperature sensor (25) is passed to a voltage controlled oscillator (27) for conversion into an RF signal. A mixing circuit (31) receives the RF temperature signal and modulates the temperature data signal onto an oscillator frequency from an RF oscillator (29).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for measuring and performing real-time FFT analysis of bioelectrical signals such as (EEG and EMG) for the control of systems. Passive and active interaction with various electronic media such as video games, movies, music, virtual reality, and computer animations is also disclosed. A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a subject in a controlled area and for controlling real or virtual spaces is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combination thermal and vibration sensor for use in sleep monitoring equipment comprises a thin film of a plastic exhibiting both pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties. By providing a layer of foam material totally covering one major surface of the plastic film layer, it is found that the thermal mass of the sensor is changed to the point where the pyroelectric signal can more readily be isolated from the piezoelectric signal using conventional signal processing techniques.

Abstract: The present invention provides a guidewire having a reduced diameter, which ensures rigidity and excellent guidance ability in spite of its reduced diameter, and which achieves an excellent sliding ability and insertion/pulling-out ability with respect to a catheter or the like. The guidewire has an inner core formed of a single wire having an uneven surface on its outer circumferential surface, a high-polymer coating which densely covers the outer circumferential surface of the inner core, and an uneven surface formed on the outer circumferential surface of the high-polymer coating by an influence from the uneven surface on the outer circumferential surface of the inner core.

Abstract: A method for forming a valve-like mechanism in a body of a mammal having an esophagus extending through a lower esophageal sphincter to a stomach and formed by a wall having a muscle layer and a mucosal layer. The method comprises the step of forming at least one implant in the muscle layer of the wall in the vicinity of the lower esophageal sphincter. The at least one implant inhibits opening of esophagus at the lower esophageal sphincter and causes the mucosal layer to appose in the vicinity of the implants.

Abstract: A constant power control circuit for an electrosurgical generator and a method for maintaining the electrical power output of an electrosurgical generator at a generally constant value throughout a given tissue impedance range are disclosed. The constant power control circuit and the method recognize and use the unique and simple linear characteristics associated with certain electrosurgical generator designs to monitor and control the electrical power output without having to calculate or monitor the actual output power. The constant power control circuit includes a current sampling circuit, a linear conversion circuit, and a feedback correction circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method of administering a pharmaceutical composition, such as an anesthetic through the skin of a patient without the use of a sharp or needle. This method includes the step of irradiating the stratum corneum of a region of the skin of the patient using a laser. By a selection of parameters, the laser irradiates the surface of the skin precisely to a selectable depth, without causing clinically relevant damage to healthy proximal tissue. A pharmaceutical composition is then applied to the region of irradiation.

Abstract: A method for treating a tracheo-esophageal fistula. The method comprises the steps of augmenting the wall forming the esophagus in the vicinity of the fistula and placing a stent over the fistula in the esophagus so as to inhibit material traveling down the esophagus from passing into the trachea. The augmenting of the wall facilitates support of the stent in the esophagus so as to enhance isolation of the fistula.

Abstract: The present invention features test systems and methods for detecting a hepatic disorder in a mammal and especially a primate. Preferred use of the invention involves staging the hepatic disorder in a human patient.

Abstract: A portable dolorimeter arrangement for determining a subject's cutaneous pain tolerance level at any site on the body allows for chronic pain diagnosis, and for the diagnosis of subtle sensory abnormalities. The arrangement comprises a heat projector (9) and an IR thermopile (19) focused on the same area of the subject's skin. The heat projector (9) is controlled via an interface (22) by a lap top computer (4) which performs acquisition, processing, display and storage of pain tolerance latency data.

Abstract: The invention allows more accurate localization of radiation volumes during radiation treatment of tumors. The equipment includes radiation detector elements placed behind the patient during radiation, for treatment of a tumor condition. Such a detector may be constructed of semiconductor or a scintillating material. The radiation treatment plan for the patient includes an additional calculation of the treatment beam energy required for to enable the treatment beam to transit the patient. The energy required for patient transit is then measured, using a treatment beam with a beam current below that which will induce significant tissue damage. The experimental transit flux is then compared to the calculated transit flux, and the difference is used to correct the beam transport parameters in the original radiation treatment plan. Hence lower radiation doses and smaller radiation volumes can be achieved, reducing deleterious radiation side effects.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for fixation of a bone fracture. The device comprises at least one distal pin having a mounting end for insertion on a distal side of the fracture, at least one proximal pin having a mounting end for insertion on a proximal side of the fracture, a distal member attached to the distal pins, a proximal member attached to the proximal pins and slideably connected to the distal member for reducing or distracting the bone fracture, a distraction assembly for controlling the movement between the proximal and distal members, and a removable engagement element. The distraction assembly has two modes of operation: an active configuration and an inactive configuration. In the active configuration, incremental relative sliding movement between the proximal and distal members is allowed, and, in the inactive configuration, free relative sliding movement between the proximal and distal members is allowed.

Abstract: An ambulatory recording system for medical and especially diagnostic purposes is described having synchronized communication between two processors. The recorder features two processors which are of differing architectures—the first processor being a real time processor which handles the sampling function, the second processor being a non real time processor which handles the operating system function. The invention further includes a protocol for communication between the two processors which permits the two processors to have synchronized and reliable communication.