Abstract: A blood collection tube holder having a retractable single needle and a body comprising substantially parallel and laterally spaced apart barrel and needle retraction cavities separated by a partial wall that facilitates lateral movement of the single needle from the barrel cavity into alignment with the needle retraction cavity to initiate needle retraction. The barrel and a frontal attachment to the barrel are cooperatively configured to facilitate relative sliding movement between in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal axis through the retractable single needle to initiate needle retraction.

Abstract: Knee joint laxity testing apparatus configured to measure knee laxity in three planes of motion includes a foot and ankle stabilization assembly including a foot plate, a heel clamp and a tibial clamp for securing a foot and an ankle of a person, an anterior-posterior (AP) loading assembly configured to apply an anterior/posterior loading on a knee of the person, and a thigh stabilization assembly including a proximal thigh fixation module and a distal thigh fixation module. The proximal thigh fixation module includes a thigh cradle and a pair of clamping arms for securing a thigh positioned on the thigh cradle. Each clamping arm is pivotable about a hinge. The distal thigh fixation module is operable to firmly hold a distal portion of a thigh of the person in place while a leg of the person is manipulated.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides alert implants that comprise a medical device and an implantable reporting processor (IRP), where one example of such a medical device includes a component for a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) such as a tibial extension, a femoral component for hip replacements, a breast implant, a distal rod for arm or leg breakage repair, a scoliosis rod, a dynamic hip screw, a spinal interbody spacer, and tooling and methods that may be used to form the alert implant, and uses of such alert implants in the health maintenance of patients who receive the implant.

Abstract: A removal tool uses magnetic attraction to guide the removal tool toward an implantable device subcutaneously implanted in subcutaneous tissue of a host and to remove the implantable device from the host. The removal tool may include first and second lever members that are pivotably connected together, and the first and second lever members include a pair of jaw members configured to move between open and closed positions to grasp the implantable device. The first jaw member may include a magnet to magnetically attract and couple to an implantable device implanted subcutaneously below a skin surface of a host.

Abstract: A system and method for personalized calibration for glucose sensing. In some embodiments, the method includes obtaining a plurality of first glucose measurements from a subject, at a plurality of first sampling times during a time interval, using a first glucose sensor; obtaining a plurality of second glucose measurements from the subject, at a plurality of second sampling times during the time interval, using a second glucose sensor; and estimating a first in-vivo calibration parameter for the first glucose sensor and the second glucose sensor, based on the first glucose measurements and the second glucose measurements, wherein a first in-vivo time-constant, relating blood glucose to an output of the first glucose sensor, is different from a second in-vivo time-constant, relating blood glucose to an output of the second glucose sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a measuring method for prolonging a usage lifetime of a biosensor to measure a physiological signal representative of a physiological parameter associated with an analyte in a biofluid. The biosensor includes two working electrodes at least partially covered by a chemical reagent and two counter electrodes having silver and a silver halide, and each silver halide has an initial amount.

Abstract: A device may obtain absorption spectra data associated with tissue of a subject. The device may determine, based on the absorption spectra data, an estimate of a water content associated with the tissue. The device may determine, based on the estimate of the water content, an estimate of a hydration level of the subject. The device may perform one or more actions based on the estimate of the hydration level of the subject.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for finger-to-thumb crease testing includes a patient interface configured to attach to a thumb of a patient, the patient interface including a touch sensor configured to sense contact between a finger of the patient and the touch sensor, the touch sensor being positioned on the patient interface in a location at which it overlies a distalmost thumb crease of the thumb when the patient interface is attached, and a control module in electrical communication with the patient interface, the control module being configured to count a number of times the patient successfully taps the touch sensor with the finger.

Abstract: A glucose monitoring system includes a sensor control device comprising an analyte sensor coupled with sensor electronics, the sensor control device configured to transmit data indicative of an analyte level, and a reader device comprising a wireless communication circuitry configured to receive the data indicative of the analyte level, and one or more processors coupled with a memory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting a predetermined amount of blood or other fluid using an automated sampling system is provided.

Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (“WCD”) system may include an impedance detector configured to render an impedance signal of the patient. The WCD system may determine, from the impedance signal, a characteristic of breathing by the patient that can be used as a vital sign. The WCD system may determine, from at least the breathing characteristic, whether or not a shock criterion is met. If the shock criterion is met, the WCD system may control a discharge circuit to discharge a stored electrical charge through the patient. An advantage can be that the breathing characteristic may be used to determine whether or not a patient is experiencing a condition that requires defibrillation therapy, such as sudden cardiac arrest. Even more advantages can be had in discerning the state of the patient when the breathing characteristic is combined with other data, such as from a motion detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passive transponder system comprising a first or second conductor loop structure and a first and a second capacitive pressure sensor, wherein each conductor loop structure is coupled to one of said capacitive pressure sensors to form a resonant circuit, and the first conductor loop structure is positioned at a non-vanishing angle in relation to the second conductor loop structure. The resonant frequencies of the resonant circuits are selected such that they do not overlap to result in beating. The invention also relates to a pressure wave measuring device comprising such a passive transponder system, and a readout unit.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly, and an end effector. The handle assembly includes a body and an actuator. The actuator includes a rotary member that is configured to be driven by a finger of a hand that grasps the handle body. The shaft assembly includes an external sheath that is fixed to the handle body and an inner shaft that is coupled to the actuator. The inner shaft is configured to slide longitudinally relative to the external sheath in response to rotation of the first rotary member relative to the handle body. The end effector is configured to encompass a bodily lumen and includes a flexible member extending distally from the inner shaft. A first coupling element is fixed to the distal tip of the flexible member. A second coupling element is fixed to the external sheath. The flexible member defines an adjustable loop.

Abstract: The invention provides a method (10) for detecting a neural respiratory drive measure of a user. The method includes obtaining (100) an EMG signal and processing (200, 280) the EMG signal to produce a surrogate respiration signal and a processed EMG signal. Inhalations of the user are then detected (300) based on the surrogate respiration signal. The detected inhalations are then used in conjunction with the processed EMG signal to determine (400) a neural respiratory drive measure of the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides an eating monitoring method for judging whether chewing is performed or not by a chewing judgment algorithm on the basis of a temporal variation in a measured value of a sensor unit configured to detect a movement of a jaw while a person takes a meal, the person wearing a detection device comprising the sensor unit. The method includes the steps of: adjusting the chewing judgment algorithm on the basis of a variation in a measured value of the sensor unit, the variation corresponding to a chewing action or a mouth opening/closing action of the person wearing the detection device; and judging whether chewing is performed or not by the chewing judgment algorithm which has been adjusted, and measuring the number of chews on the basis of a temporal variation in a measured value of the sensor unit during the meal.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to methods of conducting an intraoperative procedure including providing an electrode assembly having a pledget substrate having a surface that is hydrophilic, at least one electrode supported by and positioned within the pledget substrate, and a lead wire assembly interconnected to the at least one electrode. Methods can further include creating an incision to access bioelectric tissue of a patient and applying the pledget substrate to the tissue, such as a nerve, for example. The pledget substrate conforms and fixates to the tissue to secure the electrode assembly in position. The electrode is then activated to record bioelectric responses of or stimulate the tissue. In some embodiments, the pledget substrate includes two bodies, each including at least one electrode, the two bodies being selectively separable so that the bodies can be repositioned with respect to one another.

Abstract: The instrument according to the present invention includes a band-like belt worn around a wrist, and a main body disposed at a portion of the belt corresponding to the volar surface or the dorsal surface of the wrist. An element for executing a blood pressure measuring function is mounted in the main body. A battery for supplying electric power to the element mounted in the main body is disposed at a portion of the belt located away from the main body in the circumferential direction around the wrist. A wire is provided in the belt, extends in the circumferential direction along the fluid bag, and electrically connects the element mounted in the main body and the battery. In the belt, the wire is disposed away from the fluid bag in the width direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction and extends along an edge section of the belt.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for radiation treatment of tumors based at least in part on patient-specific imaging information. The methods, systems and apparatuses include computer programs encoded on computer-readable media. The methods include acquiring imaging information relating to a target to be treated. The imaging information is non-anatomic imaging information relating to the target acquired from at least one imaging marker that reflects at least one of the metabolic, physiological and histological features of the target. The methods further include computing a radiation dose based at least on the imaging information.

Abstract: A vaginal speculum includes a spreading element and at least two electromyographic sensors. At least one of the electromyographic sensors is mounted in or on the spreading element. The electromyographic sensors generate signals indicative of electromyographic activity in a vagina, cervix, or uterus.

Abstract: Systems and methods for anatomical alignment are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the systems and methods can provide accurate and continuous intraoperative validation of anatomical alignment, e.g., of the spine, hips, pelvis, and/or shoulders. An exemplary system can include a sensor and marker arrangement for measuring coronal imbalance. Another exemplary system can include a sensor and marker arrangement for shoulder or pelvic leveling. Yet another exemplary system can include a mechanical frame for establishing a simulated ground plane and projecting a plumb line from the simulated ground plane.