Abstract: An automatic medical monitor of the present invention comprises medical s sensors for collecting a time-ordered set of values representative of medical signs such as pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. The medical sign sensors are coupled to a medical sign data processor that forms statistics from the medical sign data and forms a modified Fast Initial Response (FIR) Shewhart cumulative sum and a variance cumulative sum to detect changes in health state. When a change in health state is detected, the medical sign data processor displays the statistics on a display and logs them on a printer.

Abstract: Methods, and apparatus used in the methods, for stimulating, and monitoring the exercise of, muscles near a body cavity by transmitting electrical energy between an electrical source or processor and the wall of the body cavity. A flexible airtight sheath with a resilient skeleton and outer conductive bands is collapsed by vacuum and inserted into the body cavity. Air is allowed to enter so that the skeleton expands the sheath and forces the conductive bands against the body cavity wall. The skeleton may be a foam member, internal ribs or a separate internal frame. The leads for conducting electrical energy to and from the bands may be embedded in the bands for a substantial portion of the band circumference, or the leads may be connected to the bands by piercing conductive mounds on the bands or by being joined to conductive straps on the bands.

Abstract: An apparatus for the non-invasive analysis of non-homogeneous samples is disclosed. The apparatus is particularly suited for analyzing biological samples having different constituents. An intensity modulated light beam is used to preferentially heat a selected constituent in the sample. This periodic heating will create thermal waves in the sample. A probe beam is directed to interact with the sample in the region which has been periodically heated. A phase synchronous detector is used to monitor the periodic changes in the probe beam caused by the thermal waves in the sample. In the preferred embodiment for monitoring blood glucose levels, the wavelength of the modulated light beam is selected to be absorbed in the hemoglobin of the red blood cells. The modulation frequency of the light beam is selected to set the thermal diffusion length of the thermal waves to permit interaction with the glucose molecules in the blood plasma.

Abstract: A blood gas monitoring system monitors blood gas from blood in a blood vessel. A blood probe is introduced into the blood vessel. The blood probe includes a probe body defining a probe chamber and a first gas permeable membrane coupled to a first end of the probe body. A sensor is provided proximate a second end of the probe chamber to sense a desired characteristic of the blood gas. Blood gas is allowed to diffuse across the first gas permeable membrane and into the probe chamber so that the blood gas in the probe chamber is substantially in equilibrium with the blood gas in the blood vessel. Once blood gas in the probe chamber has substantially equilibrated with the blood gas in the blood vessel, the desired characteristic of the blood gas is sensed.

Abstract: This invention provides apparatus for collecting parameter disturbance information from each connected apparatus which can disturb measuring vital signs, and broadcasting a message regarding the disturbance and a coordinating clock signal to all apparatus. Connected sensors susceptible to parameter disturbances identify them from the message and suppress their audible alarm during an interval given in the message. This eliminates false audible alarms caused by such disturbances. The disturbance interval can be extended for later disturbances unless it is a new source or disturbance type and the alarm is already suppressed. A brickwall timer limits the total maximum suppressed interval to a safe maximum. A recovery timer allows a sensor to recover from a parameter disturbance before responding to a subsequent one.

Abstract: A therapeutic device that provides light therapy in a sauna bed that has a hood that fits over the head of a person lying in a sauna bed. The hood has interior lights providing selected light intensity that simulates outdoor light at mid day and which directs and scatters the light in a manner substantially similar to the direction of light from natural sources onto the head of a user. A strobe light is also provided as well as selectable colored lights to permit the user to select a desired light regime.

Abstract: This invention is a method for ensuring for endovascular occlusion through the formation of thrombi in arteries, veins, aneurysms, vascular malformations, and arteriovenous fistulas. In particular, it deals with a method to predictably determine the instant of electrolytic detachment of an embolic device which is introduced to and is intended to remain at the desired thrombus formation site. The invention further includes a method for delivering an embolic device and detecting its electrolytic separation.

Abstract: Pulses detected by an earlobe sensor are inputted in a microcomputer, so that the number of pulses is stored every lapse of a prescribed time. The as-stored numbers of the pulses are so cumulated that an average pulse rate is calculated from the cumulative result. On the other hand, a pulse rate is calculated from the as-stored numbers of pulses, to calculate a consumed calorie. A display part indicates the cumulative result of the pulse rates, the consumed calorie and the like with a lapse time.

Abstract: A system and software is described for calculating, in real-time, the mixed venous partial pressure of oxygen in a patient. The system uses a computer, an arterial pressure line and a blood chemistry monitor to assist a physician with an on-line system for accurately determining when to give a patient a blood transfusion or otherwise alter the clinical management of that patient.

Abstract: A bipolar roller electrode has a non-conductive base upon which two electrical conductors are placed with a gap between the conductors. The electrode is provided with a blind hole at each end thereof for rotatably mounting it between a pair of arms. Each of the two conductors preferably extends into or forms a part of a respective blind hole. An electrocautery probe according to the invention includes a pair of electrically conductive arms between which the electrode is mounted with each of the arms entering one of the blind holes in the electrode. The arms are mechanically joined but electrically isolated and their proximal ends are individually coupled to a pair of electrode leads. A non-conductive or insulated mounting sleeve is preferably provided intermediate of the arms and the leads for slideably coupling the probe to a resectoscope. The distal end of each arm of the probe enters a respective blind hole in the roller electrode and makes electrical contact with a respective one of the two conductors.

Abstract: A method of assessing the cardiovascular performance of a subject, by: applying periodically, in synchronism with every n.sup.th heart cardiac cycle wherein "n" is at least two, external pressure pulsations on a peripheral organ of the subject sufficient to alter ventricular loading; acquiring data representative of the ventricular pressure, and data representative of the ventricular volume, of the subject's heart over a plurality of heart cardiac cycles; and utilizing such data for assessing the cardiovascular performance of the subject. Ventricular loading may be altered by impeding ventricular ejection (changing afterload), and/or by altering venous return to the heart (changing preload).

Abstract: An apparatus for transcutaneously transmitting power and communication signals to an implantable device. The apparatus can include generators for power and information signals; receivers; and a coupler for independently coupling the power signal and a first information signal. An internal unit can have receivers for power and information signals; a second signal generator; and an independent coupler. The first and second information signal can be transmitted at a frequency greater than the power frequency. The external unit can also include a signal conditioner for symmetrically transceiving the first and second information signals; and an external data controller for symmetrically controlling the information signals. The internal unit can also include a voltage regulator converter; an internal signal conditioner for symmetrically transceiving the information signals; and a data controller. Symmetrically controlling can include ASK modulation of a data signal upon an RF carrier signal.

Abstract: A system and method for fusing independent measures of the physiological parameter uses a Kalman filter for each possible combination of sensor measurements. The Kalman filter utilize probability density functions of a nominal error contamination model and a prediction error model as well as past estimates of the physiological parameter to produce the Kalman filter outputs. A confidence calculator uses Bayesian statistical analysis to determine a confidence level for each of the Kalman filter outputs, and selects a fused estimate for the physiological parameter based on the confidence level. The fused estimate and the confidence level are used to dynamically update the nominal error contamination model and prediction error model to create an adaptive measurement system. The confidence calculator also takes into account the probability of artifactual error contamination in any or all of the sensor measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating air way obstructions, includes a first arm including a proximal end and a distal end, the first arm distal end is inserted into the throat and positioned adjacent to a back surface of the tongue. A second arm has a proximal end and a distal end. The second arm is positioned under the jaw. A coupling member couples the first arm with the second arm, permitting rotational movement of each arm about a longitudinal axis of the coupling member. A plurality of RF electrodes are positioned in the first arm. The plurality of RF electrodes are advanced into the back of the tongue and retracted out of the tongue and into the first arm, ablating a selected area of the back of the tongue.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a memory for storing a characteristic pattern for each of a plurality of groups, a discriminant function defining part for selecting at random every combination of two groups of the plurality of groups stored in the memory and defining for every selected combination of two groups a two-group linear discriminant function which provides an optimal borderline bisecting the combination of two groups, a two-group discrimination result calculation part for calculating a two-group discrimination result to which a given sample is attributed for every combination of two groups using the two-group linear discriminant function defined by the discriminant function defining part, a support degree determination part for determining a support degree of the two-group discrimination result obtained by the two-group discrimination result calculation part for every combination of two-groups, and an attribution degree calculation part for calculating attribution degrees indicating to what extent the test d

Abstract: An indicator device for verifying the correct placement of an endotracheal tube within an intubated patient's airway and for detecting the presence of a collapsed lung in an intubated patient. The device has an open proximal end and open distal end and an air conducting lumen therebetween. The distal end is attached to the non-invasive end of an endotracheal tube. The proximal end is attached to a ventilating apparatus or "ambubug." A vibrating element mounted within the device produces an audible vibration either actively in response to an electrical driver, or passively in response to air flowing through the device. As the ambubag is squeezed, air is forced through the air conducting lumen and into the intubated patient's airway. An audible sound produced by the vibrating element is mechanically coupled into the air conducting lumen and conducted through the patient's airway.

Abstract: A blood gas monitoring system monitors blood gas from blood in a blood vessel. A blood probe is introduced into the blood vessel. The blood probe includes a probe body defining a probe chamber and a first gas permeable membrane coupled to a first end of the probe body. A sensor is provided proximate a second end of the probe chamber to sense a desired characteristic of the blood gas. Blood gas is allowed to diffuse across the first gas permeable membrane and into the probe chamber so that the blood gas in the probe chamber is substantially in equilibrium with the blood gas in the blood vessel. Once blood gas in the probe chamber has substantially equilibrated with the blood gas in the blood vessel, the desired characteristic of the blood gas is sensed.

Abstract: A control unit of a measuring apparatus controls a sound driving circuit to make a sounding unit generate pitch sounds at a predetermined pace for three minutes. After generation of the pitch sounds for three minutes, a heart rate sensor measures a heart rate of an exerciser who has executed an exercise in synchronism with the generated pitch sounds, and the measured heart rate is stored in RAM. Further, the control unit controls the sounding unit to generate pitch sounds at a different pace for another three minutes, and a heart rate of the exerciser is measured and stored similarly. Based on the measured heart rates and personal data such as an age of the exerciser input through a key input unit, a level of objective physical strength of the exerciser is calculated and displayed on a display device. In other words, physical strength of the exerciser is objectively evaluated based on physical data such as a heart rate that varies when the exerciser performs the exercise.

Abstract: In a process and devices or continuously measuring the concentration of an analyte in tissue. The tissue is provided with a hollow fiber having a pore size between the size of the analyte and the size of macromolecules, hollow fiber is perfused with a solution compatible with the tissue, and that solution is supplied from the hollow fiber through a reactor for the analyte. The reactor has a second hollow fiber having a pore size between the size of the analyte and the size of macromolecules, and the second hollow fiber is located in a container which contains macromolecular reactants for detecting the analyte and a signal producing system coupled therewith. The perfusion fluid is fed from the reactor to an eliminator for the analyte, whereby at least 95% of the remaining analyte is removed from the perfusion fluid and the perfusion fluid is reintroduced into said first hollow fiber.

Abstract: In a medical procedure to treat a patient in a deep coma, an electrode is implanted on the vagus nerve (tenth cranial nerve) in the patient's neck. A selected pulse train is generated and applied to the electrode as a treatment for the deep coma. The patient's brain waves are collected, amplified and digitized before, during and after the treatment, and compared, using a computer system, against a reference (the patient or/and a normal group) to determine if the treatment is helping the patient.