Abstract: A method for determining a lowest stimulation threshold current level in a group of channels of a neuromonitoring device. The method includes stimulating tissue at a current level from a predetermined range of current levels as a sequence of pulses delivered at a frequency. The stimulating includes increasing the current level of each pulse in the sequence of pulses from an immediately preceding pulse by a first current increment. The method includes determining that a first evocation pulse from the sequence of pulses evokes a first muscular response. The method includes stimulating the tissue with a second evocation pulse from the sequence of pulses to evoke a second muscular response. The stimulating includes decreasing the frequency of the delivery of each pulse in the sequence of pulses and increasing the current level of each pulse in the sequence of pulses from the immediately preceding pulse by a second current increment.

Abstract: In one implementation, a method is performed for tiered posture awareness. The method includes: while presenting a three-dimensional (3D) environment, via the display device, obtaining head pose information for a user associated with the computing system; determining an accumulated strain value for the user based on the head pose information; and in accordance with a determination that the accumulated strain value for the user exceeds a first posture awareness threshold: determining a location for virtual content based on a height value associated with the user and a depth value associated with the 3D environment; and presenting, via the display device, the virtual content at the determined location while continuing to present the 3D environment via the display device.

Abstract: A gait analysis system, which includes a neural network with a recurrent neural network layer and a fully connected layer, that receives sensor data indicative of an individual's gait and outputs an assessment regarding the individual's health. The neural network is trained using training data indicative of abnormal gaits and normal gaits. To analyze the training data and the sensor data, the recurrent neural network layer parses each piece of data into a series of windows and analyzes each window in series to generate a context vector characterizing each window and the previously analyzed windows. The fully connected layer, having been trained to differentiate between normal gaits and abnormal gaits based on context vectors characterizing the training data, is used to generate a final assessment characterizing the user gate as normal or abnormal using one or more of the context vectors characterizing the sensor data.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for managing atopic dermatitis based on a learning model and a method therefor.

Abstract: The invention relates to sensing compositional information about material by measuring thermal properties of the material. In one arrangement there is provided a needle probe for sensing compositional information. The probe comprises a needle having a tip region. A resistive element is attached to the needle at the tip region. A measurement system is configured to: 1) drive an electrical current through the resistive element to apply heating to the resistive element, and 2) measure an electrical response of the resistive element to the heating. A processing unit analyses the measured electrical response of the resistive element to the heating to determine compositional information about material in contact with the tip region.

Abstract: An arrangement for operating a biosensor emitting radiation includes an excitation light source, which generates at least one excitation radiation for the biosensor; a coupling fiber, at the entry surface of which the excitation radiation is coupled in; an optical Y-coupler, including an excitation arm, which is connected to the exit surface of the coupling fiber, a detector arm, which is connected to an optical detector, and a sensor foot, which can be connected to the biosensor. The excitation arm has a conical shape. The radiation axis of the excitation arm includes an angle in the range of 5° to 70° with the main radiation axis of the detector arm. The diameter of the excitation arm at the connecting point to the detector arm is less than two thirds the diameter of the detector arm. An arrangement for determining the glucose content blood is also provided.

Abstract: An ablation catheter system configured with a compact force sensor at a distal end for detection of contact forces exerted on an end effector. The force sensor includes fiber optics operatively coupled with reflecting members on a structural member. In one embodiment, the optical fibers and reflecting members cooperate with the deformable structure to provide a variable gap interferometer for sensing deformation of the structural member due to contact force. In another embodiment, a change in the intensity of the reflected light is detected to measure the deformation. The measured deformations are then used to compute a contact force vector. In some embodiments, the force sensor is configured to passively compensate for temperature changes that otherwise lead to erroneous force indications. In other embodiments, the system actively compensates for errant force indications caused by temperature changes by measuring certain local temperatures of the structural member.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, an endovascular device may include a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and sized for insertion into a blood vessel. The endovascular device may also include a control line having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending through the hollow shaft. The endovascular device may also include an actuatable working element located proximate the distal end of the hollow shaft, and configured to receive an actuation force transmitted via the distal end of the control line. The endovascular device may further include an actuator configured to exert the actuation force on the proximal end of the control line, to thereby cause relative movement between the control line and the hollow shaft and to actuate the working element. The hollow shaft may also include a cable formed of a plurality of wound wires and including a proximal segment, at least one transition segment, and a distal segment.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a physiological monitoring system that can include a hardware processor. The hardware processor can access first optical data corresponding to a water-dependent radiation wavelength attenuated through a medium and detected at a detector. The hardware processor can access second optical data corresponding to a water-independent radiation wavelength attenuated through the medium and detected at the detector. The hardware processor can determine a hydration index of the medium based on the first and second optical data.

Abstract: A sweat sensor includes a first conductor and a second conductor that are parallel with one another. The sweat sensor also includes a channel disposed between the first and second conductors. The channel is configured to receive a sample of sweat. A measure of capacitance between the first and second conductors changes based at least partially upon a volume of the sweat in the channel.

Abstract: An allergy testing system comprises a skin test device having a grip portion for holding the device. One or more legs extend from the grip, and each leg is oriented to interact with a well containing a potential allergen. Each leg has a test head, and each test head has a plurality of elongated spike members. The elongated spike members have a sharp end configured to receive the potential allergen from a well and to puncture a patient's skin. In addition, each test head has a touch activator. The touch activator is longer than the plurality of elongated spike members, such that during an allergy test, the touch activator comes into contact with the skin prior to the elongated spike members, causing the touch activator to activate nerve tissue that blocks transmission of pain, resulting in a reduction of pain and/or discomfort during testing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating bio-information are provided. The apparatus for estimating bio-information includes: a spectrometer configured to measure a spectrum from an object according to measurement conditions; and a processor configured to obtain signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values for each wavelength of the spectrum measured by the spectrometer, generate a plurality of simulated absorbance spectra based on the SNR values for each wavelength of the spectrum, and determine an optimal wavelength combination for use in measuring the bio-information based on the plurality of simulated absorbance spectra.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacture includes a helical wire coil and a core wire. The core wire has a first wire portion and a second wire portion. The first wire portion of the core wire extends through the helical wire coil. The second wire portion of the core wire is intertwined with the first helical wire coil to fixedly secure the core wire relative to the first helical wire coil. The core wire is formed from a first material that is non-extensible. The core wire is fixedly secured relative to a distal portion of the helical wire coil such that the core wire inhibits longitudinal elongation of the helical wire coil along a longitudinal coil axis.

Abstract: Athletic activity monitoring methods and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor module is physically coupled to an object during an athletic activity conducted by a user. An athletic activity monitoring method for use with the sensor module includes detecting movement of the object; determining an initial spatial orientation of the object; and determining a change in the spatial orientation of the object. The method further includes wirelessly transmitting data relating to the change in spatial orientation to a computer, where the computer is remotely located from the user during the athletic activity; wirelessly receiving activity metric data from the remote computer, where the activity metric data is based on the transmitted data relating to the change in spatial orientation; and providing an output to the user that conveys an activity metric.

Abstract: The present technology is directed to respiratory therapy data management systems, device, and methods. The systems can collect, store, monitor, report, and/or analyze patient treatment data associated with patient use of one or more respiratory therapy devices. The patient treatment data can include therapy data related to the use of multiple respiratory therapies, such as ventilation, oxygen, cough-assistance, suction, and nebulization. The patient treatment data may be collected from a plurality of respiratory devices associated with a particular patient, or from a single respiratory device associated with a particular patient. The system can generate customizable reports detailing the patient treatment data. The reports can summarize patient use, illustrate therapy trends, and/or provide therapy recommendations.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system to help manage a patient that is at risk of falling is disclosed. The system includes a patient-worn wireless sensor that can be affixed to the patient's back that senses the patient's motion and wirelessly transmits information indicative of the sensed motion to a patient monitor. The patient monitor receives, stores, and processes the transmitted information to determine whether the patient has fallen or is about to fall. Upon such detection, the system can notify the patient's caretakers that the patient has fallen or is about to fall and therefore, is in need of immediate attention.

Abstract: Ophthalmological device including an applanation tonometer tip having a bi-curved cornea-contacting surface and method of using such device for measurement of intraocular pressure. The cornea-contacting surface includes a first rotationally symmetric portion a curvature of which is substantially adapted to that of a typical cornea and a second rotationally symmetric portion that is peripheral to and adjoining the first portion. In operation, the applanation of the cornea in an area corresponding to the first portion of the cornea-contacting surface is substantially negligible.

Abstract: A syringe is coupled to a biopsy needle through a coupling structure that includes a motor-driven element such as a gear to rotate the needle. The motor can oscillate back and forth to cause the needle to oscillate. Structures are described to permit one-handed operation of the device and automatic motor activation based on attaining a desired plunger position. Non-electric motors are described along with a mechanism for axial oscillation of the needle.

Abstract: A device and a method for taking up and handling a liquid sample and a substance are described. The device has a sample unit and a substance container. The substance container has a reservoir which is designed to keep a substance in the reservoir. The reservoir also has an opening which is closed by a sealing film or sealing plate so that substance kept in the reservoir is sealed with respect to the surroundings. The sample unit is equipped with a sample taker which is designed to take up and hold a liquid sample. It also has an opener which is designed to be at least partially inserted into the opening of the reservoir and to lift the sealing film or sealing plate from the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a pre-sample reservoir, a diversion mechanism, and a flow metering mechanism. The diversion mechanism has an inlet port couplable to a lumen-defining device to receive bodily-fluids from a patient, a first outlet port fluidically couplable to the pre-sample reservoir, and a second outlet port fluidically couplable to a sample reservoir. The diversion mechanism defines a first fluid flow path and a second flow path that are configured to place the first outlet port and the second outlet port, respectively, in fluid communication with the inlet port. The flow metering mechanism is configured to meter a flow of a predetermined volume of bodily-fluid through the first fluid flow path into the pre-sample reservoir, to meter a flow of a second volume of bodily-fluid through the second fluid flow path into the sample reservoir, and to display a volumetric indicator associated with the predetermined volume and the second volume.