Abstract: A dynamic, adjustable annuloplasty ring sizer can include an adjustable ring replica, which can be adjusted through a range of sizes corresponding to available prosthetic annuloplasty repair ring sizes. Actuation of an adjustment trigger on a handle portion of the ring sizer can displace tension wires that extend through a malleable shaft and through a plurality of articulating segments that form the ring replica. Displacement of the tension wires causes flexion of the joints between adjacent articulating segments, thereby reducing the overall size of the ring replica. Releasing the tension wires can allow an elastic extension wire to act on the ring replica, enlarging the ring replica to its maximum, at-rest size. In this manner, the appropriate size of annuloplasty ring prosthesis can be determined with a single device, without requiring a plurality of static ring sizers that require individual insertion and placement for the conventional trial-and-error sizing methods.

Abstract: A system (10) and method for selecting a mouthpiece (25) for a user. The method includes receiving a signal with a personal care system (10) to initiate oral arch measurements using a personal care device (12). Data is collected from a position sensor (16) related to a location of a probe (14) of the personal care device as the probe is moved about an oral arch of the user. A controller (18) of the personal care system determines a dimension of the oral arch from the data. The controller selects a mouthpiece for the user based on the dimension of the oral arch. Information identifying the mouthpiece is transmitted to the user or other intended recipient.

Abstract: Survivors of central nervous system injury commonly present with spastic hypertonia. The affected muscles are hyperexcitable and can display involuntary static muscle tone and an exaggerated stretch reflex. These symptoms affect posture and disrupt activities of daily living. Symptoms are typically measured using subjective manual tests such as the Modified Ashworth Scale; however, more quantitative measures are necessary to evaluate potential treatments. The hands are one of the most common targets for intervention, but few investigators attempt to quantify symptoms of spastic hypertonia affecting the fingers. An Isometric Force Pillow (IFP) is provided herein to quantify involuntary grip force. This lightweight, computerized tool provides a holistic measure of finger flexion force and can be used in various orientations for clinical testing and to measure the impact of assistive devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and related methods for performing neurophysiologic assessments during surgical procedures. A method includes the steps of delivering a first transcutaneous, trans-abdominal stimulation signal to a spinal nerve root superior to a surgical target site; and determining a first neuromuscular response data set, based on transmission of said first transcutaneous, trans-abdominal stimulation signal, of a muscle located inferior to said surgical target site.

Abstract: The invention is related to a device to sense the pulse on a wrist of a subject and to arrive at the health status of the said subject by capturing the pulse in real time; analyzing the pulse based on time-frequency properties of the pulse signal and Vata, Pitta and Kaphahumors of the subject. The device reliably detects and captures noise free pulse characteristics of a subject at the appropriate locations of the subject's wrist with minimal positional error in a user friendly way with minimal reliance on the expertise of the person measuring the pulses. The device facilitates the analysis of the pulses and provides a comprehensive diagnostic system based on the pulse characteristics, visual features, responses of a subject to structured queries to arrive at the tridosha levels in a subject.

Abstract: A system for evaluating a degree of brain dysfunction of a subject, such as a decline in cognitive function, calculates a difference in movement functions between both hands in a coordination movement. The system includes a storage device for storing time-series data on a finger movement task of each of both hands of a test subject acquired by a movement sensor; a data processing device for analyzing the time-series data stored in the storage device; and a display device for displaying an analysis result analyzed by the data processing device. The data processing device includes a movement waveform generation unit for generating a movement waveform corresponding to the time-series data stored in the storage device; and a difference-between-hands feature quantity generation unit for generating a difference-between-hands feature quantity which represents a difference in respective finger movement tasks between both hands, based on the respective movement waveforms of both hands.

Abstract: A guide wire configured for use with existing catheter mapping and navigation systems. The guide wire is made of electrically conductive material and coated in an electrically insulating material. An uncoated region is provided near the guide wire's distal tip. This uncoated region forms a conductive path between the metallic components of the guide wire and the surrounding tissue. The uncoated region effectively becomes an electrode for use in prior art mapping and navigation systems. The mapping and navigation system determines the position of the uncoated region.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes coaxially disposed inner and outer needles in which the outer needle tip is configured for obtaining a tissue sample. The inner surface of the outer needle includes a tissue retention feature which includes a countersink having a predetermined length from the distal cutting edge of the outer needle.

Abstract: A component concentration measuring apparatus includes: a dielectric spectroscopy portion that irradiates a measurement subject with electromagnetic waves and measures a complex permittivity, thereby acquiring a dielectric spectroscopy spectrum; a temperature measurement portion that measures a temperature of the measurement subject; a signal processing portion that corrects the dielectric spectroscopy spectrum according to the temperature measured by the temperature measurement portion; and a calculating portion that applies a calibration model generated in advance from a dielectric spectroscopy spectrum of a sample whose component concentration is known, to the dielectric spectroscopy spectrum corrected by the signal processing portion, thereby calculating a component concentration of the measurement subject.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes coaxially disposed inner and outer needles in which the outer needle tip is configured for obtaining a tissue sample. The inner surface of the outer needle includes a tissue retention feature which may include a countersink and/or a feature formed in the inner surface. The device may be introduced to a biopsy site through an introducer in which the introducer is vented and/or a certain ratio of introducer inner diameter and biopsy device outer diameter is maintained.

Abstract: A balloon catheter (100), suitable for delivery of a balloon to the stomach via application by the nose, the balloon catheter comprising a catheter (2) and one or more inflatable balloons (1) fixedly attached to the catheter. The balloons have an outer diameter from 4 to 7 cm, are made of a relatively hard material (e.g. durometer 70 to 100 shore A), and have an effective length of 7 to 18 cm or a total inner volume of 90 to 330 ml, when inflated by 0.2 psi. A system comprising the balloon catheter, and a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of a fluid inside the balloon, and optionally a fluid pump for inflating and/or deflating the balloon, and a control unit for reading the pressure sensor and optionally for controlling the fluid pump.

Abstract: Methods and system are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In some embodiments, parameters of the neural fibers, of non-target tissue, or of the thermal energy delivery element, may be monitored via one or more sensors for controlling the thermally-induced neuromodulation. In some embodiments, protective elements may be provided to reduce a degree of thermal damage induced in the non-target tissues. In some embodiments, thermally-induced renal neuromodulation is achieved via delivery of a pulsed thermal therapy.

Abstract: The invention includes a system to determine body surface area (BSA) or volume of an animal that can be used to determine a health status of the animal. The system has a plurality of integrated measuring devices such as radar or infrared sensors. The measuring devices are mounted within a confined space. A plurality of measurements is taken along vertically oriented sections or slices of the animal as the animal passes by the confined space. The measurements are combined and numerically converted to BSA or volume estimations. The health status can be derived as a direct relation to BSA or volume, or changes in BSA or volume over a selected time period.

Abstract: Reducing noise in a signal is provided. A first filter includes a selectively definable passband for filtering a first signal used in determining at least one patient parameter. A characteristic analyzer detects a characteristic of a second signal and generates a variability measurement value using a series of data values within the second signal over a previously occurring window of time. A filter controller coupled to the characteristic analyzer uses the variability measurement value to define a characteristic of the passband for the first filter and selectively tunes the passband of the first filter according to the defined characteristic. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Abstract: A lancing device with rear adjustment of penetration depth includes a cap, cap holder, ejection pin and shell, wherein: the lancing device has an external and medium depth adjusting sleeve. The ejection pin is located in the medium sleeve and the external depth adjusting sleeve is sleeved outside the medium sleeve; the external sleeve connects axially and circumferentially to the shell, and a rotary locating mechanism is between the external sleeve and the shell; the medium sleeve is connected circumferentially and axially in a sliding way, and a rotary moving mechanism is between the medium the external sleeve, and the medium includes a passive impact face relative to the active impact face of the ejection pin; the external sleeve includes a manual adjusting ring outside the lancing device at the middle and rear part, and rotates to drive the medium sleeve to move axially, changing the needle tip penetration depth.

Abstract: Systems and methods for navigation and positioning a central venous catheter within a patient. The system may include a first pole and a second pole designed to generate an electric field sufficient to obtain a plurality of field measurements. The system may include a stylet inserted into a medical device. The stylet may include a magnetic assembly configured to produce a magnetic field positioned along a distal portion of the stylet, and a stylet electrode positioned distal of the magnetic assembly. The stylet electrode may be designed to function as both an interior excitation electrode and an interior detection electrode. Advancement of the medical device in the patient may include using a conductance curve generated from the plurality of field measurements to identify an obstruction or malposition in the patient.

Abstract: A lower limb loading assessment system having at least one motion sensor mounted to a subject's lower limb that is configured to sense the tibial shockwaves experienced by the lower limb as the subject performs a repetitive physical activity involving repetitive footstrikes of the lower limb with a surface. The motion sensor comprises an accelerometer that is configured to sense acceleration data in at least three axes and generate representative acceleration data over a time period associated with the physical activity. The acceleration data represents a series of discrete tibial shockwaves from the discrete footstrikes. A data processor receives the tibial shockwave data and processes that to generate output feedback data comprising data to assist the subject to minimize future loading in their lower limbs.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement module includes a top cover, a micro pump, a driving circuit board, and a pressure sensor. The top cover has a gas inlet hole, an accommodation trough, and an outlet channel. An inner wall of the accommodation trough is recessed to form a gas collection chamber in communication with the gas inlet hole, and the outlet channel is connected to a gas bag. The pressure sensor is electrically connected to the driving circuit board. The driving circuit board covers the accommodation trough of the top cover. The operation of the micro pump is controlled by the driving circuit board. The gas is continuously guided to the outlet channel and is converged at the gas bag by the micro pump. When the pressure of the gas in the gas bag measured by the pressure sensor reaches a valve value, the micro pump stops its operation.

Abstract: Various examples related to power sources for implantable sensors and/or devices are provided. In one example, a device for implantation in a subject includes circuitry for sensing an observable parameter of the subject and a power source comprising a nanowired ultra-capacitor (NUC), the power source having a volume of 10 mm3 or less. The NUC can have a surface capacitance density in a range from about 25 mF/cm2 to about 29 mF/cm2 or greater. Such devices can be used for, e.g., ocular diagnostic sensors or other implantable sensors that may be constrained by size limitations.

Abstract: The invention discloses an objective and quantitative detection method for amblyopia by electroencephalogram (EEG). The method comprises the following steps: firstly, carry out binocular dichoptic viewing display, then design a visual evoked stimulation paradigm, establish a brain-computer interface platform, build a test interaction interface, next determine an amblyopia EEG quantitative index. By using a suppression coefficient (SI) to describe the binocular suppression relationship, quantify the degree of amblyopia, and finally obtain amblyopia detection result feedback, where the computer interaction interface module presents a final amblyopia detection result to realize feedback of a user. The operation is simple and rapid, the applicability is high, and the indexes are objective and quantitative.