Abstract: The proposed invention helps a person to identify his/her passion using an automated online conversational system (hereinafter “bot”). The bot engages with the person via a conversation and based on the responses from the person helps the person in identifying his/her passion. The entire conversation is text based so as to allow the user more flexibility in expressing himself/herself. The answers of the user are analyzed by the bot using natural language processing techniques to fire a series of questions with the ultimate aim of identification of passion. The sequence in which questions are fired are rule driven based on the responses of the user. The user communication with the bot is via a user interface across three different devices viz—web, Android™ and iOS™.

Abstract: A system for estimating the volume of fluid in the bladder sequentially scans the bladder with ultrasonic beams that section the bladder into a number of transverse planes. The system determines, from the scan lines associated with a given plane, a plurality of points on each of the front and back walls of the bladder. It then fits a curve to the set of front wall points and another curve to the set of back wall points, to determine an outline of the bladder in the plane. The system next calculates the cross sectional area of the bladder in the plane based on the two curves. After determining the area in each of the planes, the system determines the volume of the bladder by summing weighted version of the planar areas. The system includes a transducer that consists of a plurality of piezo-electric elements held in a relatively thin elastomeric pad and/or substrate that is acoustically impedance matched to skin.

Abstract: A system for estimating the volume of fluid in the bladder sequentially scans the bladder with ultrasonic beams that section the bladder into a number of transverse planes. The system determines, from the scan lines associated with a given plane, a plurality of points on each of the front and back walls of the bladder. It then fits a curve to the set of front wall points and another curve to the set of back wall points, to determine an outline of the bladder in the plane. The system next calculates the cross sectional area of the bladder in the plane based on the two curves. After determining the area in each of the planes, the system determines the volume of the bladder by summing weighted version of the planar areas. The system includes a transducer that consists of a plurality of piezo-electric elements held in a relatively thin elastomeric pad and/or substrate that is acoustically impedance matched to skin.

Abstract: A system for estimating the volume of fluid in the bladder sequentially scans the bladder with ultrasonic beams that section the bladder into a number of transverse planes. The system determines, from the scan lines associated with a given plane, a plurality of points on each of the front and back walls of the bladder. It then fits a curve to the set of front wall points and another curve to the set of back wall points, to determine an outline of the bladder in the plane. The system next calculates the cross sectional area of the bladder in the plane based on the two curves. After determining the area in each of the planes, the system determines the volume of the bladder by summing weighted version of the planar areas. The system includes a transducer that consists of a plurality of piezo-electric elements held in a relatively thin elastomeric pad and/or substrate that is acoustically impedance matched to skin.

Abstract: An electrical connector (70) for use in connecting an ultrasonic transducer (16) to a coaxial cable (88) running through a catheter (10). The transducer is normally disposed at a distal end of the catheter and is removably attached to and supported by the electrical connector. The connector includes a plastic collar (72), and a pair of cylindrical, flexible conductive ring clips (74 and 76). Enlarged rims (82) on the ring clips are molded into the connector in coaxial alignment, and the ring clips are spaced apart from each other by a distance that corresponds to the thickness of the cylindrical transducer, but are slightly closer together at their projecting ends. Each ring clip include a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart slots (84) to define a plurality of fingers (86), adding flexibility to the ring clips. One of the ring clips is electrically connected to a grounding shield of the coaxial cable and the other is electrically connected to an internal conductor of the cable.

Abstract: A catheter (10) is disclosed having a stepped coaxial construction formed by and internal tube (12) and an external tube (14). The internal tube includes a distal pressure lumen (26), a balloon inflation lumen (28), and a sensor lumen (30). The external tube includes the first proximal pressure lumen (48), second proximal pressure lumen (50), injection lumen (52), and transducer lead lumen (54). A cylindrical transducer (16), sensor (18), and balloon (42) are supported on the internal and external tubes, which allow the transducer to be coaxially mounted thereon. The catheter has a high lumen count, large lumen cross-sectional area, is easy to construct and use, and allows cardiac output to be measured continuously without sacrificing other currently available catheter functions.

Abstract: A cylindrical ultrasonic transducer (36) is disclosed. The transducer includes a cylindrical main element (38) provided with a plurality of ring-shaped secondary elements (40 and 42) that are triangular in cross section. By controlling the number, geometry, and construction of the secondary elements, substantially any desired ultrasonic emission pattern can be produced while maintaining a low overall transducer profile.

Abstract: A catheter (10) is disclosed having a stepped coaxial construction formed by an internal tube (12) and an external tube (14). The internal tube includes a distal pressure lumen (26), a balloon inflation lumen (28), and a sensor lumen (30. The external tube includes the first proximal pressure lumen (48), second proximal pressure lumen (50), injection lumen (52), and transducer lead lumen (54). A cylindrical transducer (16), sensor (18), and balloon (42) are supported on the internal and external tubes, which allow the transducer to be coaxially mounted thereon. The catheter has a high lumen count, large lumen cross-sectional area, is easy to construct and use, and allows cardiac output to be measured continuously, without sacrificing other currently available catheter functions.

Abstract: An apparatus/method for measuring the volume of urine in a human bladder, including a scanhead and transceiver for transmitting a plurality of ultrasound signals (10, 24) into the bladder and for receiving the returning ultrasound signals (10,24). The apparatus further includes a signal processor for automatically processing the received signals (26), a digitizer for converting the analog signal into a series of digital data elements (28) and a CPU and signal processing software for processing the data elements (12,34) so as to determine the distance between the front and rear of the bladder or the area of the plane of the ultrasound signals, and for computing the volume of the bladder and hence the volume of urine in the bladder from the distance or area information (12, 34).

Abstract: A fetal heart rate counting system which includes a transducer element for transmitting an ultrasound signal into the fetal heart while the fetus is in utero and for receiving a returning Doppler signal frequency shifted by action of the fetal heart. The returning Doppler signal is processed to produce a forward heart movement Doppler signal, a reverse heart movement Doppler signal and the complete Doppler signal, from each of which fetal heart rate data is obtained. A composite fetal heart rate data is then produced from the three processed Doppler signal which is more accurate and complete than the data from any one signal individually.