Abstract: A puncturing system includes a carrier tape carrying multiple lancets and having position marks, a housing comprising a conveying facility for positioning the lancets and a housing opening, a puncturing drive for accelerating a lancet positioned in a usage position, a storage medium for storing distance values that depend on distances between the lancets of the carrier tape and position marks allocated to the respective lancets, a sensor for detecting position marks in a detection position through which the position marks proceed upon motion of the carrier tape, and a control unit that controls the conveying facility. To position a lancet in the usage position, the control unit stops the conveying facility upon the carrier tape moving a positioning distance. The length of the positioning distance depends on the distance between the lancet to be positioned and the detected position mark and is determined by the control unit.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for measuring an under foot load profile of a tibial fracture patient during a period of partial weight bearing are described. The system may include a walking boot cast. A housing, including an inner surface and an upper surface that cooperate to define an inner cavity, may be oriented with respect to a patient's tibia. The upper surface is slidably received within the inner cavity in a piston and cylinder configuration. The system may include a pressure sensor configured to monitor the load profile of a patient during the desired period of partial weight bearing. The pressure sensor may be located below the upper surface. The system may include a noncompressible force transmitter positioned within the inner cavity and at least partially encapsulating an upper portion of the pressure sensor to transmit pressure within the housing to the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for measuring an under foot load profile of a patient during a period of partial weight bearing are described. The system may include a walking boot cast. A housing, including an inner surface and an upper surface that cooperate to define an inner cavity, may be oriented with respect to a patient's leg. The upper surface may be slidably received within the inner cavity in a piston and cylinder configuration or may be otherwise configured. The system may include a pressure sensor configured to monitor the load profile of a patient during the desired period of partial weight bearing. The pressure sensor may be located below the upper surface. The system may include a noncompressible force transmitter positioned within the inner cavity and at least partially encapsulating an upper portion of the pressure sensor to transmit pressure within the housing to the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A device for tissue characterization, comprises a structure; a first mechanism, associated with the structure, configured for exerting a first force on a tissue, for fixing the tissue to the structure, so as to substantially immobilize the tissue; and a second mechanism, associated with the structure, configured for pressing a sensor against an external surface of the immobilized tissue, thereby exerting a second force on the immobilized tissue, wherein at least a component of the first force is in opposition to at least a component of the second force, forcing the immobilized tissue against the sensor, and forcing the sensor against the immobilized tissue, bringing about an effective contact between the sensor and the immobilized tissue.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting stress urinary incontinence use a pressure sensing catheter the electrical indications of which are applied to a processing unit for detecting pressure levels generated during involuntary coughs. The involuntary coughs are induced preferentially by using a nebulized composition of L-tartrate in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The area under the curve generated from pressure samples is calculated and used in conjunction with the detection of urine leakage to determine the existence of stress urinary incontinence.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting stress urinary incontinence use a pressure sensing catheter the electrical indications of which are applied to a processing unit for detecting pressure levels generated during involuntary coughs. The involuntary coughs are induced preferentially by using a nebulized composition of L-tartrate in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The area under the curve generated from pressure samples is calculated and used in conjunction with the detection of urine leakage to determine the existence of stress urinary incontinence.

Abstract: A surgical forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto and an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members having opposed seal plates, each of the seal plates having a width. At least one of the jaw members is moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. A sensing component is configured to determine an output relating to a diameter of tissue or a composition of tissue disposed between the opposed seal plates of the first and second jaw members. An expanding component is configured to expand the width of at least one of the opposed seal plates according to the determined output.

Abstract: Estrus of animals and particularly sows is determined for planning of a preferred time period of insemination by a sensing system arranged to detect standing of the animal. Data from the sensing system is collected and analyzed using an algorithm and information that is displayed on an indicating system to provide an indication to a worker of the time period of estrus and ovulation and of a useful insemination time period and a preferred insemination time period of the animal. The indicating system includes a countdown clock to the preferred time period of insemination. In the event that the insemination fails, an indication is provided about whether the actual time of insemination occurred at the preferred time of insemination indicated to the worker. When estrus is completed, a confidence level is provided about the likelihood of success based on the position of the actual time of insemination relative to ovulation.

Abstract: A surgical device is disclosed that comprises a cutting element, a biopsy line, a motor line, and a vacuum line. The cutting element includes an outer cannula and an inner cannula. The biopsy line is operatively connected to a control console for moving the inner cannula within the outer cannula to cut tissue cores. The motor line is operatively connected to the control console for operating the surgical device. The vacuum line is operatively connected to the inner cannula. A selectively openable tissue filter is operatively connected to the inner cannula, and is also connected to the vacuum line.

Abstract: Improved sensors and sensing methods for detection of Neuromuscular Blockade (NMB), for example to improve monitoring generally, as well as facilitate automated NMB drug administration. The methods, systems, devices, etc., herein can increase the quantity and quality of data available. The methods, etc., include translation between commonly available sensing types, use of partially saturated sensor measurements, use of a model of neurotransmitter storage and release and sophisticated use of more than one sensor simultaneously. These methods are aided by new sensors and methods of decreasing electrical noise. An implementation of the methods, systems, devices, etc., herein is automated drug delivery for NMB, whether through an advisor system or through with full computer control.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for distributed pressure sensing. The apparatus comprises a series of Bragg gratings, a light guide incorporating the series of Bragg gratings and a plurality of moveable wall portions. The moveable wall portions are coupled to respective Bragg gratings so that the movement of one of the moveable wall portion causes a force on the respective Bragg grating resulting in a change in strain of the respective Bragg grating. The apparatus also comprises at least one rigid member that is attached at attachment regions between which a sensing region of at least one Bragg grating is defined. The rigid member is arranged so that a strain in the sensing region is not directly influenced by a change in strain of the light guide outside the sensing region.

Abstract: A biopsy collection device may include a filter located distally of an aspiration device to collect a biological sample aspirated from a patient. The biological sample may be accessible to a clinician without the need to expel the sample from the aspiration device. The filter may be disposed in a filter housing that is in fluid communication with the aspiration device and the vasculature of a patient.

Abstract: A guide wire includes an elongate core section and a flexible member disposed on the distal end, the flexible member including a first wire wound into an inner helical coil in a first direction and a second wire wound into an outer helical coil wrapped about the first helical coil in the opposite direction. The two combined helical coils add stiffness and torque transmission to the guide wire without sacrificing tactile feedback.

Abstract: An interface pressure monitoring system includes an underlayment interposed between a patient support surface and a patient supported thereon and a processor. The underlayment includes pressure sensors such as, for example, an array of piezoelectric pressure sensors. The processor acquires pressure data from the underlayment, analyzes the data and stores the analyzed data for further processing, alerting and/or reporting.

Abstract: The invention includes a forceps and collection assembly for acquiring and storing a plurality of tissue samples in a single pass, and accompanying mechanisms for use with the forceps and collection assembly. The accompanying mechanisms include an endoscope working channel cap assembly configured to minimize compression of a pouch of the forceps and collection assembly as it traverses a seal of the cap assembly, and a flush adapter configured to be coupled to the pouch so as to assist in removing tissue samples in the pouch by flowing fluid through the pouch.

Abstract: A vacuum control module for use in a biopsy system includes a user interface that presents buttons and icons to control operation of a biopsy device. The icons may indicate, e.g., the position of a cutter relative to a transverse opening, whether the system is in a view sample mode, that an adjacent button is operable to reset the position of a rotatable tissue sample holder, whether the system is in a maintenance vacuum pulse mode, the level of vacuum provided by a vacuum source, the volume level of a speaker, that an adjacent button is operable to place the system in a standby mode, and that an adjacent button is operable to shut down the system. The icons may each have an associated button. The icons may be allocated among separate pages (e.g., a probe page and a system page). Another button may be used to switch between pages.

Abstract: A meter for determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample comprises a memory device, electrical circuitry and a detection device for distinguishing between an alternative site test and a standard site test. The memory device is adapted to store information. The electrical circuitry is adapted to determine the analyte concentration of the fluid sample located on a test sensor. The electrical circuitry is in electronic communication with the memory device. The electrical circuitry communicates the determined analyte concentration to the memory device for storage.

Abstract: A blood sample obtaining device including a first arm, a second arm, a light source and a pressure applying head. The first arm and the second arm are operably connected to each other. The light source is mounted with respect to the first arm. The pressure applying head is mounted with respect to the second arm.

Abstract: A biopsy device for excising tissue from skin and hair comprising a syringe for numbing the area to be excised coupled to a sleeve mounted on the exterior of the syringe with a blade attached to the distal edge of the sleeve. The sleeve is manually slidable from an extended position where the needle is retracted within to a retracted position where the needle is exposed.

Abstract: This invention is regard to an analysis device that analyze a specific component in bodily fluid extracted from the skin using an analysis tool. The analysis device comprise a laser beam oscillation section that emits a laser beam for extracting the bodily fluid from the skin, and a detection mechanism that detects whether or not the analysis tool exists at a target position. The analysis device is adapted to emit the laser beam from the laser beam oscillation section when the analysis tool is detected by the detection mechanism.