Abstract: The present invention reliably provides a lung protection function for an electrocautery device by unitizing an automatic bovie activation/inactivation unit. The lung protection unit utilizes a threshold calculated from the maximum and minimum airway pressure signal in a ventilator or an anesthesia machine to inactivate the bovie before the maximal lung expansion reaches the bovie during a thoracic surgery. Bovie is activated again as soon as the lung expansion level decreases to below the threshold level. This device is an attached optional unit or can be built into a standard electrocautery equipment.

Abstract: A method and system for examination of a subject positioned between input and detection ports of the spectroscopic system applied to the subject. The systems shown include at lease one light source for introducing at one or multiple input ports, electromagnetic non-ionizing radiation of a known time-varying pattern of photon density of a wavelength selected to be scattered and absorbed while migrating in the subject, radiation pattern control means for achieving a directional pattern of emitted resulting radiation that possesses substantial gradient of photon density, at least one detector for detecting the radiation that has migrated in the subject at one or multiple detection ports. The systems also include processing means for processing the detected radiation and creating sets of data, and evaluation means for examining the subject using the data sets. The emitted directional radiation pattern utilizes its gradient of photon density to detect a hidden object while scanning across the examined subject.

Abstract: A non-invasive system and procedure for deriving the blood gas content for a patient. The system measures the volume and carbon dioxide concentration of the expiratory breath and discerns breath volumetric rate and gas content. This data is then processed to derive arterial blood gas levels of carbon dioxide. The processing shifts from the time to the volume domain and iteratively assesses the significance of numerous variables. The resulting relationship provides a fast and accurate measure of blood gas content for both healthy and diseased lung patients.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus automatically detect alertness in humans by monitoring and analyzing brain wave signals. Steps include: acquiring the brain wave (EEG or MEG) data from the subject, digitizing the data, separating artifact data from raw data, and comparing trends in f-data to alertness indicators, providing notification of inadequate alertness.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and reporting medical information includes a stand-alone monitor for storing data records comprising measured values and time stamps and for transmitting the records to a remote reporting unit over a communication system. The remote reporting unit includes a relational data base that is updated when records are down-loaded from the monitor; a report generator for generating chronological graphs of the measured values for a particular patient; and a report transmitting unit for transmitting reports to a requesting health care provider.

Abstract: A tilt mechanism for use with an infant care apparatus such as an incubator to place and retain the infant care apparatus in a desired tilt angle. The tilt mechanism includes two sets of crossed links, each set forming an X between the links. One end of each link is rotatable affixed to a fixed base and the other end rotatably affixed to the infant care apparatus. A locking device is used that allows the infant apparatus to be manually moved by means of the crossed link sets to the desired angle and then locked into that position. With this mechanism, the entire infant apparatus is tilted rather than only some internal bed or infant platform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating artery stenoses in blood vessels incls providing an array of sensors on skin surface to acquire data for detecting, locating and analyzing energy emissions in three-dimensional objects. The array detects momentum transfer that exists in the object in the form of wave energy, and the detection is designed to occur on the surface of the object, thereby providing a non-intrusive method for locating artery stenoses, with localization of the artery stenoses being achieved through array signal processing by information detected on the surface of the skin with the plurality or array of sensors.

Abstract: An apnea detection device with a remote monitor comprising a transmitter housing having a first portion and a second portion. The second portion has an unbiased contracted orientation with the second portion proximally situated with respect to the first portion. The second portion also has a biased extended orientation with the second portion distally situated with respect to the first portion. Also included is a strap for allowing the securement of the housing to a chest of an infant thus allowing the housing to be repeatedly biased coincidently with the breathing of the infant. A detection mechanism is included with the transmitter housing for monitoring biasing of the second portion associated with the respiration of the infant. Further included is a transmitter unit situated within the interior space of the first portion of the housing and connected to a small battery and the detection mechanism.

Abstract: A method for recognizing and identifying emergency situations in an anesthesia system measures a plurality of variables associated with an anesthesia delivery, the measurement values of said measured variables are formed into pattern vectors characterizing the instantaneous states of the system, the system is trained prior to the actual measurement situation with a reference material comprising pattern vectors corresponding to actual situations, and on the basis of measured pattern vectors corresponding to actual situations, and on the basis of measured pattern vectors and trained material, the emergency situations are recognized and possibly identified. The reference material is trained to the system using self-organizing maps, and the pattern vectors formed from the measurement results are compared with weight vectors (m.sub.1) of the self-organizing map to recognize and identify the emergency situations.

Abstract: In a brain activity measuring apparatus, the reflected light from the brain surface is conducted by way of an objective lens and focusing lens and split into two beams by a beam splitter. The light beams are conducted through respective band-pass filters having different transmission wavelengths, and received by CCD cameras in which images are formed from the filtered light beams. The CCD cameras produce signals of the images, and a differential amplifier subtracts one image signal from the other thereby to remove a background noise component. The apparatus is free from noises caused by mechanical vibration, and the resulting differential signal exhibits the brain activity accurately.

Abstract: An implantable devices for the effective elimination of an arrhythmogenic site from the myocardium is presented. By inserting small biocompatible conductors and/or insulators into the heart tissue at the arrhythmogenic site, it is possible to effectively eliminate a portion of the tissue from the electric field and current paths within the heart. The device would act as an alternative to the standard techniques for the removal of tissue from the effective contribution to the hearts electrical action which require the destruction of tissue via energy transfer (RF, microwave, cryogenic, etc.). This device is a significant improvement in the state of the art in that it does not require tissue necrosis.In one preferred embodiment the device is a non conductive helix that is permanently implanted into the heart wall around the arrhythmogenic site.

Abstract: A medical diagnosis system includes an input such as a floppy disk drive or a keyboard for inputting data of test items obtained by doctor's consultation, physical examination, and/or test. A microprocessor unit (1) compares the input data with evaluation ranges to determine into which evaluation range the input data falls, (2) compares the evaluation range with condition groups each including one or more condition formulae, thereby generating an evaluation result of sickness or disorder, and (3) provides data of sickness or disorder including type, level, causes, and comments if the condition groups are satisfied, thereby preparing a list of evaluation results. In the event different evaluation results are obtained with respect to a sickness or disorder, the most serious evaluation result for such sickness or disorder is added to the list of evaluation results. An output such as a printer, floppy disk drive, or display monitor displays the evaluation results list in a sentence format.

Abstract: In the algometry management method and system, a computer apparatus is used to select points of a patient's body on which pain sensitivity pressure measurements have to be made, to determine a sequence of these selected points, and to indicate the selected points one by one to an operator according to the sequence. A pressure algometer is used by the operator to apply pressure to each point of the sequence indicated and to measure the pressure being applied when a patient's threshold of pain is reached, this pressure measurement constituting a pain sensitivity pressure measurement. The computer apparatus also receives the pain sensitivity pressure measurement from the algometer for each point of the sequence, and stores the received pain sensitivity pressure measurements in a file associated to the patient. The method and system also ask to the patient a subjective indication of the intensity of pain and degree of discomfort he felt upon application of pressure to each point of the patient's body.

Abstract: The method of treating the skin (2), in particular long-lasting depilation or hair regrowth treatment, involves inducing a high-frequency electromagnetic current through the skin by means of a conductive gel (3) loaded with treating product and applied to the skin at the desired location, the electromagnetic current causing the product to penetrate the pores of the skin. The apparatus comprises a handleable member (1) making contact with the skin (2) and having a non-conductive body (10, 12) provided with a rectangular contact surface (17) having a row of individual conductive points (15) for electromagnetic emission. Said points (15) are exposed through openings in the surface, preferably recessed with respect to the latter, to make contact with loaded conductive gel (3) applied to the skin. An electric circuit (26) supplies pure emissive high-frequency current to the emission points (15), which emit it through the gel (3).

Abstract: A maximum expiratory vital capacity maneuver is produced in an infant by a method which comprises the steps of1) inflating the lungs of an infant with air synchronously with natural tidal inspiration to a lung volume greater than that reached at end-tidal inspiration for a number of respiratory cycles until the infant's natural tidal breathing pauses;2) during the pause in breathing, rapidly inflating the infant's lungs to substantially total lung volume;3) immediately compressing the chest and abdomen of said infant to produce a maximum forced expiration.The data generated by measuring flow rates and volumes during this maneuver can be used to derive the conventional measurements of pulmonary function for such infants and provide an opportunity to compare those measurements with the corresponding measurements obtained for adults and older children who are capable of performing the maneuver voluntarily under instructions.

Abstract: An electrode for use in an electrosurgical procedure to improve snoring and OSAS. The procedure is based on the progressive enlargement of the airspace in the oropharynx to eliminate or reduce obstructions that can occur during sleep, by electrosurgical stripping of layers of the vibrating soft palate, the wide posterior tonsil pillars, and redundant posterior pharyngeal mucosa. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode is characterized by a bare active wire portion suspended between wire supports on an electrode shaft. The tissue stripping is effected with the bare wire, and the adjacent portions of the wire supports and electrode shaft are made insulating to prevent accidental burns to the patient and to allow the physician to use these insulated parts to help position and guide the active wire portion during the surgical procedure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laparoscopic insertion and application of a sheet like material (such as an adhesion barrier) and like products enables the laparoscopic surgeon to utilize large and full size sheets of Interceed (3".times.4") in abdominal (including pelvic) surgery. In laparoscopy surgery of the abdomen (including pelvis), all instrumentation and all surgical products must be introduced through "ports" consisting of valved sleeves or tubes. To properly and efficiently introduce and apply a large or full size sheet of sheet like material, the present invention provides a method and apparatus of grasping and furling the sheet and then unfurling, releasing and applying it after passage into the patient's abdominal cavity. The instrument consists of an operational grasping and furling portion which is rotated to furl the sheet like material. It is then "backloaded" or drawn into a tubular portion of the instrument, an inserter sheath for passage through the valved "port".