Abstract: The present invention provides a gastrointestinal liquid biopsy sampling device. The sampling device includes an enclosure and expandable materials. The enclosure includes through holes cut in the wall of the enclosure, and targeted dissolution membranes covering the through holes that can be dissolved at targeted regions. The expandable materials are arranged at the positions corresponding to the through holes. The expandable materials expand after absorbing liquid and close the through holes.

Abstract: Embodiments of a simulated valve device can be used to determine whether a valve device would fit within a particular airway. The simulated valve device can include a shaft having at least one strut extending radially therefrom. The strut and at least part of the shaft can be surrounded by a membrane for viewing through a bronchoscope. In some embodiments, the membrane can include markings for viewing by a user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide for regular, periodic or continuous monitoring of fluid volume based on direct measurement of an inferior vena cava (IVC) physical dimension using a wireless measurement sensor implanted in the IVC. By basing diagnostic decisions and treatments on changes in an IVC physical dimension, information on patient fluid state is available across the entire euvolemic range of fluid states, thus providing earlier warning of hypervolemia or hypovolemia and enabling the modulation of patient treatments to permit more stable long-term fluid management.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and compositions for restoring normal microbiota in pre-term newborns or newborns delivered by Cesarean section and methods for preventing or ameliorating diseases associated with delivery by Cesarean section or pre-term birth comprising administering to said newborns at the time of birth or shortly thereafter an effective amount of a vaginal microbiota inoculum obtained from the newborn's mother or a donor or an effective amount of a probiotic composition. The invention also relates to a device for collecting maternal vaginal microbiota from the vaginal canal of a patient. The device can have a housing forming a cavity, an absorbent material removable disposed within the cavity, and a deployment element disposed in the housing and movable along a length of the housing. The movement of the deployment element can displace the absorbent material out of the cavity and in to the vaginal canal.

Abstract: The disclosure provides tissue force sensor systems and methods for tissues, e.g., laryngeal tissue. The systems include a top housing including on an upper side an attachment mechanism for connecting the top housing to a medical device, e.g., a laryngoscope, and on a lower side a first cavity for receiving a top portion of a force measurement device such as a load cell; a bottom housing including on a lower side an attachment mechanism for connecting the bottom housing to a handle, holding system, or suspension system for holding or supporting the medical device, and on an upper side a second cavity for receiving a bottom portion of the force measurement device; and an attachment device for connecting the top housing to the bottom housing.

Abstract: An intracranial pressure monitoring device includes a housing defining a first internal chamber, a plurality of strain gauges disposed on an inner surface of a diaphragm defined by a wall of the first internal chamber, a device for generating orientation signals, and circuitry coupled to the plurality of strain gauges and to the device. The circuitry is configured to generate intracranial pressure data from signals received from the plurality of strain gauges, generate orientation data based on the orientation signals received from the device, and store the intracranial pressure data and the orientation data in a computer readable storage such that the intracranial pressure data and orientation data are associated with each other.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides alert implants that comprise a medical device and an implantable reporting processor (IRP), where one example of such a medical device includes a component for a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) such as a tibial extension, a femoral component for hip replacements, a breast implant, a distal rod for arm or leg breakage repair, a scoliosis rod, a dynamic hip screw, a spinal interbody spacer, and tooling and methods that may be used to form the alert implant, and uses of such alert implants in the health maintenance of patients who receive the implant.

Abstract: A biological fluid collection system that receives a sample and provides flow-through blood stabilization technology and a precise sample dispensing function for point-of-care and near patient testing applications is disclosed. A biological fluid collection system of the present disclosure is able to effectuate distributed mixing of a sample stabilizer within a blood sample and dispense the stabilized sample in a controlled manner. In this manner, a biological fluid collection system of the present disclosure enables blood micro-sample management, e.g., passive mixing with a sample stabilizer and controlled dispensing, for point-of-care and near patient testing applications.

Abstract: A method of monitoring respiration with an acoustic measurement device, the acoustic measurement device having a sound transducer, the sound transducer configured to measure sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea, the method includes correlating the measured sound into a measurement of tidal volume and generating at least one from the group consisting of an alert and an alarm if the measured tidal volume falls outside of a predetermined range.

Abstract: Systems and methods of tracking a head of a patient are provided. The system includes a motion tracking system and a head tracker. The head tracker includes a frame, at least one trackable target coupled to the frame, at least one nose pad coupled to the frame, and a pair of adjustable ear coupling members coupled to the frame and shaped for engaging with at least a portion of a back surface of an ear of the patient. The head tracker is configured to apply a clamping force to hold the trackable target in a stable spatial relationship with a location of interest in the head. The motion tracking system includes a sensor for tracking the trackable target and a processor configured for determining a position of the location of interest from the position and orientation of the trackable target and the stable spatial relationship.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device for measuring breast volume is disclosed, which comprises a housing comprising an enclosure having an opening, a flexible membrane sealingly covering said opening so as to provide an enclosed space within said enclosure, a gas disposed within said enclosed space, and at least one pressure sensor coupled to said enclosure so as to measure pressure of said gas within said enclosed space. The flexible membrane is configured to reversibly flex into said enclosed space in response to pressure of a breast against the membrane. The flexure of the membrane causes a change in the pressure and volume of the gas within said enclosed space.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a disposable negative-pressure anterior chamber Paracentesis syringe which belongs to the technical field of medical supplies. It comprises nine parts, including a needle cap, a Paracentesis syringe, a needle base, an internal needle, a protective cover of the internal needle, an airlock, a needle tube, a collection tube and a collection tube rack. The invention has the advantages that it fixes the Paracentesis syringe during puncture and limits the depth of the needle insertion, releases the aqueous humor slowly to prevent a sudden drop of the intraocular pressure, reduces the risk of the intraocular infection by separating the anterior chamber from outside and the collection tube can collect and store the aqueous humor directly.

Abstract: Anchors and anchoring methods suitable for use with implantable assemblies that include an implantable device, including but not limited to implantable sensing devices and implantable wireless sensing devices adapted to monitor physiological parameters within living bodies. Such an implantable device has a housing containing a transducer, electrical circuitry, and an antenna. The transducer is located at a first end of the housing opposite a second end of the housing. At least the transducer is located within a housing portion of the housing in which the antenna is not located. The implantable assembly further includes an anchor is adapted for securing the implantable device within a living body.

Abstract: A patient monitor can noninvasively measure a physiological parameter using sensor data from different measurement sites on a patient. The patient monitor can combine all sensor data from different measurement sites into a raw or minimally processed data form to generate a single, robust measurement of the physiological parameter. An optical sensor of a patient monitor can include multiple photodetectors each configured to generate a signal when detecting light attenuated by the patient's tissue. A measurement of a physiological parameter can be determined based on at least in part on the multiple signals from the multiple photodetectors.

Abstract: An intra-uterine monitoring system is described. The system comprises an implantable sensor device, shaped and dimensioned for implantation in a uterus for measuring conditions within the uterus to generate sensor data, and a wearable receiver device, for wirelessly receiving the sensor data generated by the implantable sensor device. In this way, real-time, in-vivo monitoring of the intra-uterine environment can be performed. The implantable sensor device can be kept small and simple, requiring only the mechanical and electronic structures necessary to take sensor measurements and transmit those to the receiver device. By making the receiver device wearable, it can be kept in relatively close proximity to the implantable sensor device on a long-term basis, making regular monitoring viable.

Abstract: Intraocular pressure sensors, systems, and methods of use. Implantable intraocular pressure sensing devices that are hermetically sealed and adapted to wirelessly communicate with an external device. The implantable devices can include a hermetically sealed housing, the hermetically sealed housing including therein: an antenna in electrical communication with a rechargeable power source, the rechargeable power source in electrical communication with an ASIC, and the ASIC in electrical communication with a pressure sensor.

Abstract: Methods and systems monitor and assess brain bioimpedance through the use of an ocular window that assesses dynamic changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV). That ocular window is implemented through an ocular bioimpedance device that, in a non-invasive manner, measures numerous different brain health indicators using the bioimpedance measurements collected through the regions around the eyes. The ocular bioimpedance device may be goggles with localized measurement electrodes that include cathodes and anodes.

Abstract: A sphincter sizing instrument includes a body that defines a lumen and a shaft that longitudinally translates through the lumen relative to the body. The body includes opposing proximal and distal ends. The distal end includes a first magnetic coupling feature and a first mechanical coupling feature. The shaft includes opposing proximal and distal ends and a coupler coupled with the distal end. The coupler includes a second magnetic coupling feature and a second mechanical coupling feature. The second magnetic coupling feature is configured to attract and couple with the first magnetic coupling feature to form a magnetic connection. The second mechanical coupling feature is configured to couple with the first mechanical coupling feature to form a mechanical connection.

Abstract: A system for detecting pressure sores includes an artificial skin configured to be coupled to a patient's skin. The artificial skin includes a substrate and a strain sensor configured to detect deformation of the substrate. A transmitter is configured to transmit signals indicative of the deformation of the substrate. A control system is configured to receive the signals from the transmitter. The control system includes a timer to track a period of time that the substrate is deformed.

Abstract: An intraocular pressure measurement arrangement is disclosed for measuring pressure of an eye of a patient. The arrangement can include at least one source for producing mechanical waves of several frequencies from a distance to the eye of the patient to generate at least one surface wave to the eye, a detector for detecting at least one surface wave from a distance from the eye to extract surface wave information, and a device for determining pressure information of the eye based on the surface wave information.