Abstract: The present invention relates to a processor for processing skin conductance data of a living being, comprising an input unit (12) for receiving a skin conductance data signal (13) comprising a plurality of data peaks, a calculating unit (14) for computing a skin conductance peak data signal over a long-term period by deriving a feature related to said data peaks from said skin conductance data signal (13) and forming a summation of said feature per time unit and an analyzing unit (16) for analyzing an average and/or an absolute value of said skin conductance peak data signal over at least a portion of said period to get information on at least one stage of burnout and/or chronic fatigue syndrome of said living being.

Abstract: A sample capture and transport unit comprises a housing defining a substrate chamber for containing a sample-capture substrate. The housing comprises at least a first part and a second part which are movable relative to one another ? i) from a first closed configuration in which the substrate chamber is inaccessible; ? ii) to a first open configuration in which access to the substrate chamber is enabled to allow capturing of a skin-print on a sample-capture substrate contained within the substrate chamber; and subsequently ? iii) into a second closed configuration in which the substrate chamber is again inaccessible. The unit further comprises a retaining mechanism for retaining it in the second closed configuration. The retaining mechanism is disablable to permit movement of the unit out of the second closed configuration. A sample can be obtained at a first location, secured for transport and analysed at a second location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide a limb motion sensor system (100) used to objectively assist detection of equine lameness and even monitor change in gait quality over time. Biosensors (102) may be attached to the pair of front and/or hind limbs. Each conformally shaped biosensor device may be placed lateral to the metacarpal/metatarsal bone (e.g., attached to the lower limb). Inertial data may be collected by the set of sensor devices and may be wirelessly transferred to a portable, perhaps wearable, mobile controller and analytics unit (104) (e.g., smart phone, tablet, or the like). A signal processor application (108) may automatically segment each stride into phases and perform analyses to quantify limb motion metrics and uniformity over time for a single limb (unilateral consistency) or between the contralateral limbs (bilateral symmetry). Three-dimensional motion metrics may be processed, displayed, stored on, and even transmitted from the mobile information system.

Abstract: A method for detecting characteristics of a Eustachian tube of a patient includes communicating pressurized air into an oro-nasal cavity of the patient. The method further includes directing an energy signal into the oro-nasal cavity. The method further includes detecting transmission of the energy signal from the oro-nasal cavity through the Eustachian tube with a sensor. The method further includes determining at least one characteristic of the Eustachian tube based on whether the energy signal is detected by the sensor.

Abstract: The invention includes, in part, methods and apparatus for determining the status of labor in a pregnant subject. In some embodiments of the invention, organ-level uterine function is determined as a measure of the status of labor such as non-labor (e.g., false labor), latent phase labor, active phase labor, or post-delivery.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for model-based surgical planning. A surgical planning system can include a prescreening tool configured to provide an initial classification of a set of patients according to a pelvic tilt, measured as a position of a pelvis of the patient relative to the position of a spine of the patient, in a plurality of body positions. A model constructor is configured to construct a model of a pelvis of the patient according to the initial classification of the patient. A finite element modeling component is configured to simulate relative motion of the model of the pelvis and a model of an implant. A patient classifier is configured to select at least one of a position of the implant and an orientation of the implant for the patient according to the simulated relative motion.

Abstract: A prick test kit comprises a bottom tray containing a plurality of wells disposed in an array, wherein each of the wells contains a vial of a small amount of a specific well associated antigen, with each well and associated vial having a different antigen disposed therein, each of the vials having a rubber cap disposed thereon that is sterile and able to be pricked by a needle such that the small amount of antigen can be removed therefrom. A penetrating plate is disposed above the wells and having on the lower surface thereof diametrically opposite from the vials in the wells a plurality of piercing needles, one associated with each of the wells and directed downward there to but not touching any of the files. A separating plate is disposed between the bottom tray and the penetrating plate. A sterile covering is provided for containing the entire assembly.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method to analyze balance and stability of a patient. Test data for the patient, representing motion of a device affixed to the patient during a test interval (e.g., at a position approximating the center of mass, such as in proximity to the torso), can be received. The test data can be processed to provide processed data (or sensor-derived data) that includes at least one of acceleration data, rotational rate data and rotational position data for the test interval. A biomechanical model can be applied to the processed data to provide center of mass (COM) motion data representing movement of the COM in multiple dimensions for the patient during the test interval. An indication of balance for the patient can be determined based on the COM motion data. The indication of balance can be used to analyze the balance and stability of the patient.

Abstract: A blood collection tube holder embodying two coaxially alignable needles, the first needle being a forwardly facing venipuncture needle and the second needle being a rearwardly facing fluid discharge needle. The first and second needles are satisfactorily supported by a frontal attachment and body, respectively, that are disposed in relative sliding engagement along an interface that is transverse to the first and second needle and that extends at least from the second needle to an opening into a needle retraction chamber that projects rearwardly from the body. The subject device is configured to receive and support a conventional blood collection tube of the type used to collect blood samples.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods that track various aspects of a person's sleep and environment to optimize one or more aspects of the user's environment and sleep conditions, quality and duration, together or alone, and help make the one or more users maintain and prolong his or her deep sleep status and improve the their sleep duration and quality.

Abstract: A blood sampling device is provided having holder with a manipulating end and an absorbent probe on the opposing end. The probe is of hydrophilic polymer sized to directly absorb a predetermined volume of up to about 30 microliters of blood. Ribs on the holder position the probe within a compartment of a container to prevent contact with the container. The ribs also position the probe within extraction wells.

Abstract: A shieldable needle device including a drive member is disclosed. The drive member is extendable between a biased position and an extended position for moving a tip guard from an first position to a second position in which the tip guard shields a distal end of the needle cannula. The shieldable needle device includes a pair of wings extending laterally from opposing sides of the hub that are movable between a laterally extending position and a dorsal position. With the wings in the dorsal position, the wings retain the drive member in the biased position thereby maintaining the tip guard in the first position. Movement of the wings from the dorsal position to the laterally extending position releases retainment of the drive member. A second drive member may be included.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a cutter defining a cutter lumen and a tissue sample holder for collecting tissue samples. In one example, the tissue sample holder includes a rotatable manifold, and has a plurality of chambers that are each configured to separately hold tissue samples. A tissue sample holder rotation mechanism is operable to rotate the manifold to successively align each of the chambers with the cutter lumen. A controller in communication with the rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the manifold to a presentation position to present a collected tissue sample within a chamber to a user (e.g., at an angular position approximately 90 degrees from the cutter lumen). The controller is further configured to rotate the manifold align the next, empty chamber with the cutter lumen in response to a user input instructing the biopsy device to obtain another tissue sample.

Abstract: A medical device and associated method evaluate vectors of a multi-dimensional accelerometer by receiving a signal from the accelerometer for each of the vectors and determining a metric from the signal for each of the vectors during a first sensing condition and during a second sensing condition. The difference between the metrics determined for the first sensing condition and the second sensing condition for each of the vectors is determined. One of the vectors is selected, based upon the determined differences, for monitoring the patient.

Abstract: A neural monitoring system for detecting an artificially-induced mechanical muscle response to a stimulus provided within an intracorporeal treatment area includes a mechanical sensor and a processor in communication with the mechanical sensor. The mechanical sensor is configured to be placed in mechanical communication with the muscle and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle. The processor is configured to receive the mechanomyography output signal from the mechanical sensor and determine a frequency component of the mechanomyography output signal that has a peak magnitude and to detect the occurrence of an artificially-induced mechanical muscle response therefrom.

Abstract: A neural monitoring system for detecting an artificially-induced mechanical muscle response to an electrical stimulus at a stimulation frequency includes a mechanical sensor and a processor in communication with the mechanical sensor. The mechanical sensor is configured to be placed in mechanical communication with the muscle and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle. The processor is configured to receive the mechanomyography output signal from the mechanical sensor and determine a frequency component of the mechanomyography output signal that has a peak magnitude and to detect the occurrence of an artificially-induced mechanical muscle response therefrom.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention utilize principal component analysis (PCA) to detect cough sounds in an audio stream. Comparison of all or portions of the audio stream with a cough model may be conducted. The cough model may include a number of basis vectors may be based on initial portions of known coughs. The initial portions may be non-user specific, and accordingly the cough model may be used to detect coughs across individuals. Moreover, examples of the present invention may reconstruct the cough sounds from stored features such that the cough sounds are reconstructed but the reconstruction techniques used may be insufficient to reconstruct speech sounds that may also have been recorded, which may increase user privacy.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes apparatus for monitoring hand or wrist movement, the apparatus including a magnetic ring adapted to be worn on a finger of a patient and a data acquisition unit adapted to be worn on a wrist of the patient, the data acquisition unit including a magnetic sensor that can measure the strength and orientation of magnetic fields generated by the ring.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system to help manage a patient that is at risk of falling is disclosed. The system includes a patient-worn wireless sensor that senses the patient's motion and wirelessly transmits information indicative of the sensed motion to a patient monitor. The patient monitor receives, stores, and processes the transmitted information to determine whether the patient has fallen or is about to fall. Upon such detection, the system can notify the patient's caretakers that the patient has fallen or is about to fall and therefore, is in need of immediate attention.

Abstract: An endoscopic biopsy device for collecting samples. The device includes a tubular body having distal and proximal ends and jaws hinged to the distal end. The jaws operate between OPEN and CLOSED positions to secure a tissue sample. In the CLOSED position, the jaws define a sampling chamber. A collecting chamber for receiving samples is located within the body near the sampling chamber. A collecting member for transfixing secured samples is displaceable between a retracted position in the collecting chamber and a deployed position where the collecting member penetrates into the sampling chamber. The jaws include retaining elements projecting inwardly on a portion of the jaws. The retaining elements engage when the jaws are CLOSED, separating the sampling and collecting chambers from each other. The retaining elements disengage when the jaws are OPEN, providing a passage for the transfer of transfixed samples into and out of the collecting chamber.