Abstract: An oral care device (8) adapted to generate an RF field for performing an oral cleaning function. The device includes a cleaning unit (10) for receipt in the mouth which includes a conductor arrangement (18, 19) which is driven with a drive signal to generate an RF field which cleans surfaces in the mouth. Means is further provided for sensing an electrical or electromagnetic signal arising from interaction of the RF energy with bodies in the mouth, for performing a sensing function with the same RF system components used for generating the RF field for cleaning or treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides for an oral treatment unit, or an assembly of a plurality of oral treatment units, for confining an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 100 kHz to 300 MHz and adapted to be inserted into an oral cavity, which may form part of an oral cleaning device in combination with a base unit, including a first cleaning element coupled to the oral treatment unit. The oral treatment unit further includes a material structure coupled to the oral treatment unit adapted to receive an initial electromagnetic field and output a focused electromagnetic field, wherein the material structure has a passive electromagnetic field focusing function, which focuses the received initial electromagnetic field in the near-field region of the material structure.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes an implantable intra-vascular support device for positioning against a vessel wall and an implantable sensor-actuator mounted to the support device. The sensor-actuator is drivable between a non-deployed position in which it is against the support device and a deployed position in which it is displaced away from the support device. Sensor signals are generated when in the deployed position. This system is able to monitor flow away from the edge of a vessel by deploying the sensor-actuator towards the center of the vessel. When flow monitoring does not need to take place, it can be non-deployed so that it does not present an occlusion to the flow.

Abstract: An actuator device has an ionic electroactive material actuator unit includes a unitary membrane with first and second actuation electrodes on the unitary membrane. A DC drive signal is applied between the actuation electrodes to cause migration of charges from one part of the unitary membrane towards another part of the unitary membrane. In addition, a pair of closely spaced measurement electrodes is provided on the first surface of the unitary membrane. In particular, the measurement electrodes are spaced apart by a spacing which is less than ten times the thickness of the unitary membrane at a location between the measurement electrodes. A local surface-effect impedance change is used as the basis of a signal measurement, for providing feedback relating to the state of actuation of the device.

Abstract: An implantable device includes an EAP actuator and a sensor. The sensor is configured to monitor a force external to the implantable device acting in a direction either with or counter to a direction of actuation of the actuator, and a controller is adapted to control the actuator to actuate at a moment when force counter to the direction of actuation is sensed to be at its lowest within a given time window or force with the direction of actuation is sensed to be at its highest within a given time window. In this way, actuation is effected at a moment of least resistance force, reducing the power needed for deployment of the actuator, and permitting actuation to occur even in conditions experiencing large variable forces.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises an actuator member (62) which incorporates an electroactive polymer material. A controller (72) controls supply of an actuation signal and a superposed AC signal, which has the effect of inducing heating. The actuator member has a known set of deformation or deflection responses to applied actuation signals of different levels, and a known set of oppositely direction deformation or deflection responses to applied AC signals of different levels. To achieve accelerated actuation response, an actuation signal is supplied of higher signal level than known to be necessary to realize a given desired actuation level, and an AC signal is supplied of a level sufficient to reduce the resultant actuation response to the desired level. In examples, the overdrive part of the actuation signal and the AC signal may be tapered off after realizing the desired actuation level.

Abstract: A monitoring system comprises an intra-vascular support device and a sensor mounted to the support device and projecting into the vessel. The sensor generates a signal which is dependent on the level of deformation of a free end. The sensor signal is interpreted to enable detection of changes in the length of a deformable part of the sensor thereby to determine a level of bio-layer formation and also determine a level of flow. The sensor remains able to detect flow even when a bio-layer is formed and it can also detect the presence (and thickness) of the bio-layer, because part of the sensor becomes rigid when constrained by the bio-layer.

Abstract: A blood pressure monitoring system is for mounting around a body limb or digit, in which an array of electroactive material actuators provides an inward force. One or more electroactive material actuators are identified which are best located for performing blood pressure monitoring and these are then used to apply a pressure. By performing pulse monitoring while controlling the identified one or more electroactive material actuators, the blood pressure may be determined.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes an implantable intra-vascular support device for positioning against a vessel wall and an implantable sensor-actuator mounted to the support device. The sensor-actuator is drivable between a non-deployed position in which it is against the support device and a deployed position in which it is displaced away from the support device. Sensor signals are generated when in the deployed position. This system is able to monitor flow away from the edge of a vessel by deploying the sensor-actuator towards the center of the vessel. When flow monitoring does not need to take place, it can be non-deployed so that it does not present an occlusion to the flow.

Abstract: A system for determining a pulse wave velocity comprises a body lumen insertable device with an actuator for providing a pulse in the vicinity of a vessel wall and a sensor for sensing arrival of the pulse. A pulse wave velocity is obtained from the time difference between actuation of the actuator and sensing of the pulse. This system is used to create an artificial pulse which is transmitted along a vessel by a known distance before detection by a sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for performing ultrasound and pressure measurements, wherein furthermore a related transducer unit and a related processor unit are concerned. Particularly a system is provided to measure blood pressure and flow in combination with a simple imaging modality, based on a single EAP sensor-actuator. A key aspect of embodiments in this regard is the electronics to switch between the different modalities.

Abstract: An optical vital signs sensor (100) is provided, which comprises a PPG sensor (102), a force transducer (130) configured to measure a force applied via the PPG sensor (102) to a skin (1000) of the user and a processing unit (140) configured to extract information regarding a blood volume pulse from the output of the PPG sensor (102) and to map the extracted information to the blood pressure value at a specific force applied to the PPG sensor (102).