Abstract: A heart valve sizer and sizer cover are provided for determining the size of a heart valve annulus. The valve sizer can include a handle, a shaft extending distally from the handle, a sizing element coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the sizing element being movable between a first retracted position and a second expanded position, and a sizer cover. The sizer cover can be formed from a continuous sheet of material configured to surround at least a portion of the sizing element of the heart valve sizer so as to guard against entanglement of the sizing element with structures of a human heart.

Abstract: Parametric model based computer implemented methods for determining the stiffness of a bone, systems for estimating h the stiffness of a bone in vivo, and methods for determining the stiffness of a bone. The computer implemented methods include determining a complex compliance frequency response function Y(f) and an associated complex stiffness frequency response function H(f) and independently fitting a parametric mathematical model to Y(f) and to H(f), and using a first measure of conformity and a second measure of conformity of the collected data to determine accuracy and repeatability of measurements. The systems include a device for measuring the stiffness of the bone in vivo and a data analyzer to determine a complex compliance frequency response function Y(f) and an associated complex stiffness frequency response function H(f).

Abstract: Many treatments of skin cancer need an accurate assessment of the margins of the tumor. Spectrally-encoded optical polarization imaging improves upon the demarcation of skin cancer such as keratinocytic carcinomas. When the clinician can outline the clinical boundary of each lesion, surgery and other treatments can be more efficient and effective. Optical images of the lesions are acquired at various wavelengths, then spectrally-encoded. Spectral-encoding of the images minimizes the impact of background pigmentation and vascularization so that the tumor can be accurately visualized.

Abstract: A blood pressure cuff includes a smaller patient bladder extending laterally across the cuff and longitudinally along a minor portion of second and fourth perimeter segments of the cuff. The cuff also includes a larger patient bladder extending laterally across the cuff and longitudinally along a major portion of the second and fourth perimeter segments of the cuff. The smaller patient bladder and the larger patient bladder are fluidically isolated from each other. A small patient port projects through the smaller patient bladder on a first side of the cuff. A large patient port projects through the larger patient bladder on a second side of the cuff which is transversely opposite the first side.

Abstract: Survivors of central nervous system injury commonly present with spastic hypertonia. The affected muscles are hyperexcitable and can display involuntary static muscle tone and an exaggerated stretch reflex. These symptoms affect posture and disrupt activities of daily living. Symptoms are typically measured using subjective manual tests such as the Modified Ashworth Scale; however, more quantitative measures are necessary to evaluate potential treatments. The hands are one of the most common targets for intervention, but few investigators attempt to quantify symptoms of spastic hypertonia affecting the fingers. An Isometric Force Pillow (IFP) is provided herein to quantify involuntary grip force. This lightweight, computerized tool provides a holistic measure of finger flexion force and can be used in various orientations for clinical testing and to measure the impact of assistive devices.

Abstract: A component concentration measuring apparatus includes: a dielectric spectroscopy portion that irradiates a measurement subject with electromagnetic waves and measures a complex permittivity, thereby acquiring a dielectric spectroscopy spectrum; a temperature measurement portion that measures a temperature of the measurement subject; a signal processing portion that corrects the dielectric spectroscopy spectrum according to the temperature measured by the temperature measurement portion; and a calculating portion that applies a calibration model generated in advance from a dielectric spectroscopy spectrum of a sample whose component concentration is known, to the dielectric spectroscopy spectrum corrected by the signal processing portion, thereby calculating a component concentration of the measurement subject.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement module is provided and includes a base, a valve plate, a top cover, a micro pump, a driving circuit board and a pressure sensor. The valve plate is disposed between the base and the top cover. The micro pump is disposed within the base. The pressure sensor is disposed on the driving circuit board. An air inlet groove and the pressure sensor are connected to an airbag. The micro pump is actuated to make the airbag be inflated and oppress the skin of a user. The pressure sensor detects the pressure change within the airbag to measure the blood pressure of the user.