Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide devices and systems to monitor fullness of a patient's bladder. One embodiment of a bladder fullness (BF) measure system comprises a sensor device (SD) and a controller. The SD generates an output signal (OS) based on the force exerted by the bladder against SD the wherein the OS corresponds to a degree of BF. The SD may be attached to the bladder wall or adjoining tissue and positioned between the bladder and the pubic bone such that the SD is not affected by tissues force other than that from the bladder. The controller connects to the SD and causes an associated implant to perform a function when the SD output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold. Embodiments are particularly useful for providing information on BF to patients suffering from spinal injury or other conditions whereby they have lost the ability to sense BF and/or voluntarily urinate.

Abstract: Methods and devices for performing minimally invasive procedures useful for Fallopian tube diagnostics are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the proximal os of the Fallopian tube is accessed via an intrauterine approach; an introducer catheter is advanced to cannulate and form a fluid tight seal with the proximal os of the Fallopian tube; a second catheter inside the introducer catheter is provided to track the length of the Fallopian tube and out into the abdominal cavity; a balloon at the end of the second catheter is inflated and the second catheter is retracted until the balloon seals the distal os of the Fallopian tube; irrigation is performed substantially over the length of the Fallopian tube; and the irrigation fluid is recovered for cytology or cell analysis.

Abstract: A rotation monitoring system may be attached to a limb and can identify ranges of motion that are associated with injuries or poor performance. In some embodiments, the device is designed to monitor flexion and orientation of joints and limbs, developed specifically around identifying stress concentrating behavior on the ACL. Tests performed show that the designed device can read flexion and orientation of the knee, is durable enough to be used in real-world conditions, and does not impede on the subject's movements.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring body kinematics. A wearable coil configuration of the system comprises at least first and second electrically-conductive coils adapted to be secured to a subject in a predetermined spatial relationship and orientation relative to one another. The first coil acts as a first transmitter and generates a first magnetic flux when a first electrical current is passed through it. The second coil acts as a receiver. The first magnetic flux induces a first electrical current or voltage in the second coil. A measurement instrument of the system is configured to measure the first electrical current or voltage and to output a first measurement signal. A processor, which may be part of, or external to, the system is configured to execute a motion monitoring algorithm that processes at least the measurement signal to determine at least a first motion made by the subject.

Abstract: A biological information measuring apparatus includes a detector, a measuring unit, a calculator, and a determining unit. The detector detects pulse waves continuously. The measuring unit measures first biological information. The calculator calculates second biological information from the pulse waves based on the first biological information. The measuring unit suspends the measurement and resumes the measurement after a lapse of a period in a case where the determining unit does not determine that the result of measurement is normal, and the measuring unit continues the measurement in other cases where the body motion is not generated, the pulse waves are not irregular or the blood pressure value fails to vary.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program is described comprising: varying a magnetic field strength of a magnetic field applied to a subject; determining a rate of power loss of the magnetic field, wherein the rate of power loss is a function of the varying magnetic field strength; and providing an output signal based on the determined rate of power loss, wherein the output signal comprises information relating to a conductivity distribution of the subject.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a body, a needle, a hollow cutter, and a tissue sample holder. The needle extends distally from the body and includes a lateral aperture. The cutter is movable relative to the needle to sever a tissue sample and defines a cutter lumen. The tissue sample holder includes a manifold and an outer cover. The manifold includes a plurality of passages and an indexing portion. Each passage of the plurality of passages is configured to selectively index relative to a proximal end of the hollow cutter. The outer cover includes a resilient member. The resilient member is configured to engage with the indexing portion of the manifold to selectively index a passage of the plurality of passages with the distal end of the hollow cutter.

Abstract: Methods, systems and wearable devices for real-time mental stress assessment are provided. The methods and systems employ deep learning using a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) gating mechanism in a recurrent neural network with a sliding window approach applied to raw EEG data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for non-invasively measuring blood glucose levels in a biological sample based on spectral data. This includes utilizing at least one light source configured to strike a target area of a sample, utilizing at least one light filter positioned to receive light transmitted through the target area of the sample from the at least one light source, utilizing at least one light detector positioned to receive light from the at least one light source and filtered by the at least one light filter, and to generate an output signal, having a time dependent current, which is indicative of the power of light detected, receiving the output signal from the at least one light detector with a processor, calculating the attenuance attributable to blood with a ratio factor based on the received output signal, and determining a blood glucose level based on the calculated attenuance.

Abstract: A core needle biopsy device includes a body, a needle assembly and a drive assembly. The needle assembly extends distally from the body and includes a hollow piercer and a hollow cutter. The piercer is disposed within the cutter. The cutter includes a distal tip and a swaged portion proximate the distal tip. The drive assembly is configured to selectively cock and fire the piercer and the cutter.

Abstract: A system and method for rehabilitation and recovery using adaptive surface electromyographic sensing and visualization is disclosed. The system uses surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors to identify signals of intent from patients with physical disabilities and then uses these signals to interact with a computer system designed to create repetitive practice in a manner that promotes neurological recovery. A machine teaming module analyses body signals picked up during patient movement attempts and converts these body signals to a visual representation of the intended movement by way of a virtual body or virtual body part displayed on a computer display, display glasses, or the like. The system thus allows for very early patient therapy, providing early benefits to rehabilitation therapy not heretofore possible. The virtual reality or augmented reality environment provides a patient with very early visual reinforcement of beneficial muscle activation patterns.

Abstract: A physiological characteristic monitoring system includes a physiological characteristic sensor that observes a physiological characteristic and generates sensor signals based on the observation. The physiological characteristic sensor includes a sensor connector. The physiological characteristic monitoring system includes a wearable device to be worn by a user in a first configuration and having a connector to couple to the sensor connector in a second configuration. The wearable device includes a controller that receives the sensor signals from the physiological characteristic sensor in the second configuration and determines a current value of the physiological characteristic based on the sensor signals.

Abstract: A removable smartphone case is disclosed. The removable smartphone case includes a case body configured to receive a smartphone, a radio frequency (RF) front-end connected to the case body and including a semiconductor substrate, at least one transmit antenna configured to transmit radio waves below the skin surface of a person, and a two-dimensional array of receive antennas configured to receive radio waves, the received radio waves including a reflected portion of the transmitted radio waves, wherein the semiconductor substrate includes circuits configured to generate signals in response to the received radio waves, a digital baseband system configured to generate digital data in response to the signals, wherein the digital data is indicative of a health parameter of the person, and a communications interface configured to transmit the digital data generated by the semiconductor substrate from the removable smartphone case.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for in-situ and instantaneous measurement of a pressure gradient by real-time localized pressure measurement with two or more pressure sensors, operating with respect to blood pressure gradient across the aortic valve, or other heart valves, and associated regurgitation of blood flow due to leakage resulting from insufficient valve closure. The system includes a multi-sensor catheter, with sensors arranged along the length of the distal segment of the catheter body, spaced apart to provide simultaneous pressure measurement on either side of the valves of the heart, in addition to one or more lumina in the core of the catheter that will provide a path for introduction of diagnostic fluids which flow out through a multitude of holes in the body of the distal segment of the catheter body.

Abstract: A puncture apparatus includes: a needle member having a tubular shape and comprising a flexible portion that is deformable; and a puncture assisting member that is movable or deformable in an axial direction of the needle member between: a restricting position in which the puncture assisting member is located outside the flexible portion of the needle member in a radial direction of the needle member, and thereby restricts deformation of the flexible portion, and a permissive position in which the puncture assisting member is not located outside the flexible portion in the radial direction, and thereby permits deformation of the flexible portion. The puncture assisting member is configured to move or deform from the restricting position to the permissive position in conjunction with an operation of inserting the flexible portion into a living body at a time of puncturing the living body with the needle member.

Abstract: A blood collection tube for physically separating the plasma and red blood cell fractions of a centrifuged sample is described. The blood collection tube has an elastomeric sleeve with rigid tube segments at both ends. Following blood collection and centrifugation, the elastomeric sleeve may be twisted to constrict its inner diameter and physically separate the two fractions. The blood collection tube may be secured in this position with a pin and a clamp, and further with an adhesive tape with pH paper. This enables blood samples to be transferred over long distances to a central lab facility without spoiling.

Abstract: A blood glucose monitoring and controlling system includes a detecting device and a liquid supplying device. The detecting device includes a first microneedle patch, a liquid pumping actuator, a sensor and a monitoring and controlling chip. The liquid supplying device includes a second microneedle patch, a liquid supplying actuator, a liquid supplying chamber and a liquid supplying and controlling chip. The detecting device is used to measure the blood glucose level of the user, and the liquid supplying device is used to supply insulin liquid. While the detecting device measures that the blood glucose level of the user is abnormal, the liquid supplying device is actuated to inject the insulin liquid into the user's body, thereby stabilizing the user's blood glucose level constantly.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system for measurement and analysis of blood pressure of a test subject comprising a blood pressure measuring cuff unit; a waveform analysis subsystem coupled to said blood pressure measuring cuff unit via a network; and wherein said cuff unit acquires a digital pulse pressure waveform from a wrist of the test subject, said digital pulse pressure waveform is transmitted over said network to said waveform analysis subsystem, and said waveform analysis subsystem processes said digital pulse pressure waveform to extract one or more blood pressure parameters and hemodynamic parameters.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device for in vivo tissue evaluation includes an elongated manipulator including an elongated proximal tube and an articulable distal portion, and a sensor provided at a distal end of the articulable distal portion, the sensor including a sensor head configured to be pressed against tissue and measure a reaction force of the tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting worsening cardiac conditions such as worsening heart failure events are described. A system may include sensor circuits to sense physiological signals and signal processors to generate from the physiological signals first and second signal metrics. The system may include a risk stratifier circuit to produce a cardiac risk indication. The system may use at least the first signal metric to generate a primary detection indication, and use at least the second signal metric and the risk indication to generate a secondary detection indication. The risk indication may be used to modulate the second signal metric. A detector circuit may detect the worsening cardiac event using the primary and secondary detection indications.