Abstract: A process for operating an incubator particularly suitable for a certain type of care (“kangaroo care”) is disclosed. The process is activated by device of an input element at a time t0. A measuring and control unit controls the heating device as a function of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor, of which there is at least one, in the interior space of the incubator such that the temperature measured in the interior space of the incubator during a preceding time period t0-t1 is used as the set point for the temperature in the interior space of the incubator. The skin temperature of the patient, which is determined by the second temperature sensor is compared with preset upper and/or lower temperature limit values for the skin temperature and an alarm is triggered by the measuring and control unit when these limit values are overshoot and/or undershot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for use in ocular brachytherapy. The device comprises a handle, an applicator coupled with said handle, and adapted to receive a source of radiation. The applicator is movable between a radiation shielding position and a position wherein radiation is allowed to reach the diseased area. A plurality of light-emitting diodes are located so as to define the area to be treated. A shield receives the applicator so as to shield the radiation source during insertion and positioning proximal the treatment site. An actuator moves the applicator between the shielded position and the treatment position. The method of treating macular degeneration employs the device according to the invention.

Abstract: A diagnostic method is for indicating a patient's susceptibility to treatment of snoring by stiffening a region of the patient's a naso-pharyngeal area includes applying a stiffening agent to an outer surface of the region of the naso-pharyngeal area. The stiffening agent is left in place on the outer surface for at least a temporary period of time. During the temporary period of time, observation is made of any abatement of snoring.

Abstract: A method of evaluating clearance of fluorescein dye instilled into tear film having a greater sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing a tear film disorder as the cause of a patient's ocular irritation and ocular surface disease than can be achieved using the traditional methods. The inventive method can be performed using a diagnostic kit for evaluating tear fluorescence clearance in which the concentration of tear fluorescein is visually quantified via a color standard.

Abstract: A system and a method for computerized automated acquisition of the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) for quantifying level of consciousness following traumatic brain injury performs the assessment of the GCS of critically ill patients on a periodic basis. Based on measurement of stimulus-induced standard physiological and verbal responses of the patient such as EMG, EOG and simple utterances, the system produces a coma score, which corresponds one-to-one with the score obtained by human assessors. The apparatus used for automated assessment of a degree of consciousness in a patient comprises a computer having a program stored therein to assess consciousness of the patient, at least one electrode coupled to the computer for sensing a physical response, a speaker coupled to the computer for producing an audio signal, a microphone coupled to the computer configured to sense an audio response from the patient, and a pain stimulator coupled to the computer to generate a pain stimulus in the patient.