Abstract: A combined system for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures includes a needle extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough, the distal end including a sharp grind for cutting a tissue sample to be collected in the lumen of the needle and a protective sheath sized and shaped to be inserted through the lumen of the needle such that a distal end of the protective sheath extends distally past the distal end of the needle, the protective sheath extending longitudinally from a proximal end to the distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for in vivo sampling of biological species, comprising:—a capture medium made from a nanoporous material, having a capture surface for said species, said capture medium being supported by a plate,—a gripping rod,—an articulation comprising a first limb coupled to the gripping rod and a second limb coupled removably to the plate supporting the capture medium, such that the capture surface can be selectively oriented relative to the gripping rod, so as to adjust the orientation of the capture medium relative to the gripping rod.

Abstract: The invention relates to a biopsy device comprising a needle extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a channel extending there through. At least one section (6) of the needle (3) is provided with a curved shape, so that tissues that normally would be out or reach of conventional needles can be targeted.

Abstract: A biological fluid collection device that is adapted to receive a blood sample having a cellular portion and a plasma portion is disclosed. After collecting the blood sample, the biological fluid collection device is able to transfer the blood sample to a point-of-care testing device or a biological fluid separation and testing device. After transferring the blood sample, the biological fluid separation and testing device is able to separate the plasma portion from the cellular portion and analyze the blood sample and obtain test results.

Abstract: An integrated device that detects and stores, in digital form, the muscle movements that occur when an operator traces a defined figure or pattern with a pointing device, such as a laser beam. The movement data is stored and analyzed for monitoring and diagnosing a neuromuscular condition or neuromuscular variations. Movement disorders can be determined and progression and change analyzed over time using the stored data.

Abstract: A footwear apparatus includes a sensor in the footwear apparatus positioned to monitor an activity technique of the user when the footwear apparatus is joined with a foot of the user and a feedback generator is arranged to produce at least one of a haptic communication or an optical communication to the user in response to detecting a pattern in the activity technique.

Abstract: An intraosseous needle set comprising a cannula is provided. The cannula has a first end, a second end, and a bore configured to receive a sample from a target area. The first end of the cannula is configured to penetrate the target area and has a plurality of teeth. The plurality of teeth may have at least one tooth that comprises a tapered surface. The plurality of teeth may each have a first side and a second side, where a length of the first side is less than a length of the second side. The first and second sides may intersect to define tips that are disposed at an angle between 0 and 30 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the cannula, and the first side of a first tooth and the second side of an adjacent tooth may also intersect at an angle between 55 and 80 degrees.

Abstract: An assistive sample collection and storage assembly for collecting, transferring and storing a biological sample includes a sample collection device having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to receive a sample collection member. The assembly includes a sample storage device comprising a sample substrate configured to receive at least a portion of the biological sample from the sample collection member. The assembly is configured to exist in a first state and a second state. The sample collection member is disposed at a determined distance from the sample substrate in the first state. At least a portion of the sample collection member is in physical contact with at least a portion of the sample substrate in the second state. The sample collection member is configured to apply a determined amount of contact force between the collection member and the sample substrate in the second state of the assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for an electronic device. The method may include: acquiring a galvanic skin response; generating a first parameter for a first interval and a second parameter for a second interval based on the galvanic skin response, the second interval being an interval before the first interval; determining a first threshold corresponding to the first interval based on the second parameter; and determining an activity state of the first interval based on the first threshold and the first parameter corresponding to the first interval.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue is provided. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a spectrophotometric sensor operable to transmit light into the subject's tissue, and to sense the light; b) detecting light after passage through the subject's tissue using the sensor, and producing initial signal data from the light sensed; c) calibrating the sensor to that particular subject using the initial signal data, thereby accounting for the specific physical characteristics of the particular subject's tissue being sensed; and d) using the calibrated sensor to determine the blood oxygen parameter value within the subject's tissue.

Abstract: The electrophysiological diagnostic catheter obtains an endomyocardial biopsy of heart tissues. The catheter includes a manipulation handgrip, main channel, distal ring and diagnostic rings connected with electrical connections. There is a centrally located, open internal channel, wherein inlet/outlet of internal channel is located in the distal ring, or is guided and monitored using a system for 3D electroanatomical mapping.

Abstract: A catheter to access and navigate the uterine cavity through the cervical canal for delivering, deploying, and facilitating operation of a peripheral intrauterine medical apparatus during parturition includes an elongated, flexible tubular catheter body with a handle at the proximal end controlling a steering mechanism and deflecting the distal tip. The catheter includes a lumen that extends the length of catheter body to a distal end region of the catheter. The peripheral medical apparatus is located in the distal end region and is configured to deploy from the distal tip of the catheter into the uterine cavity. A soft catheter tip reduces the likelihood of injury during intrauterine navigation and placement, and sensors associated with the catheter body provide signals that allow for the monitoring of infant, umbilical cord, placenta and uterine muscle activity during labor to assist operation of the peripheral medical apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for defining a balance between physical activity and rest for a user. The method comprises collecting sensor data indicative of a measure of activity performed and rest taken by the user as a function of time; analyzing the sensor data to distinguish sedentary stages from stages of activity or rest; assigning a level to a given stage of activity or rest; evaluating a plurality of activity-rest parameters for the user; and calculating an activity-rest score from the plurality of activity-rest parameters, so as to provide a feedback indicating a status of the balance between the physical activity and the rest.

Abstract: An intravascular sensor delivery device for measuring a physiological parameter of a patient, such as blood pressure, within a vascular structure or passage. In some embodiments, the device can be used to measure the pressure gradient across a stenotic lesion or heart valve. For example, such a device may be used to measure fractional flow reserve (FFR) across a stenotic lesion in order to assess the severity of the lesion. The sensor delivery device has a distal sleeve configured to pass or slide over a standard medical guidewire. Some distance back from the sensor and distal sleeve, the device separates from the guidewire to permit independent control of the sensor delivery device and the guidewire. The sensor delivery device can be sized to pass over different sizes of guidewires to enable usage in coronary and peripheral arteries, for example.

Abstract: A physiological acoustic monitoring system receives physiological data from an acoustic sensor, down-samples the data to generate raw audio of breathing sounds and compresses the raw audio. The acoustic monitoring system has an acoustic sensor signal responsive to tracheal sounds in a person. An A/D converter is responsive to the sensor signal so as to generate breathing sound data. A decimation filter and mixer down-samples the breathing sound data to raw audio data. A coder/compressor generates compressed audio data from the raw audio data. A decoder/decompressor decodes and decompresses the compressed audio data into decompressed audio data. The decompressed audio data is utilized to generate respiration-related parameters in real-time. The compressed audio data is stored and retrieved so as to generate respiration-related parameters in non-real-time. The real-time and non-real-time parameters are compared to verify matching results across multiple monitors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digestive tract patency capsule, comprising an outer membrane (2) and a supporting material (1) which is soluble in digestive juices. The outer membrane (2) is a sealed soft capsule body made from a sustained-release enteric material, and the dissolution time of the outer membrane (2) is greater than the normal emptying time of the human digestive tract. The cavity of the capsule body of the outer membrane (2) is provided with an indicator (5) which can be absorbed by the body and enables the discharged urine to change color. The supporting material (1) is provided in the cavity of the capsule body of the outer membrane (2) to support the outer membrane (2) in a capsule form. The digestive tract patency capsule can safely and effectively check the feasibility of performing a capsule endoscopic examination on a user.

Abstract: A needle assembly is disclosed. The needle assembly includes a housing having a flash chamber, and having a distal end and a proximal end engageable with a specimen collection container. The assembly includes a cannula having a patient end, a non-patient end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining a cannula interior. The patient end of the cannula projects at least partially from the distal end of the housing, and the cannula interior is in fluid communication with the flash chamber. The assembly further includes a shield restrainably engaged with a portion of the housing and axially transitionable over the patient cannula from a retracted position in which the patient end is exposed, to an extended position in which the patient end is shielded by at least a portion of the shield, wherein at least a portion of the flash chamber is visible in the retracted position.

Abstract: A catheter insertion device includes a housing, a needle, a catheter, and a guide wire. The needle has a proximal end positioned in the housing and a distal end extending beyond a distal end of the housing. The catheter is positioned coaxially over the needle, and includes a flexible tube and a catheter hub on a proximal end of the flexible tube. A proximal portion of the flexible tube and the catheter hub are positioned in the housing. The guide wire has a proximal end positioned in the housing and a distal end positioned in a lumen of the needle. The catheter insertion device also includes a handle coupled to the catheter, wherein movement of the handle relative to the housing moves the catheter hub from a position in the housing to a position outside of the housing.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to multi-segment intraluminal guide wires including an elongate distal portion comprising a first metallic material (e.g., nitinol), an elongate proximal portion comprising a second metallic material (e.g., stainless steel). The distal and proximal portions may be directly joined together end to end by a solid-state weld joint. A diameter of the weld region surrounding the weld joint on either side of the weld joint may be reduced (e.g., ground down) relative to the diameter of the distal and proximal portions of the guide wire on either side of the weld region. A stiffness adjusting sleeve may be disposed over the weld joint so that a transition profile of bending stiffness across the weld region is gradual, rather than abrupt across the distal portion of the guide wire to the proximal portion of the guide wire. A polymer jacket may cover the sleeve and distal portion.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter related to methods and apparatus for determining brain swelling in a patient as well as predicting an increase in intracranial pressure in the patient. The apparatus can include a transducer such as an ultrasound transducer communicatively connected to a controller via wires or via wireless communications device(s). A monitor and/or alarm device can be provided to notify a practitioner when the controller has determined brain swelling is occurring and/or when an imminent increase in intracranial pressure is likely to occur.