Abstract: A pulmonary testing device and method are provided that measure an inspired volume of a selected gas component. In one configuration, the selected gas component is injected into the device in an airway of the device upstream of a gas analyzer. The device has opposing open ends, one for the patient's mouth and the other for inspiration of air.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sphygmomanometer exhaust valve having a valve that functions as a lever, and in which a solenoid moves the point of force of the valve to urge a valve membrane formed at the point of action against a ventilation port. A support member supports the valve while fixing its fulcrum. When no electric current is supplied to the solenoid, the support member holds the valve in a predetermined position in which the ventilation port is open.

Abstract: A pulse wave data correcting method in an electronic hemomanometer which is designed to time-differentiate signals each formed by superposing a pulse wave amplitude component on a cuff pressure, to compute an envelope consisting of the time-differentiated signals, to detect the maximal value in the computed envelope, to sort the time-differentiated signals generated prior to the maximal envelope value in ascending order, to sort the time-differentiated signals generated after the maximal envelope value in descending order, and to form an envelope consisting of the sorted time-differentiated signals.

Abstract: A deflation control valve that automatically varies the rate of gas flow through said control valve to maintain a constant deflation rate during the deflation or exhaust of gas held in a closed pressurisable vessel to which said valve is connectable, wherein said control valve is manually adjustable to set the deflation rate.

Abstract: A light-emitting sensor device is provided with a substrate (110); an irradiating part (120), disposed on the substrate, for applying light to a specimen; a light receiving part (150), disposed on the substrate, for detecting light from the specimen caused by the applied light; a light scattering part, disposed at least one of between the irradiating part and the specimen and between the specimen and the light receiving part, for scattering at least one of light emitted from the irradiating part and the light from the specimen. The sensor device stably detects a predetermined type of information, such as a blood flow velocity, on the specimen.

Abstract: A region of skin, other than the fingertips, is stimulated. After stimulation, an opening is created in the skin (e.g., by lancing the skin) to cause a flow of body fluid from the region. At least a portion of this body fluid is transported to a testing device where the concentration of analyte (e.g., glucose) in the body fluid is then determined. It is found that the stimulation of the skin provides results that are generally closer to the results of measurements from the fingertips, the traditional site for obtaining body fluid for analyte testing.

Abstract: An automated method of determining a measure of a subject's heart age comprising the steps of: prompting a user for a plurality of inputs, each relating to an attribute of the subject, each attribute defining one or more of a demographic status of the subject, a lifestyle status of the subject, a physical condition of the subject and a medical history of the subject; receiving, from the user, a plurality of said inputs; determining from said received inputs, a set of parameters for which input data has been received as input from the user; selecting a heart age calculation algorithm from a predetermined set of heart age calculation algorithms according to said set of parameters; and calculating a heart age for the subject according to the selected algorithm; and providing as output said calculated heart age.

Abstract: A system, medium, and method conducing a user's breathing, in which a sound generated during a user's exhale and/or an ambient temperature change occurring during the exhale is sensed to measure a respiratory waveform of the user. Respiratory information of the user may then be produced from the respiratory waveform, and when the respiratory information of the user is different from normal respiratory information of the user, breathing information according to the normal respiratory information may be provided to the user so the user can use the same to modify their breathing.

Abstract: Inhalation measurement systems and methods enable, during inhalant exposure, substantially real-time respiratory measurements of a test subject using techniques that obtain measurements of respiration directly from that test subject, instead of from inhalation chamber parameter measurements. Direct test subject respiratory measurements may be, by way of example only, impedance measurements. These respiratory measurements taken directly from the test subject may be transmitted, wirelessly for example, for processing during the course of the test to a processing system to determine a cumulative volume of inhalant inspired by the test subject. From that, a cumulative amount of inhalant (or dose) inspired by the test subject may be determined during the course of the inhalation compound test.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a respiration signal may be processed to normalize respiratory feature values in order to improve and/or simplify the interpretation and subsequent analysis of the signal. Data indicative of a signal may be received at a sensor and may be used to generate a respiration signal. Signal peaks in the respiration signal may be identified and signal peak thresholds may be determined. The identified signal peaks may be adjusted based on the signal peak threshold values to normalize the respiration signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring FeNO in a subject, wherein the FeNO data derived from a subject patient is normalized to compensate for variations of FeNO with flow rate.

Abstract: Improved tourniquet apparatus for measuring a patient's limb occlusion pressure includes an inflatable tourniquet cuff for encircling a limb at a location and to which a tourniquet instrument is releasably connectable.

Abstract: A plethysmograph variability processor inputs a plethysmograph waveform having pulses corresponding to pulsatile blood flow within a tissue site. The processor derives plethysmograph values based upon selected plethysmograph features, determines variability values, and calculates a plethysmograph variability parameter. The variability values indicate the variability of the plethysmograph features. The plethysmograph variability parameter is representative of the variability values and provides a useful indication of various physiological conditions and the efficacy of treatment for those conditions.

Abstract: An automated method of determining a measure of a subject's heart age comprising the steps of: prompting a user for a plurality of inputs, each relating to an attribute of the subject, each attribute defining one or more of a demographic status of the subject, a lifestyle status of the subject, a physical condition of the subject and a medical history of the subject; receiving, from the user, a plurality of said inputs; determining from said received inputs, a set of parameters for which input data has been received as input from the user; selecting a heart age calculation algorithm from a predetermined set of heart age calculation algorithms according to said set of parameters; and calculating a heart age for the subject according to the selected algorithm; and providing as output said calculated heart age.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing skin care information, the apparatus including: an electrode unit supplying a voltage to a user's skin and detecting a current signal in the user's skin; a measurement control unit measuring the user's skin moisture content and sweat gland activity by using the detected current signal; a data calculation unit deriving skin moisture content information by using the skin moisture content and the sweat gland activity, and generating skin care information corresponding to the skin moisture content information; and an information provider providing the user with the generated skin care information is provided.

Abstract: Devices for treating a patient by measuring a condition, such as the partial pressure of CO2, at a location on a mucosal membrane surface in the mouth region of the patient, includes a sensor (14, 16) with an end (44, 46) that lies against the mucosal surface, and a seal (20) that extends 360° around the sensor end and presses against the mucosal surface. The sensor end and the seal lie on the first end portion (24) of a holder (22) which has a second end portion (26) that presses against the outside of the patient at a location opposite the sensor and seal. The holder is a clasp which can be formed as a single piece of resilient material that extends in a loop, or which can be formed in the manner of a clothespin with a spring that pivots two bars to urge their end portions towards each other.

Abstract: A signal indicative of left atrial pressure in the heart of a patient is analyzed to identify a signal component that is related to the respiration of the patient. An indication relating to the left atrial pressure may be generated based on the presence, absence, or magnitude of the respiratory component. In some embodiments the indication may be used to indicate high left atrial pressure. In some embodiments the indication may be used to indicate heart failure. In some embodiments the indication may be used in conjunction with verifying the operation of a left atrial pressure sensor. In the event of high left atrial pressure or an incorrect pressure reading an appropriate warning may be generated. In the event of an incorrect pressure reading the left atrial pressure sensor may be recalibrated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting venous pulsation are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present technique, there is provided a method for detecting venous pulsation, including acquiring a first signal corresponding to absorption at a first near-infrared wavelength, acquiring a second signal corresponding to absorption at a second near-infrared wavelength, deriving an offset metric from the first and second signals, and detecting the presence of venous pulsation based on the offset metric. The method further includes correcting calculations of physiological parameters such as, for example, blood oxygen saturation, when venous pulsation is detected.

Abstract: A process with a corresponding device for lung ventilation involves recording an image of the lung status with an electric impedance tomography (EIT) system (2) and the total area of ventilated lung areas is determined by a computing unit (4) from all image values, subsequently divided into at least two lung areas and the extent of the homogeneity of the ventilated lung areas is determined by comparison of the impedance changes within these areas. In case of a homogeneity rated as being too low, the respiration pressures are increased step by step by means of the respirator (1) and the respiration pressure at which the greatest possible homogeneity is obtained from subsequently determined status images is determined by means of the EIT system (2).

Abstract: A signal representative of a patient's respiration is split into equal length epochs. A primary feature is extracted from each epoch that acts as a compressed representation of the signal events. Statistics are applied to the primary feature to produce one or more secondary features that represent the entire epoch. Each secondary feature is grouped with one or more other features that are extracted from the entire epoch rather than selected epoch events. This grouping is the epoch pattern. The pattern is manipulated with suitable classifier algorithm to produce a probability for each class within the algorithm, that the signal may be representative of a disease state (Cheyne-Stokes, OSA etc). The epoch is assigned to the class with the highest probability. Also defined are methods of detecting Cheyne-Stokes breathing by analyzing a signal to detect one or regions of hyperpnoea and if the length of a hyperpnoea exceeds a parameter, Cheyne-Stokes is present.