Abstract: A biopsy device comprises a needle, a body portion, and a needle firing assembly. The needle firing assembly is operable to fire the needle distally relative to the body portion. The needle firing assembly includes two translating members, a resilient member, and a motor. The motor is operable to selectively move the first translating member distally and proximally. The second translating member is secured relative to the needle such that the needle and the second translating member translate unitarily. The resilient member compresses as the first translating member is moved distally toward the second translating member. The first translating member is then secured to the second translating and the translating members are moved proximally while holding the resilient member in the compressed state. The second translating member is released from the first translating member when they reach a proximal position, which allows the resilient member to fire the needle distally.

Abstract: A surgical device is disclosed that comprises a cutting element, a biopsy line, a motor line, and a vacuum line. The cutting element includes an outer cannula and an inner cannula. The biopsy line is operatively connected to a control console for moving the inner cannula within the outer cannula to cut tissue cores. The motor line is operatively connected to the control console for operating the surgical device. The vacuum line is operatively connected to the inner cannula. A selectively openable tissue filter is operatively connected to the inner cannula, and is also connected to the vacuum line.

Abstract: A tissue-sampling tool is made in the form of a tube presenting an inside face of circular section and an outside face of circular section, the tube having a blunt distal end and at least one sampling orifice extending symmetrically relative to a transverse plane and to a longitudinal plane. The orifice is peripherally bordered by two transverse borders that are symmetrical relative to the transverse plane and that are connected to two longitudinal borders that are symmetrical relative to the longitudinal plane. Each transverse border possesses a cutting edge situated at the intersection between said borders and the inside face, each transverse border co-operating with the inside face to form a cutting angle lying in the range 6° to 18°. The longitudinal borders have a cup-shape relative to the transverse borders, with a profile in the longitudinal plane that is different from the profile of the transverse borders.

Abstract: A tissue sample holder for a biopsy device comprises an outer cup, a collection tray, and a flow restriction device. The outer cup defines a hollow interior. The collection tray separates the hollow interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber while allowing fluid to pass between the two chambers through an opening in the collection tray. The flow restriction device selectively seals the opening thereby preventing fluid from passing from the lower chamber into the upper chamber. The flow restriction device may be operable to selectively seal the opening in response to a vacuum being induced within the upper chamber. The collection tray may have a shape (e.g., tapered, funnel-shaped, convex, etc.) selected to facilitate the flow of fluid toward the opening. The lower chamber may be coupled with an external fluid collection device. The lower chamber may define a larger volume than the upper chamber.

Abstract: A tissue penetrating system has a housing member. A plurality of penetrating members are positioned in the housing member. A tissue stabilizing member is coupled to the housing. A penetrating member sensor is coupled to the plurality of penetrating members. The penetrating member sensor is configured to provide information relative to a depth of penetration of a penetrating member through a skin surface.

Abstract: Device (1) for measuring muscular capacity, comprising: removable fastening means (12) for fastening the device to the athlete or to the moved weight (3; 2); autonomous electrical power supply means (15); a display (11); a three-axis accelerometer (14) for delivering a sequence of accelerations (a(t)) along the axis of movement of the weight, said sequence comprising at least 100 measurements per second over a duration between 1 and 10 seconds; and data processing means (16) for determining, at the end of the test, on the basis of said sequence of accelerations, at least one quantity representative of the muscular capacity of the athlete and for displaying this quantity on said display (11).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for subjecting a patient to an slit lamp microscopy and/or Goldmann tonometry eye examination are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the patient is in a side-lying down position at a time of the examination. In some embodiments, it is possible to examine an upper and/or lower eye—for example, a lower eye slightly above a supporting surface. Related apparatus are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a bed and/or a headrest and/or a face immobilization assembly are disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hospital bed including a force sensor or scale apparatus configured to detect the weight of a patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pricking device (1) for taking a blood sample, comprising a movable holding device (10) for pricking means (5), a linear guide element (11) for guiding the movable holding device, means (12) for driving the movable holding device and a release device (31) for releasing the pricking movement (6) of the pricking means. When the release device has been manually actuated, the movable holding device can be moved in a translatory manner by the drive means. Said drive means comprise a curved path (20) in which the movable holding means is directly engaged, enabling the pricking device to have a particularly simple structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring distensibility of a vessel, lumen or sphincter includes a balloon catheter having a balloon located adjacent a distal end of a catheter for inserting in, for example, the sphincter, the distensibility of which is to be determined. The balloon is inflated to respective first and second pressures to distend the sphincter to respective first and second transverse cross-sectional areas which are measured. The first and second pressures are selected so that the relationship between the pressure and the cross-sectional area of the sphincter is linear. The distensibility of the sphincter is determined as a distensibility index, which is the value of c from the equation of a line y=mx+c containing the values of the first and second pressures and areas, where x represents pressure and y represents area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for interpreting vaginal measurement data by electronic means without the need for the user to take part in the data interpretation process. More specifically, an intelligent probe monitors folliculogenesis and correlates the ovarian function data to probe profile characteristics of the female reproductive cycle. A fertile window is defined with reference to the correlation between folliculogenesis and probe cyclic profiles.

Abstract: A device for collecting material from lung aerosols. The device functions by collecting aerosols from the lower airway separated from material in the by collecting air from the upper airway in a chamber that when full causes the remaining exhaled aerosols from the lungs to be captured by a filter. The filter collects sample of material from the separated lung aerosols.

Abstract: These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site that includes an electrically powered drive force generator. A penetrating member is operatively coupled to the force generator. The force generator moves the member along a path out of a housing having a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stops in the tissue site, and withdraws out of the tissue site. An analyte detecting member is positioned to receive fluid from a wound created by the penetrating member. The detection member is configured to determine a concentration of an analyte in the fluid using a sample of less than 1 ?L of the fluid. A user interface is configured to relay at least one of, penetrating member performance or a penetrating member setting.

Abstract: A biopsy driver assembly includes a biopsy driver housing. An electrical assembly is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. The electrical assembly includes at least one electrical drive configured for drivably engaging a biopsy probe assembly. A battery is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. A control circuit is coupled to the biopsy driver housing. The control circuit is electrically coupled to the battery and to the electrical assembly. The control circuit has a motion detector, a timer circuit and a battery dwell circuit. The control circuit is configured to conserve the battery by providing electrical power only to the motion detector after a predetermined time following a last detected physical movement of the biopsy driver assembly and to provide electrical power from the battery also to the electrical assembly when a physical movement of the biopsy driver assembly is detected.

Abstract: Methods and systems for medical home testing are described. In one embodiment, the device includes a case member, a plunger member, an accumulator member and a handle member. The case member has a first distal end portion and a first proximal end portion. The first distal end portion has a distal opening and the first proximal end portion has an aperture. The plunger member is sized and configured for sliding through the aperture. The plunger member has a second distal end portion configured to slide within the case member. The accumulator member is disposed in the case member adjacent the plunger member. The accumulator member is compressed by the case member and configured for sliding through the distal opening as the plunger slides through the aperture. The handle member is attached to the accumulator member and extends through the plunger member. Other methods and systems are also described.

Abstract: A dual-wings percutaneous needle has a sampling needle, an outer needle, a transverse position wing and a longitudinal position wing. The sampling needle has a length, a lower end and a needle head formed in the lower end of the sampling needle. The outer needle is hollow, is detachably mounted around the sampling needle and has a length shorter than the length of the sampling needle. The transverse position wing is lamellar, is stuck on the sampling needle or is stuck on the outer needle. The longitudinal position wing is lamellar, is stuck on the sampling needle adjacent to the transverse position wing and is perpendicular to the transverse position wing or is stuck on the outer needle adjacent to the transverse position wing and is perpendicular to the transverse position wing.

Abstract: Arrangements are provided including a base having a bore disposed therein extending from a first surface of the base through a second surface of the base, a fluid transport tube having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a lumen having an inner diameter, at least the second end of the tube being received within the bore of the base, and at least one fluid transport enhancing groove having at least a first section disposed in the second surface of the base and in fluid communication with the bore.

Abstract: A puncturing system includes a carrier tape carrying multiple lancets and having position marks, a housing comprising a conveying facility for positioning the lancets and a housing opening, a puncturing drive for accelerating a lancet positioned in a usage position, a storage medium for storing distance values that depend on distances between the lancets of the carrier tape and position marks allocated to the respective lancets, a sensor for detecting position marks in a detection position through which the position marks proceed upon motion of the carrier tape, and a control unit that controls the conveying facility. To position a lancet in the usage position, the control unit stops the conveying facility upon the carrier tape moving a positioning distance. The length of the positioning distance depends on the distance between the lancet to be positioned and the detected position mark and is determined by the control unit.

Abstract: A portable medical device is provided with an internal accelerometer device. The medical device includes a circuit board, the accelerometer device, and a response module coupled to the accelerometer device. The accelerometer device is mechanically and electrically coupled to the circuit board, and it includes a plurality of mass-supporting arms for a plurality of electrically distinct sensor electrodes, piezoelectric material for the mass-supporting arm, and a proof mass supported by the mass-supporting arms. Each of the mass-supporting arms has one of the sensor electrodes located thereon. Acceleration of the proof mass causes deflection of the piezoelectric material, which generates respective sensor signals at one or more of the sensor electrodes. The response module is configured to initiate an acceleration-dependent operation of the portable medical device in response to generated sensor signals present at the sensor electrodes.

Abstract: A system for measuring and converting to an observer intelligible form an internal physiological parameter of a patient. The invention allows transcutaneous telemetry of intracranial pressure via a system which includes a patient implanted sensor module and an external processing module, optically coupled to the sensor module via an external coupling module. A sensor within the sensor module transduces the measured pressure and a near infrared emitter transmits the telemetry when interrogated by the external coupling module. A set of tuned inductor-crystal circuits comprised in part of a cylindrical crystal oscillator whose resonant frequency is sensed by a dipper circuit arrangement is provided. Power for the sensor module is derived inductively through rectification of a transcutaneously-applied high-frequency alternating electromagnetic field generated within the external coupling module.