Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a guidewire capable of obtaining a sufficient tip load, and also preventing as much as possible a distal portion from being twisted or bent. The guidewire has an outer coil and an inner coil. The outer coil has a taper coil portion with its outer diameter gradually decreasing toward the front end of the core shaft. The inner coil surrounds a distal side portion of the core shaft inside the outer coil. The rear end of the inner coil is joined only to the core shaft on the front side of a position where the taper coil portion of the outer coil has a maximal outer diameter.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using the same. An example medical device may include a metallic tubular member including a tube wall defining an inner diameter and having a wall thickness. The tubular member may have a plurality of slots formed therein. The tubular member may also include first portion having a first length. The tube wall may have a substantially constant wall thickness across the first length. The tubular member may also include a second portion having a second length. The tube wall may thin so that the inner diameter increases across the second length.

Abstract: This patent document discusses, among other things, systems, devices, and methods for enhancing detection of pulmonary edema using, in addition to thoracic impedance, one or a combination of: physiologic information about a subject, at least one statistical parameter, a user-programmable detection level, at least one parameter associated with a previous pulmonary edema event, and patient symptom information about the subject. In one example, a (base) thoracic impedance threshold is modified to an adjusted thoracic impedance threshold. The adjusted thoracic impedance threshold provides an increased sensitivity of pulmonary edema detection as compared to the base thoracic impedance threshold. In another example, an alert is provided to a subject, a caregiver, or other user based on a pulmonary edema indication determined by the present systems, devices, and methods. In a further example, a therapy (provided to the subject) is adjusted or initiated in response to the pulmonary edema indication.

Abstract: The invention features methods and systems for the diagnosis of ADHD and related disorders. The methods and systems of the invention can also be used to ascertain how much benefit an individual would derive from a particular therapy.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a system and method of determining real time chest compression depth of a CPR patient or manikin from acceleration and a reference signal, such as force. In one embodiment, an acceleration signal is filtered and integrated to determine a raw depth signal. A force signal is adjusted to having a similar amplitude, phase, and shape as the raw depth signal. The force signal is filtered. The adjusted force signal is subtracted from the filtered force signal to obtain a compensation signal. The chest compression depth is obtained by adding the raw depth signal to the compensation signal.

Abstract: A compound curette for removing tissue samples and delivering liquid and anti-pathogen to the treated area includes a hollow handle that fits a reservoir with a medicated or cosmeceutical solution. A solution is delivered from the reservoir through a channel to a scraping end of the curette by a button activated mechanism. The scraping end of the curette is made of a metal or hard plastic and is covered in anti-pathogen material. The liquid delivery allows placing a medicine or sterilizing solution directly at the locust of the infection. Pathogen inhibition coating provides for a good safeguard to stop or slow bacteria or fungus proliferation. The method of scraping debris and medication delivery is particularly useful for the treatment of onychomycosis, commonly referred to as a fungus infection of the toenail. Main portions of the curette could be detachable, allowing for the easy reservoir replacement and for the use of multiple scraping utensils.

Abstract: In a probe device including a light irradiating portion irradiating a light to a surface of a living body, and a light detecting portion detecting the light passing through an inner portion of the living body so as to emit from the surface of the living body, the probe device is provided with a sheet-like probe holding body, a plurality of light emitting probes and a plurality of detection probes which are attached to the probe holding body at a predetermined interval, a board holding portion attached to a predetermined position of the probe holding portion, an electronic board attached to the board holding portion, a sheet holding portion holding the probe holding body at a predetermined position of a head portion (a tested position) of the test subject, and a fixing band portion for installing the sheet holding portion to the test subject.

Abstract: A guide wire assembly includes a proximal end portion, a distal portion comprising a coil, a hollow stranded wire extending towards the distal portion, and a core wire. The guide wire assembly is characterized in that a proximal tube is provided, which extends from the proximal end portion to a proximal end of the hollow stranded wire such that the hollow stranded wire is directly joined to the proximal tube. The core wire extends into the distal portion and does not extend into the proximal tube. An entire length of the hollow stranded wire is in a range of 7.5 to 22.5% of an entire length of the guide wire assembly.

Abstract: A biopsy needle for collecting a tissue specimen includes a handle including a handle body that defines a hollow interior that includes a hollow inner housing member and a cannula assembly including an inner cannula, an outer cannula and a snarecoil coil at a distal end that is attached to the outer cannula. The biopsy needle also includes a first biasing element that is coupled to the cannula assembly and is configured to apply a force thereto when stored energy of the first biasing element is released to cause forward projection of the cannula assembly. A first mechanism of the needle has a first component associated with a proximal end of the inner cannula that is received within the inner housing member and a second component associated with the inner housing to cause controlled rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula after the cannula assembly is projected a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A biopsy device is disclosed that includes a housing maintaining a stylet and a cannula. A control device is operably coupled to operate the stylet and the cannula. A handle operates to modify the device from a loading configuration with an expanded profile to a delivery configuration with a reduced profile.

Abstract: A system for quantifying and mapping visual salience to a visual stimulus, including a processor, software for receiving data indicative of a group of individual's ocular responses to a visual stimulus, software for determining a distribution of visual resources at each of at least two times for each of at least a portion of the individuals. The system further including software for determining and quantifying a group distribution of visual resources at each of the at least two times and software for generating a display of the group's distribution of visual resources to the visual stimulus.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for diagnosing performance of a gastric restriction system. In general, the methods and devices can enable patients, health care providers, and others to use pressure data as a feedback mechanism to monitor efficacy of an implantable restriction device and to identify, train, and/or prescribe treatment plan options. Pressure data monitoring can be used locally and/or remotely to monitor a restriction in a patient and compare gathered pressure data with a typical pressure of the restriction. Based on the results of the comparison, possible problems related to the patient and the restriction can be identified and diagnosed with possible cause(s) and solution(s). Notice of any detected possible problems, causes, and/or solutions can be provided to a user.

Abstract: A living body measurement apparatus according to the present invention functions both as a muscular tissue hardness tester for measuring hardness of muscular tissue of a living body and as an algesiometer for measuring a degree of sense of pain of the living body, and the apparatus includes: an contacting section which includes a first contact surface contacting the living body, and which applies pressure to the living body; an auxiliary section which includes a second contact surface contacting the living body, and which supports the second contact surface so that the second contact surface perform reciprocating movement between a coplanar position in which the second contact surface is disposed substantially coplanar with the first contact surface and a retracted position in which the second contact surface is retracted with respect to the first contact surface; and a locking mechanism which locks the auxiliary section in a state in which the second contact surface is disposed at the retracted position.

Abstract: A sexually transmitted infection (STI) sampling device includes an elongated shaft that defines a first end separated from a second end, and an absorbent sampler coupled to one of the first and second ends. The absorbent sampler includes an absorbent core disposed on a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft, and a plurality of fibers extending from the absorbent core. The plurality of fibers is configured to exfoliate and capture cells from a tissue surface of a patient, and the absorbent core is configured to absorb exfoliated cells not captured by the fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ambulatory system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a body lumen, such as the esophagus. The system includes an implantable probe having a sensor for the physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting data to an external receiver. The probe may be used for monitoring any of various physiological parameters, including pH, temperature, and pressure, within the esophagus or other body lumens. Methods and deployment catheters are also disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible biomonitor comprises: a flexible substrate having a circuit apparatus, a hybrid sensor, a plurality of IC devices, a central processing module, a RF transmitter circuit, an antenna, and a power supply. Thereupon the flexible biomonitor can be plastered on the skin where the human body needs to be monitored to achieve the purposes of reducing occupied area, providing comfortable wear and achieve compactness, module expansion and EMI shielding. Besides, it is capable of remote real-time monitoring this signal to achieve the purpose of home care.

Abstract: A device for accessing a hollow organ comprises an elongated body sized for insertion into an entrance passage to the hollow organ, the elongated body including an outer sealing surface engaging an inner surface of the entrance passage and a working channel extending therethrough from a proximal port which, when the elongated body is in the operative position is proximal to a proximal opening of the entrance passage, to a distal port which, when the elongated body is in the operative position, extends distally past a distal opening of the entrance passage into the hollow organ and a plurality of suction holes formed through an outer wall of the elongated body, disposed around a circumference of a portion of the elongated body which, when the elongated body is in the operative position, is located within the entrance passage in combination with a vacuum channel formed in the elongated body for transferring a negative pressure to the suction holes to increase a sealing force applied by tissue of the entrance pa

Abstract: A blood component measurement device has a puncturing unit provided inside a housing and having a puncture needle; a button unit for advancing and retreating the puncture needle; a contact mechanism coming into contact with the skin of a person to be measured; and a holder for displaceably holding the puncturing unit. The blood component measurement device also has an introduction section at the substantially center of a contact member. After the skin is punctured by the puncture needle provided at the substantially center of the mechanism, the introduction section introduces blood to testing paper when the contact member of the contact mechanism is displaced in a sliding manner along a guide member.

Abstract: The present invention provides for exemplary embodiments of a single-insertion, multiple sampling biopsy device. Exemplary embodiments of a single-insertion, multiple sampling device with integrated marker release.

Abstract: A disposable tissue removal device comprising a cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The cutting element includes an outer cannula defining a tissue-receiving opening and an inner cannula concentrically disposed within the outer cannula. The outer cannula has a trocar tip at its distal end and a cutting board snugly disposed within the outer cannula. The inner cannula defines an inner lumen that extends the length of the inner cannula and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a hydraulic circuit.