Abstract: A computer system is disclosed comprising a processor arrangement communicatively coupled to a data storage arrangement storing a digital model of a section of a lumen system of a patient; and a communication module communicatively coupled to said processor arrangement and arranged to receive sensor data pertaining to an internal parameter of said lumen system from a sensor within said section of the lumen system. The processor arrangement is arranged to receive said sensor data from the communication module; retrieve said digital model from the data storage arrangement; simulate an actual physical condition of said lumen system by developing said digital model based on the received sensor data; and generate an output relating to said simulated actual physical condition for updating an electronic device. Also disclosed is a method of monitoring a patient with such a computer system, a computer program product for implementing such a method and a patient monitoring system.

Abstract: A nozzle (12) for an oral irrigator device (10) having a guidance tip (34) with an orifice at one end, and a dynamic nozzle actuator (64) positioned within said guidance tip. The orifice (36) is configured to expel a fluid as one of a jet, a spray, or any combination thereof. The dynamic nozzle actuator (64) comprises at least one responsive material adapted for being energized and configured to implement at least one dynamic actuation of an effective channel (62) for dynamically influencing at least one of (i) a direction of fluid expelled from the orifice (36), (ii) an angle of fluid expelled from the orifice (36), (iii) a cross-sectional width of fluid expelled from the orifice (36), and (iv) any combination thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for determining an amount of risk an air pollutant poses to a subject. A risk level is calculated by determining a dosage of the air pollutant, received by the subject over a predetermined period of time, and obtaining historic information about historic dosages of the air pollutant. The risk level is then calculated using the dosage and the historic information to thereby determine a risk level associated with the accumulated deposition of the air pollutant in the portion of the subject's respiratory tract.

Abstract: An intravascular device (200) comprising an active member (202) for reversibly expanding a radial extension of the intravascular device inside a luminal extension of the vessel and comprising a reversibly deformable active membrane (206) that is arranged and configured to change its shape against a variable intravascular fluid pressure exerted on the active membrane in an inserted state by an intravascular fluid, an intravascular pressure compensation cavity (208), which is fluidicly sealed from the intravascular fluid and which includes a first chamber (208.1) that is covered by the active membrane (206), and a second chamber (208.2) that is covered by a compensation membrane (210), which is reversibly deformable in response to the variable intravascular fluid pressure, wherein the first chamber (208.1) and the second chamber (208.2) are in pressure communication with each other and, via the active membrane (206) and the compensation membrane (210), with the intravascular fluid.

Abstract: A sensor device comprising a passive matrix array of electroactive sensor elements arranged in rows and columns. In one example, each sensor element generates a binary sensor signal such that a total signal at each row and at each column enables any pattern of external inputs to be determined. This provides a first way to determine a pattern of sensor elements which are sensing an input using a passive matrix addressing scheme. In another example, each sensor element generates a sensor signal with a different frequency characteristic. This provides another way to enable any pattern of external inputs to be determined.

Abstract: A friction control device (44) is adapted to induce a lateral strain (or stretching) within a human tissue surface to which the device is applied, in order thereby to reduce the static friction between the device and the human tissue surface. The strain is induced by means of an actuator arrangement adapted to effect a relative separation of a plurality of contact surface regions (40) of the device, such that when said regions are pressed onto the receiving surface, the relative separation induces a strain in at least the region of the receiving surface falling between the locations of the applied regions. The extent of separation matches or exceeds the minimum extent necessary to overcome static friction.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a sensor for measuring a physiological parameter of a subject, wherein the physiological parameter sensor is adapted to be worn by the subject; an actuator comprising an electro-active polymer material, EAP, portion for adjusting the position of the physiological parameter sensor relative to the subject; a feedback sensor for measuring movement of the physiological parameter sensor and/or the subject; a controller configured to process the measurements of the feedback sensor and to adjust the position of the actuator based on information from the feedback sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to electroactive material actuators (and combined sensor-actuators) having embedded magnetic particles for facilitating enhanced actuation and/or sensing effects.

Abstract: A blood flow measurement system for measuring a blood flow quantity such as flow velocity or flow volume inside a blood vessel includes an intravascular blood flow measurement device with a body that comprises an expandable body section. A control unit sequentially provides a size control signal indicative of a respective one of the at least two predetermined expandable sizes to be assumed by the expandable body section. A pressure sensor unit measures respective sequences of blood pressure signals over a measuring time span defined with respect to a heart cycle period. A flow determination unit uses the values of cross sectional area of the expandable body section, the associated pressure signals and a known value of a density of blood, to calculate a value of a blood flow quantity inside the blood vessel based on Bernoulli's law.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interventional instrument like a catheter comprising an ultrasound unit (41) and a rotation unit (5) for rotating the ultrasound unit, wherein the rotation unit comprises an actuation element (8) being an electroactive polymer or a one-way shape memory alloy for actuating the rotation of the ultrasound unit. Since the rotation unit comprises, as an actuation element for actuating the rotation of the ultrasound unit, an electroactive polymer or a one-way shape memory alloy, the rotation unit with the actuation element can be very compact and small.

Abstract: An intravascular Doppler ultrasonic device comprises a tip region forming a fraction of a catheter body at a distal end thereof and carrying an ultrasound probe. The tip region is bendable in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction. An actuator is provided in the tip region, which is configured to receive actuation drive power provided through the catheter body and to exert to the tip region a bending moment of a controllable amount. An actuation controller is configured to control actuation drive power delivery to the actuator so as to control the amount of the bending moment. A Doppler spectrum analysis unit is configured to receive Doppler spectrum data and to determine from it a Doppler signal quality measure indicative of a signal quality of the Doppler spectrum. The actuation controller is configured to determine the actuation drive power in dependence on the determined Doppler signal quality measure.

Abstract: A patient interface device uses a pressure flap which extends inwardly from an outer edge of a mask of the device. The pressure flap is for contacting the skin of the patient to provide a seal or partial seal between the mask volume and the ambient surroundings. The pressure flap includes a cavity area which is exposed to a reduced pressure compared to the mask volume. This assists in keeping the pressure flap pressed against the patient's skin, and thereby maintain a large contact area. This in turn gives a reduction in local high pressure areas.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasound array comprising a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements (20) on a carrier (10), said carrier further carrying an actuator arrangement (30, 30?) of a material having an adjustable shape in response to an electromagnetic stimulus, e.g. an electro active polymer or optically responsive polymer, wherein the material is arranged to change the orientation of said ultrasound transducer elements in response to said stimulus. This facilitates configurable beam shaping and/or body contour matching with the ultrasound array. An ultrasound system (100) comprising such an ultrasound array is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to electroactive material actuators (and combined sensor-actuators) having embedded magnetic particles for facilitating enhanced actuation and/or sensing effects.

Abstract: A flow control device comprises a laminate structure of an electroactive material layer and a non-actuatable layer. An array of orifices is formed in one of the layers wherein the orifices are open in one of the rest state and actuated state and the orifices are closed in the other of the rest state and actuated state. Actuation of the electroactive material layer causes orifices to open and close so that flow control function may be implemented.

Abstract: A breastfeeding supporting system and a corresponding method are disclosed, the breastfeeding supporting system (1) comprising a nipple shield (10) adapted to be positioned at least partly over the areola and nipple of a breast of a breastfeeding woman, a capacitive pressure sensing unit (20) for sensing a capacity of at least part of a surface of the nipple shield, a processing unit (40) adapted to process the sensed surface capacity to derive at least one parameter of an infant interacting with the nipple of the breastfeeding woman. The breastfeeding supporting system and corresponding method eliminate at least some concerns related to breastfeeding.

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: The invention relates generally to electroactive material actuators (and combined sensor-actuators) having embedded magnetic particles (42) for facilitating enhanced actuation and/or sensing effects.

Abstract: A flow sensor comprises an electroactive material device. A driver controls the electroactive material device to deliver heat locally to the flowing medium for which the flow is to be sensed. Temperature sensing signals are obtained and these are used to derive a flow measurement. The way the heat is dissipated relates to the flow, and it is measurable based on the temperature sensing signals. The temperature sensing involves measuring an electrical characteristic which comprises an impedance or an impedance phase angle of the electroactive material device at at least a first frequency and at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The influences of temperature and pressure can in this way be decoupled so that the temperature can be measured at any pressure.

Abstract: An actuator device comprises a stack formed from a plurality of photoresponsive layers, which deform in response to light, which are partitioned by respective deformable non-photoresponsive layers. The deformable non-photoresponsive layers guide light between and to the photoresponsive layers, and can follow the deformation of the photoresponsive layers.