Abstract: An integrated lancing test strip includes a test strip and a lancet packet coupled to the test strip. The lancet packet includes a sterility sheet enclosing a lancet to maintain the sterility of the lancet and prevent cross-contamination between the test strip and the lancet. The sterility sheet allows the lancet to be sterilized separately from the test strip. The sterility sheet gives the integrated strip a low profile, which is attractive for packaging multiple integrated strips in cassettes, drums, magazines or the like. In one form, the integrated strip is loaded in a meter that includes an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the test strip relative to the skin being sampled. This allows the user to adjust the position of the test strip so as to not apply excessive pressure against skin, which could hamper bleeding from the incision in the skin.

Abstract: System, methods, and media for finding and matching tremor signals that: receive a first piece of tremor signal content; identify a first plurality of tremor peaks that describe at least a portion of the first piece of tremor signal content using a Teager-Kaiser operator; form a first template of tremor peaks from at least a portion of the first plurality of tremor peaks, the first group of tremor peaks having a first group of parameters; compare the first template and the first group of parameters with at least one second template and a second group of parameters, wherein the second group of parameters is based on a second set of tremor peaks associated with a second piece of tremor content; and identify a match between the first piece of tremor signal content and the second piece of tremor signal content based on the comparing.

Abstract: A liquid sampling catheter contains a lumen filled by a sampling cannula with a hollow lumen and either a closed or open distal tip. Attached to the proximal end of the device is a modular blood storage component. The sampling stick slides through the patient's skin or through a seal and in-dwelling lumen on a corresponding sampling hub to sample blood from a patient. This embodiment establishes a simple, standardized, and quick procedure for sampling small amounts of bodily liquids such as blood for a variety of analyte tests.

Abstract: The invention relates to trans-epithelial frictionally abrasive tissue sampling devices for performing biopsies and methods of inducing an immune response against a pathogen, wherein epithelial cells containing the pathogen are disrupted with the frictionally abrasive tissue sampling device to introduce the pathogen into the bloodstream of a patient.

Abstract: A system for measuring the force of the feet of a user upon the support surface of an item of footwear for each foot at multiple locations has a plurality of sensors each predictably varying in resistance upon application of a force thereto. The sensors send signals reflective of the force to an A-D converter. The digitalized signals reflective of the resistance and in some cases deflection are sent to a receiver for storage in a memory and for further transmission to a computing device to compute and display the force at each of the multiple points. An accelerometer may also be combined proximate to or attached to the insert to supply signals reflective of the acceleration and which can be used to calculate and display other information including acceleration, speed and distance.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system and method for measuring the structural characteristics of an object. The object is subjected to an energy application processes and provides an objective, quantitative measurement of structural characteristics of an object. The system may include a device, for example, a percussion instrument, capable of being reproducibly placed against the object undergoing such measurement for reproducible positioning. The structural characteristics as defined herein may include vibration damping capacities, acoustic damping capacities, structural integrity or structural stability.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a cutter defining a cutter lumen and a tissue sample holder for collecting tissue samples. In one example, the tissue sample holder includes a rotatable manifold, and has a plurality of chambers that are each configured to separately hold tissue samples. A tissue sample holder rotation mechanism is operable to rotate the manifold to successively align each of the chambers with the cutter lumen. A controller in communication with the rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the manifold to a presentation position to present a collected tissue sample within a chamber to a user (e.g., at an angular position approximately 90 degrees from the cutter lumen). The controller is further configured to rotate the manifold align the next, empty chamber with the cutter lumen in response to a user input instructing the biopsy device to obtain another tissue sample.

Abstract: A thoracic garment for bringing an EM transducer to contact with a thoracic surface area of a wearer. The thoracic garment comprises a front thoracic garment piece and a back thoracic garment piece the front and/or back thoracic garment pieces having EM transducer(s), the front thoracic garment piece having an arrangement of passages formed therein or thereon, a handhold mechanically connected to the front thoracic garment piece, a positioning marker, and a plurality of straps each threaded in the arrangement of passages. The thoracic garment is configured to be adapted by the wearer which uses a first hand to hold the handhold for mounting the front thoracic garment piece against or close to the chest such that the positioning marker is positioned at the predefined position while using a second hand for pulling the straps.

Abstract: An aspiration apparatus includes a barrel having a needle receiving end and a piston receiving end. The barrel has an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The piston receiving end of the barrel has substantially the same inner diameter as the inner diameter of the barrel. The barrel has an opening therein through a sidewall of the barrel. The opening is between the needle receiving end and the piston receiving end. The opening is distant from the needle receiving end. The aspiration apparatus also includes a needle sealingly attached to the needle receiving end of the barrel, and a piston having an end which substantially seals to the inner diameter of the barrel. The piston is capable of a number of positions including a first position near the needle receiving end, a third position past the opening in the barrel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a surgical instrument for sampling molecules in an organ which can be accessed directly or via a surgical portal, including: a device for capturing the molecules, a stylet supporting the capture device, capable of entering the organ, a guide for inserting the stylet into the body as far as the organ, wherein the distal end of the guide is provided with a damping block intended to come to bear upon the organ.

Abstract: A coil for transmitting torque comprises a wire having a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal edges extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the first longitudinal edge is formed with a first pattern and the second longitudinal edge is formed with a second pattern complementary to the first pattern, the first and second patterns being configured to interlock with one another when the wire is wound into a helical shape.

Abstract: A system for configuring a prosthetic limb for use by a living being is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to receive a control signal generated in response to a command from the living being and to generate a plurality of virtual bodies on a display including members of a virtual prosthetic limb and at least one virtual object. The ECU is further configured to control movement of at least one member of the virtual limb responsive to the control signal, to determine a contact force between first and second virtual bodies of the plurality of virtual bodies upon engagement between the first and second bodies caused by movement of one of the one member of the virtual limb and the at least one virtual object and to adjust a position of at least one of the first and second bodies responsive to the contact force.

Abstract: A specimen retrieval apparatus includes an elongated tubular member defining a lumen therethrough and having an end effector disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector includes a shaft defining a longitudinal axis, the shaft including a lumen extending therethrough. The lumen of the shaft communicates with the lumen of the elongated tubular member. A suction member is disposed at a distal end of the shaft in communication with the lumen of the shaft. The suction member is configured to retain a tissue specimen thereon. A sleeve is disposed about the shaft and is movable with respect to the shaft from a proximal to a distal position. A specimen retrieval bag is coupled to the sleeve. The bag is deployable from an undeployed position wherein the bag is disposed about the sleeve to an extended position wherein the bag is deployed over the tissue specimen.

Abstract: A body fluid sampling device includes a housing, a penetrating member positioned in the housing and a test strip. A compliant front end is coupled to the housing. The compliant front-end includes a rigid member with an interior aperture to receive the body fluid from a wound site.

Abstract: Among other things, there are disclosed embodiments of a biopsy device using relative rotational motion to obtain a full-core biopsy sample. Inner and outer tubular members are provided connected to a handle. Each member includes a slit, and the members are rotatable with respect to each other. The device is inserted into a patient to a sampling site, and with the slits co-oriented, is extended into the sampling site. Tissue enters the tubular members through the slits, and one or both members are rotated to cut off and enclose tissue within the inner tubular member.

Abstract: A biopsy device for acquiring a tissue sample is disclosed. The biopsy device comprises a partoff mechanism which can have at least a tab and an actuator. The actuator can be used to control the angle of the tab and thus partoff a tissue sample. The tab may be on a cutter tube, which may have a sharp distal end which may core the samples from the mass of tissue. Multiple tissue samples may be collected.

Abstract: A cartridge for an automated blood sampling system for collecting samples and a method of sampling fluids from a test subject using an automated blood sampling apparatus including a cartridge are disclosed.

Abstract: A temperature probe for monitoring temperatures of a surface of a tissue or organ within the body of a subject includes a section with a substantially two-dimensional arrangement and a plurality of temperature sensors positioned across an area defined by the substantially two-dimensional arrangement. Such an apparatus may be used in conjunction with procedures in which thermal techniques are used to diagnose a disease state or treat diseased tissue. Specifically, a temperature probe may be used to monitor temperatures across an area of a surface of a tissue or organ located close to the treated tissue to prevent subjection of the monitored tissue or organ to potentially damaging temperatures.

Abstract: For repeatedly measuring signals from a fixed position of a tissue to monitor the blood composition, a subject adaptor is used to secure the subject position and a position fixing device uses a remote sensing tool to detect the subject position. The subject adaptor and the position fixing device are used to guide the moving of the subject relative to a position of the last measurement of a first signal analyzer. The signals can be from an aggregate of the designated composition with the other ingredients of the blood.

Abstract: A device for measuring a length of a cervix includes an elongate measurement member extending along a longitudinal axis and including a measurement scale thereon, a hollow member coaxial with and disposed over the elongate measurement member, a flange offset from the longitudinal axis and attached to a distal end of the hollow member, a handle attached to a proximal end of the measurement member, and a locking mechanism on the handle. The hollow member is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to the measurement member to place the flange in a first position and in a second position perpendicular to the first position without moving the measurement scale. The locking mechanism is configured, when locked, to fix the hollow member relative to the measurement member and, when unlocked, to allow the hollow member to slide axially along the measurement member in the first and second positions.