Abstract: A spectrometer includes a chamber, a vacuum generator configured to suck in internal air of the chamber to pull skin of a subject into the chamber, a light source configured to emit light to the skin of the subject pulled into the chamber, a photodetector configured to receive light passing through the skin of the subject and acquire a spectrum of the light; and a skin contact adjuster configured to determine a contact state between the chamber and the skin by analyzing the spectrum of the light and thereby generate a determination result, and adjust the contact state between the chamber and the skin by applying a physical force to a periphery of the skin pulled into the chamber according to the determination result.

Abstract: A method (1500) for deriving a mental state of a subject is disclosed. The method comprises receiving (1502) a bio-signal from the subject; calculating respective statistical variations of at least two physiological parameters derived from the bio-signal; determining (1504) an arousal level of the subject based on the calculated statistical variations of the at least two physiological parameters; deriving a time-domain heart rate variability signal from the bio-signal for calculating at least two heart rate variability parameters; determining (1506) a valence level of the subject based on the at least two heart rate variability parameters; and deriving (1508) the mental state from the arousal level and valence level. A related apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system (100) for assessing a subject at risk of a soft tissue abnormality such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), comprises a motion sensor (108) which is adapted to be fixed, in use, to a muscle (106) of the subject. The motion sensor includes a transmitter (206) configured to transmit a signal (400) representing motion of the sensor. A receiver (118) is configured to receive the signal from the transmitter of the motion sensor. A signal processor (112) is coupled to the receiver and configured to analyse first and second data sets received via the receiver from the motion sensor. The first and second data sets represent respective first and second oscillatory mechanical responses of first and second muscles of the subject resulting from mechanical stimuli. The analysis comprises determining first and second parameter sets characterising the first and second oscillatory mechanical responses, and comparing the first parameter set with the second parameter set to assess a possible presence of DVT in the subject.

Abstract: A compression measurement and feedback system which measures the magnitude and the angle of manual CPR force applied to a patient and provides the measured magnitude and direction information as compression data feedback to the person applying CPR to the patient. Any variation in the magnitude or direction of the compression force applied may be calculated from the compression data measured by the compression sensor. A monitor receives the compression data and processes the compression data to generate feedback data to the CPR provider indicating the magnitude and direction of the applied CPR compression along with ideal CPR compression characteristics for comparison.

Abstract: The present disclose generally relates to a multichannel low-noise amplifier. At each input to the multichannel low-noise amplifiers, a plurality of transistors can be connected in parallel. This parallel connection decreases the voltage noise beyond what is possible using a single input transistor at each input. As an additional benefit, the initial operating region of the input transistors is not changed. The multichannel low-noise amplifier can be incorporated on a single integrated circuit chip to amplify biological signals to facilitate selective recording of a property (e.g., amplifying neural signals to facilitate selective recording of neural activity).

Abstract: A sensor-based quantification and analysis system includes an input device including a plurality of sensors that generate an input based on a force. The input device also includes a transmission device that transmits force information based on the input. The system also includes an output device that receives the force information. A processing unit selects, for each of the plurality of sensors, one of a plurality of levels of a likelihood of tissue damage based on the force and a predetermined time period. Further, the output device includes a display that presents or logs the one of the plurality of levels of the likelihood of tissue damage for each of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: This liquid sample measurement device is provided with: a lancet mounting part to and from which a lancet device having a skin contact section for puncturing skin can be attached and detached; a sensor mounting part to which a biosensor, which is spotted with blood that comes out from the punctured skin, can be attached; and a measurement part that uses the biosensor attached to the sensor mounting part to measure the amounts of substances in the blood. The liquid sample measurement device includes a feature that makes it necessary to replace a lancet device that has been attached to the lance mounting part and has punctured skin, each time a lancet device is used to puncture skin.

Abstract: A load determination method determines, based on a load acting on a leg part of a user that is detected, whether the leg part is in a loaded state, which is a ground-contact state, or an unloaded state, which is an idling leg state, in which the load determination method determines that the leg part is in the loaded state instead of determining that the leg part is in the unloaded state even when the load acting on the leg part of the user that is detected becomes smaller than a threshold at which it is determined that the state of the leg part has been switched from the loaded state to the unloaded state within a predetermined period after it is determined that the state of the leg part has been switched from the unloaded state to the loaded state.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting motion data using a fitness tracking device located on an arm of a user, detecting that the arm is constrained based on the motion data, estimating a stride length of the user based on the motion data and historical step cadence-to-stride length data, calculating fitness data using the estimated stride length, and outputting the fitness data to the user.

Abstract: A system for monitoring medical conditions including pressure ulcers, pressure-induced ischemia and related medical conditions comprises at least one sensor adapted to detect one or more patient characteristic including at least position, orientation, temperature, acceleration, moisture, resistance, stress, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood oxygenation, a host for processing the data received from the sensors together with historical patient data to develop an assessment of patient condition and suggested course of treatment, including either suspending or adjusting turn schedule based on various types of patient movement. The sensor can include bi-axial or tri-axial accelerometers, as well as resistive, inductive, capacitive, magnetic and other sensing devices, depending on whether the sensor is located on the patient or the support surface, and for what purpose.

Abstract: A device and method for marking corneal tissue is disclosed. The device includes an ink reservoir portion and an ink resist portion. The ink reservoir portion is annular in shape and the ink resist portion occupies a central area within the annular shape. The ink reservoir portion and the ink resist portion are sized and structured to interface with the central cornea and to apply ink to the corneal tissue. The method includes applying ink to the cornea in an annular pattern.

Abstract: A truncated icosahedral neural sensor net and modular elements therefor. The neural sensor net comprises a plurality of substantially pentagonally shaped elements connected to each other with elongate elastic tension lines at their respective vertices, the tension lines defining therebetween a plurality of substantially hexagonally shaped elements. The neural sensor net may be assembled from a plurality of modular elements.

Abstract: A full core biopsy device includes an outer cannula carried at a proximal end by a outer cannula hub and defining a tissue cutting edge at an opposite distal end, an elongated inner cannula carried at a proximal end by an inner cannula hub and concentrically slidably disposed within the outer cannula. A housing defines a first cavity, a second cavity, and a spring hub between the first and second cavities with a bore in communication between the cavities. An outer cannula spring is disposed within the first cavity between the spring hub and the outer cannula hub. The outer cannula spring is configured to produce a force directed distally against the outer cannula hub. An inner cannula spring is disposed within the second cavity between the spring hub and the inner cannula hub and is configured to produce a force directed proximally against the inner cannula hub. A latch, stop and trigger arrangement is provided to charge the device to compress the two springs and to fire the device to obtain a tissue sample.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for swallowing impairment detection, a candidate executes one or more swallowing events, and dual axis accelerometry data is acquired representative thereof. Upon feature extraction and classification, vibrational data acquired in respect of each swallowing event is classified as indicative of one of normal or possibly impaired swallowing.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for finding and analyzing gait parameters and postural balance of a person using a Kinect system. The system is easy to use and can be installed at home as well as in clinic. The system includes a Kinect sensor, a software development kit (SDK) and a processor. The temporal skeleton information obtained from the Kinect sensor to evaluate gait parameters includes stride length, stride time, stance time and swing time. Eigenvector based curvature detection is used to analyze the gait pattern with different speeds. In another embodiment, Eigenvector based curvature detection is employed to detect static single limb stance (SLS) duration along with gait variables for evaluating body balance.

Abstract: A method uses multiple patches fixed to a surface of a body, the patches including respective electrodes in contact with the surface, and at least one of the patches configured to output a signal in response to a magnetic field applied to the body. Initially, the signal is processed to compute first magnetic and first electrical locations of the at least one of the patches. Subsequently, the signal is processed to compute second magnetic and second electrical locations of the at least one of the patches. A first relation is computed between the first magnetic and electrical locations, and a second relation is computed between the second magnetic and electrical locations. When there is a difference between the first and the second relations, a magnetic location correction is computed responsively to the difference, and the correction is applied in tracking a position of a magnetic tracking sensor inside the body.

Abstract: A method is provided which includes providing a sensor operable to measure movement over time on a user. The sensor includes an alert unit. The sensor is configured with a threshold to activate the alert unit when the measured movement over time is below the threshold. The measurements of movement over time are obtained, and it is determined whether the measured movement over time is below the threshold. When the measured movement is below the threshold, the alert unit at the sensor is activated to alert the user.

Abstract: A method for monitoring breathing air of a person breathing via a face mask (8). In the method pressure of inhaled air and partial pressure of oxygen before oxygen enters in the face mask (8) are measured. A partial pressure of oxygen in lungs of the person is estimated on the basis of the measured pressure of inhaled air and the measured partial pressure of oxygen. Also at least one physical characteristics of lungs is taken into account. The estimated partial pressure of oxygen in lungs is compared with a threshold. An indication of impending hypoxia is provided to the person, if the comparison indicates that the estimated partial pressure of oxygen in lungs is at a level lower than the threshold. The present disclosure also relates to an apparatus (6) for implementing the method.

Abstract: A flow rate control apparatus includes a flow rate detection unit that detects the flow rate of a fluid flowing through a solenoid valve, a correlation storage unit that stores a correlation between a flow start point voltage at which the fluid starts to flow through a sample solenoid valve, which has substantially the same characteristic as the solenoid valve, and a limit voltage at which the sample solenoid valve is fully open, and a control unit that, when starting control of the flow rate of the fluid, changes the driving voltage of the solenoid valve, obtains the driving voltage at a time when the start of flowing of the fluid is detected as the flow start point voltage, and uses the correlation for the sample solenoid valve to set the driving voltage of the solenoid valve within a range between the flow start point voltage and the limit voltage.

Abstract: The automated determination of an individual function of a DPOAE level map with pdp,I=f(L1, L2) of human or animal hearing. The method may include reading into a main memory a model function with model parameters of a DPOAE level map, based upon a number of N DPOAE measurements of a stimulation frequency pair with respectively different level pairs in a population (p) of a population of normally hearing subjects, automatically presenting n different level pairs of a stimulation frequency pair via tone output means to an individual and detecting the corresponding DPOAE's of the individual via tone recording means, wherein at least the first level pair is predefined, iteratively adapting the model function to the measured n DPOAE's until an individual function is obtained with individual parameters of a DPOAE level map of the individual, outputting the individual function and/or its individual parameters.