Abstract: The present invention relates to wearable devices. A wrist-worn sensor for measuring wrist tendon forces corresponding to specific finger motions is provided, the sensor comprising: one or more piezoelectric sensors, wherein the one or more piezoelectric sensors emit electric currents generated upon pressure from wrist tendons on the one or more piezoelectric sensors; and a processing module configured for converting the electric currents generated upon pressure from wrist tendons into signals and for processing the signals for identification of one or more specific finger motions. A method for detecting specific finger movements based on wrist-tendon forces is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method, by which the intraocular pressure in a patient's eye is changed by artificially applying a variable stimulation pressure causing, upon reaching specific intraocular pressure values, the presence of characteristic measurement criteria in the retina of the eye, which allow global and local retinal blood pressure values to be derived from the intraocular pressure value. Based on the retinal blood pressure values, which are determined online or preferably offline, local retinal perfusion pressure values (rPP) can be computed and represented in an image of the retina as a pressure mapping image.

Abstract: A user-wearable sensor device may be configured to be directly or indirectly secured to a user or to an article worn by the user. The user-wearable sensor device may include at least one sensor configured to collect sensor data associated with an orientation of the user, a display unit including at least one LED or other visual indicator, a battery configured to provide power to at least the display unit, and a control system. The control system may be configured to determine the orientation of the user based on sensor data collected by the at least one sensor, maintain the display unit in a deactivated state in the absence of a defined activation input, detect a defined activation input, activate the deactivated display unit in response to detecting the defined activation input, and control the activated display unit based on the determined orientation of the user.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods to treat hypertension. In at least one embodiment of a method of the present disclosure, the method comprises the step of obtaining data indicative of a renal artery of a patient with hypertension; and if the data indicates that the renal artery is stiff, relatively stiff, noncompliant, or relatively noncompliant, the method further comprises the step of performing a renal ablation procedure on the renal artery to treat the hypertension.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to medical kits, e.g., an immunotherapy treatment and testing kits, and more particularly to a method of using the kits and system for treating allergies.

Abstract: A respiratory sensor system provides the ability to determine a respiration rate. The respiratory sensor system may include a respiratory sensor and a software solution, where the software solution determines respiration rate from the respiratory sensor (e.g., microphone) located on the bridge of the user's nose. The respiratory sensor may be placed on or near the nose, such as a microphone located in the nosepiece of a pair of glasses. Due to the placement of the microphone and the respiration detection system design, the wearer respiration rate can be determined reliably even with ambient noise and movement. This makes the respiration rate calculation accessible and reliable, both for everyday wear and for extreme situations such as sports.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to intravascular devices, systems, and methods having a core wire with multiple flattened sections. In one aspect, a sensing guide wire is provided. The guide wire includes a first flexible elongate member; a sensing element positioned at a distal portion of the first flexible elongate member; and a second flexible elongate member coupled to the first flexible elongate member such that the second flexible elongate member extends distally from the first flexible elongate member; and wherein a distal portion of the first flexible elongate member includes at least two flattened sections, and wherein the first and second flexible elongate members are coupled along a portion of one of the at least two flattened sections. In other aspects, methods of forming a sensing guide wire are provided.

Abstract: A portable device for measuring a bioimpedance-related property of tissue includes a plurality of electrodes arranged in a pattern on a surface and associated software for measuring bio-impedance related data of localized regions of tissue and calculate health-related parameters based on the measured data. These calculated parameters may be representative of muscular health of the localized tissue region.

Abstract: A guidewire has a distal-most end portion that retains its desired shape. The guidewire includes a first brazing member joining a distal end of a core shaft to a distal end of an outer coil, and a second brazing member provided adjacent to and on a proximal side of the first brazing member. The guidewire also includes an outer coil surrounding an outer periphery of the core shaft, and an inner coil provided between the outer coil and the core shaft. The second brazing member is provided between the outer coil and the inner coil, but is not provided between the inner coil and the core shaft. The melting point of the first brazing member is higher than the melting point of the second brazing member.

Abstract: Embodiments of devices and methods for evaluating tissue are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for measuring a characteristic of a tissue may include passing a current through the tissue, measuring a signal corresponding to the voltage resulting from passing the current through the tissue, analyzing current passed through the tissue and resulting voltage to determine the electrical characteristics of the tissue; and analyzing the electrical characteristics of the tissue to determine a status of the tissue. Disposable sensors are disclosed.

Abstract: A wrist temperature rhythm acquisition apparatus and method, a core temperature rhythm acquisition apparatus and method, and a wearable device are provided. The wrist temperature rhythm acquisition apparatus includes a data acquirer configured to acquire wrist temperature data of a user and external environment temperature data; and a processor configured to estimate wrist temperature rhythm data in which an influence of an external environment temperature is corrected, based on the acquired wrist temperature data and the acquired external environment temperature data.

Abstract: A cervical cell collection device, kit and method for the collection of cervical cells is provided. In some embodiments, the cervical cell collection device comprises an outer guide assembly having a distal end section with an aperture there through; an inner assembly positioned within the outer guide assembly, the inner assembly having a distal end with a collapsible collection pad secured thereto by a flexible collection support, wherein the inner assembly is movable from a first position where the collection pad is folded inside distal end section of the outer guide assembly to a second position where the collection pad is pushed through the aperture in the distal end of the outer guide assembly where it expands to contact and collect cervical cells.

Abstract: An upper gastrointestinal bleeding monitoring system includes a detection device and a signal processing device to determine bleeding condition of an upper gastrointestinal tract by using relation of time and intensity ratios of RGB three primary colors. The detecting device is placed to the upper gastrointestinal tract of a patient via his/her mouth or nasal passage and then stay the upper gastrointestinal tract for several days for detection of bleeding. The signal processing device may receive and display signal from the detection device to help medical professionals check if bleeding occurs in an upper gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, a procedure of determination of bleeding in an upper gastrointestinal tract with the upper gastrointestinal bleeding monitoring system is described.

Abstract: A universal, self-contained, self-powered, compact, external vacuum source and cytology or cytology and histology collection, storage, preservation and transport system device may be configured to couple to any suitable generic biopsy or interventional device. Embodiments may comprise structures and functionality for the addition of such a portable, compact, self-contained, self-powered, universal vacuum and cytology/histology collection module to biopsy or interventional devices. Embodiments may be portable, disposable or reusable and may be electrically, mechanically and/or manually powered and operated. Embodiments may additionally provide structures and functionality for use with other vacuum and/or cytology or histology collection systems to which this system may itself be attached.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing, defining an inner volume, and an actuator mechanism movably disposed therein. The actuator mechanism is configured to be transitioned from a first configuration to a second configuration to define a pre-sample reservoir fluidically couplable to receive a pre-sample volume of bodily-fluid via an inlet port of the housing. The actuator mechanism is movable from a first position to a second position within the housing after the pre-sample reservoir receives the pre-sample volume such that the housing and the actuator mechanism collectively define a sample reservoir to receive a sample volume of bodily-fluid via the inlet port. The outlet port is in fluid communication with the sample reservoir and is configured to be fluidically coupled to an external fluid reservoir after the sample volume is disposed in the sample reservoir to transfer at least a portion of the sample volume into the external fluid reservoir.

Abstract: We disclose an in-toilet urinalysis system which includes a system for collection urine and applying the urine to a urine test strip. The system may include an orifice within a toilet bowl which leads into a channel. The channel may be connected to a capillary which has an orifice at each end. Urine may pass through the orifice, into the channel, then may be moved by capillary action through the capillary. A urine test strip dispenser may move reaction pads on a urine test strip to the distal end of the capillary to load the reaction pads with urine. The reaction pads may absorb the urine from the most distal orifice of the capillary. A measurable chemical reaction may occur in the reaction pads in response to urine analytes.

Abstract: The described nasopharyngeal or nasal swabs allow for collection of biological specimens. In an illustrative embodiment, a first member may be coupled to a second member to form the nasopharyngeal swab. The first member may include a male connector and a collection end. The second member may incorporate a corresponding female connector and a handle. The first member may be decoupled from the second member when force is applied to the swab causing it to bend beyond a threshold arc. The force may be applied to a proximal position on the first member through a container. The first member having the collection end may be gathered in the container after decoupled from the second member.

Abstract: It is commonly known within the art of cutaneous/transcutaneous blood gas monitoring to warm up the skin of the patient to allow carbon dioxide and oxygen to diffuse easily through the skin. This is especially the case for transcutaneous partial pressure monitoring of oxygen. Heating the skin to 43° C. to 45° C. over several hours or days may cause damage to the skin. In order to avoid or minimize the risk of these damage, it is proposed to monitor the blood gases at a lower temperature with a cutaneous sensor, and intermittently warm up the skin to a temperature of 42° C. or more for a short duration to monitor the transcutaneous partial pressure of oxygen, before lowering the temperature to the lower set point.

Abstract: Parametrical analysis of uroflowmetry test results identifies urological disorders so as to distinguish men who have a low urinary tract disorder/benign prostatic hyperplasia from those who have an overactive bladder. Primary urine flow dynamic parameters and secondary urine flow dynamic parameters are calculated. Patient's urological disorders can be assessed by comparing the primary and secondary urine flow dynamic parameters with a library or database of comparable data derived from healthy or normal individuals as well as comparable data derived from individuals afflicted with specific urological disorders. A predictive model of lower urinary tract function disorders can be developed from existing reference primary and secondary urine flow dynamic parameters. The model allows for complex analysis and objective disease prediction.

Abstract: The exhalation measurement device of certain implementations comprise a chamber, a measurement component, a piezoelectric pump, a first learning controller, and a second learning controller. The chamber may temporarily hold exhalation. The measurement component may measure a specific component in the exhalation. The piezoelectric pump may supply the measurement component with the exhalation held in the chamber. The first learning controller may perform operational setting on the piezoelectric pump before the piezoelectric pump supplies the exhalation in the chamber to the measurement component. The second learning controller may perform operational setting on the piezoelectric pump after the piezoelectric pump has started supplying the exhalation in the chamber to the measurement component, but before the measurement component performs its measurement.