Abstract: A heart valve sizer and sizer cover are provided for determining the size of a heart valve annulus. The valve sizer can include a handle, a shaft extending distally from the handle, a sizing element coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the sizing element being movable between a first retracted position and a second expanded position, and a sizer cover. The sizer cover can be formed from a continuous sheet of material configured to surround at least a portion of the sizing element of the heart valve sizer so as to guard against entanglement of the sizing element with structures of a human heart.

Abstract: A device (1) for determining the concentration of a gas component is configured with a radiation source (30) for radiating (31) light as a light emission in an infrared wavelength range. Two detector arrays (52, 62) with two detector elements (50, 60) are configured suitably for detecting the light emission generated by the radiation source (30) in two detector arrays (52, 62). Two filter elements (51, 61) are associated with the detector elements (50, 60). The two detector elements (50, 60) are oriented in relation to the radiation source, so that a range of overlap (65) is obtained due to the two detector arrays (52, 62). The range of overlap (65) causes attenuations in the propagation of light, which may be due to gas molecules or moisture (400). The attenuations in the propagation of light affect both detector elements (50, 60) and are compensated concerning the determination of the concentration.

Abstract: A system for measuring cardiovascular data includes an elongate member having a channel, a first expandable member carried by the elongate member and movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state by adjustment initiated externally of a subject, a first sensor disposed on a surface of the elongate member, second and third sensors disposed on a surface of the first expandable, a first optical sensor located at a first location in relation to the distal end of the elongate member and configured for obtaining photoplethysmographic data, and wherein the first expandable member in its expanded state is configured to interface with the subject's larynx for delivery of at least oxygen gas into the respiratory system of the subject, and the second and third sensors are configured to contact tissue in proximity to the larynx when the first expandable member is in its expanded state.

Abstract: An oral care device (10) assesses a health parameter of gingival tissue of a user by means of a force-generating module (52) to apply a momentary force to the gingival tissue by applying a burst of compressed air or a burst of liquid to the gingival tissue, a sensor (28) to obtain a plurality of optical signals from the gingival tissue over time after the momentary force has been applied, a controller (30) to quantify, based at least in part on an analysis of the plurality of optical signals, the health parameter (e.g. inflammation of the gingival tissue), wherein the health parameter is based at least in part on an amount of time the gingival tissue takes to recover to the application of force; and a feedback module (46) to provide information to the user regarding the quantified health parameter.

Abstract: A sensor system for measuring blood perfusion, blood temperature, and thermal resistance using heat transfer and temperature measurements. The system uses a heat flux sensor, temperature sensor and electric resistance heater with a data analysis device using measurements before, during and after the thermal event provided by the heater.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and devices comprising a cutting element used to contact circumferentially and longitudinally the surface walls of the endocervical canal to provide for broad and complete contact of the intended surface with the device, resulting in attainment of a sufficient volume and comprehensive tissue sample for analysis as an endocervical curettage or screening pap smear. The device may provide for a reservoir for the obtained sample to be contained when removing from the cervical canal and vagina. The device may be comprised of a detachable means or be of a material that allows the user to cut the sampling head of the device for placement in collection means to maximize the amount of tissue or cells being sent to the laboratory for analysis.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an impedance spectroscopy system for bio-impedance measurement. The impedance spectroscopy system includes a signal generator configured to generate a signal with a broadband frequency spectrum and to generate an analog injection current from the signal with the broadband frequency spectrum. The analog injection current has a high pass frequency characteristic. The impedance spectroscopy system also includes an amplifier configured to measure a voltage signal in response to the analog injection current and to simultaneously measure a biopotential signal. Further, the impedance spectroscopy system includes a processor configured to analyze the voltage signal to derive a bio-impedance spectrum as well to derive further information from the biopotential signal.

Abstract: The invention concerns fetal movement monitoring apparatus having a deflection sensor device arranged to be applied to a mother's abdomen for detection of abdominal deflections indicative of fetal movements and to output a signal comprising one or more record of said abdominal deflections. A processor under the control of machine readable instructions is arranged to process the signal output from the deflection sensor device and to output a log of fetal movement over time. The processor is arranged to receive one or more further input indicative of maternal or fetal movement or wellbeing, for example from a second sensor device by which a user can input a record of perceived fetal movements. The processor may compare the output of the first sensor device and the user's input via the second sensor device and output a log of fetal movements over time based upon said comparison.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for assisting spasticity and clonus evaluation using an inertia sensor, the apparatus including an acquirer configured to acquire a measured value from an inertia sensor attached to an object, a calculator configured to calculate an angle of a joint of the object based on the measured value, and a processor configured to evaluate a spasticity and a clonus based on the angle of the joint.

Abstract: A method and system for determining cognitive load of a person using a modified baseline is provided. The person is asked to perform a series of activities including staying in eye closed rest state and baseline state and performing a trial state. Simultaneously, EEG signal and GSR signal of the person are captured. The EEG signal and the GSR signal are preprocessed and segmented. The EEG and GSR signals are then used to determine a first set and a second set of inactive states from the baseline interval and the rest interval. The most inactive window is then identified out of the first set of inactive states. The most inactive window is determined from the rest interval of the person. The inactive window is used as the modified baseline to measure the cognitive load of the person.

Abstract: An instrument for collecting tissue from a body cavity includes a hollow tubular body having a tubular wall. The hollow tubular body can collect material from a body cavity in a coring mode or an aspiration mode. The tubular wall defines a passage that extends from a proximal end portion of the tubular body to a distal end portion of the tubular body. A middle section of the tubular body includes an articulating section that allows the middle section to articulate relative to the proximal end portion. The distal end portion includes at least one suction port extending from an outer wall surface to an inner wall surface of the tubular wall. The suction port provides a path of fluid communication between the outer wall surface and the passage for drawing in tissue from a body cavity when the tubular body is connected to a source of negative pressure.

Abstract: A mouth guard, or wearable device, senses impact forces, calculates risk factors for injury, and displays status of risk and potential injury. A mouth guard may be used to identify, treat and prevent exacerbating brain injury. A wearable device can be programmed with biometric data to better calculate and anticipate impact thresholds and more precisely predict and prevent injury.

Abstract: Skin-mounted or epidermal devices and methods for monitoring biofluids are disclosed. The devices comprise a functional substrate that is mechanically and/or thermally matched to skin to provide durable adhesion for long-term wear. The functional substrates allow for the microfluidic transport of biofluids from the skin to one or more sensors that measure and/or detect biological parameters, such as rate of biofluid production, biofluid volume, and biomarker concentration. Sensors within the devices may be mechanical, electrical or chemical, with colorimetric indicators being observable by the naked eye or with a portable electronic device (e.g., a smartphone). By monitoring changes in an individual's health state over time, the disclosed devices may provide early indications of abnormal conditions.

Abstract: A double temperature sensor determines the body core temperature of a living being. The double temperature sensor includes a sensor block (2), which on one side carries a first temperature sensor (4) provided for placing on the skin surface and on the other side carries a second temperature sensor (5) spaced from the first. An evaluating unit calculates the body core temperature using the measured values of the first and second temperature sensors. The sensor block (2) is held in a hood-shaped housing shell (1) which is shaped in such a manner that the first temperature sensor (4) on the sensor block and the peripheral outer edge (8) of the housing shell (1) spaced therefrom lie in one plane. When the housing shell (1) is lying on the skin surface, the sensor block (2) is surrounded by an air-filled cavity closed off by the housing shell.

Abstract: A buckle includes a main body connectable to a tongue attached to a seatbelt of a vehicle, a sensor disposed in the main body or in a support member that supports the main body, the sensor configured to produce a sensor output signal whose waveform changes in response to movement of an object situated in a seat of the vehicle, a detection unit configured to detect, from the sensor output signal produced by the sensor, vital-sign signal components indicative of a vital sign that is at least either respiration or pulse beat, a generation unit configured to evaluate reliability of the vital-sign signal components detected by the detection unit and to generate vital-sign information about the vital sign from a reliable one of the vital-sign signal components, and an output unit configured to output the vital-sign information generated by the generation unit.

Abstract: There is provided a method of processing measurements of acceleration to identify steps by a user, the method comprising obtaining measurements of acceleration from a device worn or carried by a user; analysing the measurements of acceleration to determine a value for a threshold that is to be used to identify steps by the user in measurements of acceleration; and using the determined value for the threshold to identify steps by the user in measurements of acceleration.

Abstract: A muscle condition change determination apparatus includes a circuit. The circuit configures: a change information acquisition unit; and a type determination unit. The change information acquisition unit acquires change information indicating changes in a plurality of muscle indicators. The type determination unit determines the type of change in a muscle condition according to the change information.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for measuring muscle reflexes (e.g., a bulbocavernosus reflex) as a tool for identifying/diagnosing dysfunctions (e.g., spinal cord abnormalities, bladder voiding dysfunction, and sexual organ dysfunction) non-invasively by using mechanical stimulation. The system and method includes a probe having a predetermined patient contacting portion, wherein when the contacting portion is moved into contact with a particular area of the patient (e.g., the patient's genitals), the contact induces a muscle reflex. The probe detects the pressure resulting from the contacting portion being abruptly and forcibly brought into contact with the particular area. Such detection is used to electronically initiate capture of electrical responses from a plurality of electrodes placed on the patient's skin in proximity to the particular area. Such electrical responses are processed to determine characteristics of the patient's reflexes of one or more muscles adjacent to the electrodes.

Abstract: A micro-volume blood transfer device to facilitate the collection of small volumes of clean arterial blood from patients who may be volume restricted for blood loss such as low-birth weight infants.

Abstract: A medical guide wire which can have both slidability and operability and can be easily manufactured is provided. A medical guide wire includes a long flexible wire body, and a wire-like material structure including a wire-like material arranged on the surface of the wire body, in which the wire-like material structure is thermally fused onto the wire body.