Abstract: Methods and devices for an optical assembly for a laser generator comprise: a laser source producing a first beam of light and an optical assembly. The optical assembly comprises a prism. The prism has a bottom surface configured to receive a first beam at an incoming angle of incidence relative to a first surface normal, and a hypotenuse surface configured to transmit, at an exit angle relative to a second surface normal, a second beam having a second aspect ratio. The optical assembly further comprises a plano-convex lens configured to transmit the second beam to a coupler. The coupler comprises a first coupling plane at a first distance from the plano-convex lens and a second coupling plane at a second distance from the plano-convex lens. The combination of the prism and the plano-convex lens is configured to change the beam divergence, so that the first coupling plane has a third aspect ratio and the second coupling plane has a fourth aspect ratio.

Abstract: A patient adapter for an eye laser apparatus comprises a first partial adapter unit, including a suction ring portion to be placed on an eye and affixed on the eye by means of suction force, the suction ring portion having a ring axis; and a second partial adapter unit formed separately from the first partial adapter unit, the second partial adapter unit being configured for releasable coupling to the eye laser apparatus and including an eye contact element for shaping the surface of the eye, wherein the two partial adapter units are held together mechanically in a module between a first relative position, in which the eye contact element has a first axial position with respect to the suction ring portion, and a second relative position, in which the eye contact element has a second axial position with respect to the suction ring portion.

Abstract: A powered surgical tool system capable of providing energization signals to plural powered surgical handpieces. The system includes a console to which at least one footswitch is attached. The footswitch can be mapped to control any one of the handpieces connected to the console. The console includes a display on which representations of the footswitch and handpieces connected to the console are presented. The representations of the handpieces are in different colors. When the footswitch is mapped to a specific handpiece, the representation of the footswitch is presented in the same color as the representation of the handpiece to which the footswitch is mapped. When plural footswitches are attached to the console, the representation of each footswitch is presented in a color corresponding to the color of the representation of the handpiece to which the footswitch is mapped.

Abstract: A method for modifying a refractive property of ocular tissue in an eye by creating at least one optically-modified gradient index (GRIN) layer in the corneal stroma and/or the crystalline by continuously scanning a continuous stream of laser pulses having a focal volume from a laser having a known average power along a continuous line having a smoothly changing refractive index within the tissue, and varying either or both of the scan speed and the laser average power during the scan. The method may further involve determining a desired vision correction adjustment, and determining a position, number, and design parameters of gradient index (GRIN) layers to be created within the ocular tissue to provide the desired vision correction.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to a handle mechanism that permits control of linear motion of a shaft secured within the handle via two different interfaces for actuating the linear motion. In some aspects, a rotational interface can allow for fine control linear positioning of the shaft, for example by allowing a user to rotate the rotational interface to extend or retract the shaft. In some aspects, a plunging interface can enable a faster linear motion, for example by implementing a biasing mechanism that releases to drive rapid linear motion.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser eye surgery comprises a laser module, which is equipped to emit pulsed, focused laser radiation of a variable pulse repetition rate, and a processor-based control unit, which is equipped to receive at least one user input pertaining to a selection of one of several predefined pulse repetition rates over a user input and to control the laser module in accordance with the selected pulse repetition rate. In certain specific embodiments, the user interface enables input of two user entries, each of which relates to a selection of one of several predefined pulse repetition rates. The control unit controls the laser module for a first phase of a laser treatment in accordance with one input, and for a second phase of the laser treatment, it controls the laser module in accordance with the other input.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for assessing swallowing motor function in a subject. The methods rely on obtaining intraluminal impedance and pressure measurements from the pharynx and/or esophagus of the subject during clearance of a bolus from the mouth and/or throat of the subject. The intraluminal impedance and pressure measurements are combined to derive a value for one or more pressure-flow variables in the pharynx and/or the esophagus of the subject. The value of the one or more pressure-flow variables is compared to a predetermined pharyngeal and/or esophageal reference value for the one or more pressure-flow variables in order to provide an assessment of swallowing motor function in the subject.

Abstract: A measurement device (14) includes a measuring unit (42) for obtaining health related parameters of a patient (12), and a body-coupled communication unit (40) for sending at least measurement results. An identification device (20), associated with the patient, includes a body-coupled communication unit (26) for receiving and sending out the measurement results. A gateway device (72) includes a body-coupled communication unit (78) for receiving patient's measurement results. Additionally, a hierarchical relational deployment model (100) facilitates grouping wireless devices in a healthcare environment into subgroups based on relationships between the devices, and a hierarchical key pre-distribution scheme (110) permits distribution of unique keying material for security domains of respective groups of devices, prior to deploying the devices in a healthcare network.

Abstract: The invention in at least one embodiment includes a method for determining the core body temperature of a person by setting an initial core body temperature with a processor; receiving a heart rate of the person with the processor; calculating a predicted core body temperature with the processor using an extended Kalman filter based on the heart rate and the initial core body temperature; and providing the predicted core body temperature. In another embodiment, a system for performing the method.

Abstract: A head assembly for a therapeutic device for providing light and heat to a user's skin includes a transparent cover member through which both light and heat are transmitted. The transparent cover member presents a comfortable flat surface at its exterior, and couples to a heating element that surrounds a plurality of visible light LEDs. The transparent cover member can include retaining features to assist in assembling the head assembly of the therapeutic device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a determination system, a corresponding determination method and a computer program for determining a sleep stage of a subject. The determination system comprises a cardiorespiratory signal providing unit (10), an actigraphy data providing unit (20), a first sleep stage determination unit (30) for determining the sleep stage based on a cardiorespiratory signal, and a second sleep stage determination unit (40) for determining the sleep stage based on actigraphy data. The first sleep stage determination unit (30) determines a sleep onset latency (SOL) of the subject. The sleep stage of the subject is determined using the first sleep stage determination unit (30) up to the SOL and the second sleep stage determination unit (40) after the SOL. The determination system and corresponding method allow for a more reliable determination of a sleep stage of subject, in particular improve the determination of the SOL of the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable device for determining a heart rate of a person, said portable device comprising: a heart rate measurement unit for measuring the heart rate of the person over time to generate a heart rate signal, a motion measurement unit for measuring the motion of a body part of the person over time to generate a motion signal, and a processing unit which is adapted to measure a signal quality of the heart rate signal, to calculate the heart rate based on the heart rate signal if said signal quality is above a predefined threshold, and to estimate the heart rate based on the motion signal if said signal quality is below said threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining one or more temperatures within a phototherapy blanket use or include one or more temperature sensors and a set of light sources to determine a temperature of a subject undergoing phototherapy within the phototherapy blanket and estimate a core temperature of the subject based on, at least, the temperature. The phototherapy blanket may include a thicker region having a higher thermal insulation than one or more other regions of the phototherapy blanket. By virtue of measuring the temperature at or near the thicker region, the uncertainty in the relation between a temperature and the subject's core temperature may be reduced, for more accurate temperature determination within the phototherapy blanket.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stimulating neural tissue are disclosed. An array of optically emissive pixels is configured to deliver light to the neural tissue of a subject. Individual pixels within the array can be addressed to selectively illuminate a portion of the neural tissue when a neurological event occurs. The system can also include an array of microelectrodes in electrical communication with the array of pixels and a power source. A biocompatible substrate can be used to support the microelectrodes pixels, and the power source. A microelectrode circuit and a pixel circuit can also be supported by the biocompatible substrate.

Abstract: A planning system for generating control data for a treatment device for eye surgery that creates at least two incision surfaces in the cornea using a laser apparatus is provided. The planning system includes a processor configured to specify the cornea incision surfaces based on data of a refractive correction, the cornea incision surfaces including an lenticule incision and a cap incision, at least one of the cap incision or the lenticule incision being irregularly shaped and having extensions to the surrounding tissue, and generate a control data record for the cornea incision surfaces for purposes of controlling the laser apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for use with a subject (30) is provided, including a memory, storing a set of computer instructions, the memory adapted to have stored therein an initial form of a multi-phase biorhythmic activity pattern and an indication of a desired form of the multi-phase biorhythmic activity pattern, wherein a ratio of durations of two phases in the desired form is different from a ratio of durations of the respective phases in the initial form, and wherein at least one phase of the multi-phase biorhythmic activity pattern corresponds to a respective phase of a multi-phase biorhythmic activity of the subject (30).

Abstract: A diagnostic tool 104 and method 300 are used to modify vascular age scoring systems using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) data. The resulting FMD-adjusted vascular age calculator can be used to diagnose a person's potential for developing cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: Methods and devices (e.g., for nerve modulation) may include at least one thermistor and a balloon having a balloon wall. In one or more embodiments, the medical device is configured and arranged to transfer heat to the medical device surroundings. In one or more embodiments, the at least one thermistor is a portion of a thermistor array disposed on the balloon wall, the thermistor array including a plurality of thermistors and operatively engaged with a source of electric current. In one or more embodiments, the device includes at least one flexible circuit mounted on the outer surface of the expandable balloon, the at least one flexible circuit including at least one temperature-sensing device that includes at least one thermistor, wherein at least a portion of a conductive layer is electronically coupled to the thermistor, with the proviso that no electrode is associated with the conductive layer.

Abstract: A laser system for modifying the index of refraction of an optical hydrogel material. The laser system comprises a computer program to determine the position and shape of refractive structures to be written into the optical hydrogel material to correct a patient's vision, and a focused laser that generates laser light having a wavelength of from 400 nm to 900 nm, and which operates with an average power of 10 mW to 1000 mW to produce a pulse energy from 0.05 nJ to 1000 nJ with a peak intensity at focus of greater than 1013 W/cm2. The refractive structures exhibit a change in the index of refraction of 0.01 to 0.06 in the optical hydrogel material.

Abstract: Apparatuses for detecting swallowing disorders and methods for using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the apparatuses include a disposable sensor base and a sensor that is received by the disposable sensor base. The sensor base includes a sensor interface having a predetermined cut-away shape and a directionally-keyed mating surface. The sensor includes a handle portion having a shape that corresponds to the predetermined shape of the sensor interface, a support portion configured to be received by the directionally-keyed mating surface when the sensor is inserted into the sensor interface, and electronics configured to collect data sensed by the sensor. The apparatuses of the present disclosure can be attached to a patient's neck to detect and/or diagnose swallowing disorders during a swallowing test.