Abstract: A method to evaluate respiratory health includes obtaining (i) one or more lung acoustic signals and (ii) one or more bioimpedance spectroscopy signals, wherein the one or more acoustic signals and the one or more bioimpedance spectroscopy signals are concurrently acquired over multiple respiratory cycles; generating values for (i) a first set of plurality of statistical features and/or a first set of time-frequency domain features using the obtained one or more lung acoustic signals and (ii) a second set of plurality of statistical features and/or a second set of time-frequency domain features using the obtained one or more bioimpedance spectroscopy signals; and generating, using one or more trained classifiers, a respiratory health value representative of a respiratory health of the patient by application of the values of the first and second sets of plurality of statistical features and time-frequency domain features to the one or more trained classifiers.

Abstract: A disposable diagnostic device includes a body having a first channel and a second channel spaced from the first channel. A shroud is operably fixed to the body and encloses a chamber which is configured in a hermetically sealed-off relation from the first and second channels when the device is in a non-activated first state and is in open communication with at least one of the first and second channels when the device is in an activated second state. A reactant and an inert gas are disposed in the chamber such that the inert gas protects the reactant from being exposed to contaminants when the device is in said non-activated first state. A method of constructing a disposable diagnostic device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed infection control systems and devices can be easily and quickly deployed by clinicians and staff in emergent and routine medical environments to provide adequate protection from bio-aerosolized and droplet material while allowing appropriate access to and visibility of the patient during such procedures. The infection control devices may include a base member and a frame disposed on the base member. The frame may be configured to move between a collapsed state and an expanded state with respect to the base member. The frame may include a first support member and a second support member configured to extend vertically from the base member when in the expanded state. The devices may include an enclosure member that is disposed on the frame and the base member and configured to define an enclosure above the base member. The devices may also include access member(s) configured to provide access to the enclosure.

Abstract: An organ preservation system includes a housing, an organ perfusion circuit disposed within the housing, and a dual direction bubble trap disposed within the organ perfusion circuit. The dual direction bubble trap can include an upper interior chamber, a lower interior chamber, an air vent valve, and a hydrophobic membrane disposed between the upper interior chamber and the air vent valve. During operation, when fluid is pumped by a fluid pump into the dual direction bubble trap from either a retrograde or antegrade direction, air passes through the hydrophic membrane and is vented through the air vent valve until such time that the interior chamber is full of fluid which causes the air vent valve to close. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A blister actuator assembly for actuating a blister assembly of a diagnostic cartridge assembly and dispensing fluid from the blister assembly is provided. The blister actuator assembly includes an articulated actuator having a drive body and a plurality of driven links. The drive body is configured to translate generally along a first axis from a non-deployed position to a deployed position upon being acted on by an actuation force directed generally along the first axis. The driven links extend in inclined relation from the drive body, with the driven links being configured to pivot relative to the drive body into forcible engagement with the blister assembly to dispense fluid from the blister assembly in response to the drive body translating along the first axis.

Abstract: A diagnostic cartridge and method of performing a diagnostic test are provided. The cartridge includes a body having a sample chamber for receipt of a sample, an analysis chamber, and a reagent-containing dispensing member. A valve member is coupled to the body for selective movement between first and second states. The valve member has a fluid passage with a hydroscopic, gas permeable vent. In the first state, the fluid passage is out of fluid communication with the sample chamber and is registered for fluid communication with the reagent-containing dispensing member. The vent prevents fluid from passing therethrough and allows air to vent therefrom as reagent flows into and fills the fluid passage. In the second state, the fluid passage remains in fluid communication with the reagent-containing dispensing member and is brought into fluid communication with the sample chamber to facilitate transporting the sample to the analysis chamber.

Abstract: The disclosed infection control systems and devices can be easily and quickly deployed by clinicians and staff in emergent and routine medical environments to provide adequate protection from bio-aerosolized and droplet material while allowing appropriate access to and visibility of the patient during such procedures. The infection control devices may include a base member and a frame disposed on the base member. The frame may be configured to move between a collapsed state and an expanded state with respect to the base member. The frame may include a first support member and a second support member configured to extend vertically from the base member when in the expanded state. The devices may include an enclosure member that is disposed on the frame and the base member and configured to define an enclosure above the base member. The devices may also include access member(s) configured to provide access to the enclosure.

Abstract: A method of forming a gun barrel is disclosed that includes cold gas-dynamic spraying one or more coatings onto a mandrel. The method may also include heat treating the coating layer(s), contouring the outer coating layer, applying a ceramic top coating to the contoured outer coating layer of the gun barrel, and/or sealing the gun barrel with a liquid metal sealer. The method may also include removing the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for connecting two tubular vessels together in a side-by-side or tangential manner is disclosed. The apparatus has an annulus and at least one series of fingers connected to and extending away from the annulus. Each finger is preferably heat-formed into an arcuate shape. In use, a deployment apparatus is used to constrain the fingers of the apparatus to be in a relatively planar configuration. The deployment apparatus containing the apparatus is placed between and in contact with the two tubular vessels so that one tubular vessel is above the device and one tubular vessel is below the device and so that the fingers of the device come into contact with the tissue of the vessels. As the fingers penetrate the vessels the constraint on the fingers is removed so that the fingers can assume their unbiased, heat-formed arcuate shape. In this way, the fingers penetrate and grasp the tissue of the vessels so that the apparatus grasps the vessels and pulls the vessels toward each other.

Abstract: A diagnostic cartridge and method of performing a diagnostic test are provided. The cartridge includes a body having a sample chamber for receipt of a sample, an analysis chamber, and a reagent-containing dispensing member. A valve member is coupled to the body for selective movement between first and second states. The valve member has a fluid passage with a hydroscopic, gas permeable vent. In the first state, the fluid passage is out of fluid communication with the sample chamber and is registered for fluid communication with the reagent-containing dispensing member. The vent prevents fluid from passing therethrough and allows air to vent therefrom as reagent flows into and fills the fluid passage. In the second state, the fluid passage remains in fluid communication with the reagent-containing dispensing member and is brought into fluid communication with the sample chamber to facilitate transporting the sample to the analysis chamber.

Abstract: A single-use, consumable diagnostic cartridge and method of performing a diagnostic test are provided. The cartridge has a sample inlet opening, an inlet port, a sample receiving chamber, an analysis chamber and a fluid channel extending between the sample receiving chamber and analysis chamber. A rupturable blister contains a fluid for selective mixing with a sample selectively disposed in the sample receiving chamber. A valve member, having a sample through port and a fluid passage, is selectively moveable between closed and open states. In the closed state, the fluid passage is out of fluid communication with the sample, and the sample through port is registered with the sample inlet opening and the sample receiving chamber. In the open state, the fluid passage extends between the inlet port and the sample receiving chamber to allow fluid dispelled from the blister to transport the sample to the analysis chamber.

Abstract: Methods and systems relate to determining sensory motor performance based on user non-postural movements within a generated dynamic virtual environment. The generated environment requires users to: (i) utilize primary sensor inputs (e.g., vision, vestibular sensation and somatosensation); (ii) assess the dynamic virtual environment; and (iii) integrate and translate those inputs into movement to control the dynamic virtual environment. The methods may include receiving non-postural user input with respect to a state of one or more attributes of a dynamic virtual environment provided on a user interface for one or more sessions, the one or more attributes including a control object and a target which moves with respect to the control object; determining performance information based on the user input and the state of the one or more attributes for the one or more sessions; and determining sensory motor performance information from the performance information.

Abstract: A mechanical actuator system for performing an assay on a disposable diagnostic cartridge having a plurality of fluid-containing blisters includes a body configured to carry the disposable diagnostic cartridge in stationary relation thereon. A lead screw is operably supported by the body and a drive motor is operably connected to the lead screw. A carriage is threadedly coupled to the lead screw, with the carriage having upper and lower wall spaced from one another. A roller is operably carried by the upper wall of the carriage. The roller is spaced from the lower wall for passage of the diagnostic cartridge between the roller and the lower wall. A driven gear is operably coupled to the roller in meshed engagement with the lead screw. Actuation of the drive motor causes the lead screw to rotate, thereby translating the carriage along the lead screw and concurrently causing the driven gear to rotate the roller.

Abstract: A diagnostic cartridge and method of performing a diagnostic test are provided. The cartridge includes a body having a sample chamber for receipt of a sample, an analysis chamber, and a reagent-containing dispensing member. A valve member is coupled to the body for selective movement between first and second states. The valve member has a fluid passage with a hydroscopic, gas permeable vent. In the first state, the fluid passage is out of fluid communication with the sample chamber and is registered for fluid communication with the reagent-containing dispensing member. The vent prevents fluid from passing therethrough and allows air to vent therefrom as reagent flows into and fills the fluid passage. In the second state, the fluid passage remains in fluid communication with the reagent-containing dispensing member and is brought into fluid communication with the sample chamber to facilitate transporting the sample to the analysis chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for connecting two tubular vessels together in a side-by-side or tangential manner is disclosed. The apparatus has an annulus and at least one series of fingers connected to and extending away from the annulus. Each finger is preferably heat-formed into an arcuate shape. In use, a deployment apparatus is used to constrain the fingers of the apparatus to be in a relatively planar configuration. The deployment apparatus containing the apparatus is placed between and in contact with the two tubular vessels so that one tubular vessel is above the device and one tubular vessel is below the device and so that the fingers of the device come into contact with the tissue of the vessels. As the fingers penetrate the vessels the constraint on the fingers is removed so that the fingers can assume their unbiased, heat-formed arcuate shape. In this way, the fingers penetrate and grasp the tissue of the vessels so that the apparatus grasps the vessels and pulls the vessels toward each other.

Abstract: A method of constructing a point-of-care diagnostic apparatus and fluid storage and delivery apparatus therefor is provided. The method of constructing the fluid storage and delivery apparatus includes providing a flexible upper layer having a reservoir; providing a flexible lower layer having a valve member; providing a rigid substrate having an upper surface, a lower surface and a through port; disposing a fluid in the reservoir; and sandwiching the rigid substrate between the upper and lower layers and bonding the upper layer to the upper surface of the rigid substrate with the reservoir registered with the through port and bonding the lower layer to the lower surface of the rigid substrate with the valve member registered with the through port. The method of constructing the point-of-care diagnostic apparatus includes fixing the fluid storage and delivery apparatus to a rigid base in selective fluid communication with a reaction chamber.

Abstract: A portable, disposable in-vitro diagnostic apparatus and method of performing a point-of-care invitro-diagnostic test is provided. The method includes disposing a specimen to be analyzed in a disposable diagnostic apparatus. Then, channeling a first fluid through a first channel into a first chamber and causing an actuator member to expand upon contact with the fluid from a compressed, deactivated state to an expanded, activated state, thereby causing a second fluid to be pumped outwardly from the first chamber under bias of the actuator to a second chamber for analysis.

Abstract: A disposable, point-of-care diagnostic cartridge and method of performing an invitro diagnostic test on a specimen are provided. The cartridge includes a base having a mixing chamber is formed thereon. The mixing chamber has a mixing chamber inlet and a mixing chamber outlet. A detection chamber is formed downstream from the mixing chamber in fluid communication therewith. The mixing chamber includes a mixing reservoir bounded at least in part by a flexible upper member. The flexible upper member is expandable to accommodate an increase in volume of fluid and collapsible to dispense fluid outwardly from the mixing reservoir. The mixing chamber inlet has an inlet valve member that provides one way flow of fluid into the mixing reservoir. The mixing chamber outlet has an outlet valve member that provides one way flow of fluid outwardly from the mixing reservoir to the detection chamber.

Abstract: A portable, disposable in-vitro diagnostic apparatus and method of performing a point-of-care in vitro-diagnostic test is provided. The method includes disposing a specimen to be analyzed in a disposable diagnostic apparatus. Then, channeling a first fluid through a first channel into a first chamber and causing an actuator member to expand upon contact with the fluid from a compressed, deactivated state to an expanded, activated state, thereby causing a second fluid to be pumped outwardly from the first chamber under bias of the actuator to a second chamber for analysis.

Abstract: A single-use, consumable diagnostic cartridge and method of performing a diagnostic test are provided. The cartridge has a sample inlet opening, an inlet port, a sample receiving chamber, an analysis chamber and a fluid channel extending between the sample receiving chamber and analysis chamber. A rupturable blister contains a fluid for selective mixing with a sample selectively disposed in the sample receiving chamber. A valve member, having a sample through port and a fluid passage, is selectively moveable between closed and open states. In the closed state, the fluid passage is out of fluid communication with the sample, and the sample through port is registered with the sample inlet opening and the sample receiving chamber. In the open state, the fluid passage extends between the inlet port and the sample receiving chamber to allow fluid dispelled from the blister to transport the sample to the analysis chamber.