Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing electrical activity in smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract of a patient are disclosed. The systems includes an electromyographic-sensing patch adapted for placement on the skin of the abdomen of the patient. The patch has at least one bipolar electrode pair, or a multitude arranged in an array, and is enabled for communication of a signal indicative of a sensed electromyographic signal. The methods include artifact removal, data normalization, and peak detection methods on data derived from the sensed electromyographic signal and employ, at least for example, machine learning methods.

Abstract: A biopsy needle system includes a needle extending from a tissue piercing distal end to a proximal end. The needle defines a lumen extending from the distal end at least a portion of a length thereof and houses a target tissue. The system also includes an elongated member defining a channel therethrough open at a proximal end. The channel is sized and shaped to permit passage of the needle therethrough. Further, the system includes an end cap coupled to the distal end of the elongate member. The end cap includes a hole extending through a lateral wall thereof. The hole is sized and shaped to permit passage of the needle therethrough. The end cap further includes a ramp extending from the channel to the hole to guide the needle through the hole. The ramp is angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.

Abstract: A system includes a biometric sensor configured to detect physiological data associated with anxiety of a user, a memory, and at least one hardware processor executing operations. The operations include selecting a plurality of stimuli from a pool of stimuli, the selected plurality of stimuli including at least one target stimuli associated with a subject matter and at least one generic stimuli not directly associated with the subject matter. The operations also include presenting each stimulus to the user, collecting sensor readings from the biometric sensor, and generating anxiety results. The operations also include determining an anxiety score based on the anxiety results, identifying a plurality of risk tolerance ranges, each risk tolerance range being associated with a category of risk tolerance, and determining a risk tolerance result of the user based on comparing the anxiety score to the plurality of risk tolerance ranges.

Abstract: A thermosensitive nanosensor includes a substrate having a plurality of vertically standing nanostructures attached thereto, the plurality of vertically standing nanostructure being covered with a conductive material to form conductive coated nanostructures; a thermosensitive hydrogel adjacent to the plurality of conductive coated nanostructures; and a cover layer on top of the thermosensitive hydrogel to prevent loss of moisture and mechanical stress.

Abstract: In an attention ability inspection method, at least one of a central task of unsteadily changing a central graphic at a predetermined speed and a peripheral task of displaying a peripheral graphic in a peripheral region of a display area is randomly presented in a state in which the central graphic is displayed in a central region of the display area of a display, time from presentation of the central task or the peripheral task to reception of a predetermined operation from a subject that has recognized the presentation is measured as reaction time, and an attention ability of the subject is evaluated based on the reaction time.

Abstract: Shapeable guide wire devices and methods for their manufacture. Guide wire devices include an elongate shaft member having a shapeable distal end section that is formed from a linear pseudoelastic nickel-titanium (Ni—Ti) alloy that has linear pseudoelastic behavior without a phase transformation or onset of stress-induced martensite. Linear pseudoelastic Ni—Ti alloy, which is distinct from non-linear pseudoelastic (i.e., superelastic) Ni—Ti alloy, is highly durable, corrosion resistant, and has high stiffness. The shapeable distal end section is shapeable by a user to facilitate guiding the guide wire through tortuous anatomy. In addition, linear pseudoelastic Ni—Ti alloy is more durable tip material than other shapeable tip materials such as stainless steel.

Abstract: A sensor including electrodes, a control module and a physical layer module. The electrodes are configured to (i) attach to a patient, and (ii) receive a first electromyographic signal from the patient. The control module is connected to the electrodes. The control module is configured to (i) detect the first electromyographic signal, and (ii) generate a first voltage signal. The physical layer module is configured to: receive a payload request from a console interface module or a nerve integrity monitoring device; and based on the payload request, (i) upconvert the first voltage signal to a first radio frequency signal, and (ii) wirelessly transmit the first radio frequency signal from the sensor to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the effectiveness of a patient's diabetes treatment plan by predicting, on a frequent basis, the patient's glycated hemoglobin (A1c) based on the patient's blood glucose (BG) may include applying a plurality of A1c models to a BG data set of the patient so as to obtain a plurality of calculated A1c values and identifying a best fit model amongst the plurality of A1c models by evaluating the plurality of calculated A1c values against at least one measured A1c value; calculating a predicted A1c value by applying the identified best fit model to the BG data set. Some embodiments may further include evaluating the predicted A1c value against a set of escalation rules to determine whether an escalation alert is required; alerting the patient's healthcare provider when it is determined the escalation alert is required; and outputting the predicted A1c value to the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for performing manometric measurements by way of medical devices of the pneumatic type, comprises a processing unit (10), and a pressure transducer (4), which is connected to the unit (10) and adapted to be fluid-dynamically connected to the pneumatic device (3). The processing unit (10) comprises: a setting module (11) configured for setting a reference parameter, which is a function of conformational and/or dimensional features of the device (3); and a measurement module (12) configured for processing the measurements made by the transducer (4), according to the reference parameters (a, b, c) which were set for calculating respective objective pressure values. The medical device (3) of the pneumatic type is fluid-dynamically connectable to a measurement apparatus (1), which is provided with an hollow and compressible active portion (30) and provided with an internal fluid-dynamic path adapted to put into communication the apparatus (1) with the cavity of the active portion (30).

Abstract: A steerable catheter has a body with an outer surface and an inner surface defining a central lumen. The outer surface and inner surface define a wall of the body, which has a plurality of steering lumen and control lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The body includes a body material. The steering lumen and control lumen have a control lumen lining and steering lumen lining, respectively, with a higher durometer than the body material. A steering wire is positioned within the steering lumen and a control wire is positioned within the control lumen.

Abstract: A medical connector for use in a fluid pathway. A valve member with sealing rings helps preclude undesired accumulation of fluid within the connector. A branched connector includes a fluid diverter extending away from a port of the branched connector. The fluid diverter is configured to divert fluid flowing through the branched connector and into a medical connector attached thereto, flushing a distal portion of the medical connector.

Abstract: An example method includes, determining, based on data received from a plurality of sensors that are each attached to a respective finger of a plurality of fingers of a hand of a patient, data that represents movements of one or more fingers of the plurality of fingers; and determining, based on the data that represents the movements of the one or more fingers, one or more objective indications of motor control of the patient.

Abstract: A health care system acquires data determines whether a patient is at risk of hypervolemia or hypovolemia. The method comprises (a) acquiring from a device memory a patient's absolute intrathoracic impedance data over a pre-specified time period, (b) determining a running average of the intrathoracic impedance data over the pre-specified time period, and (c) determining by the system whether the running average of the intrathoracic impedance data over the pre-specified time period exceeds one of a first and second range, the first range being a higher value boundary of intrathoracic electrical impedance and the second range being a lower value boundary of intrathoracic electrical impedance.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and devices comprising a scraping element used to contact circumferentially and longitudinally the surface walls of the uterine cavity to provide for broad contact of the intended surface with the device, resulting in attainment of a sufficient volume and comprehensive tissue sample for analysis as an endometrial biopsy or screening uterine cancer. The device may provide for a reservoir for the obtained sample to be contained when removing from the uterine cavity, cervical canal, and vagina. The device may be comprised of a detachable means or be of a material that allows the user to cut the sampling head of the device for placement in collection means to maximize the amount of tissue or cells being sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Abstract: A non-invasive system and method for measuring blood pressure variability includes a cuff (20) pneumatically connected to a pump (14) to inflate the cuff to be wrapped around a limb (21) of a subject. A pressure sensor (18) is associated with the cuff for measuring cuff pressure (52). A photoplethysmogram sensor (26) attached to a fingertip in the same limb (21) of the subject and placed distal to the cuff for monitoring blood flow and recording a pulse plethysmograph signal. A control unit (12) connected to the pressure sensor (18) and the photoplethysmogram sensor (26) for simultaneously recording the cuff pressure and the plethysmograph signal such that an empirical relationship is derived between the cuff pressure and an amplitude measure of the plethysmograph signal (54) to measure short-term variation in systolic and diastolic blood pressures at a frequency corresponding to respiratory cycle.

Abstract: An ergonomic suction syringe and method for performing medical procedures in which suction is generated and can be delivered to a medical device by a single-handed compression motion, with suction actuated by forward motion of a piston into a cylinder, and in which suction can be maintained essentially permanently once activated without any further effort by the operator, even hands-free.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a proximal control mechanism. The proximal control mechanism has an opening through which a resilient latch arm can be inserted to engage a locking surface of a fixed latch structure contained within the proximal control mechanism. The resilient latch arm is contained entirely within the proximal control mechanism when engaged. A release channel extends from an outer periphery of the proximal control mechanism to the resilient latch arm entrance opening. The release channel provides a passage through which a release tool can be inserted to engage the resilient latch arm and provides a fulcrum for the release tool where the release channel is joined to the outer periphery of the proximal control mechanism. The surgical instrument can be released by prying the resilient latch arm away from the locking surface of the fixed latch structure with the release tool used as a lever on the fulcrum.

Abstract: Adaptive respiratory condition assessment can include capturing signals generated by sensors of a portable device positioned to sense a user's body. The sensors can generate the signals in response to sensor-detected movements of the user's body measured along multiple axes and corresponding to lung activity in the user's body during respiratory cycles. A preferred axis of measurement can be selected using signal processing performed by a signal processor embedded in the portable device. Waveforms generated from signals corresponding to signals generated in response to movements of the user's body measured along the preferred axis can be filtered for extracting biomarkers from the waveforms using the signal processor. The one or more biomarkers extracted correspond to the lung activity. Based on the biomarkers, a respiratory condition of the user can be determined. A notification based on the respiratory condition as determined can be generated and conveyed with the portable device.

Abstract: A piezoelectric film sensor (3) of a swallowing sensor (1) includes a plurality of sensing portions (3A) and (3B) in a longitudinal direction of the neck region. The piezoelectric film sensor (3) is located within a range of movement of thyroid cartilage (103), which occurs along with swallowing, and is attached to skin of an anterior neck region (102). The piezoelectric film sensor (3) individually outputs analog signals (S1a) and (S2a) along with deformation of the plurality of sensing portions (3A) and (3B). The swallowing sensor (1) includes pre-processing units (21) and (22) and a signal processing unit (23). Each of the pre-processing units (21) and (22) separates the analog signal (S1a) or (S2a) into a displacement signal that is a low frequency component and a sound signal that is a high frequency component. The signal processing unit (23) determines whether the swallowing occurs based on the displacement signal.

Abstract: Existing wearable device-based approaches to capture a_tremor signal have accuracy limitations due to usage of accelerometer sensor with inherent noisy nature. The method and system disclosed herein taps characteristics of the PPG sensor of being sensitive to the motion artifact, as an advantage, to capture tremor_signals present in the PPG sensor. The method disclosed herein describes an approach to extract tremor_signals of interest from the PPG signal by performing a Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) followed by spectrum density estimation. The SSA comprises performing embedding on the acquired PPG signal, performing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on the embedded signal and reconstructing the rest tremor signal from the significant principal components identified post the PCA. Further, the spectrum density estimation detects a dominant frequency present in the principal components, which is the dominant frequency associated with the rest tremor.