Abstract: According to the present invention, an amniotic fluid collector is configured so as to be inserted and positioned inside the vagina of a birthing mother in order to collect amniotic fluid from the womb of the birthing mother. In particular, the amniotic fluid collector of the present invention comprises: a receiving member, in the side of which an opening is defined, which is inserted into the vagina of the birthing mother and which has a receptacle defined therein for receiving the amniotic fluid; and a positioning portion for positioning the receiving member inside the vagina. Thus, the effects of alleviating pain and psychological anxiety of a birthing mother and eliminating the danger of the occurrence of complications can be achieved, as well as those of easily and smoothly collecting amniotic fluid from the womb of the birthing mother.

Abstract: A device to stimulate and measure a response from the ulnar dorsal cutaneous nerve of a patient may include a first surface electrode to apply a stimulating signal to the ulnar dorsal cutaneous nerve, a second surface electrode to record the response from the stimulating signal after applying the stimulating signal to the ulnar dorsal cutaneous nerve, and a third surface electrode to reference the stimulating signal. The second surface electrode may be placed over the fifth metacarpal joint, and the device may include a ground electrode positioned over the dorsal surface of the hand. The device may include a inactive stimulating electrode positioned near to the first surface electrode. The inactive stimulating electrode may be positioned within 3 cm of the first surface electrode, and the first electrode may be placed substantially above the tendon the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle.

Abstract: A device for taking a sample of soft tissue from an organ includes a body, a needle having a cannula coaxial with a stylet, a mechanism for arming the needle, a triggering mechanism to release the stylet, and a security element. The mechanism includes an arming button connected to a platform. A distal portion of the platform is wider than a proximal portion of the platform. The platform includes a curvilinear edge connecting the distal portion of the platform with the proximal portion of the platform. The curvilinear edge of the platform is configured to interact with a projection formed inside of the body to pivot the platform out of a first position aligned with a cannula slide into a second position aligned with a stylet slider.

Abstract: A device for collecting oral fluid includes a mouthpiece with a fluid inlet connected to a collection chamber. The collection chamber includes a collecting vessel, a venting outlet, and an access port. The venting outlet may be covered by a liquid-impervious or resistant membrane, such as a hydrophobic membrane, and the access port is suitable for removing some or all of the collected fluid. This arrangement allows a saliva donor to continuously spit saliva and blow air into the closed collection chamber, without pressure build-up in the collection chamber, and without the need for the donor to release from the device until the desired oral fluid volume is collected. A valve, including a check valve may be in the saliva flow stream and baffles and structure creating a tortuous path may be utilized to keep saliva away from the membrane.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for monitoring a patient to produce a signal representing a blood oxygen concentration. The signal may be analyzed to determine the presence of one or more sleep apnea events, and an integral of the signal may be calculated if the signal is outside of a set range or threshold. A practitioner may choose to be informed of the presence of sleep apnea events if the blood oxygen concentration is less then a preset limit, if an upper limit has been reached for an integral representing the severity of the oxygen deprivation over time, or anytime sleep apnea events may be present in the signal.

Abstract: A device is disclosed which comprises a display adapted to display a sequence of rapidly alternating images, and a keypad electrically coupled to the display, for entering a perceived sequence by a user. The device is configured to compare a perceived sequence input by the user to the displayed sequence, and to measure the speed of visual perception of the user. Also disclosed are methods of visually, non-invasively assessing an individual's speed of visual perception (visual window of integration), or detecting any changes that have occurred in the individual's speed of visual perception.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an endoscope including multiple lumens for tissue acquisition and removal and related methods of use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a serotonin 5-HT2C receptor activator containing a compound represented by the formula wherein ring A is a 5- or 6-membered aromatic heterocycle optionally having substituent(s), and ring B is a 7- to 9-membered ring optionally having substituent(s) other than an oxo group wherein the combination of m and n (m,n) is (1,2), (2,1), (2,2), (3,1), (3,2) or (4,1), or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof, and a fused heterocyclic compound having a serotonin 5-HT2C receptor activating action and the like.

Abstract: An apparatus for taking tissue samples in the treatment of humans or animals includes a telescope, a maneuvering cable which extends through the telescope, and a biopsy tool at an end of the maneuvering cable, the biopsy tool including a turnable cylinder which is perforated for collecting samples and has walls that define a receptacle and a lid which closes over the receptacle.

Abstract: An improved flexible endoscopic instrument to precisely and efficiently obtains samples of flat polyps and multiple polyps from a patient by debriding one or more polyps and retrieving the debrided polyps without having to alternate between using a separate cutting tool and a separate sample retrieving tool and may be used with an endoscope. In one aspect, the cutting tool is coupled to a flexible torque coil or torque rope that is configured to transfer rotational energy from a powered actuator through the length of the endoscope onto the cutting tool.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting cancerous tissue in a subject is provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a system and method for non-invasively identifying cancerous regions in breast tissue. The system includes a sensor system, a drive system, and a processor. The sensor system includes a sensor plate and, similarly, the drive system includes a drive plate. A time-varying voltage is applied to the drive plate and induced currents are subsequently measured by the sensor plate. Signals indicative of an induced current are then acquired and analyzed by the processor to determine the spatial location of anomalous regions. Subsequently, the anomalous regions are characterized as either cancerous or non-cancerous.

Abstract: Provided are devices, systems, and methods for targeted administration of therapeutic agents to a subject. For example, provided are devices, systems, and methods for targeting the administration of peri-urethral bulking agents.

Abstract: A device for electroimpedance tomography with an electrode belt (2), which has electrodes (E1 . . . E16), wherein at least two groups (5, 6) of electrodes located next to each other are formed and the electrodes of one group are contacted with at least one, multiwire feed cable (7, 8). For a reduced noise level during data acquisition, provisions are made for at least one electrode (E9) of two mutually adjacently located electrodes (E8, E9) of two different groups (5, 6) to have an additional electrode feed line (15), which is led over the feed cable (7) of the adjacent group (5).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sampling instrument adapted for taking a sample in situ and in vivo or taking a sample ex vivo of a target tissue or body structure, in a maximum quantity of less than 10?6 g, the instrument comprising an elongated active member (10) with a distal operative end (11) having at least one retaining surface (12) arranged for contacting directly the target tissue or body structure, capturing and retaining molecules of the target tissue or body structure thereto.

Abstract: An endoscope for removing tissue at a surgical site includes an elongated tubular body insertable within a mammalian cavity of a patient. An instrument channel extends between a first opening at a distal end and a second opening at a proximal end of the tubular body and is sized and configured to receive a surgical cutting assembly that includes an aspiration channel configured to remove material entering the endoscope via a distal end of the surgical cutting assembly. A torque generation component configured to generate torque is positioned within the distal end and configured to provide the generated torque to a coupling component. The coupling component is positioned at the distal end of the elongated tubular member and configured to actuate a cutting component of the surgical cutting assembly responsive to actuation of the torque generation component.

Abstract: An endoscope for removing tissue at a surgical site includes an elongated tubular body insertable within a mammalian cavity of a patient. An instrument channel extends between a first opening at a distal end and a second opening at a proximal end of the tubular body and is sized and configured to receive a surgical cutting assembly that includes an aspiration channel configured to remove material entering the endoscope via a distal end of the surgical cutting assembly. A torque generation component configured to generate torque is positioned within the distal end and configured to provide the generated torque to a coupling component. The coupling component is positioned at the distal end of the elongated tubular member and configured to actuate a cutting component of the surgical cutting assembly responsive to actuation of the torque generation component.

Abstract: An endoscope for removing tissue at a surgical site includes an elongated tubular body insertable within a mammalian cavity of a patient. An instrument channel extends between a first opening at a distal end and a second opening at a proximal end of the tubular body and is sized and configured to receive a surgical cutting assembly that includes an aspiration channel configured to remove material entering the endoscope via a distal end of the surgical cutting assembly. A torque generation component configured to generate torque is positioned within the distal end and configured to provide the generated torque to a coupling component. The coupling component is positioned at the distal end of the elongated tubular member and configured to actuate a cutting component of the surgical cutting assembly responsive to actuation of the torque generation component.

Abstract: A guide wire includes an elongate wire body, and a marker at least at a distal-side portion of the wire body over the whole circumference to indicate the intracorporeal position of the wire body. The marker has a first line-forming portion and a second line-forming portion which intersect each other at a plurality of locations so that the marker has a grid-like shape as a whole. According to another aspect, a guide wire includes a member with a core wire, a marker-forming layer partly encircling the outer surface of the member and differing in color from the member, and a coating layer covering the marker-forming layer and the member at least in the marker-forming layer region and having transparency making the marker-forming layer visible. The marker-forming and coating layers can be formed from mutually miscible resins, while the marker-forming layer functions as a visible marker.

Abstract: An elastomeric particle (1, 1, 1?) comprises a non-conducting elastomeric body (2) having an electrically conducting surface (4a, 4b, 6). Pressure sensor elements (20, 20?, 20?; 30, 30?, 30?, 30??) comprising such elastomeric particles are disclosed, as well as sensor clusters (50?, 50??, 50IV, 50V, 50VI, 50VII, 70) comprising such sensor elements. There is also disclosed a pressure sensor element (40, 40?, 40?, 40??, 40IV, 40V, 40VI, 40VII), comprising a resistive element (44, 44?, 44?) providing a conduction path, a first electrode (42a, 42a-1, 42a-2, 42a-3, 42a-4, 42a-5, 42a-6), connected to the resistive element, a second electrode (42b, 42b?), which in a quiescent state is spaced from said first electrode, wherein the second electrode, when the pressure sensor element is subjected to a pressure, is arranged to contact said first electrode or said resistive element. Systems comprising such sensor elements and sensor clusters are disclosed, as well as methods of their fabrication.

Abstract: Provided is a guidewire including a core shaft, an outer flexible tube, a stranded wire that extends parallel to the core shaft, and a hollow stranded-wire coil disposed in the outer flexible tube. The hollow stranded-wire coil is formed of multiple strands and surrounds the distal end portion of the core shaft and the stranded wire. Distal ends of the hollow stranded-wire coil, the core shaft, and the stranded wire are joined to a distal end of the outer flexible tube.