Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and a method for operating a cardiac assist pump, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a cardiac monitor comprising: a cardiac output sensor including an activity sensor and at least two of: a pulse oximeter; an electrocardiogram meter; and a blood pressure monitor; (2) receiving time-varying cardiovascular input data, from the cardiac output sensor, related to a transient hemodynamic state of a cardiovascular system; (3) receiving and operating on time-varying activity input data, from the activity sensor, to generate cardiovascular state information; (4) sensing activity with the activity sensor to generate a target cardiovascular state; (5) repeating both the steps of receiving and operating to update the transient cardiovascular state information and the step of sensing to update the target cardiovascular state; and (6) directing the cardiac assist pump to adjust assisted blood flow, yielding the updated transient cardiovascular state, toward the target cardiovascula

Abstract: A method and system for processing pulse plethysmography detects peaks, troughs, and amplitudes for a series of measured cycles and identifies measured cycles that do not meet selected quality criteria. Cycles that do not meet selected quality criteria are removed and the remaining cycles are stitched together. The system and method are useful for improving the quality and reliability of cardiovascular parameters such as stroke volume and cardiac output calculated using plethysmography data as input.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for: (1) alternatingly in time inflating and deflating a sealed compartment that includes: a first flexible and deformable seal connected to a pressure control chamber; (2) alternatingly in time pumping a gas into a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a first piston in a first partially sealed cylinder of a double acting kinematic cylinder, the double acting kinematic cylinder further comprising a second partially sealed cylinder, including: a second piston and the pressure control chamber, the pressure control chamber both on a first side of the second piston and within the second partially sealed cylinder; and (3) transferring a force from the first piston to the second piston via a rigid coupler affixed at a first end to the first piston and at a second end to the second piston, such as to alternating inflate and deflate a seal.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for estimating state of a cardiovascular system, comprising the steps of: providing a cardiac analyzer, comprising: a blood pressure sensor, the blood pressure sensor generating a time-varying pressure state waveform output from a portion of a person; a system processor connected to the blood pressure sensor; and a dynamic state-space model of a cardiovascular system, the system processor receiving cardiovascular input data, from the blood pressure sensor, related to a transient pressure state of the cardiovascular system, where at least one probabilistic model, of the dynamic state-space model, operating on the time-varying pressure state waveform output generates a probability distribution function to a non-pressure state of the cardiovascular system.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for noninvasively measuring a cardiovascular parameter of a subject includes splitting time varying pulse plethysmographic or pulse pressure waveform (PW) cycles into individual PW cycles, selecting an individual PW cycle as a query cycle, screening a library of synthetic PW cycles with the query cycle to find a solution PW, and reporting a model parameter associated with the solution PW. A system for monitoring a cardiovascular parameter includes a monitoring device and a computer with software to perform the method.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for estimating state of a cardiovascular system, comprising a cardiac stroke volume analyzer, comprising: (1) a blood pressure sensor generating a time-varying pressure state waveform output from a limb of the person; (2) a system processor connected to the blood pressure sensor; and (3) a dynamic state-space model; the system processor receiving cardiovascular input data, from the blood pressure sensor, related to a transient pressure state of the cardiovascular system; at least one probabilistic model, of the dynamic state-space model, operating on the time-varying pressure state waveform output to generate a probability distribution function to a non-pressure state of the cardiovascular system; iteratively updating the probability distribution function using output from the blood pressure sensor; and processing the probability distribution function to generate a non-pressure state output related to stroke volume of a heart of the person and arterial compliance

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for: (1) alternatingly in time inflating and deflating a sealed compartment that includes: a first flexible and deformable seal connected to a pressure control chamber; (2) alternatingly in time pumping a gas into a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a first piston in a first partially sealed cylinder of a double acting kinematic cylinder, the double acting kinematic cylinder further comprising a second partially sealed cylinder, including: a second piston and the pressure control chamber, the pressure control chamber both on a first side of the second piston and within the second partially sealed cylinder; and (3) transferring a force from the first piston to the second piston via a rigid coupler affixed at a first end to the first piston and at a second end to the second piston, such as to alternating inflate and deflate a seal.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and a method for operating a cardiac assist pump, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a cardiac monitor comprising: a cardiac output sensor including an activity sensor and at least two of: a pulse oximeter; an electrocardiogram meter; and a blood pressure monitor; (2) receiving time-varying cardiovascular input data, from the cardiac output sensor, related to a transient hemodynamic state of a cardiovascular system; (3) receiving and operating on time-varying activity input data, from the activity sensor, to generate cardiovascular state information; (4) sensing activity with the activity sensor to generate a target cardiovascular state; (5) repeating both the steps of receiving and operating to update the transient cardiovascular state information and the step of sensing to update the target cardiovascular state; and (6) directing the cardiac assist pump to adjust assisted blood flow, yielding the updated transient cardiovascular state, toward the target cardiovascula

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and a method for aiding function of a heart, comprising the steps of: (1) sensing a pulse; (2) providing a blood flow assist device, comprising: a first electroactive polymer sleeve segment circumferentially positioned about a portion of a first body part and a second electroactive polymer sleeve segment circumferentially positioned about a segment of a second body part; (3) sequentially constricting, timed to the pulse, the first electroactive polymer sleeve segment and the second electroactive polymer sleeve segment to aid the heart in circulation of blood; and (4) repeating the step of sensing the pulse and the step of constricting.

Abstract: The invention comprises a cardiovascular state monitoring apparatus and a method for operating a drug delivery system, comprising the steps of: (1) receiving to the cardiovascular state monitoring/drug delivery system a first time-varying cardiovascular input waveform from at least one of: a pulse oximeter and a blood pressure monitor; (2) operating on the time-varying cardiovascular input waveform to generate transient cardiovascular state information, comprising at least one of: a current left ventricle stroke volume, a current blood pressure, a current arterial compliance, and a current blood flow rate; and (3) directing the drug delivery system to deliver a drug based on the generated transient cardiovascular state information.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for estimating state of a cardiovascular system, comprising a cardiac stroke volume analyzer, comprising: (1) a blood pressure sensor generating a time-varying pressure state waveform output from a limb of the person; (2) a system processor connected to the blood pressure sensor; and (3) a dynamic state-space model; the system processor receiving cardiovascular input data, from the blood pressure sensor, related to a transient pressure state of the cardiovascular system; at least one probabilistic model, of the dynamic state-space model, operating on the time-varying pressure state waveform output to generate a probability distribution function to a non-pressure state of the cardiovascular system; iteratively updating the probability distribution function using output from the blood pressure sensor; and processing the probability distribution function to generate a non-pressure state output related to stroke volume of a heart of the person and arterial compliance

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using a computer configured exercise system equipped with an electric motor to provide physical resistance to user motion in conjunction with means for sharing exercise system related data and/or user performance data with a secondary user, such as a medical professional, a physical therapist, a trainer, a computer generated competitor, and/or a human competitor. For example, the exercise system is used with a remote trainer to enhance exercise performance, with a remote medical professional for rehabilitation, and/or with a competitor in a competition, such as in a power/weightlifting competition or in a video game. The exercise system is optionally configured with an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator functioning as a personal assistant application.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using a computer configured exercise system equipped with an electric motor to provide physical resistance to user motion in conjunction with means for sharing exercise system related data and/or user performance data with a secondary user, such as a medical professional, a physical therapist, a trainer, a computer generated competitor, and/or a human competitor. For example, the exercise system is used with a remote trainer to enhance exercise performance, with a remote medical professional for rehabilitation, and/or with a competitor in a competition, such as in a power/weightlifting competition or in a video game. The exercise system is optionally configured with an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator functioning as a personal assistant application.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using a computer configured exercise system equipped with an electric motor to provide physical resistance to user motion in conjunction with means for sharing exercise system related data and/or user performance data with a secondary user, such as a medical professional, a physical therapist, a trainer, a computer generated competitor, and/or a human competitor. For example, the exercise system is used with a remote trainer to enhance exercise performance, with a remote medical professional for rehabilitation, and/or with a competitor in a competition, such as in a power/weightlifting competition or in a video game. The exercise system is optionally configured with an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator functioning as a personal assistant application.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring, collecting, and processing the temperatures of a number of hot junctions in a thermocouple sensor array simultaneously comprises means for measuring the temperature of one or more reference junctions and means for collecting, processing, storing, and transmitting data collected from an array of thermocouple temperature sensors. The measured temperature(s) of the one or more reference junctions is used to correct the measured voltage in each of a plurality of thermocouple circuits to obtain accurate hot junction temperature measurements. The apparatus and method are particularly useful for collecting and processing temperature data from various locations within engines such as turbine, rocket, and internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A probabilistic data signal processor used to determine health of a system is described. Initial probability distribution functions are input to a dynamic state-space model, which iteratively operates on probability distribution functions, such as state and model probability distribution functions, to generate a prior probability distribution function, which is input to a probabilistic updater. The probabilistic updater integrates sensor data with the prior to generate a posterior probability distribution function passed to a probabilistic sampler, which estimates one or more parameters using the posterior, which is output or re-sampled and used as an input to the dynamic state-space model in the iterative algorithm. In various embodiments, the probabilistic data signal processor is used to filter output from any mechanical device using appropriate physical models, which optionally include chemical, electrical, optical, mechanical, or fluid based models.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using computer configured exercise equipment and an electric motor provided physical resistance in conjunction with a game system, such as a video game system, where the exercise system provides real physical resistance to a user interface. Results of user interaction with the user interface are integrated into a video game, such as running on a game console. The resistance system comprises: a subject interface, software control, a controller, an electric servo assist/resist motor, an actuator, and/or a subject sensor. The system provides actual physical interaction with a resistance device as input to the game console and game run thereon.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using a computer configured exercise system equipped with an electric motor to provide physical resistance to user motion in conjunction with means for sharing exercise system related data and/or user performance data with a secondary user, such as a medical professional, a physical therapist, a trainer, a computer generated competitor, and/or a human competitor. For example, the exercise system is used with a remote trainer to enhance exercise performance, with a remote medical professional for rehabilitation, and/or with a competitor in a competition, such as in a power/weightlifting competition or in a video game. The exercise system is optionally configured with an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator functioning as a personal assistant application.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and/or an apparatus using computer configured exercise equipment and an electric motor provided physical resistance in conjunction with a game system, such as a video game system, where the exercise system provides real physical resistance to a user interface. Results of user interaction with the user interface are integrated into a video game, such as running on a game console. The resistance system comprises: a subject interface, software control, a controller, an electric servo assist/resist motor, an actuator, and/or a subject sensor. The system provides actual physical interaction with a resistance device as input to the game console and game run thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring, collecting, and processing the temperatures of a number of hot junctions in a thermocouple sensor array simultaneously comprises means for measuring the temperature of one or more reference junctions and means for collecting, processing, storing, and transmitting data collected from an array of thermocouple temperature sensors. The measured temperature(s) of the one or more reference junctions is used to correct the measured voltage in each of a plurality of thermocouple circuits to obtain accurate hot junction temperature measurements. The apparatus and method are particularly useful for collecting and processing temperature data from various locations within engines such as turbine, rocket, and internal combustion engines.