Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: The invention comprises a gastric device having a pouch formed from a degradable film. Preferably, the pouch contains a gas producing material. The gastric device hydrates within a patient's stomach and the gas producing material expands the device to a greater volume. Accordingly, the volume of the hydrated, expanded gastric devices occupy space in the stomach cavity and reduce the amount of food the patient will ingest before reaching the feeling of fullness. Preferably, the gastric device is made from food grade materials. The gastric device is configured to expand to a desired volume and then degrade after a residence time, allowing the device to be passed by the patient's normal digestive process.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method samples a body fluid of a patient. The method includes providing a fluid handling system having one or more fluid passageways. The method further includes infusing an infusion fluid by way of a fluid handling system into a patient through one or more fluid passageways. The method further includes obtaining a sample of body fluid by way of a fluid handling system from a patient through one or more fluid passageways. The obtained sample is no more than 400 microliters in volume. The method further includes analyzing at least an analyzed portion of the obtained sample by way of an analyte detection system operatively associated with the fluid handling system to determine a concentration of at least one analyte.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method samples a body fluid of a patient. The method includes providing a fluid handling system having one or more fluid passageways. The method further includes infusing an infusion fluid by way of a fluid handling system into a patient through one or more fluid passageways. The method further includes obtaining a sample of body fluid by way of a fluid handling system from a patient through one or more fluid passageways. The obtained sample is no more than 5 milliliters in volume. The method further includes analyzing at least an analyzed portion of the obtained sample by way of an analyte detection system operatively associated with the fluid handling system to determine a concentration of at least one analyte.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method of maintaining health of a patient uses an analyte detection system. The analyte detection system is coupled to the patient such that a bodily fluid of the patient is accessible to the analyte detection system. The method includes automatically initiating and conducting a measurement of an analyte in the bodily fluid using the analyte detection system. The method further includes determining a treatment dose for the patient based on the measurement using the analyte detection system.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus analyzes the composition of bodily fluid. The apparatus comprises a fluid handling network including a patient end configured to maintain fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient and at least one pump intermittently operable to draw a sample of bodily fluid from the patient. The apparatus further comprises a fluid analyzer positioned to analyze at least a portion of the sample and measure the presence of two or more analytes. Also disclosed is a method for analyzing the composition of a bodily fluid in a patient. The method comprises drawing a sample of the bodily fluid of the patient through a fluid handling network configured to maintain fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient. The method further comprises analyzing the at least a portion of the sample in a fluid analyzer to estimate the concentration of two or more analytes in the sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that permit an analyte concentration to be estimated from a measurement in the presence of compounds that interfere with the measurement. The method reduces the error in the analyte concentration in the presence of interferents. The method includes the use of a set of measurements obtained for a large population having a range of known analyte and interfering compound concentrations. From a sample measurement, which may or may not be one of the population, likely present interferents are identified, and a calibration vector is calculated.

Abstract: Methods and associated algorithms for determining cardiac and/or cardiovascular performance that are based on at least one cardiac function determinant associated with or at least in part, reflective of preload, contractility and afterload.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing the composition of bodily fluid. The apparatus comprises a fluid handling network including a patient end configured to maintain fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient and at least one pump intermittently operable to draw a sample of bodily fluid from the patient. The apparatus further comprises a fluid analyzer positioned to analyze at least a portion of the sample and measure the presence of two or more analytes. Also disclosed is a method for analyzing the composition of a bodily fluid in a patient. The method comprises drawing a sample of the bodily fluid of the patient through a fluid handling network configured to maintain fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient. The method further comprises analyzing the at least a portion of the sample in a fluid analyzer to estimate the concentration of two or more analytes in the sample.

Abstract: The invention comprises a gastric device having an outer region and a gas producing material. The gastric device hydrates within a patient's stomach and the gas producing material expands the device to a greater volume. Accordingly, the volume of the hydrated, expanded gastric devices occupy space in the stomach cavity and reduce the amount of food the patient will ingest before reaching the feeling of fullness. Preferably, the gastric device is made from food grade materials. The gastric device is configured to expand to a desired volume and then degrade after a residence time, allowing the device to be passed by the patient's normal digestive process.

Abstract: A non-invasive method of determining a physiological characteristic, comprising providing at least one physiological sensor that is adapted to measure at least one physiological characteristic at a target measurement site on a subject's body, heating an extended tissue region on the subject's body, whereby blood perfusion of the tissue region is enhanced, and measuring at least one physiological characteristic with the physiological sensor during or within a predetermined period after heating the extended tissue region.

Abstract: A physiological sensor apparatus, system and method for determining a physiological characteristic, comprising providing at least one physiological sensor that is adapted to measure at least one physiological characteristic at a target measurement site on a subject's body, heating an extended tissue region on the subject's body, whereby blood perfusion of the tissue region is enhanced, and measuring at least one physiological characteristic at the target measurement site with the physiological sensor during or within a predetermined period after heating the extended tissue region. In one embodiment, the sensor system includes at least one temperature algorithm that is adapted to adjust the heat applied to the extended tissue region based on the body's response to the heat stimuli.

Abstract: A method determines an analyte concentration in a sample. The sample includes the analyte and a substance. The method includes providing absorption data of the sample. The method further includes providing reference absorption data of the substance. The method further includes calculating a substance contribution of the absorption data. The method further includes subtracting the substance contribution from the absorption data, thereby providing corrected absorption data substantially free of a contribution from the substance.

Abstract: A reagentless whole-blood analyte detection system that is capable of being deployed near a patient has a source capable of emitting a beam of radiation that includes a spectral band. The whole-blood system also has a detector in an optical path of the beam. The whole-blood system also has a housing that is configured to house the source and the detector. The whole-blood system also has a sample element that is situated in the optical path of the beam. The sample element has a sample cell and a sample cell wall that does not eliminate transmittance of the beam of radiation in the spectral band.

Abstract: A method for determining a cardiac function, comprising (i) determining base anatomical characteristics associated with the subject, (ii) determining pulse delay to a first body site (PD01) and a second body site (PD02) as a function of the anatomical characteristics, wherein the distance via the arterial tree from the aortic valve to the first body site (PD01) is different than the arterial tree distance from the aortic valve to the second body site (PD02), (iii) determining pulse wave velocity between the first body site and the second body site (PWV12), (iv) determining pulse wave velocity between the aortic valve and the first body site (PWV01) as a function of PWV12, and the anatomical characteristics; and (v) determining the pre-ejection period (PEP) as a function of PD01 and PWV01.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described that permit an analyte concentration to be estimated from a measurement in the presence of compounds that interfere with the measurement. The method reduces the error in the analyte concentration in the presence of interferents. The method includes the use of a set of measurements obtained for a large population having a range of known analyte and interfering compound concentrations. From a sample measurement, which may or may not be one of the population, likely present interferents are identified, and a calibration vector is calculated.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for determining oxygen saturation in a subject, comprising the steps of compiling a data base of measured spectral data that includes pulsatile AC and non-pulsatile DC components, and spectral values of oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb) and deoxyhemoglobin (deoxyHb); determining absorbed pulsatile components and non-pulsatile components as a function of the oxyHb and deoxyHb values; determining total pulsatile and non-pulsatile optical density as a function of the absorbed pulsatile and non-pulsatile components; determining a mathematical relationship between at least one pulsatile AC parameter and at least one non-pulsatile DC parameter; and estimating oxygen saturation based on the mathematical relationship.