Abstract: A described system includes a feature matching circuit that determines a correspondence between a present-location landmark subsurface feature of a body part of an individual patient and a candidate reference landmark subsurface feature of the individual patient body part. The present-location landmark subsurface feature has a first spatial relationship to a distal end portion of a body-insertable device deployed in the individual patient. The candidate reference landmark subsurface feature has a second spatial relationship to a particular selected target region of interest of at least two selected target regions of interest. An event data circuit generates data indicative of a proximity event that includes the distal end portion of a body-insertable device being proximate to the particular target region of interest. A list management circuit adds the proximity event to a proximity event list. A computer-readable media maintains informational data corresponding to the proximity event list.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed herein for preventing or treating ventilator associated pneumonia in a mammalian subject. The device includes an endotracheal tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and one or more closed cell layers in contact with the exterior surface and circumferentially surrounding one or more longitudinal portion of the endotracheal tube, wherein the closed cell layer is flexibly shaped to reversibly form a seal in a trachea of a mammalian subject.

Abstract: A penalty allocation system includes a processing circuit configured to receive first data from a first player-worn sensor regarding a first player involved in an impact, receive second data from a second player-worn sensor regarding a second player involved in the impact, identify one of the first player and the second player as an at-fault player in connection with the impact based on the first data and the second data, and determine a penalty for the at-fault player based on the first data and the second data.

Abstract: Bone cages are disclosed including devices for biocompatible implantation. The structures of bone are useful for providing living cells and tissues as well as biologically active molecules to subjects.

Abstract: A structural frame and methods of use thereof are disclosed that assists a patient that has limited ambulation. A structural frame is disclosed that includes a linear rod having a first end and a second end; two or more expandable telescoping sections disposed between the first end and the second end of the linear rod wherein the two or more expandable telescoping sections are operable to expand the linear rod bidirectionally at the first end and the second end; a force-loading mechanism engaging each of the two or more expandable telescoping sections operably connected to expand the telescoping linear rod.

Abstract: Food additives may be actively released to deliver aromatic compounds to consumers during food or drink consumption. The food additives may be contained within an encapsulation layer. The encapsulation layer may be configured to release the food additives in response to being exposed to energy provided by an activation source proximate to the food additives. The activation source may be incorporated into, or connected with, an eating utensil or an oral implant. The activation source can be manually controlled by a consumer, can be controlled based on conditions near the food additives, or can be programmed with a release schedule that defines how and when food additives are to be released.

Abstract: Treatment of cardiac tissue via an implantable heart treatment device is described. A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a substrate; an electromagnetic signal generator configured to generate one or more electric signals configured to stimulate one or more tissues of a heart; a metabolic molecule supply device configured to supply one or more metabolic molecules to one or more tissues of the heart; and control circuitry operably coupled to the electromagnetic signal generator and the metabolic molecule supply device, the control circuitry configured to generate one or more control signals according to at least a first control protocol and a second control protocol, dependent upon a status of a ventricular fibrillation event of the heart.

Abstract: Treatment of cardiac tissue via an implantable heart treatment device is described. A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a substrate configured for implantation within a body; an electromagnetic signal generator coupled to the substrate and configured to generate one or more electric signals configured to stimulate one or more tissues of a heart; and an oxygenator coupled to the substrate and configured to supply one or more oxygenated molecules to one or more tissues of the heart, the oxygenator including a blood inlet portion, a blood outlet portion, and an oxygen exchange portion positioned between the blood inlet portion and the blood outlet portion, the oxygen exchange portion including a high surface area oxygen exchanger configured to transfer one or more oxygenated molecules from the high surface area oxygen exchanger to blood passing from the blood inlet portion to the blood outlet portion.

Abstract: Treatment of cardiac tissue via an implantable heart treatment device is described. A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a substrate configured for implantation within a body; an electromagnetic signal generator coupled to the substrate and configured to generate one or more electric signals configured to stimulate one or more tissues of a heart within the body; and an energy-carrier molecule delivery device coupled to the substrate and configured to supply one or more non-oxygen cellular energy sources to one or more tissues of the heart within the body.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for assessing microbiota of skin are described which include: a skin-covering material with an inner surface conforming in shape to a topography of a skin surface and including a plurality of specific microbe-binding elements; an image capture device to capture an image of the inner surface of the skin-covering material and to transform the image into a digital output including information associated with at least one property and a spatial distribution of at least one type of microbe bound to the specific microbe-binding elements; and a computing device including circuitry configured to receive the digital output from the image-capture device, compare the at least one property of the at least one type of microbe bound to the specific microbe-binding elements with a database of reference microbe properties, and generate a digital profile including the at least one property and the spatial distribution of the at least one type of microbe bound to the specific microbe-binding eleme

Abstract: A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a proximity sensor configured to generate one or more sense signals associated with a proximity of an environmental object relative to the body portion; circuitry operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the one or more sense signals and to determine whether the proximity of the environmental object relative to the body portion changes over a time period; and a reporting device operably coupled to the circuitry and configured to generate one or more communication signals associated with one or more of the environmental object or a change in proximity of the environmental object relative to the body portion responsive to instruction by the circuitry.

Abstract: Systems are described for monitoring environmental conditions around extremities to aid in preventing damage associated with physical impact. A device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate configured to conform to a skin surface of a body portion; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including a proximity sensor configured to generate a sense signal associated with a proximity of an environmental object relative to the body portion; circuitry operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the sense signal associated with the proximity of an environmental object relative to the body portion; and a reporting device operably coupled to the circuitry and configured to generate a communication signal associated with one or more of the environmental object or the proximity of the environmental object relative to the body portion responsive to instruction by the circuitry.

Abstract: A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a device, including: a deformable substrate configured to conform to a skin surface; a sensor assembly including a proximity sensor configured to generate one or more sense signals associated with a proximity of an environmental object relative to the body portion; circuitry configured to receive the one or more sense signals; and a reporting device configured to generate one or more communication signals associated with one or more of the environmental object or the proximity of the environmental object relative to the body portion responsive to instruction by the circuitry; and an external device communicatively coupled with the device, the external device configured to at least one of receive the one or more communication signals from the device or transmit one or more communication signals associated with environmental object characteristics to the device.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for delivering a stimulus to a pinna of a subject with a stimulator worn on the pinna are described. A wearable stimulation device includes a mechanical, electrical, or other type of stimulator secured to a pinna of a subject. The stimulation device may be used to deliver a stimulus that modulates activity of sensory nerve fiber innervating the pinna. Stimulation may be delivered in response to a sensed neural signal indicative of a physiological status of the subject, and/or in response to sensed environmental parameters. Stimulation may be delivered in combination with other stimuli or experiences. In an aspect, a stimulator communicates with and/or is controlled by a personal computing device.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for delivering a vibratory stimulus to a pinna of a subject with a stimulator worn on the pinna are described. A mechanical stimulation device may be used to deliver a vibratory stimulus that modulates activity of sensory nerve fiber innervating the pinna. In some cases, stimulation is delivered in response to a physiological signal, and/or in response to sensed environmental parameters. Stimulation may be delivered in combination with other stimuli or experiences. In an aspect, a stimulator communicates with and/or is controlled by a personal computing device. In some aspects recommendations regarding neural stimuli and other stimuli or experiences to be delivered in association with the neural stimuli are provided via a computing system in communication with the personal computing device or the wearable stimulation device.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for controlling delivery of a stimulus to a pinna of a subject with a stimulator worn on the pinna are described. A wearable stimulation device includes a mechanical, electrical, or other type of stimulator secured to a pinna of a subject. A personal computing device in communication with the wearable stimulation device controls delivery of stimuli and other aspects of operation of the device. The personal computing device presents various types of information relating to operation and control of the device to a user of the wearable stimulation device. In some aspects recommendations regarding neural stimuli and other stimuli or experiences to be delivered in association with the neural stimuli are provided via a computing system in communication with the personal computing device or the wearable stimulation device.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for controlling delivery of a stimulus to a pinna of a subject with a stimulator worn on the pinna are described. A wearable stimulation device includes a mechanical, electrical, or other type of stimulator secured to a pinna of a subject. A personal computing device in communication with the wearable stimulation device controls delivery of stimuli and other aspects of operation of the device.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for controlling delivery of a stimulus to the ear of a subject with an external neural stimulator are described. An external neural stimulation device includes a stimulator carried on an ear of a subject. A recommendation for a treatment regimen including neural stimulation delivered with the external neural stimulation device is transmitted to a personal computing device used by the subject. In some aspects recommendations regarding neural stimuli and other stimuli or experiences to be delivered in association with the neural stimuli are provided with a computing system in communication with the personal computing device or the wearable stimulation device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a physiological parameter of a subject through interrogation of an eye of the subject with an optical signal are described. Interrogation is performed unobtrusively. The physiological parameter is determined from a signal sensed from the eye of a subject according to a schedule, under the control of a scheduling controller.

Abstract: Systems and related methods for controlling delivery of a stimulus to a pinna of a subject with a stimulator worn on the pinna are described. A wearable stimulation device includes a mechanical, electrical, or other type of stimulator secured to a pinna of a subject. A personal computing device in communication with the wearable stimulation device controls delivery of stimuli and other aspects of operation of the device. The personal computing device also controls delivery of a sound signal (for example, music) to the user of the stimulation device in association with the neural stimulus. In some aspects recommendations regarding neural stimuli and other stimuli or experiences to be delivered in association with the neural stimuli are provided via a computing system in communication with the personal computing device or the wearable stimulation device.