Abstract: A method of beam angle optimization for an IMRT radiotherapy treatment includes providing a patient model having one or more regions of interest (ROIs), defining a delivery coordinate space (DCS), for each ROI, solving an adjoint transport to obtain an adjoint solution field from the ROI, for each vertex in the DCS, evaluating an adjoint photon fluence by performing ray tracing of the adjoint solution field, evaluating a dose of the ROI using the adjoint photon fluence, for each vertex in the DCS, evaluating a respective beam's eye view (BEV) score of each pixel of a BEV plane using the doses of the one or more ROIs, determining one or more BEV regions in the BEV plane based on the BEV scores, determining a BEV region connectivity manifold based on the BEV regions, and determining a set of IMRT fields based on the BEV region connectivity manifold.

Abstract: A system for inducing a Pavlovian conditioned association of an aroma with a state of satiation, the system comprising at least a physiological sensor, wherein the at least a physiological sensor is configured to detect at least a physiological parameter of a user, and to transmit a detection signal, a control device configured to receive the detection signal from the at least a physiological sensor, wherein the control device is further configured to ascertain that the user is experiencing a physiological state associated with satiation, and to transmit the detection signal to an automatically activated scent diffuser, thereby conditioning the user to associate said scent with satiation, and an automatically activated scent diffuser, wherein the scent diffuser is configured to automatically activate upon receiving the detection signal, wherein automatically activating further comprises diffusing a scent in response to the detection signal.

Abstract: An oral therapy tool is provided that comprises a mouthpiece including a first side and a second side, a pressure sensor operatively connected to the mouthpiece, and a microcontroller in communication with the pressure sensor. The microcontroller is configured to collect data relating to a usage of the oral therapy tool and to communicate the data to a central computer server. Systems and methods for monitoring oral therapy are further provided and collect, via a central computer server, data from the oral therapy device relating to a usage of the oral therapy device by a user. The central computer server then analyzes the data to determine the effectiveness of the oral therapy device, and transmits the analysis of the data to a remote device via a software application running on the remote device to assess and/or provide a recommended oral therapy regimen.

Abstract: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation systems and methods of use are disclosed. Several publications and patent documents are cited throughout the specification in order to describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains. Full citations of these references can be found throughout the specification. Each of these citations is incorporated herein by reference as though set forth in full.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting when a device is placed into an operational position are disclosed. Upon determination that the device is in the operational position, one or more processes can be executed. Execution or initialization of the processes upon detection of the operational position provides for the determination of optimal settings than would otherwise be determined if the processes automatically executed before detection of the operational position. Further aspects of the present disclosure relate to determining when the device is no longer in an operational position upon which time the execution of the processes are terminated. The settings in place upon termination can be saved and reapplied the next time the device is in the operational position.

Abstract: One or more devices, systems, and methods are described which together provide sonoluminescence biophysical oscillation technique(s) (SBOT(s)) that improve debilitated states of health for individuals comprising; biophysical oscillations that initiate, sustain, and/or control one or more sound emitting devices including speakers capable of providing harmonic and subharmonic sound and including music and/or individual musical notes that provide sound tracsons and one or more light emission devices including projectors that provide light wave emission traclums which are capable of imparting color changes, wherein tracsons and traclums provide auditory and visual stimuli that result in energy changes that create acoustic and tracson/traclum excitations. The tracson/traclum excitations are applied in an external manner to one or more bodies of humans and in some cases could be applied to animals.

Abstract: The invention provides an implantable system for managing urinary incontinence. The system includes a sling with an elongate body member having a proximal portion, a distal portion and an intermediate portion. The intermediate portion is configured to be positioned underneath urethra of a subject for providing an adequate support to prevent leakage of urine during a stress event. The system may include a pressure sensor communicatively coupled with the elongated body member and configured to be positioned in an abdominal cavity and adapted to sense an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. The pressure sensor generates a first signal that is indicative of a change in the intra-abdominal pressure upon occurrence of the stress event. The system includes a processing circuit to process the first signal sensed by the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Guidewires useful for cooperating with catheters may be actively steered and/or provide adjustable stiffness. Angle or curvature of a guidewire, and/or flexural modulus of a guidewire, may be adjusted at one or more locations between ends thereof. Variable stiffness segments may include electrically operated compressible and/or extensible materials. Multiple tensile elements may terminate at different body elements to adjust angle or curvature at multiple locations. Multiple circumferentially and/or radially contractible fiber regions may be provided and distributed over a length of a guidewire. Adjustable flexure elements arranged in or along a guidewire may be electrically operated. A flexible core member may be centrally arranged in a tubular body. A flexible guide wire or track may cooperate with electrically operable motor units.

Abstract: A method for preparing a biological material for implanting provides irradiating at least a portion of the surface of the material with an accelerated Neutral Beam.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for ultra-high dose radiotherapy are disclosed. The described techniques rely in-part on active switching control of a photoconductive switch during the time the accelerator is accelerating charged particles to produce the output radiation at the desired dose rates. One flash radiotherapy system includes an induction accelerator, and a controllable switch coupled to the induction accelerator. The switch is operable to produce a plurality of voltage pulses to drive the induction accelerator. The radiotherapy system also includes a radiation measurement device to measure output radiation produced by the radiotherapy system and provide feedback to the controllable switch. The controllable switch is operable to, based on the received feedback, modify an amplitude, shape, spacing, number or width of the voltage pulses that are supplied to the particle accelerator to deliver the desired output radiation.

Abstract: Personal protective equipment including hygienic barriers and methods of use to provide an improved barrier between a patient and a caregiver; where such barriers include a reinforced region and an enclosure portion, where the enclosure portion extends beyond the reinforced region such that when suspended above the patient, in a deployed configuration, the enclosure portion hangs down from the reinforced region through a force of gravity to form an enclosure space.

Abstract: A user-controllable urinary catheter prosthesis (20) is provided for minimally-invasive insertion into a subject. The prosthesis (20) includes a proximal intra-urethral assembly (22), configured to be inserted entirely within a urethra (102) via a meatus (104). A user-activatable hydraulic activator (50) is disposed along a flexible intra-urethral catheter (30, 430), which is shaped so as to define a urinary outlet (40, 440) at a proximal end (41, 441) thereof. A distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) is configured to be disposed in a bladder of the subject, and includes a bladder anchor (48). A hydraulic valve (60, 160, 260, 360) is configured to assume an open state, in which urine flow is allowed between the distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) and the urinary outlet (40, 440); and a closed resting state, in which urine is entirely blocked from entering the distal bladder assembly (32, 132, 232, 332) and exiting the urinary outlet (40, 440).

Abstract: A method of preventing damage to non-neoplastic, e.g. healthy cells, by irradiating the non-neoplastic cells with a low-dose radiation is provided. The method initiates a protective cellular response which prevents later damage to non-neoplastic cells by radiotherapy and an immune response against neoplastic cells. The method of preventing damage to non-neoplastic cells is provided where the low-dose radiation is interspersed with a high dose sessions which themselves are varied through the weekly schedule.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to delivering sensory stimulation to a subject during a sleep session in order to enhance dream recall. The system may detect REM sleep in the subject during a sleep session based on brain activity of the subject. The system may then deliver sensory stimulation to the subject during the sleep session. The system may deliver sensory stimulation at a frequency in a theta range of an EEG signal in order to increase theta power in the brain activity of the subject. In some embodiments, the system may modulate the intensity of the sensory stimulation according to changes in the EEG theta power associated with the subject during the sleep session. In some embodiments, an increase in EEG theta power associated with the subject may promote dream recall.

Abstract: For delivering an image-guided radiation therapy treatment to a moving structure included in a region of a patient body a series of first images of the region of the patient body in different phases of a motion of the structure is acquired in accordance with a first imaging mode. The series of first images is associated with a series of second images of the patient body in essentially the same phases of the motion of the target structure, the second images being acquired in a second imaging mode. During the treatment, a third image is acquired using the second imaging mode during the radiation therapy treatment and a continuation of the radiation therapy treatment is planned on the basis of data relating to one of the first images selected on the basis of a comparison between the third image and the second images associated with the first images.

Abstract: A non-invasive system and method are provided. Brain activity of a user is detected using a non-invasive brain interface when the user is exposed to an external stimulus. The user is determined to be negatively primed by the external stimulus based on the detected brain activity. An alert that the user is being negatively primed by the external stimulus is automatically provided. A tagged training session may be automatically provided to the user in response determining that the user has a negative mental state, thereby promoting a positive mental state of the user. A training session list containing the tagged training session may be automatically modified based on the determined mental state of the user.

Abstract: A method for beam therapy is provided. The method includes receiving first data indicating a plurality of target volumes within a target region inside a subject for particle beam therapy relative to a particle beam outlet on a gantry for directing a particle beam from a particle beam source. The method further includes moving automatically, one or more energy modulator components to reduce an energy of the particle beam and deliver the particle beam to the target region such that a Bragg Peak is delivered to at least one target volume of the plurality of target volumes. The method further includes repeating the moving automatically as the particle beam source rotates with the gantry around the subject, without changing the energy of the particle beam at the particle beam outlet, until every target volume is subjected to a Bragg Peak.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a tissue-engineered medical device, as well as a method for the production said medical device, comprising the following steps: providing a polymer scaffold comprising a mesh comprising polyglycolic acid, and a coating comprising poly-4-hydroxybutyrate; application of a cell suspension containing preferably human cells to the polymer scaffold; placement of the seeded polymer scaffold in a bioreactor and mechanical stimulation by exposure to a pulsatile flux of incremental intensity, thereby forming an extracellular matrix; mounting of the graft on a conduit stabilizer and incubation in cell culture medium; decellularisation of the graft in a washing solution; nuclease treatment of the graft; and rinsing of graft. The invention further comprises and various steps of quality control of the tissue-engineered medical device.

Abstract: A microwave power control device can include: a microwave signal generator and a signal distribution circuitry connected to the microwave signal generator. The microwave signal generator is configured to generate microwave signals and transmit the microwave signals to the signal distribution circuitry; and the signal distribution circuitry is configured to distribute the microwave signals to n accelerating tubes according to a target microwave power distribution ratio, n being an integer greater than or equal to 2.

Abstract: These teachings provide for accessing optimization information comprising at least one isocenter that corresponds to a body outline for a particular patient, field geometry information for a particular radiation treatment platform, and dosimetric data. The optimization information can further comprise a model of a body outline for the patient. A control circuit optimizes a radiation treatment plan as a function of the optimization information to provide an optimized radiation treatment plan where radiation dose levels delivered to the particular patient from a particular field depends on the relative volume magnitude of field path intersections to thereby reduce radiation dose delivery to healthy patient tissue in regions having relatively more overlapping fields.