Abstract: Microfluidic systems are configured to process liquid samples that include cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), such as raw follicular fluid, in an automated and continuous manner to produce oocytes separate or “denuded” from surrounding cumulus cells. The systems include a substrate and a channel that can have two or more sub-channels. Each channel includes an inlet, an outlet, and one or more stages arranged in series. Each of the stages includes one or more expansion units and one or more constriction units. At least one stage includes constriction units having jagged internal surfaces, e.g., teeth, that help remove the cumulus cells from the COCs.

Abstract: A sleep inducing device is disclosed. The sleep inducing device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a sound output part for outputting a sound; a sensing part for acquiring a respiration signal of a user; and a processor which acquires a respiration frequency of the user on the basis of the respiration signal, determines a characteristic frequency of a respiration conforming sound on the basis of the respiration frequency, and outputs the respiration confirming sound according to the characteristic frequency.

Abstract: Described herein are high-power pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) applicator systems. The systems can comprise a base housing including a controller configured to generate a low-power control signal and one or more applicators coupled to the base. Each applicator can include a drive circuitry comprising a generator configured to receive the low-power control signal and to produce, in the applicator, a high-power pulsed electromagnetic field signal based on the low-power control signal. The high-power pulsed electromagnetic field signal can have a power of greater than 40W. Each applicator can further include a coil circuit configured to emit the high-power pulsed electromagnetic field signal, and an electromagnetic energy shield disposed between the drive circuitry and the coil circuit.

Abstract: A transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment system is provided. The system includes a sensor device that senses EEG signals from a subject through one or more leads and a server device configured to receive EEG data corresponding to the subject. The server includes an analysis module configured to process the EEG data and determine a personalized resonant brain frequency and a minimum neuronal activation threshold of the subject based at least in part on EEG data corresponding to one or more leads of the sensor device. The analysis module is also configured to determine a TMS treatment protocol where the treatment protocol includes at least a frequency based on the personalized resonant brain frequency and an amplitude based on the minimum neuronal activation threshold. The system also includes a treatment device configured to deliver a TMS treatment to the subject based on the TMS treatment protocol received from the server.

Abstract: The disclosure provides improved methods and devices to create a hammock effect to stabilize the urethra without creating an incision in the abdomen or the vagina, and without using a surgical mesh. Such implementations can also leave no permanent material in the body. The simplicity afforded by such procedures and methods permits treatment of patients on an outpatient basis, and avoids risks and disadvantages associated with the installation of a permanent mesh.

Abstract: Bilateral stimulation devices, systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a bilateral stimulation device can include a housing, a tactile stimulator coupled to the housing, a communications module configured to receive wireless communication from a remote device; and a controller module configured to independently and selectively control at least one tactile setting of the tactile stimulator based on wireless communication received from the remote device.

Abstract: A facial wearable device for providing external stimuli to a user comprises a foldable frame, a flexible layer, an airbag layer, a plurality of heating pads, a plurality of vibrating motors, and a sensor. The flexible layer may couple to a proximal side of the foldable frame and be configured to couple to a facial area of the user. The airbag layer may be disposed between the foldable frame and the flexible layer and comprise a plurality of inflatable bladders configured to provide pressure to the facial area of the user. The plurality of heating pads may couple to the flexible layer and be configured to provide heat to the facial area of the user. The plurality of vibrating motors may couple to the flexible layer and be configured to provide vibration to the facial area of the user. The sensor may couple to the flexible layer and be configured to detect biometric data of the user.

Abstract: A haptic respiration simulator includes: a pump unit; an accumulator for reducing noise originating from a pumping action of the pump, the accumulator being in fluid communication with an outlet of the pump; and a pump suspension system for reducing noise originating from operation of the pump, including: a tubular casing for receiving the pump unit at an inside thereof, the tubular casing having a substantially closed circumferential wall that prevents at least a part of the sound waves resulting from operation of the pump to transfer outside the tubular casing; an inner suspension for suspending the pump with respect to the tubular casing, the inner suspension being positioned between the pump and the tubular casing; a pair of end caps for sealing the tubular casing, and an outer suspension for suspending the tubular casing with respect to a housing.

Abstract: A blood vessel harvesting system, which harvests blood vessels in a state of being covered by surrounding tissue, includes a separating device and a display device. The separating device includes a rod portion that is inserted into a living body, an optically transparent taper-shaped separating portion that is disposed at a distal end part of the rod portion, an endoscope portion that is disposed inside the rod portion and captures an endoscope image of an interior of the living body via the separating portion, and an ultrasound transceiver portion that is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the rod portion, irradiates the interior of the living body with an ultrasonic wave, and receives a reflected wave from the interior of the living body.

Abstract: An electronic patch, for stimulating tissue healing at a target site, is flexible enough to generally conform to a body surface adjacent to the target site, and includes: a battery or an arrangement of multiple batteries less than 5 mm thick; a capacitor connected directly with a coil in series; and pulse generating circuitry, powered by the battery or batteries. The circuitry repeatedly changes the voltage across the capacitor and coil, to produce pulses of current in the coil. The current produces a pulsed electromagnetic field at the target site for stimulating tissue healing, most of the electromagnetic field energy of each pulse being converted into electrostatic energy of the capacitor at the end of the pulse and back into electromagnetic field energy of the next pulse.

Abstract: The disclosure provides improved methods and devices to create a hammock effect to stabilize the urethra without creating an incision in the abdomen or the vagina, and without using a surgical mesh. Such implementations can also leave no permanent material in the body. The simplicity afforded by such procedures and methods permits treatment of patients on an outpatient basis, and avoids risks and disadvantages associated with the installation of a permanent mesh.

Abstract: An auxiliary apparatus for minimally invasive surgery is provided. The auxiliary apparatus includes an in vivo device, an in vitro device, a locating probe and a control system. The in vitro device includes an in vitro magnetic field generating element and a driving mechanism. The in vivo device includes a magnetic auxiliary member and a clip. The locating probe includes a magnetic field sensor. The auxiliary apparatus can achieve the effects of easy control of the mucosa curling angle, high repeatability of operation, fast speed, high safety and reliability for the mucosa to be dissected in any spatial orientation.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of noninvasively treating a condition associated with reduced integrity or increased permeability of an epithelial layer by a series of magnetic pulses having a magnitude of up to 3 T, wherein the magnetic pulses are designed to induce an electric field having a magnitude of up to 250 Volt per meter adjacent to a target treatment area, the condition particularly being ocular condition associated with reduced barrier function of the cornea. The invention provides a device for effecting the tissue treatment, creating series of pulses exhibiting a rate of change of more than 200 T/s in the absolute value.

Abstract: A method for promoting continuous sleep of a subject by eliminating and/or preventing sleep associations includes: (a) providing an apparatus including at least one sensor and at least one output device; (b) monitoring a state of the subject using the apparatus; (c) determining the subject is in an awake state using the at least one sensor; (d) in response to determining the subject is in the awake state, initiating and maintaining an output using the at least one output device; (e) determining the subject is in a sleep state using the at least one sensor; (f) halting the output in response to determining that the subject is in the sleep state such that the apparatus does not produce any output; (g) repeating at least step (b) during a sleep session. The method further includes modifying an intensity of the output over time until the intensity reaches zero.

Abstract: A pain relief device is provided. The pain relief device includes: (i) a body portion including a contact region configured for contacting a subject; and (ii) a monopolar transmitter including a single electrical pole for providing an electrical signal to the body portion for treatment of the subject.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scaffold for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, wherein the scaffold comprises three layers of polyurethane: a first layer and a third layer in which the polyurethane fibres are randomly orientated and a second layer between said first and third layers in which the fibres are aligned longitudinally; methods of making such scaffolds and uses thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems for maintaining user attention during a treatment are disclosed. The method comprises measuring at least one user parameter when presenting treatment content to the user via at least one display screen, determining whether the user is engaged with the presented treatment content based on the at least one measured user parameter, presenting an attention booster to the user upon determining the user is not engaged with the treatment content. The system comprises at least one display apparatus configured to present treatment content to the user and a processor configured to execute instructions stored on a memory to measure at least one user parameter when the treatment content is presented to the user, determine whether the user is engaged with the presented treatment content based on the at least one measured user parameter, and output to the display apparatus an attention booster to the user upon determining the user is not engaged with the presented treatment content.

Abstract: Non-pharmaceutical systems and methods of treating the symptoms of fibromyalgia are described. The method includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of a sensory stimulus to a person, wherein the sensory stimulus includes one or more visual stimuli and one or more auditory stimuli.

Abstract: A method of providing repetitive motion therapy comprising providing access to audio content; selecting audio content for delivery to a patient; performing an analysis on the selected audio content, the analysis identifying audio features of the selected audio content, and extracting rhythmic and structural features of the selected audio content; performing an entrainment suitability analysis on the selected audio content; generating entrainment assistance cue(s) to the selected audio content, the assistance cue(s) including a sound added to the audio content; applying the assistance cues to the audio content simultaneously with playing the selected audio content; evaluating a therapeutic effect on the patient, wherein the selected audio content continues to play when a therapeutic threshold is detected, and a second audio content is selected for delivery to the patient when a therapeutic threshold is not detected.

Abstract: In some implementations, a system includes a bed having a mattress. The system further includes a sensor configured to generate pressure data of the mattress. The system further includes a processor device configured to receive the pressure data; and determine a user state from at least the pressure data. The system further includes a user-interface device comprising user-interface hardware that is capable of providing user interfaces, the user-interface device configured to select, from a plurality of available user interfaces, a selected user interface; and providing the selected user interface to a user. Other systems, methods, devices, products, and software may be used.