Abstract: Embodiments include methods, systems and computer program products for monitoring a user of a helmet for cumulative concussions. Aspects include monitoring one or more sensors in the helmet and receiving an output from the one or more sensors corresponding to an impact experienced by the helmet. Aspects also include calculating a cumulative concussion score based on the output of the one or more sensors and displaying an indication of the cumulative concussion score via an indicator on the helmet.

Abstract: A method of operating a biopsy device includes providing a hollow needle having a longitudinal axis; moving a sample-receiving device received in the hollow needle from a retracted position to an extended position to expose a cavity in the sample-receiving device, the cavity configured to receive a tissue sample; displacing the hollow needle in a distal direction relative to the sample-receiving device to sever tissue received by the cavity of the sample-receiving device; moving a toothed flexible member along the longitudinal axis to move the sample-receiving device in the hollow needle from the extended position to the retracted position, the toothed flexible member having a proximal portion that extends proximal to the proximal end of the hollow needle; and receiving the proximal portion of the toothed flexible member in a helical coiling-up groove of a housing element when the sample-receiving device is moved to the retracted position.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a biopsy needle configured to maximize tissue sampling yield and collect a cohesive unit of sampled tissue. The biopsy needle includes an elongate tubular body comprising a lumen extending therethrough from a proximal open end to a distal open end of the body. The distal end includes first and second tip portions extending therefrom and radially opposing one another. The first tip portion has a length greater than the second tip portion, thereby resulting in an increased surface area of a curvilinear cutting edge extending from the first tip portion to the second tip portion. Additionally, each of the first and second tip portions defines a point configured to pierce the tissue to be sampled and further direct tissue towards the lumen of the body to be excised by the cutting edge upon contact therewith.

Abstract: A stimulation device includes an adapter component to increase the usability of the stimulation device. The adapter may be a bipolar adapter arranged to connect to the housing of the stimulation device. The adapter may include a clip having a first channel configured to receive an operative element therein and a second channel having a return operative element therein. The return operative element is in electrical communication with an electrical circuit of said stimulation control device. Alternatively, the adapter may be a percutaneous adapter comprising a connector configured to connect to an operative element of a stimulation device and a lead wire connected to the connector. A needle may be connected to the lead wire to deliver a electrical stimulation signal to a target tissue located beneath the skin of a subject patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to objective evaluation of shoulder stability. An accelerometer is attached adjacent the subject's shoulder and the subject is provided with a vibrating device that is held in the hand of the subject's outstretched arm. The subject is instructed to keep his or her arm as still as possible while holding the vibrating device. Data is obtained from the accelerometer over a predetermined length of time. Using a processor, preferably wirelessly connected to the accelerometer, shoulder stability is evaluated in relation to the subject's ability to resist vibratory forces. In an embodiment, the processor evaluates shoulder stability by averaging measured g-forces obtained from the accelerometer along three axes. The average g-forces across each axis are averaged together to give an overall average. The overall average is compared with available normative values to determine the risk level.

Abstract: Patients afflicted by a seizure may be monitored for the presence of post-ictal motor manifestations that may indicate that the patient is at heightened risk of adverse effects of a seizure, including, for example, risk of sudden explained death in epilepsy. If the patient is deemed to be at risk of experiencing adverse effects of a seizure, one or more system responses may be initiated as appropriate for the at-risk patient.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for transporting fluid between a body and an external source. More particularly, the methods and devices provided can be used to transport blood from a body. In one exemplary embodiment, a system is provided for transporting fluid between a body and an external source. The system can include a collection catheter that is sized to fit inside a catheter that is placed in the body and configured to have its distal end extend beyond a distal end of the catheter that is placed in the body. Various methods for transporting fluid from the body to an external source are also provided.

Abstract: A method for causing a computer to execute a process for managing health condition, the process includes: detecting a grounding timing of a leg of a quadruped and a timing of weight-shift to a rear side of the quadruped; and determining whether or not the leg of the quadruped has a disease or injury, based on the detected grounding timing of the leg of the quadruped and the detected timing of a weight-shift to the rear side of the quadruped.

Abstract: A skin insertion mechanism includes a needle fixedly positioned in a needle holder with a connector (or connective means) to an injection or analysis system having a skin attachment plate coated with an adhesive layer and a spacer mechanism kept in the ready-to-use position, the skin attachment plate is spaced away from a needle support covering the needle. Subcutaneous insertion of the needle is effected by attachment of the adhesive layer to the skin and releasing the spacer mechanism by applying a pre-set trigger point pressure against the skin.

Abstract: Mouth guards and related systems and methods for determining linear and angular accelerations of the head of a subject. A plurality of accelerometers are operatively associated with the mouth guard and spaced from one another about the mouth guard. The accelerometers produce outputs indicative of the linear and angular acceleration of the mouth guard. Optionally, the mouth guard can be used in conjunction with a helmet that is provided with a plurality of accelerometers spaced about the helmet. In use, the outputs of the accelerometers of the helmet can be correlated to the outputs of the accelerometers of the mouth guard.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides device and method for measuring cervical vertebra movement. The device comprises a sensor unit, a computation unit, a storage unit and a determination unit. The sensor unit comprises at least one transmission part and at least one reception part. Either of the transmission part and the reception part moves along with user's head, the other fixes relative to user's body. The transmission part transmits detection signals and the reception part receives them. The computation unit computes, based on detection signals, distance changes in a distance between the transmitting and reception part before and after user's head moves. The storage unit stores a mapping table indicating relations between distance changes and movement angles of user's head. The determination unit inquires the mapping table based on distance changes to determine movement angles of user's head. The device is simple, easily operated and practicable.

Abstract: Systems and methods for effecting bariatric procedures are disclosed. Each system includes an instrument, a control valve and, optionally, a suction controller. The instrument is in the form of an elongated, flexible sizing tube having a distal end portion including a plurality of apertures. The control valve enables suction to be applied to the patient's stomach via the apertures to drain gastric fluids and to bring adjacent portions of the patient's stomach into engagement with the sizing tube to provide a visually perceptible delineation line along which a portion of the stomach may be resected, sealed and tested.

Abstract: A handheld device detects and measures orofacial activity, including oral cavity pressure and one or more compressions, deformations, displacements, or deflections of a pacifier engaged to the device. The compressions, deformations, displacements, or deflections of the pacifier refer to changes in the shape of the pacifier, caused by patient, relative to an initial state of the pacifier. The device translates the oral cavity pressure and compressions into an electrical signal, digitizes the electrical signal, and performs analytical processing of the digitized signal to extract physiological artifacts salient to the patient's ability to orally feed using a software application executing on a processor within the device. The device automates and simplifies the assessment of a patient's readiness to orally feed by presenting graphical and numeric scores for organization and effort of non-nutritive suck.

Abstract: A sampling device for a sampling container. A pair of elongate flexible arms extend from a side wall away from a bottom end. The arms being oppositely located across a base chamber. A lower member has a flange and an aperture. A collar extends from the flange and is adapted to retain an end of a spring. An elongate cover has a first end and a second end. The first end being adapted in use to connect to a base and the second end being adapted in use to connect to an upper member. The upper and lower members are adapted to move along the axis by the positioning of a sampling container in the sampling chamber and the application of a force towards a base, permits a needle or blood bag tube located within a connector to discharge liquid into a sampling container.

Abstract: A sleeve is provided for determining the location and severity of joint pain in a patient. The sleeve includes sensors in communication with a display device that allow for areas of pain to be quickly and accurately determined. Methods of utilizing the sleeve are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the onset of seizures comprising a measuring unit having one or more sensors for detecting the electromyographic signal of one or more muscles of the user. The sensors are connected to a pre-processing module comprising a high-pass filter which filters out noise and motion artefacts related to normal muscle activities. The pre-processing module is connected to a feature extraction module comprising a threshold detector which counts the number of crossings with a hysteresis within a predetermined time window. The feature extraction module is connected to a classification module which compares the extracted features to a first and second threshold and generates an event signal if the extracted features are above the first and second threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for accessing and operating on an intervertebral disc at the lumbosacral junction via a trans-iliac approach. The instruments and methods described employ nerve monitoring to direct passage of the instruments through a safe zone between the L5 nerve root lying posterior to the trans-iliac path and the iliac vein (and iliac artery) lying anterior to the trans-iliac path.

Abstract: Diagnostic mouthpieces and separate pads for same allow dental devices of various types to have a dual purpose. The diagnostic mouthpieces allow frequent use and early intervention.

Abstract: A cassette (2600) for use with a medical waste collection system (30). The cassette includes a housing (2602, 2612) shaped to be removably attached to a receptacle (1699) integral with the housing. A sleeve (2640) is attached to the cassette so as to be located forward of the housing. The sleeve is formed with a void space. A fitting (2664) for collection to a suction line is attached to the sleeve. A screen (2714) is removably fitted in the sleeve void space. The screen is fitted in the sleeve void space when it is desirable to catch tissue that may be entrained in the fluid stream from the suction line.

Abstract: Provided is a catheter that includes a catheter tube and a temperature sensor. The catheter tube includes a tip-flexible part and a base end part. The base end part includes a first base end section having rigidity higher than the tip-flexible part, and a second base end section having rigidity lower than the first base end section. The tip-flexible part has an axial length from 40 mm to 100 mm, the first base end section has an axial length from 200 mm to 400 mm, and the second base end section has an axial length from 200 mm to 900 mm. A value of the rigidity of each of the first and the second base end sections decreases linearly from the first base end section to the second base end section, in a region around a boundary between the first base end section and the second base end section.