Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating foot inflammation each uses at least one temperature detection modality to form a first thermogram and a second thermogram of the sole of at least one foot. Each thermogram forms a substantially continuous set of two-dimensional temperature values across the sole of the (at least one) foot. The thermograms have features; namely, the first thermogram has first features and the second thermogram has second features. The method and apparatus thus control a device to apply at least one transformation to the first and second thermograms to align the first features with corresponding second features, and determine, at any thermogram location, if at least one of the thermograms presents one of a plurality of patterns indicative of inflammation. Finally, the method and apparatus each produce output information indicating the result of the determination of whether the thermograms present one of the plurality of patterns.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring patients with dysphagia, or swallowing impairments, that monitors muscle movement during intensive swallowing exercises to provide adjuvant visual feedback from surface electromyography.

Abstract: An apparatus for the non-invasive measurement of the blood flow through a shunt of a patient has at least one bandage which can be worn by the patient, as well as a plurality of sensors which are arranged in or at the bandage, which are arranged in at least one multidimensional matrix, and which are configured such that they create a multidimensional matrix of measured values of at least one parameter detected by the sensors.

Abstract: A device for needle biopsy is presented. The device includes a handle member having proximal and distal portions. A proximal handle member is disposed to the proximal portion of the handle member and a distal handle member is disposed to the distal portion of the handle member. A sheath lumen is disposed within the handle member and extends from the distal portion of the handle member. A needle housing member is partially disposed to the proximal portion of the handle member and a needle is disposed within the sheath lumen. A plurality of protrusions is disposed upon the needle. A needle protection member is partially disposed to the distal portion of the needle housing member. The needle protection member includes a needle protection hub and a needle protection shaft.

Abstract: An exercise support device includes a motion sensor that is worn on a user's body and outputs data regarding the motion status of the user's body when the user is performing a moving exercise, and a control section which acquires exercise information regarding the user's exercise status. The control section selects a specific exercise index having relatively strong correlation with a moving speed from exercise indexes acquired from the data outputted when the user moves on a movement section plural times at moving speeds different from each other, acquires a coefficient that is used in an approximate expression which represents the specific exercise index and is a linear function including the moving speed as a variable and the coefficient, and acquires the exercise information based on the specific exercise index and the coefficient when the user moves by the moving exercise.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a housing having a vacuum port, a cutter hub and attached cutter being slidably mounted in the housing so that the cutter hub and cutter are movable between a proximal, armed position, and a distal, fired position. A sealed cutter spring well with a cutter firing spring seated therein is disposed within the housing, wherein a proximal end of the cutter hub comprises a movable distal wall of the spring well so that proximal movement of the cutter hub compresses the cutter firing spring. A vacuum lumen is in communication with each of the vacuum port and spring well. A cutter arming valve assembly having a valve member is disposed in the vacuum lumen and selectively configurable to place the spring well in communication with the vacuum port for arming the cutter, or with atmosphere for firing the cutter.

Abstract: A multi-function instrument for use in a dermatological biopsy procedure, including a housing having an aperture in a base thereof, the aperture adapted to be placed on a patient's skin at a biopsy site, the housing comprising: an anesthetic-dispensing member, a biopsy sampling member configured for extracting a biopsy sample from the biopsy site, and an extension and retraction mechanism configured to enable the anesthetic-dispensing member and the biopsy sampling member to be held in offset positions relative to the aperture and to be alternately brought into alignment with the aperture for extension therethrough, to sequentially dispense an anesthetic to the selected biopsy site, and extract a biopsy sample from the biopsy site, without necessity for removal of the instrument from contact with the patient's skin.

Abstract: A neuromonitoring system utilizes transcutaneous, trans-abdominal nerve root stimulation to monitor the health and status of the motor neural pathways of the lower extremities during the portions of a surgical procedure in which a tissue retraction assembly is used to maintain an operative corridor. A method of monitoring the status of nerve during a spinal surgical procedure delivers a transcutaneous, trans-abdominal stimulation signal to the spine. A determination is made of a stimulation threshold required to elicit a neuromuscular response from the stimulation signal.

Abstract: Provided is a cutting biopsy instrument facilitating loading by minimizing a change in a grip on a biopsy instrument and enhancing tissue sampling accuracy and safety and simplifying collection of sampled tissue by proposing a new shift relation between an stylet and an cannula at the shooting of the needles.

Abstract: Embodiments of a compact portable nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) device are described which generally include a housing that provides a magnetic shield; an axisymmetric permanent magnet assembly in the housing and having a bore, a plurality of magnetic elements that together provide a well confined axisymmetric magnetization for generating a near-homogenous magnetic dipole field B0 directed along a longitudinal axis and providing a sample cavity for receiving a sample, and high magnetic permeability soft steel poles to improve field uniformity: a shimming assembly with coils disposed at the longitudinal axis for spatially correcting the near homogenous magnetic field B0; and a spectrometer having a control unit for measuring a metabolite in the sample by applying magnetic stimulus pulses to the sample, measuring free induction delay signals generated by an ensemble of hydrogen protons within the sample; and suppressing a water signal by using a dephasing gradient with frequency selective suppression.

Abstract: A charger for charging a plurality of pressure sensing catheters is provided. The charger has a plurality of charging ports of which a first charging port and a second charging port receives a first connector and a second connector respectively. The first and second connectors each have a first and second radiofrequency identification tags respectively, having information indicative of identifiable information of a first and second pressure sensing catheters respectively. The charger has a plurality of antennas, of which a first antenna and a second antenna can be positioned proximate to the first charging port, and second charging port respectively. When the first connector is inserted into the first charging port, the first radiofrequency identification tag is guided to a predetermined orientation with respect to the first antenna to minimize a spacing therebetween, and to maximize absorption of radiofrequency energy therebetween.

Abstract: Compressible heart valve annulus sizing templates suitable for minimally-invasive or otherwise reduced accessibility surgeries. The sizing templates may be folded, rolled, or otherwise compressed into a reduced configuration for passage through an access tube or other such access channel. Once expelled from the access tube the sizing templates expand to their original shape for use in sizing the annulus. The templates may be formed of an elastomeric polymer material such as silicone, a highly elastic metal such as NITINOL, or both. Grasping tabs or connectors for handles permit manipulation from outside the body. A NITINOL wireform may be compressed for passage through an access tube and expelled from the distal end thereof into a cloth cover to assume a sizer shape.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a body, an axial tube, a needle assembly, and a tissue sample holder. The body includes a proximal end. The axial tube extends proximally from the proximal end of the body. The axial tube includes at least one aperture. The needle assembly extends distally from the body and includes a needle and a cutter. The cutter is movable relative to the needle. The tissue sample holder is configured to removably couple to a proximal end of the body such that the axial tube is disposed within the tissue sample holder. At least a portion of the tissue sample holder is rotatable relative to the body such that the tissue sample holder is configured to rotate about the axial tube. The tissue sample holder is in fluid communication with the axial tube through the at least one aperture.

Abstract: A urine collection device 1 comprises a collector 2 to collect urine voided by a user, first and second outlets 3, 4 to allow urine to drain from the device, the first outlet 3 being adapted for connection to a receptacle 5 for a urine sample, and the second outlet 4 comprising an overflow outlet. A diverter device 6 is provided having first and second operative states, such that in a first state the diverter device 6 allows urine to flow through the first outlet 3 to the receptacle 5 for collection of a forestream sample, and in a second state the diverter device 6 prevents flow to the first outlet 3 and allows flow to the overflow outlet, the diverter device 6 being unable to return from the second state to the first state. The collector 2 is preferably a funnel 7 whose open lower end 11 forms one of the outlets, and also has the other outlet in the funnel wall.

Abstract: A tear collection device comprises: a body attached to an eyeball; a tear inlet for allowing tear to flow into the body; a storing space formed inside the body and capable of storing the tears having flowed into the body; and a pump forming a pressure difference inside the body such that tears flow into the body through the tear inlet, wherein the pump is driven by using, as power, eye blinking movements of a wearer so as to form the pressure difference inside the body, thereby allowing the tears to flow into the body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor applicator assembly for a continuous glucose monitoring system and provides a sensor applicator assembly for a continuous glucose monitoring system, which is manufactured with a sensor module assembled inside an applicator, thereby minimizing additional work by a user for attaching the sensor module to the body and allowing the sensor module to be attached to the body simply by operating the applicator, and thus can be used more conveniently. A battery is built in the sensor module and a separate transmitter is connected to the sensor module so as to receive power supply from the sensor module and be continuously used semi-permanently, thereby making the assembly economical. The sensor module and the applicator are used as disposables, thereby allowing accurate and safe use and convenient maintenance.

Abstract: A sensor probe has a sensor unit which is embedded in a sheath member which is suturable. The sheath member allows the sensor unit to be sutured and secured to any tissue even in a wet or moist environment. The sensor probe in accordance with the present invention is particularly useful as an intraoral sensor probe for measuring oxygen saturation of a flap tissue inside the oral cavity.

Abstract: A plug delivery system and method of use. The plug delivery device includes a support leg, a plunger, and an extractor. The support leg includes an internal receiving space configured to receive an implanted coaxial needle assembly through an opening in the distal end. The plunger extends at least partially through the internal receiving space of the support leg and has a longitudinally adjustable relation with respect to the support leg. The extractor is also configured to translate in a longitudinal direction with respect to the support leg and has a needle connection component configured to engage the coaxial needle assembly. The extractor can be moved distally in the longitudinal direction to engage the coaxial needle assembly and then moved distally to concurrently retract the coaxial needle assembly while the plunger remains relatively stationary to deploy the sealant plug residing in the coaxial needle assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to multi-segment intraluminal guide wires including an elongate distal portion comprising a first metallic material (e.g., nitinol), an elongate proximal portion comprising a second metallic material (e.g., stainless steel). The distal and proximal portions may be directly joined together end to end by a solid-state weld joint. A diameter of the weld region surrounding the weld joint on either side of the weld joint may be reduced (e.g., ground down) relative to the diameter of the distal and proximal portions of the guide wire on either side of the weld region. A stiffness adjusting sleeve may be disposed over the weld joint so that a transition profile of bending stiffness across the weld region is gradual, rather than abrupt across the distal portion of the guide wire to the proximal portion of the guide wire. A polymer jacket may cover the sleeve and distal portion.

Abstract: A support or holder for a biopsy device is disclosed. The support includes a holder section that grasps or otherwise supports the biopsy device, wherein the support may be configured with flexible support members that may be bent, flexed or articulated thereby allowing the practitioner to manipulate the support for re-positioning the biopsy device into a desired position where the biopsy device may then be actuated to acquire a tissue sample.