Abstract: Device for finding unknown, multifactorial triggers of paroxysmally occurring illnesses, which is coupled to an electronic patient file and/or, if appropriate, spatially distributed databases, a comparison and evaluation device carrying out, after a paroxysm, a correlation analysis in order to search for typical patterns in the temporal occurrence of the stored data elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing confounding effects in a noninvasive in-vivo spectral measurement caused by fluctuations in tissue state monitors a selected tissue state parameter spectroscopically and maintains the selected parameter within a target range, at which spectral effects attributable to the changes in the selected parameter are minimized. The invention includes both active and passive control. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a method and apparatus for minimizing the confounding effects in near IR spectral measurements attributable to shifts in skin temperature at a tissue measurement site. Spectroscopic monitoring of skin temperature at the measurement site provides near-instantaneous temperature readings by eliminating thermal time constants. A thermistor positioned at the measurement site provides active control. The spectrometer and the temperature control device are incorporated into a single instrument for noninvasive measurement of blood glucose concentration.

Abstract: A screening test is used on a patient to determine if pancreatic secretion is responsive to stimulation. The screening test compares measurements of a pancreatic indicator both before and after natural stimulation. The pancreatic indicator is measured before natural stimulation and then the patient's pancreas is naturally stimulated. After waiting a time period from when the natural stimulation began, the pancreatic indicator is once again measured. The difference between the pancreatic indicator measured before ingesting the meal and the pancreatic response indicator measured after ingesting and waiting a time period is calculated and a decision is made whether the patient has a pancreatic condition suitable for treatment with electrical stimulation. Additionally, an efficacy test is used to evaluate the efficacy of employing electrical stimulation to treat a pancreatic condition.

Abstract: A disposable protective cap and method for covering a probe in a spectral imaging apparatus are provided. The cap protects the probe from direct contact with a subject's tissues. The cap is hollow and elongated to cover the probe, having an open end and a closed end. At the closed end is an optically transparent face. This permits light to be transmitted from the probe through the closed end of the cap with minimal optical distortion. At the open end of the cap are components which interact with the probe to assure that the cap is not used more than one time. These components can use electrical interaction to assure only a single disposable use of the cap. Mechanically interacting components can also be used, either alone or in combination with electrically interacting components to assure only a single use of the cap.

Abstract: A caloric energy balance monitor uses calories expended during rest and activity, and calories consumed from food, to compute a predicted change in the user's body fat percentage. The predicted change in body fat percentage is then compared to an actual change in body fat percentage to iteratively compute a correction factor that is used in subsequent measurements of net caloric energy balance.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for determining relative normalcy and abnormalcy of a plurality of test results are provided. Test results are transformed into respective unitized values and then graphically displayed with a unitized reference range. A unitized analytical variation of each of the respective unitized values may be determined and displayed. Unitized data can be graphically presented in a predefined order to produce patterns. These patterns can be compared, either manually or electronically, with other patterns representative of known conditions to quickly and easily assess the medical status of multiple body organs and/or systems of a patient, or to assess the condition of various attributes of objects including any type of process, product, machine, or system capable of being measured.

Abstract: A remote diagnosis system including a patient-side device including a physical-information obtaining device which obtains a piece of current physical information from a patient, a plurality of doctor-side devices which are provided in a plurality of medical institutions, respectively, that are remote from the patient-side device and each of which can receive the piece of current physical information of the patient from the patient-side device, a preliminary-diagnosis device for making, based on the piece of current physical information obtained by the physical-information obtaining device, a preliminary diagnosis about whether the patient needs a proper diagnosis to be made by a doctor, and a physical-information transmitting device for transmitting, when the preliminary-diagnosis device makes a preliminary diagnosis that the patient needs a proper diagnosis to be made by a doctor, the piece of current physical information to at least one selected doctor-side device out of the plurality of doctor-side devices

Abstract: An integrated tracking, telemetry and local area networking system is provided. A communications system comprises a broadband subsystem comprising at least one UWB node including a first UWB transceiver and at least one application node linked to the UWB node by a broadband link. The system further comprises a wireless subsystem comprising at least one remote communicator, the remote communicator including a second UWB transceiver. The first and second UWB transceivers are configured to communicate with each other via an UWB communications link.

Abstract: A method for evaluating measured periodic or quasiperiodic signals of medical sensor systems. The method comprises digitizing the measured signals with a specific first sampling frequency, normalizing the periods of the measured signals to a predetermined period length, using a database in which previously measured signals are stored after digitization with specific second sampling frequencies and in which medical findings are assigned to the stored signals. If the first and second sampling frequencies are not identical, converting the measured signal of the signals stored in the database so as to have the same sampling frequencies.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved coronary stabilizer for use in cardiac surgery, and more particularly during a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery performed directly on a beating heart. The coronary stabilizer is comprised of a body contact member and a handle. An opening or arterial window is provided in the body contact member, in order to allow surgical access to a target coronary artery which is exposed through said arterial window. In a first embodiment, the body contact member is a bifurcated hand comprising first and second body contacting portions, for placement alongside a target artery. Each of said body contacting portions is contoured to provide a coronary stabilizer with a substantially saddle-shaped body contacting surface, thereby tending to promote the extrusion of immobilized myocardium tissue through the arterial window generally disposed between first and second contacting portions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for controlling physical activity while dieting. A computer (14) with a screen (20) and a connected scale (24) providing a plate (26) used for intake of food by a user (28) is used to determine a best level of dieting for the user (28). The dieting level is correlated with a level for warming or cooling the body of a user. This provides that additional physical activity for a certain level of dieting is prevented and raised, respectively, in order to achieve a best possible and healthy diet mode.

Abstract: An improved, long range, telemetry system for uplink and downlink telemetry transmission between an implantable medical device (IMD) and an external medical device (EMD), e.g. a programmer or monitor, specifically operable in accordance with a method for ensuring that the telemetry link is between an intended, rather than an un-intended, implantable medical device and the external medical device. Verification is effective if the operator of the EMD observes an implant event signal that is transmitted by uplink telemetry to the EMD from the IMD contemporaneously with a response-provoking action performed in the vicinity of the implant site of the intended patient. The operator directly observes the response-provoking event, when the patient is in sight, or assists the patient in timing the response-provoking event when the patient is not in sight but is at least in voice communication.

Abstract: A caloric value calculation device of calculating a caloric value consumed by delivering a material body. A caloric value calculation device wherein a bowler calculates a consumed caloric value by delivering a bowl includes a personal information access unit for accessing personal information of the bowler; a bowl information access unit for accessing information of delivering the bowl by the bowler; a calorie calculation unit for calculating the caloric value consumed by the bowler based on the personal information and bowler information; and an output unit for outputting the caloric value calculated by the calorie calculation unit.

Abstract: A method and system provide physiological feedback for a patient and/or physician. At least one physiological effect experienced by a body part of a patient is measured non-invasively. A three-dimensional graphics model serving as an analogous representation of the body part is altered in accordance with the measurements. A binocular image signal representative of the three-dimensional graphics model so-altered is displayed for the patient and/or physician in a virtual reality enviromnent.

Abstract: An improved health management system for a person is disclosed, in which the person's resting metabolic rate (RMR) is determined at intervals using an indirect calorimeter. RMR values are used in setting and revising goals in, for example, a weight control program. The effects of a weight control program on RMR can hence be compensated for, which enables an improved weight control program to be developed. In one embodiment, the person is provided with a portable electronic device, for use as a caloric intake calculator, caloric expenditure calculator, and caloric balance calculator.

Abstract: Current health parameters for a user are monitored at a personal health monitoring system. Current health parameters include multiple monitored physical parameters and multiple monitored environmental parameters. The current health parameters are compared with health allowances for the user. A control signal for transmission to a health control device that controls at least one parameter from among the multiple physical parameters and multiple environmental parameters is determined in response to determining that at least one of the current health parameters exceeds at least one of the health allowances, such that the at least one current health parameter that exceeds the at least one of the health allowances is adjusted by the health control device according to the control signal in order to balance the comprehensive health of the user.

Abstract: In particular, the present invention relates to a computerized system and method for clinically assessing motor function comprising correlating geometric indices, computed from digital information obtained from a geometric shape drawn by a subject to be evaluated, with a rating score derived using a “standard of reference” generated by one or more clinical expert. Interpretation is thereby rendered more objective and consistent. Furthermore, the test may be administered and interpreted by physicians who are not skilled or experienced in evaluating motor disorders, for example general practitioners or pediatricians who are not certified in the practice of neurology. The present invention therefore provides a means for evaluating persons early in the course of disease, and for screening patients for motor dysfunction or, in the case of children, disorders of motor development.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring health parameters and capturing data from a subject. The system is characterized by a cordless, disposable sensor band with sensors for measuring full waveform ECG, full waveform respiration, skin temperature, and motion, and a connector which accepts a memory card or a smart card for storage of the measured data. After a predetermined period of time, such as when the sensor band is removed, the memory card or smart card is removed and inserted into a monitoring device which reads the stored health parameter data of the subject. The monitoring device includes a base station that includes a memory/smart card reader and is connected to conventional phone lines for transferring the collected data to a remote monitoring station. The base station may also capture additional clinical data, such as blood pressure data, and to perform data checks. Subject safety is enhanced by the ability of the base station to compare clinical data, e.g.

Abstract: A system and method for providing treatment and outcome measurement analysis. In one aspect, real-time treatment options having statistical outcome data are generated and provided to users. Data from remote data sources is compiled onto a server and used to generate a decision support model. The user can then present patient features to the decision support model, and will be provided with a set of possible treatment options with statistical information in return. When a user selects a treatment option, an outcome analysis is performed to assess the patient's progress. The results of the outcome analysis are input into the server to update the decision support model.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses, which make use of at least one trained and tuned artificial neural network (16) to generate decision regions (32) in the n-dimensional space of n input variables associated with AMI. The set of measured variables (30) is related to the decision regions (32), in order to provide decision support. Preferably, the decision regions (32) are graphically visualized as areas in a two-dimensional diagram. Preferably, the artificial neural network (16) is trained by patient specific parameters. The variables associated with AMI (30) are preferably selected as biochemical markers and/or quantities derived from continuous/intermittent ECG/VCG. The performance of the artificial neural network (16) is preferably optimally tuned to clinical requirements on predictive values of the artificial neural network output in given prevalence situations.