Abstract: A biological signal measuring apparatus that is provided with an oscillatory wave detection apparatus, an oscillatory wave period measuring part, a group memory apparatus that is configured to collect the periodic data and to store the periodic data as a group signal, and a vibration frequency calculation apparatus. The vibration frequency calculation apparatus is provided with a section discrimination part configured to compare the group signal with a predetermined value to carry out a section discrimination, a section memory part configured to store to a plurality of sections, a weight coefficient memory part configured to store a weight coefficient, and an oscillatory wave period weighted average value calculation part.

Abstract: A method of determining a corneal thickness and an apparatus for determining said is provided. The method comprises the following the steps: —illuminating a cornea by a plurality of stimulator point light sources, capturing an image of the cornea comprising reflected images of the stimulator point light sources, obtaining a model representing an anterior surface of the cornea, —constructing a second model representing a posterior surface of the cornea from the image by ray-tracing the reflected images of the stimulator point light sources towards the model representing the anterior surface of the cornea, determining the corneal thickness from the model representing the anterior surface and the second model representing the posterior surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light-weight, small and portable ambulatory sensor for measuring and monitoring a person's physical activity. Based on these measurements and computations, the invented system quantifies the subject's physical activity, quantifies the subject's gait, determines his or her risk of falling, and automatically detects falls. The invention combines the features of portability, high autonomy, and real-time computational capacity. High autonomy is achieved by using only accelerometers, which have low power consumption rates as compared with gyroscope-based systems. Accelerometer measurements, however, contain significant amounts of noise, which must be removed before further analysis. The invention therefore uses novel time-frequency filters to denoise the measurements, and in conjunction with biomechanical models of human movement, perform the requisite computations, which may also be done in real time.

Abstract: A minimally invasive dilation device includes a plurality of rigid arms radially arrayed about a center and a dilating member positioned between the arms. A stylus may occupy the center. An outer flexible sleeve may be circumferentially secured to the arms, lying within or without the plurality of arms. An inner mesh may surround the stylus and dilating member. The device may be introduced into tissue toward a targeted area, while in a closed configuration. The dilating member may be a balloon, wherein upon inflation of the balloon, the arms are pushed radially outward, expanding the device and dilating the surrounding tissue. The dilating member may be a tube, wherein upon insertion of the tube, the arms are pushed radially outward. A cannula may be inserted inside the plurality of arms to keep the arms in an open configuration, and the dilating member may be withdrawn, providing an open passageway through the device to the targeted area. The device may be used with a neural monitoring system.

Abstract: An enteral tube includes a built-in Gastric Residual Volume (GRV) detection sensor at the distal end and a GRV indicating device at the proximal end for indicating the current GRV without requiring the aspiration of any stomach contents. The enteral tube with integrated GRV detection sensor is flexible and long enough to be looped around within the stomach. Weights may be employed to keep the sensor located generally at the lowest portion of the gastric cavity. The GRV detection sensor may include a sealed air column terminating with a flexible membrane. When the enteral tube and sealed air column are inserted into the stomach and submerged in gastric contents, pressure is exerted against the flexible membrane, and therefore against the sealed air column. A pressure sensor detects the pressure within the sealed air column and provides a signal or level representative of the amount of gastric contents in the stomach.

Abstract: A sampling connector for use in sampling a body fluid such as arterial blood or cerebrospinal fluid. The sampling connector comprises at least two apertures in fluid communication via a fluid flow conduit and a one-way valve (14) disposed to allow fluid flow from the first aperture, through the fluid flow conduit and out of the second aperture, but not to allow fluid to flow into the second aperture and through the fluid flow conduit to the first aperture. In use, the sampling connector is connected to a body cavity to enable the sampling of a body fluid by withdrawal of the body fluid through the first aperture, and to prevent the introduction of a separate fluid to the body cavity. The first aperture can be within a male end and the second aperture can be within a female end or vice versa. A sampling device comprising a sampling connector according to the present invention and use of the sampling connector and/or sampling device is also claimed.

Abstract: A method of determining a change in nerve function attributable to a surgical procedure includes assessing the nerve function via a first, induced mechanomyographic muscle response prior to the surgical procedure, and reassessing the nerve function via a second, induced mechanomyographic muscle response after the surgical procedure. Each mechanomyographic muscle response may be induced through an electrical stimulus provided directly to the nerve of the subject.

Abstract: A physical activity monitoring method and system in one embodiment includes a communications network, a wearable sensor device configured to generate physiologic data associated with a sensed physiologic condition of a wearer, and to generate context data associated with a sensed context of the wearer, and to transmit the physiologic data and the context data over the communications network, a memory for storing the physiologic data and the context data, a computer and a computer program executed by the computer, wherein the computer program comprises computer instructions for rendering first data associated with the physiologic data and second data associated with the context data, and a user interface operably connected to the computer for rendering the first data and the second data.

Abstract: A tissue harvesting and processing apparatus comprises a body and a distally extending needle. The needle includes an aperture configured to receive tissue. A tissue cutting member is movable relative to the needle to sever a specimen from tissue protruding through the aperture. The tissue cutting member is further operable to mince the severed tissue specimen. The minced tissue may be mixed with a medical fluid component contained in a reservoir. A plunger may expel the medical fluid mixture from the needle. An applier tip may be coupled with the needle to facilitate administration of the medical fluid mixture at a target site in a patient. The needle may comprise a cannula with a needle adapter, which be removed from the cannula to allow the applier tip to be coupled with the cannula. The tissue cutting member may comprise a perforated disc or tube with inwardly projecting blades.

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.

Abstract: An integrated-testing system includes a meter, a lancing device and a storage case. The meter includes a housing, a display and a processor. The storage case holds the meter and the lancing device in a relatively fixed position to each other. The meter and the lancing device are maintained in the storage case in the relatively fixed position until a fluid sample is desired, at which time a first portion of the lancing device is advanced to a position external to the storage case to obtain the fluid sample and a second portion of the lancing device remains relatively fixed in the storage case while the fluid sample is obtained.

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.

Abstract: A biopsy needle (80) having a longitudinal channel (84) formed within an inner conductor (86) of a coaxial antenna is disclosed. The coaxial antenna terminates in a rigid insertion tip (82) e.g. a ceramic cone that is insertable into biological tissue. Microwave energy (e.g. having a frequency of 1 to 100 GHz) delivered to the coaxial antenna is emitted at the insertion tip. The insertion tip may be arranged to match the impedance of the coaxial antenna to a predetermined tissue impedance. The emitted radiation can be used to measure properties of or treat (e.g. ablate) tissue at the insertion tip. Needle biopsy apparatus is also disclosed, in which a microwave energy is controllably delivered to a needle from a microwave generator. The apparatus may include an impedance tuner to dynamically match the impedance of the needle with tissue at the insertion tip.

Abstract: A method for measuring cartilage defects within a subject includes surgically exposing a joint or cartilage surface. The exposed joint or cartilage surface having at least one defect, and the method may generating a cast of the at least one defect. The method may also include measuring a parameter of the cast, thereby estimating a characteristic of the defect.

Abstract: In order to monitor an individual's posture, a cable is incorporated within a garment that is configured to be worn on an individual's upper body such that at least a portion of the cable spans an upper back region of the garment. A sensor is configured to monitor tension in the cable and to generate an alert when the tension in the cable exceeds a threshold level.

Abstract: Described herein is a device for glaucoma treatment and monitoring that comprises a combination of an intraocular pressure (IOP) sensor and a glaucoma drainage device. The device comprises an IOP sensor and an inductive antenna mounted within a porous biocompatible material that forms the drainage path. The IOP sensor is mounted in a footplate portion of the device and is mountable in the anterior chamber of an eye. The footplate portion is connected to a body portion that houses the spiral antenna by a neck portion which retains the footplate portion in a suitable position within the anterior chamber. Due to its size, the footplate portion housing the IOP sensor can readily be inserted into the anterior chamber with the body portion housing the spiral antenna located outside of the anterior chamber in a sub-scleral space to disperse the aqueous humour.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a narrow elongate probe is adapted for insertion into the body of a living subject. The probe may be flexible and has a plurality of sensors consisting of single coils of very fine wire wound about a backbone of the probe, which transmit signals proximally via fine connecting wires to a position processor. The position processor analyzes the signals to determine position coordinates at multiple points along the length of the probe.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a length of a portion of a steering wire disposed within a bendable medical device includes an electrical contact slidably coupled with a steering wire, an electrical source configured to transmit an electrical signal through a portion of the steering wire, and a processor configured to monitor a parameter of the electrical signal at or about the electrical contact and configured to determine a length of a portion of the steering wire using the monitored parameter.

Abstract: Provided is a guide wire, wherein a deformed portion formed by bending and/or curving the guide wire is located in the region of 20-100 mm from the tip in the longitudinal direction of the guide wire, and in the deformed portion, the shortest distance between the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the guide wire and a point that is the farthest in the direction perpendicular to the central axis is longer than or equal to the minimum inside diameter of a lumen of a catheter shaft of an ablation catheter with a balloon used in combination with the guide wire, and shorter than or equal to 40 mm.

Abstract: Various methods, techniques or modules are provided to allow for the automated analysis of the 3-D representation of the upper front torso (i) to recognize 3-D anatomical features, (ii) to orient the subject with reference to their anatomy or a display, (iii) to determine dimensional analysis including direct point-to-point lines, 3-D surface lines, and volume values, (iv) to simulate the outcome with the addition of breast implants including breast and nipple positioning, (v) to assist in the selection of the breast implants, and/or (vi) to assist in the planning of breast surgery. The automated analysis is based on the analysis of changes in a 3-D contour map of the upper torso, orientation analysis of 3-D features and planes, color analysis of 3-D features, and/or dimensional analysis of 3-D features and positions of the upper torso.