Abstract: A signal processing arrangement 130, a monitoring system 100, a signal processing method, a monitoring method of monitoring uterine contractions of a pregnant woman, and a computer program product are provided. The signal processing arrangement 130 receives an electrophysiological signal 116 representing uterine muscle activity of a pregnant woman at an input 132. A filter 136 generates a filtered electrohysterogram signal from the electrophysiological signal 116. The filter 136 allows the passage of spectral components between 0 and 3 Hz. A window function applicator 138 applies a window function to the filtered electrohysterogram signal to obtain an output waveform 146. The window function defines that samples of a time interval preceding the application of the window function need to be used The output waveform 146 simulates output data of tocodynamometer or an intra-uterine pressure catheter. The output waveform 146 is provided at an output 144 of the signal processing arrangement.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for testing a user's sustained attention comprises at least one stimulus-provider and a controller for controlling the stimulus-provider to provide at least one target stimulus, wherein the controller is configured to perform at least one operating procedure and the or each operating procedure comprises controlling the stimulus-provider to provide a sequence of target stimuli to the user.

Abstract: A fine needle aspiration device with a modified handle and cannula through which a vacuum is delivered to the targeted tissue for removal of liquid or cellular samples is provided, the vacuum being provided via a flexible tubing capable of fitting within a restricted space such as, for example, a CT gantry. A vacuum source may be provided to assist the fine needle aspiration procedure via flexible tubing, which allows the vacuum source to be located outside the CT gantry or on the patient.

Abstract: A method of identifying a change in the health of a nerve during a surgical procedure includes determining a sensitivity of the nerve at a first time, determining a sensitivity of the nerve at a second time, and providing an indication to a user corresponding to a change in the sensitivity of the nerve from the first time to the second time. In each instance, the sensitivity of the nerve is determined by providing an electrical stimulus via an electrode disposed on a distal end portion of an elongate medical instrument, and monitoring a magnitude of a mechanical response of a muscle innervated by the nerve.

Abstract: A guidewire includes a linear portion, a curved portion that is provided distally of the linear portion, a boundary portion that is provided between the linear portion and the curved portion, a lubricant portion that is provided on a surface of the linear portion, and a low lubricant portion that is provided at least on a surface of the boundary portion disposed on a side of the guidewire opposite of a direction toward which the curved portion is curved, a lubricating ability of the low lubricant portion being lower than that of the lubricant portion.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a bone marrow aspiration device comprising a plurality of syringes, each of which operates in a series of sequential steps to obtain bone marrow of high quality and therapeutic value, i.e., having a high MSC/ml number. An embodiment of the invention preferably comprises three syringes, wherein a first syringe is used to aspirate bone marrow from a subject, a second syringe contains an anticoagulant, and the third syringe contains a mixture of the bone marrow aspirate and the anticoagulant.

Abstract: A biological signal measuring apparatus is provided. The biological signal measuring apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a biological signal from each of unit measurers arrayed on a subject's skin, and configured to receive a noise signal that is a common component of electrical characteristics, and a noise filtering unit configured to filter noise from a first biological signal between first electrodes of a first unit measurer among the unit measurers, by using a second noise signal between second electrodes of a second unit measurer among the unit measurers. The biological signal corresponds to a difference between the electrical characteristics of electrodes of each of the unit measurers.

Abstract: A valve sizer for determining an appropriate replacement valve size when performing a heart valve replacement procedure is provided. In one version the valve sizer has a hollow shaft with proximal and distal ends. A movable sizing element couples to the distal end of the shaft and is radially expandable between first, contracted and second, expanded positions. An actuator assembly on a handle includes an actuator coupled to a clutch member via a ball-spring-detent clutch. A rod extends through the shaft and maintains a fixed distance between the handle and a distal hub in the sizing element. Movement of the actuator causes axial movement of the shaft, thereby causing radial expansion of sizing petals relative to the hub. The clutch slips when a predetermined reaction force from the surrounding valve annulus is met by the petals.

Abstract: A method for testing the effect of a skin care product includes measuring a mechanical property of skin tissue using nonlinear stochastic system identification, applying the product to the skin, repeating the measurement of the mechanical property after the application of the product, and comparing the before and after measurements to quantify the effect of the product. Measuring the mechanical property of the skin can include placing a probe against a surface of the skin, perturbing the skin with the probe using a stochastic sequence, and measuring the response of the skin to the perturbation. Perturbing the skin can include indenting the skin with the probe, extending the skin with the probe, and sliding the probe across the skin surface. The mechanical property may be indicative of skin compliance, skin elasticity, skin stiffness, or skin damping. The mechanical property can be dependent on perturbation depth and may be measured at a plurality of anatomical locations.

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 configured such that the inner needle does not extend past a certain point within the outer needle.

Abstract: This disclosure provides equipment and processes for blood glucose management. Embodiments may comprise a lancet device that includes a base that supports a lancet and a cover. The cover can move controllably from an un-depressed position to a depressed position when a predetermined force is applied. The cover can provide access to the lancet in the depressed position. In another aspect, a biological test kit may include a reusable module and a disposable module. The disposable module may include one or more lancet devices such as that described above to collect a biological sample, one or more strip stations supporting biological strips and a disposable module connector. The reusable module may support measuring equipment to measure a property of the biological sample and a reusable module connector that engages removably with the disposable module connector.

Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus includes a tissue obtaining unit that obtains a tissue from a body site of a subject; a detecting unit that detects a state of the tissue obtaining unit that varies depending on whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue; an output unit that outputs information representing whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue; and a control unit that determines whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue based on the state of the tissue obtaining unit, which is detected by the detecting unit, and causes the output unit to output the information representing whether the tissue obtaining unit succeeds in obtaining a tissue.

Abstract: An applanation tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) so that the health of a human or animal eye can be determined. The applanation tonometer includes a prism having a contact tip at one end to be moved into contact with and lightly touched against the cornea or the eye. Incident laser light is transmitted inwardly through the prism to the contact tip at which some of the light is decoupled and lost though the contact tip depending upon the area of contact between the contact tip and the cornea. The remaining light is reflected by the contact tip outwardly through the prism. A photo defector which is responsive to the light reflected by the contact tip of the prism and a force detector which is responsive to the pressure at the area of contact between the contact tip and the cornea generate paired force and area data pairs that are processed to measure IOP.

Abstract: A canine gait analyzer is used in connection with a treadmill. A sensor assembly includes a plurality of overlapping sensor panels, each having a pressure transducer array connected to a circuit board with conductive traces. An elastomer sheet with carbon-graphite dampens the dog's pawsteps, and is electrically grounded for static electric charge. The sensor assembly is held fast between the belt inner surface and the treadmill bed with a J bracket. The sensor panel edge extends downward on the side of the frame. A C-shaped side cover is attached to the frame and covers the sensor panel edge having the circuit boards. A motor speed controller is connected to the motor, the circuit boards, and to a computer.

Abstract: A thermotherapy device having a human body scan function. The device includes a thermo-ceramic unit (110), a transfer motor unit (120) configured to make the thermo-ceramic unit (110) move along a longitudinal direction of a user's backbone, a motor variation generation module (220) configured to measure variations in load of the transfer motor unit (120), and a backbone information generation module (240) configured to generate information about a shape of the user's backbone using data of the motor variation generation module (220).

Abstract: The invention concerns an analytical device containing a lancet comprising a lancet needle and a lancet body, the lancet needle movable relative to the lancet body and the lancet body composed, in the area of the tip of the lancet needle, of an elastic material in which the tip of the lancet needle is embedded, and an analytical test element connected to the lancet body. The invention also concerns an analytical device containing a lancet comprising a lancet needle and a lancet body in the form of a hollow body in the area of the tip of the lancet needle and surrounds the tip of the lancet needle, the lancet needle movable relative to the lancet body and the hollow body composed at least partially of an elastic material, and an analytical test element connected to the lancet body. The invention concerns a process for manufacturing an analytical device.

Abstract: A medical device for localization of tissue at a target site in a patient's body includes a tube having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis. The medical device is configured for placement of the distal end at the target site. A fixation device is disposed on the distal end. The affixation device is configured to mechanically fix the distal end of the medical device to tissue at the target site.

Abstract: An automated system, method, apparatus, device and/or computer program product for detecting positioning effect is set forth, the apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment may include an output operable to couple to one or more stimulating electrodes to stimulate one or more peripheral nerves of the patient, an input operable to couple to one or more recording electrodes to record resultant electrical waveforms generated by a nervous system of a patient in response to the stimulating module, and one or more processors operable to identify the positioning effect based on the resultant electrical waveforms.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and device for separating and collecting a tissue specimen from a target site within a patient. The device includes a probe component with an elongated tubular section, a penetrating distal tip and a tissue receiving aperture in the distal end of the tubular section proximal to the distal tip, and a tissue cutting member which is slidably disposed within the probe member to cut a tissue specimen drawn into the interior of the device through the aperture by applying a vacuum to the inner lumen of the tissue cutting member. The device also has a driver component to which the probe component is releasably secured. The driver has a drive member for adjusting the orientation of the tubular section and thus the aperture therein and one or more drive members for moving the tissue cutting member within the tubular section to sever a tissue specimen from tissue extending into the interior of the tubular section through the aperture.

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.