Abstract: The system comprises a server capable of sending images to a cellphone fitted with a display screen and sensors for generating a signal dependent on user's physiological parameters. The series of images supplied by the server is according to the user, by the prior acquisition of a user profile and at least one item of physiological data for this user transmitted by the sensor, so as to change unconsciously the user's psychophysiological state.

Abstract: A guidewire includes a core and a coil in composite cooperation to enable the guidewire to be used within tortuous regions of the vasculature. The core has a proximal region and a distal region. The distal region includes a flattened end and a tang for connecting the core to the coil. The coil has a proximal end, a distal end and a length extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The ratio between the proximal region and the coil diameter is 1.4:1 or greater. The guidewire includes three joints for attaching the coil to the core. A distal joint attaches the distal end of the coil to the flattened end of the core. A proximal joint attaches proximal end of the coil to the core. A medial joint attaches the length of the coil to the tang. The three joints cooperate with the 1.4:1 ratio to improve torque transmission ability of the guidewire to enable the guidewire to steer through vessels with bends of over 90 degrees and with lumen diameters of less than 3 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed are a remote pressure-monitoring device and a preparing method thereof. The device comprises a metal electrode on a glass substrate, a capacitive sensor made of a silicon diaphragm, and an electroplated inductor electrically connected, in parallel, with the sensor. The glass substrate and the silicon are electrically bonded to form an LC resonator. For the fabrication of the device, first, a metal electrode which plays a role as a lower electrode for a capacitive pressure sensor is deposited on the glass substrate with the same coefficient of thermal expansion as that of silicon. An inductor is formed at a thickness by copper electroplating, surrounding the metal electrode at a predetermined distance. A silicon substrate is anisotropically etched to form a space for enveloping the metal electrode at a central area and to form a groove around the space.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for crossing totally to substantially occluded blood vessels by passing a redirectable wire such as a guidewire from a relatively proximal point past the occlusion within a subintimal space formed between the intimal layer and the adventitial layer of a blood vessel wall. The wire may be advanced to a point distal to the occlusion, and thereafter deflected back into the blood vessel lumen, typically using a deflecting catheter which is advanced over the guidewire after it has been positioned within the subintimal space. The deflecting catheter may include a flapper valve assembly or preformed actuator wire for redirecting the guidewire. After the guidewire is returned to the blood vessel lumen, the deflecting catheter may be withdrawn, and the guidewire may be available for introduction of other interventional and diagnostic catheters for performing procedures such as stenting.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for determining a degree of fatigue of a human body, comprising: two pairs of electrodes; an electric current source; a voltage measuring unit; an arithmetic unit; a storage unit; and a display unit. The two pairs of electrodes are configured to contact with a body of a person under test. The electric current source feeds a measurement current via selected ones of said electrodes. The voltage measuring unit measures a voltage between another selected ones of said electrodes. The storage unit stores a bioelectrical impedance calculated by said arithmetic unit and a reference value. The arithmetic unit calculates the bioelectrical impedance based on the measurement value from said voltage measuring unit and a degree of fatigue of the person under test by comparing the currently measured value of the bioelectrical impedance with the reference value of the bioelectrical impedance stored in the storage unit. The display unit indicates the degree of fatigue of the person under test.

Abstract: A novel system for augmenting human function using personal augmentation devices (PADs), controlled by physiological signals for the purpose of navigating and manipulating the external environment is provided. The system utilizes a variety of sensors connected to a data acquisition box (DAQ) to detect movement of a user. The DAQ, which is comprised of a microprocessor, will control the PAD according to the sensed user movement, thus mapping user input to user output. Controlling of the PAD provides important feedback to the user concerning manipulation of their external environment. In one embodiment, feedback concerning movement of the PAD is provided using a virtual reality system. This system allows people with severe disabilities to remotely interact with their environment using a PAD, thereby unlocking cognitive abilities, promoting curiosity, and providing sense of entitlement to explore, as well as allowing development to continue.

Abstract: An exoskeleton device is provided for measuring positions of links and angles of joints of an animate body, where the body comprises a plurality of links joined by intervening joints. The device is affixed at a first mobile terminus of said animate body and a second fixed terminus, having device links displaced from animate links, where the device links are connected by device joints and having sensor means for measuring the angle of the device joints. Using the signals from the sensor means, one can determine the position of the terminal device link and based on knowledge of the animate body structure, calculate the animate angle joints.

Abstract: A device for applying electromagnetic therapy by sequentially generating pulsing electromagnetic fields for treating a patient in need of the therapy, the device comprising a high frequency signal generator, a low frequency signal generator, a comparator and an amplifier for treating the signals generated by the generators for generating pulsing fields that can be applied to a desired part of the body of a patient through a radiating coil, the device also including a monitoring circuit for monitoring the application of the electromagnetic pulsating field.

Abstract: The dual mode catheter of the present invention combines an over-the-wire catheter with a MONORAIL (trademark) catheter to allow simultaneous use of and switching between the MONORAIL (trademark) and over-the-wire catheters in situ, for example to manipulate stents, balloons, other medical devices, or combinations thereof. Thus combined, the present invention allows greater control of the medical devices and the catheter by a single physician while simultaneously allowing distal injection of individual components such as iodinated contrast fluids or drugs. Other advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the medical arts such as reducing necessary exposure to radiation for both doctor and patient.

Abstract: A fistula device is provided for use with fish to gather materials, e.g., eggs, from inside an exterior body wall of the fish. The fistula device includes a body member having a flange at one end thereof. The flange, in use, engages an outside surface of the exterior body wall of the fish to hold the device in place. The device also includes a hollow cylindrical body portion having both internal and external threading. A retaining ring is adapted to be placed against an interior surface of the exterior wall of the fish, and includes internal threading permitting the ring to be screwed onto the external threading of the body member. A knitted plastic mesh is secured to the retaining ring and adapted to be sutured to the inside of the exterior body wall of the fish. A removable plug used to close off the device includes a threaded portion adapted to be screwed into the body member.

Abstract: A skin test for detecting the immune status with respect to the transforming virus proteins E6 and E7 of human papilloma viruses is provided. The skin test comprises a diagnosis kit containing an effective amount of the protein E6 and/or E7 or at least an immunologically effective portion of E6 and/or E7. The skin test is carried out by intracutaneously applying the protein E6/E7 of the diagnosis kit and visually inspecting the respective skin region to detect reddening.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical telemetry system for collecting vital data, specifically body temperature, the system consisting of a plurality of measuring sensors 10 and a collecting device 30. Each sensor 10 is placed at a predetermined location of the patient's body and automatically detects the vital data value to be measured. Upon a measurement termination signal, which is preferably acoustical, the sensor can be removed from the measuring location and stored away. For a defined period of time, e.g. two hours, the sensor 10 remains in an active state in which it transmits the detected measured value upon request. The measured value along with an ID code and status signals, which relating for instance to the battery voltage, can be interrogated and stored by means of a collecting device 30. Upon expiry of the defined period of time, the measured value is cleared, and the sensor 10 is automatically reset to an energy-saving rest condition.

Abstract: An acoustic biosensor is provided for deployment at an implantation site within a body, such as an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The biosensor includes a sensor element for measuring a physiological condition at the implantation site, and for generating an information signal representative of the physiological condition. The biosensor further includes a piezoelectric transducer element for converting an externally originated acoustic interrogation signal into energy for operating the sensor, and for modulating the interrogation signal, e.g., by employing a switching element to alternate the mechanical impedance of the transducer element, to transmit the information signal outside of the body.

Abstract: A skin testing device having a housing that supports a wheel. The wheel has a plurality of pointed tines for introducing a freeze dried allergen solution to a patient's skin. The pointed tines are located on an allergen plate that has radial grooves for receiving and containing different allergen solutions.

Abstract: The present invention involves apparatus and methods for use in collecting bodily fluids, such as interstitial fluids, from the epidermal layer of an animal. A preferred apparatus includes a pressure head and, optionally, a holder therefor for supplying a positive pressure to the head. The methods include the application of a positive pressure to the area surrounding an epidermal site from which stratum corneum has been breached, such as by laser ablation, to cause bodily fluids, such as interstitial fluids, to exude from the site and collecting the fluids exuding therefrom.

Abstract: An endoscopic bioptome includes a flexible coil having a lumen with an axially displaceable wire extending therethrough. The proximal ends of coil and wire couple to a manual actuator for axially displacing one of the coil and wire relative to the other. The distal end of the coil couples to either a jaw assembly or a cylinder. The jaw assembly includes a pair of jaws each having a distal jaw cup having a proximal neck and a relatively narrow bent resilient arm. The distal end of the wire couples to the other of the cylinder or the jaw assembly. The cylinder is slidable over the jaw assembly. Axial movement of either the wire relative to the coil or vice versa moves the cylinder over the arms of the jaws and over the necks of the jaw cups, thereby forcing the jaw cups together in a biting action.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for locating vulnerable plaque lesions within a body lumen comprising a unique balloon mounted on a catheter shaft. The balloon having an uninflated state and being expandable to an inflated state, the balloon further having an inside and an outside, the balloon being made at least partially of at least one temperature responsive material. The at least one temperature responsive material designed to exhibit at least one predetermined color when the material is in contact with an object having an elevated temperature, such as a vulnerable plaque lesion. The catheter having a lumen which allows a light source to transmit light into the inside of the balloon. The light directed to illuminate at least a portion of the temperature responsive material.

Abstract: A method for isolating the effects of surface tension and/or yield stress of a fluid that is flowing in a U-shaped tube wherein one or both legs of the U-shaped tube is monitored over time for the changing height of the respective fluid columns therein. A portion of the U-shaped tube comprises a flow restrictor, e.g., a capillary tube, of known dimensions. Monitoring one or both of the moving fluid columns over time permits the determination of the viscosity of the fluid flowing therein over a range of shear rates from the difference in fluid column heights. However, it is necessary to isolate the effects of surface tension and/or yield stress to obtain an accurate viscosity determination. The method provides one manner in which the surface tension effect can be subtracted from the difference in fluid column heights and then any yield stress effect can then be determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices for depositing objects into tissue of an animal. The devices include a cannula having a proximal end and an opposite distal end insertable into tissue and. defining an exit aperture. The cannula has a sidewall between the distal and proximal ends and defines a passageway in communication with the exit aperture. A distal retaining tab extends from an inner surface of the cannula and is positioned across at least a portion of the passageway adjacent the exit aperture. The distal tab has a first closed position blocking the passageway and a second open position wherein the tab is urged towards the sidewall to allow an object to pass. The tab is resilient to return to the first position after the object passes. the tab. In some embodiments, the invention also includes a proximal retaining tab adjacent the proximal end of the cannula and positionable to block a portion of the passageway.

Abstract: According to the present invention, physical health indicators computed for a particular user are received in a common transmittable data format at a portable computer system associated with the particular user, wherein each of the physical health indicators is computed by an electronic health measurement device from among multiple diverse electronic health measurement devices monitoring the physical health of the particular user. Each of the physical health indicators is analyzed at the portable computer system in view of determined acceptable health levels for the particular user. Output of an indicator of acceptability of the physical health indicators for the particular user is controlled from the portable computer system, in response to the analysis of each of the physical health indicators, such that a single portable computer system monitors the physical health of an individual from multiple physical health indicators received from multiple diverse electronic health measurement devices.