Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for identifying a patient's breathing pattern for respiratory function assessment without contact and with a depth-capable imaging system. In one embodiment, a time-varying sequence of depth maps are received of a target region of a subject of interest over a period of inspiration and expiration. Once received, the depth maps are processed to obtain a breathing signal for the subject. The subject's breathing signal comprises a temporal sequence of instantaneous volumes. One or more segments of the subject's breathing signal are then compared against one or more reference breathing signals each associated with a known pattern of breathing. As a result of the comparison, a breathing pattern for the subject is identified. The identified breathing pattern is then used to assess the subject's respiratory function. The teachings hereof find their uses in an array of diverse medical applications. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention describes improved systems and methods for attaching external medical devices to the body of a patient using a multilayer attachment apparatus. Medical devices that require attachment to the body, including monitoring devices, drug-infusing devices and the like, can utilize embodiments of the attachment apparatus and method described herein. Embodiments of the invention include new adhesive and hook and loop attachment mechanisms and methods for using embodiments of the multilayer attachment apparatus to attach medical device and/or medical device components to the body.

Abstract: A system (100) for bi-hemispheric brain wave measurements including a first device (102) and a second device (103), wherein at least said first device (102) is adapted to be worn in or at a first ear of a person subject to the measurements and wherein the first (102) and second (103) device exchange data using a wireless link (104). The invention also provides a method for measuring a bi-hemispherical brain wave signal.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for a hand-held hydration monitor including a micro-impulse radar component; a data storage component including stored information associated with reference reflected pulses correlated with reference hydration states; a user interface; and a computing component including a processor and circuitry, the circuitry including micro-impulse radar control circuitry configured to actuated the micro-impulse radar component, distance-finding circuitry configured to determine a distance between the hand-held hydration monitor and a target location on a subject, and hydration determination circuitry configured to receive information associated with one or more reflected pulses from a target tissue associated with the target location on the subject and to compare the information associated with the one or more reflected pulses from the target tissue with the stored information associated with the reference reflected pulses correlated with the reference hydration states to determine a rela

Abstract: A system and method for assessing treatment effects on obstructive sleep apnea are provided. The apparatus includes a bio-signal measurement unit, a combined index calculation unit, and a treatment response assessment unit. The bio-signal measurement unit measures each of the electrocardiogram and respiratory rhythm of a patient. The combined index calculation unit calculates a combined cardiac and respiratory index by combining the heart rate variability and respiratory rhythm signals measured by the bio-signal measurement unit. The treatment response assessment unit assesses a response of the patient to the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Abstract: A medical device system and method that includes sensing a heart sound signal from a first external sensor, determining whether a pulmonary hypertension signature is detected in response to the sensed heart sound signal, sensing a lung sound signal from a second external sensor, determining whether a heart failure signature is detected in response to the sensed lung sound signal, and determining therapy parameters in response to determining whether a pulmonary hypertension signature is detected and determining whether a heart failure signature is detected.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for a hand-held hydration monitor including a viewfinder including one or more alignment features configured to align with a target on a subject; a micro-impulse radar component; a data storage component including stored information associated with reference reflected pulses correlated with reference hydration states; a user interface; and a computing component including a processor and circuitry, the circuitry including micro-impulse radar control circuitry configured to actuated the micro-impulse radar component, and hydration determination circuitry configured to receive information associated with one or more reflected pulses from a tissue associated with the target on the subject and to compare the information associated with the one or more reflected pulses from the tissue associated with the target on the subject with the stored information associated with the reference reflected pulses correlated with the reference hydration states to determine a relative hydration st

Abstract: In a sleep quality estimation device, a respiration sensor detects the respiratory waveform of a subject. A sleep stage estimation unit estimates the sleep stage of the subject during sleep based on the respiratory waveform detected by the respiration sensor. In a sleep rhythm model database, models associated with the appearance probability of ?-wave for the sleep stage during sleep are recorded. A sleep quality estimation unit estimates the appearance time of ?-wave of the subject during sleep based on the sleep stage of the subject estimated by the sleep stage estimation unit and the models associated with the appearance probability of ?-wave for the sleep stage recorded in the sleep rhythm model database, and estimates the sleep quality of the subject based on the appearance time of ?-wave.

Abstract: A blood pressure and pulse measurement device includes a cuff including a first air bladder, a pressure sensor, a pressing member, a pulse wave sensor, and an operation unit. When measurement of the blood pressure is instructed by the operation unit, the first air bladder of the cuff is inflated to increase inner pressure to a sufficient level such that the blood pressure of the patient can be measured by the pressure sensor and then deflated. When measurement of the blood pressure is not instructed by the operation unit, air of the first air bladder of the cuff is released such that the measurement location of the patient is not substantially pressed by the first air bladder, and the measurement location of the patient is pressed by the pressing member with sufficient pressure such that pulse of the patient can be detected by the pulse wave sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for correlating diagnostic readings obtained by at least two medical devices can include a pressure offset correction parameter that is calculated for the purpose of correlating oscillometric blood pressure readings between a “home” blood pressure monitor and an “office” blood pressure monitor. The offset correction parameter is used to adjust blood pressure readings of the “home” or “office” blood pressure monitor such that these readings can be validly compared with blood pressure readings obtained using the other blood pressure monitor. In this manner, a more complete and reliable blood pressure trend may be developed and used for managing blood pressure related medical conditions.

Abstract: A neurofeedback system for providing neurofeedback to at least one patient. The neurofeedback system includes: EEG head sensors; a central server to store treatment protocol algorithm(s) provided via the Internet; and a data collection module associated with a computer-based device. The data collection module: transmits the EEG brain activity to the central server via the Internet by way of the computer-based device; provides feedback to the patient; and receives a treatment protocol from the central server via the Internet by way of the computer-based device.

Abstract: In a method for continuous and non-invasive determination of the effective lung volume, the cardiac output, and/or the carbon dioxide content of venous blood of a subject during a sequence of respiratory cycles, the inspiratory and expiratory flow, and the carbon dioxide content of at least the expiration gas are measured. In each respiratory cycle, a first parameter related to the subject's fraction of alveolar carbon dioxide, a second parameter related to the carbon dioxide content of the subject's arterial blood, and a third parameter related to the subject's carbon dioxide elimination are determined based on the measured inspiratory flow, expiratory flow and carbon dioxide content. The effective lung volume, the cardiac output, and/or the carbon dioxide content of venous blood of the subject is determined based on the correlation of the first, second and third parameters.

Abstract: A method of detecting an early onset of neurocardiogenic syncope in a patient uses respiratory functions as a predictor of the syncope. According to the method, at least one sample of baseline minute ventilation, tidal volume and respiratory rate of the patient is obtained. The detection unit is set to detect an increase in tidal volume and in minute ventilation over a predetermined respiratory period. The detecting unit also detects any rate of change in respiratory rate and sends a signal to a microprocessor to determine whether the increase in minute ventilation is a sole function of increased tidal volume. The impending syncope is diagnosed if variance in respiratory rate is less than 25% in relation to the sampled baseline during the predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A biological information monitoring apparatus includes: a measurer which is configured to measure biological information of a subject; a display on which a measurement value of the biological information measured by the measurer is displayed; a calibration controller which, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, is configured to perform a calibration process on the measurer; a time measurer which is configured to acquire a remaining time before the calibration process is ended; and a display controller which is configured to cause an index indicating the remaining time to be displayed on the display.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing data processing and control for use in a medical communication system are provided.

Abstract: A resuscitator has a patient airway interface device, a bag, a flow passage coupled between the bag and patient airway interface device, and a sensor assembly. The patient airway interface device may be a mask or an endotracheal tube. The sensor assembly has a display, at least one sensor coupled to the flow passage and configured to provide a measurement of at least one parameter, and a processor coupled to the display and the at least one sensor. The processor is configured to receive the measurement from the sensor and provide information on the display based on the received measurement. The information may include a current breath rate, a pressure-vs-time curve, and guidance to the user to assist in achieving a target breath rate.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a method and a device for long-term monitoring of the arterial vascular stiffness and vascular calcification on a particular patient, wherein a characteristic variable for the arterial vascular stiffness is determined exclusively from the shape and/or the characteristic of at least one pressure pulse wave caused by a cardiac contraction as a function of time and is stored as a time series for the particular patient. In particularly preferred embodiments, the characteristic variable is represented as a trend and serves the physician as a basis for long-term monitoring of the arterial vascular stiffness.

Abstract: A method of analysis is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a non-ECG signal indicative of heart beats of a sleeping subject; extracting from the signal a series of inter-beat intervals (IBI); calculating at least one Poincare parameter characterizing a Poincare plot of the IBI series; and using the Poincare parameter(s) to determine a REM sleep of the sleeping subject. In some embodiments, sleep stages other than REM sleep and/or wake stages are determined.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present technique, a method is disclosed. The method includes applying a mechanical perturbation to a tissue region using a displacement device. The method further includes calculating a compression impedance of the tissue region in response to applying the mechanical perturbation. The method further includes retracting the displacement device and calculating a retraction impedance of the tissue region in response to retracting the displacement device. The method also includes determining a hydration level of the tissue region based on at least one of the compression impedance and the retraction impedances.

Abstract: A method and a system for unobtrusively measuring a person's respiration, wherein at least two microphones positioned at either side of a person's head are utilized based on a distance of the persons head to the microphones and an identification of which microphone is in a line of sight and which is out of the line of site of the person's breathing as computed on the basis of images captured by a video camera.