Abstract: Methods and a palpation device. A subject pose determining method includes placing a subject onto a surface of a platform having a first radio-frequency transceiver and a second radio-frequency transceiver. The subject is a human being. A first radio-frequency transponder is placed onto an upper extremity of the subject. A second radio-frequency transponder is placed onto a lower extremity of the subject. A first signal is transmitted from the first transceiver to the first transponder, resulting in the first transponder sending a second signal. A third signal is transmitted from the second transceiver to the second transponder, resulting in the second transponder sending a fourth signal. The second signal is received by the first transceiver. The fourth signal is received by the second transceiver. A pose of the subject is determined based on receiving the second signal and the fourth signal. A palpation device and method are also included.

Abstract: In a control system for a lower limb prosthesis or orthosis, a plurality of sensors generate sensor signals representing kinematic measurements (21) relating to the movement of segments of a prosthesis or orthosis (e.g. a thigh segment and a shank segment). The sensor signals are applied in a comparison stage 22 to a plurality of comparison steps (K1, K2, K3) which produce binary outputs for feeding to a combining stage (23) in which a binary word (16) is produced, identifying a phase of limb motion. During a walking cycle, for instance, the binary word (16) changes, and the sequence of words represents a movement phase description which is used as the input for a prosthetic or orthotic movement controller.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for automated testing of a patient's hearing. The automated hearing test allows the patient to quickly and accurately test his own hearing. The patient is instructed and prompted for inputs and responses as needed. The patient and/or operator can select one or several tests to be performed, including air and bone conduction testing with masking, speech reception threshold, speech discrimination, tympanogram, acoustic reflex, and otoacoustic emissions testing. Stenger screening is automatically performed for some patients based on the difference in pure tone frequency air conduction thresholds. Multiple languages are supported. Data obtained from one test may be used for another test or another iteration of the same test to calculate masking levels. The automatic hearing test also detects and compensates for ambient noise in the test results. If a contingency occurs, the automated hearing test is configured to page the operator for assistance.

Abstract: A method determines the concentration of a substance in a subject's blood. The method includes measuring an interaction of at least one light beam with a portion of the subject's body. The method further includes calculating a value of an optically-measured parameter indicative of the interaction of the at least one light beam with the substance in the portion of the subject's body. The method further includes measuring values of one or more temperature-indicative parameters corresponding to a temperature of the portion of the subject's body. The method further includes accessing an empirical correlation of the optically-measured parameter and the one or more temperature-indicative parameters to concentrations of the substance in blood. The method further includes obtaining a concentration of the substance in the subject's blood using the empirical correlation. The concentration corresponds to the value of the optically-measured parameter and the values of the one or more temperature-indicative parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is related to providing sensing functions that are similar to “human touch” when located in a prosthetic device such as a BION microstimulator that is implanted in a patient. The apparatus includes a power circuit, a communication circuit, and a sensor circuit. The power circuit provides power to the communication circuit and the sensor circuit. The sensor cooperates with the communication circuit, which communicates to the brain. The sensor uses various techniques to detect changes in the environment for the surrounding tissue using criteria such as reflectivity, impedance, conductivity, return signal spectrum, return signal rate, and return signal phase to name a few. For example, the impedance observed by the sensor changes when: the skin tissue is deformed around the sensor, or when the skin is surrounded by water. The sensory information is interpreted by the brain as an analog of touch or feel.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for a water reserve index. The method includes determining a lean water fraction of tissue for at least one tissue site and determining skin thickness for the at least one tissue site. The lean water fraction and skin thickness are combined to produce a water reserve estimate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for measuring tissue temperature during thermal treatment of a body. More particularly, the present invention relates to a thermal probe comprising a plurality of thermal sensors operable to measure tissue temperatures during thermal treatments such as cryosurgery. Embodiments of the invention enable simultaneous measurements, using a single probe, of temperatures at a plurality of positions within body tissues. A preferred embodiment enables movement of sensors with respect to tissues while the probe is immobilized by being embedded in frozen tissue.

Abstract: A guide wire for magnetically navigating a medical device through in a subject's body comprising an elongate wire having a proximal and distal end, a portion adjacent the distal end that is more flexible than the more proximal portions of the elongate wire, and a first magnetically responsive element on the distal end of the elongate wire. The guide wire further comprises one or more magnetically responsive elements spaced apart from the first magnetically responsive element and disposed on the more flexible portion of the elongate wire. The guide wire provides for bending or deflecting the distal end of the stent, to provide easier navigation of the distal end of the guide wire and the stent through the vasculature of a subject body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use during a surgical procedure sealingly isolates a resected specimen to prevent contamination of surrounding tissue as the specimen is removed from the surgical site. The pouch is disposed at the distal end of an endoscope or trocar, and can be used to debulk and dimensionally alter the specimen for removal through a working channel.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate to various medical device components, including components that can be incorporated into robotic and/or in vivo medical devices. Certain embodiments include various actuation system embodiments, including fluid actuation systems, drive train actuation systems, and motorless actuation systems. Additional embodiments include a reversibly lockable tube that can provide access for a medical device to a patient's cavity and further provides a reversible rigidity or stability during operation of the device. Further embodiments include various operational components for medical devices, including medical device arm mechanisms that have both axial and rotational movement while maintaining a relatively compact structure. medical device winch components, medical device biopsy/stapler/clamp mechanisms, and medical device adjustable focus mechanisms.

Abstract: There is provided an in-vivo information acquisition apparatus capable of detecting high-accuracy in-vivo information substantially at the same time in a plurality of different examination sites in a body cavity and an in-vivo information acquisition apparatus system capable of introducing a plurality of in-vivo information acquisition apparatuses into a patient at the same time. The in-vivo information acquisition apparatus includes a specimen-collecting section for collecting a specimen at an examination site in a body cavity, a specimen-evaluating section for evaluating the specimen collected by the specimen-collecting section and outputting an evaluation result, a labeling section having identification information unique to the in-vivo information acquisition apparatus, a communication section for receiving a signal transmitted from the outside and for transmitting to the outside the evaluation result output by the specimen-evaluating section, and a power supply section for supplying electrical power.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of monitoring the hydration and/or nutrition status of a patient. According to the invention a method is provided to determine at least one of a mal-hydration component, an adipose tissue component and a lean tissue component of a patient comprising the steps of determining chemical or physical properties of the patient and deriving the at least one component on the basis of the determined chemical or physical properties of the patient and previously determined values of a mass or volume fraction of water in lean tissue and a mass or volume fraction of water in adipose tissue. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method according to the invention and to a computer program product to be used on such a device.

Abstract: A method may include collecting at least one analyte from within a body, ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body. A system may include a means for collecting at least one analyte from within a body, a means for ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and a means for receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body.

Abstract: A device comprises a needle, probe, holster, and tissue collection chamber. A motor simultaneously powers a vacuum pump, translates and rotates a cutter, and translates a plunger. The needle includes a piercing tip and an interior shelf that divides the needle into a cutter lumen and lateral lumen. The cutter and shelf include apertures configured to mince a portion of a tissue specimen that has been severed by the cutter and forced through the apertures by compressive force from the plunger as well as vacuum force. The apertures of the shelf and the apertures of the rotating cutter cooperate to shear the tissue being compressed by the plunger. The minced tissue is then transported to the tissue collection chamber under vacuum force with the assistance of a fluid flush. Collected minced tissue may then be further processed as desired for a given medical treatment or procedure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric field control device that can transmit a quasi-electrostatic field more efficiently. There is provided an electric field control device that applies electric fields to an electric field application subject, which includes a first electrode and a second electrode that generate the electric fields, a frame that is arranged around the first electrode and second electrode, and is connected to the first electrode and second electrode, an opening that is formed at one end of the frame, and an output unit that outputs a first signal to the first electrode, and outputs a second signal to the second electrode, wherein, when the electric fields are generated from the first electrode and second electrode, the output unit outputs the second signal to the second electrode so that the potential of the frame is not changed temporally and made constant.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing an integrated analyte sensor and data processing unit assembly is provided.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a composition of a human body having a plurality of body segments is disclosed. The method can include applying a current signal to a body. The method can further include simultaneously measuring a plurality of voltage signals from a plurality of measuring positions of the body during a predetermined period, and processing at least two of the plurality of voltage signals to determine a composition parameter of a body segment so as to assess or analyze composition of the body.

Abstract: Instruments, systems and methods are provided for performing submucosal medical procedures in a desired area of the digestive tract using endoscopy. Instruments include safe access needle injection instruments incorporating electrosurgical capability, a submucosal tunneling instrument, a submucosal dissection instrument, a mucosal resection device. Systems include a combination of one or more of such instruments with or without injectable agents. Embodiments of various methods for performing the procedures are also provided.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for separating and collecting one or more tissue specimens from a target site within a patient and flushing the specimen to remove blood, debris and the like before the specimen is removed from the biopsy device. The flow of flushing fluid to the tissue collector is preferably controlled to coincide with delivery of one or more specimens to the collecting tray or basket of the device or after the receipt of the specimen within the tissue collector to ensure that the fluid is applied to a fresh specimen. The tissue tray or basket within the tissue collector has an open or foraminous portion to facilitate removal of fluid, such as the applied fluid and blood, and other debris from the tissue specimens on the tray. Vacuum is provided within the tissue collector, preferably under the tray to remove fluid and debris from the collector interior.

Abstract: The measurement installation comprises a measurement computer system comprising: an identification system (19) that identifies a region of interest on a plane image; a pairing system (20) that determines on each plane image the two-dimensional coordinates of an anatomical point by searching for correlation between the region of interest and a corresponding zone on each other image; and a calculation unit (21) that determines the three-dimensional coordinates of the anatomical point of the individual in the measurement space on the basis of the two-dimensional coordinates and of a relationship obtained by calibration.