Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electronic sphygmomanometer for determining a blood pressure depending on variation in pulse wave amplitude variation waveform and cuff pressure formed by variation in the amplitude of the pulse wave, comprising: detecting the pulse wave amplitude and cuff pressure when the pulse wave exceeds a first threshold to define a first threshold; detecting the pulse wave amplitude and cuff pressure when the pulse wave exceeds a second cuff pressure to define a second point; and then, calculating a pulse wave amplitude linear equation for connecting the first and the second points to obtain a systolic blood pressure value. According to the invention, the electronic sphygmomanometer is capable of precisely measuring a blood pressure even if dispersion occurs in pulse wave amplitude depending on how to mount the cuff or even if there is certain distortion in pulse wave depending on the physical conditions of a subject.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for non-invasively monitoring a subject's blood pressure, in which a pressure sensor assembly that includes a pressure transducer is compressed against tissue overlying an artery, with sufficient force to compress the artery. A motor first servo control system optimizes the amount of artery compression, which occurs at a mean transmural pressure of about zero, by modulating one side of a lever arm compressing the assembly against the tissue, creating a pressure signal indicative of transmural pressure. Since different pressure effects are realized according to the amount of artery compression, an appropriate control signal can be produced that provides for a second motor to adjust the other side of the lever arm to provide the optimum compression of the assembly into the tissue overlying the artery. The apparatus is optimally positioned over an artery by including an ultrasonic blood flow sensor configured to sense the flow of blood under the pressure transducer.

Abstract: A method for monitoring changes in the level of an osmotically active component, such as for instance glucose, or in healthy humans, such as athletes for monitoring the level of lactic acid in the muscles is described. The key feature of the method is that the osmotic movement back and forth over a membrane is used to activate a sensing device, whereby the physical changes that take place in the fluid may be recorded by a receiver situated outside the body. A device for carrying out said method is likewise described.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided to treat atherosclerosis wherein the artery is partially closed by dilating the artery while preserving the vital and sensitive endothelial layer thereof. Microwave energy having a frequency from 3 GHz to 300 GHz is propagated into the arterial wall to produce a desired temperature profile therein at tissue depths sufficient for thermally necrosing connective tissue and softening fatty and waxy plaque while limiting heating of surrounding tissues including the endothelial layer and/or other healthy tissue, organs, and blood. The heating period for raising the temperature a potentially desired amount about 20° C., within the atherosclerotic lesion may be less than about one second. In one embodiment of the invention, a radically beveled waveguide antenna is used to deliver microwave energy at frequencies from 25 GHz or 30 GHz to about 300 GHz and is focused towards a particular radial sector of the artery.

Abstract: A device for the noninvasive blood pressure measurement with a cuff and with a corresponding control and evaluating circuit. The device provides improvements in terms of the signal resolution. On the one hand, the cuff (1) is connected via a pressure sensor with pressure transducer (4) to a downstream amplifier (5), which is preferably designed as an operational amplifier, and to an analog-digital converter (6) arranged directly downstream of the amplifier (5) with the computing and control unit (2). On the other hand, the computing and control unit (2) is connected to the cuff (1) via an electronically driven pressure transducer (3).

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical signal monitoring system and method for displaying physiological signals of different types and modalities in different formats on a single system. Physiological signals, e.g., electrical physiological signals from electrodes attached to a subject, are provided to the system. The raw wide band physiological signals may be recorded on disk, and may be processed multiple times to display desired signals of interest. The parameters used to process the signals to be displayed are selectable by an operator employing a user interface. The user interface allows an operator to define a set of panels in which one or more signals will be displayed. The type of panel selected to display the signal determines the basic format of the signal to be displayed, e.g., various types of waveforms. A signal to be displayed in a panel is defined by selecting, for example, the signals from two electrodes attached to a subject from which a montaged pair signal to be displayed is derived.

Abstract: A weight-bearing apparatus such as a cushion, prosthetic device, or bed mattress includes a support surface having a shaped or sculpted portion that conforms to the shape of a body portion being supported. The shaped portion fits to the body portion, thereby to position the body portion so as to situate one or more weight-bearing parts of the body portion over specific zones of the support surface that are cooled below normal body temperature. The reduced temperature applied to the zones of the support surface removes heat from the weight-bearing areas, thereby reducing the risk of injury to tissue in those areas.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for measuring skin blood flow includes apparatus (12) for applying a predetermined temperature gradient to a portion of skin, thereby to change the temperature thereat from a first temperature to a second temperature; a single temperature sensing element (14) for measuring a temperature at a selected location near the portion of skin; a control apparatus (20) for operating the apparatus (12) for applying a predetermined temperature gradient, and further for operating the temperature sensing element (14) in first and second operative modes; in the first mode the temperature sensing element (14) measuring a first reference temperature at the selected location, and in the second mode the temperature sensing element (14) being operable to measure a second temperature at the selected location; wherein the second mode, the control apparatus (20) operates the apparatus (12) for applying a predetermined temperature gradient so as to maintain the predetermined gradient between the first and second tempe

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided to treat atherosclerosis wherein the artery is partially closed by dilating the artery while preserving the vital and sensitive endothelial layer thereof. Microwave energy having a frequency from 3 GHz to 300 GHz is propagated into the arterial wall to produce a desired temperature profile therein at tissue depths sufficient for thermally necrosing connective tissue and softening fatty and waxy plaque while limiting heating of surrounding tissues including the endothelial layer and/or other healthy tissue, organs, and blood. The heating period for raising the temperature a potentially desired amount, about 20° C. within the atherosclerotic lesion may be less than about one second. In one embodiment of the invention, a radically beveled waveguide antenna is used to deliver microwave energy at frequencies from 25 GHz or 30 GHz to about 300 GHz and is focused towards a particular radial sector of the artery.

Abstract: The alkane profile, comprising the alveolar gradients of n-alkanes in breath having 4 to 20 carbons, is determined for the diagnosis of disease in mammals, including humans.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting pulse waves and motion intensity of a living body in motion is disclosed. The apparatus has photosensors of the photo-coupler type for wavelengths of 660 nm and 940 nm, respectively. The sensors are attached to a person under examination, and provide output signals which include a blood pulse signal as well as body motion components superimposed on the blood pulse signal. These signals are subjected to the Fourier transformation in a fast Fourier transformation circuit, and then applied to a comparator which in turn compares amplitudes of major frequency components (components associated with pulse waves and body motion) to one another. According to the comparison result, a decision circuit discriminates the pulse wave from the body motion. A display unit displays the pulse rate corresponding to the fundamental frequency of the detected pulse wave. The display unit also displays the change in motion intensity detected by the decision circuit.

Abstract: A finger holder for attaching to the patient's finger and an optical measurement device utilizing the finger holder for performing non-invasive measurements of blood-related signals are presented. The finger holder comprises a measuring unit located at a first location of the finger and a pressurizing assembly capable of applying desired over-systolic pressure to a second location on the patient's finger upstream of the first location with respect to a normal blood flow direction. The measuring unit is supported on a clip member that secures the fingertip between the clip's legs. A substantially rigid connector connects the clip member and the pressurizing assembly, wherein the connector engages the finger along its middle phalanx and proximal intephalangeal joint, thereby preventing it from folding during the measurements.

Abstract: A sizing catheter and method of measuring a preselected internal opening within a patient to provide a rapid and precise determination of first and second stretched diameters of the preselected internal opening. The sizing catheter includes a dilation balloon constructed of a thin expandable plastic, which is inflatable and is utilized to determine a size of the preselected opening. The dilation balloon is inflated to an inflation threshold wherein the dilation balloon deforms about the preselected opening and the size of the dilation balloon adjacent the preselected opening approximates the first stretched diameter of the preselected opening. The sizing catheter and method may be utilized to determine an appropriate sized device to be positioned within the preselected opening.

Abstract: A potentiometric method for determining low concentration of an analyte of interest present in a fluid sample in a concentration optionally below its linear range of detection in a presence of at least one interfering substance of known concentration the method is effected by following the steps of (a) adding to the sample a predetermined amount of the analyte of interest, such that a total concentration of the analyte of interest present in the sample is within the linear range of its detection; (b) providing an analyte selective electrode being selective to the analyte of interest and a reference electrode both electrodes being equilibrated with a solution including the at least one interfering substance in concentration similar to said known concentration; (c) contacting the analyte selective electrode and the reference electrode with the sample; (d) measuring a signal representative of a potential drop between the analyte selective electrode and the reference electrode; and (e) using the signal for determ

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical sensor system for measuring analyte concentrations in a fluid sample. The invention is particularly useful for measuring analytes such as glucose in a patient. An implantable glucose sensor includes a disc-shaped sensor body containing multiple anodes on opposing sides of the sensor body. Electrodes including an anode and a cathode are connected to a transmitter which transmits radio signals to an external receiver and computer where data is processed to yield glucose concentration figures. An enzyme layer coating the anodes specifically reacts with glucose to increase signals generated by the anodes in response to the presence of glucose. In an alternate embodiment, some of the anodes are coated with the enzyme to generate a first signal, and other anodes that are not coated generate a second signal for comparison with the first signal to eliminate effects of interfering substances on the accuracy of the glucose measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a human or animal body, while selectively cooling weight-bearing areas of the body in order to prevent or reduce damage from ischemia includes a cooling layer that is partitioned into a plurality of zones, and a surface disposed over the cooling layer to support the body. Each zone of the cooling layer is disposed for cooling a respective portion of the surface. Means are provided to selectively operate one or more zones of the plurality of the zones to cool a portion of the surface that receives pressure from a weight-bearing surface of the body being supported.

Abstract: A signal processor which acquires a first signal, including a first desired signal portion and a first undesired signal portion, and a second signal, including a second desired signal portion and a second undesired signal portion, wherein the first and second desired signal portions are correlated. The signals may be acquired by propagating energy through a sodium and measuring an attenuated signal after transmission or reflection. Alternatively, the signals may be acquired by measuring energy generated by the medium. A processor of the present invention generates a noise reference signal which is a combination of only the undesired signal portions and is correlated to both the first and second undesired signal portions. The noise reference signal is then used to remove the undesired portion of each of the first and second measured signals via an adaptive noise canceler, preferably of the joint process estimator type.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable diaper that has one or more chemical reagents provided in the absorbent region of the diaper, which comes into contact with urine when a patient wearing the diaper urinates. These chemical reagents change color when they contact urine containing abnormal levels of substances, such as leukocytes, blood, glucose, nitrites, protein, ketones, bilirubin, or urobilinogen; which substances may indicate the presence of a medical abnormality. Such a color change provides a visible indication of an abnormality in the urine and thus a possible incipient medical condition, such as a urinary tract infection, diabetes mellitus, hematuria, or the like. Such a color change is easily assessed by personnel having limited medical training, allowing such personnel to screen patients for these medical conditions and refer them to the appropriate medical personnel.

Abstract: A blood-pressure monitoring apparatus including a measuring device which includes an inflatable cuff adapted to apply a pressing pressure to a first body portion of a living subject and which measures a blood-pressure value of the living subject by changing the pressing pressure of the inflatable cuff, a blood-pressure-relating-information obtaining device which iteratively obtains a piece of blood-pressure-relating information which changes in relation to a change of the blood pressure of the living subject, a starting device for starting, when the obtained blood-pressure-relating information satisfies a predetermined condition with respect to at least one reference value, a blood-pressure measurement of the measuring device, and a display device which displays a first graphical representation of the obtained blood-pressure-relating information, and a second graphical representation of the reference value, so that the first graphical representation can be compared with the second graphical representation by

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and devices for detection, localization and characterization of occlusions, aneurysms, dissections stent position, dissections stent mal-position, wall characteristics and vascular bed. The invention is based on introducing an artificial pressure or flow excitation signal (a single signal or more) into the blood vessel (or in other tubular flowing fluid conduits), measurement and analysis of the pressure and or flow. The invention discloses a method and devices for detection and characterization of partial or total occlusion or aneurysm in blood vessels or in other tubular flowing fluid conduits within a body, such as urine flow in the urethra.