Abstract: A method for measuring an intracranial bioimpedance in a patient's head, to help evaluate cerebral autoregulation, may involve securing a volumetric integral phase-shift spectroscopy (VIPS) device to the patient's head, measuring the intracranial bioimpedance with the VIPS device by measuring a phase shift between a magnetic field transmitted from a transmitter on one side of a VIPS device and a magnetic field received at a receiver on another side of the VIPS device, at one or more frequencies, and evaluating cerebral autoregulation in the intracranial bioimpedance, using a processor in the VIPS device.

Abstract: A method for detecting evidence of a stroke in a patient may involve securing a volumetric integral phase-shift spectroscopy (VIPS) device to the patient's head, transmitting a first signal from a first transmitter of the VIPS device through a left hemisphere of the patient's brain to a receiver of the VIPS device, transmitting a second signal from a second transmitter of the VIPS device through a right hemisphere of the patient's brain to the receiver, and detecting the evidence of the stroke, with the VIPS device.

Abstract: A lottery ticket card includes a common game header section and a plurality of individual game tickets connected to and separable from the game header section. Each game ticket includes a separate and independently playable scratch-off lottery ticket and the common game header section comprises game identification information and instructions for play of the individual game tickets. A card code printed on the lottery ticket card uniquely identifies the lottery ticket card in a database, and a game ticket code printed on each individual game ticket uniquely identifies each of the individual game tickets in the database. Redemption of winning individual game tickets separated from the common header section is accomplished by entry of the game ticket code for the winning individual game ticket in the database.

Abstract: A sump port drain adapter apparatus is disclosed which provides a small, lightweight vessel to capture and collect gastric reflux or stomach contents exiting the smaller lumen, or sump line, of a double lumen nasogastric tube while providing airflow to the sump line to prevent the nasogastric tube from adhering to the stomach lining. The apparatus disclosed prevents clogging in the sump line, unnecessary patient gown and bedding changes, patient skin breakdown and decreases exposure to potentially infectious material for both the patient and healthcare workers.

Abstract: A method for assessing a patient may involve performing a first diagnostic procedure on the patient. The first diagnostic procedure may involve securing a volumetric integral phase-shift spectroscopy (VIPS) device to the patient's head, measuring an intracranial bioimpedance with the VIPS device, and detecting an asymmetry based on the measured intracranial bioimpedance. The method may further involve performing a second diagnostic procedure on the patient using an additional diagnostic device, receiving first patient data from the first diagnostic procedure and second patient data from the second diagnostic procedure in a computer processor, processing the first patient data and the second patient data with the computer processor, and generating an assessment of the patient with the computer processor, based at least in part on the processed first patient data and second patient data.

Abstract: A method for measuring an intracranial bioimpedance in a patient's head, to help evaluate cerebral autoregulation, may involve securing a volumetric integral phase-shift spectroscopy (VIPS) device to the patient's head, measuring the intracranial bioimpedance with the VIPS device by measuring a phase shift between a magnetic field transmitted from a transmitter on one side of a VIPS device and a magnetic field received at a receiver on another side of the VIPS device, at one or more frequencies, and evaluating cerebral autoregulation in the intracranial bioimpedance, using a processor in the VIPS device.

Abstract: A method for measuring an intracranial fluid bioimpedance in a patient's head, to help detect an abnormality, may involve: securing a volumetric integral phase-shift spectroscopy (VIPS) device to the patient's head; measuring the intracranial fluid bioimpedance with the VIPS device by measuring a phase shift between a magnetic field transmitted from a transmitter on one side of a VIPS device and a magnetic field received at a receiver on another side of the VIPS device, at one or more frequencies; and detecting an abnormality in the intracranial bioimpedance fluid, using a processor in the VIPS device.

Abstract: A method for detecting evidence of a stroke in a patient may involve securing a volumetric integral phase-shift spectroscopy (VIPS) device to the patient's head, transmitting a first signal from a first transmitter of the VIPS device through a left hemisphere of the patient's brain to a receiver of the VIPS device, transmitting a second signal from a second transmitter of the VIPS device through a right hemisphere of the patient's brain to the receiver, and detecting the evidence of the stroke, with the VIPS device.

Abstract: A volumetric integral phase-shift spectroscopy (VIPS) device for detecting evidence of a stroke in a patient may include a frame including a housing, at least one VIPS receiver in the housing, circuitry in the housing coupled with the at least one VIPS receiver, two wrap-around ends, configured to wrap around the back of the patient's head and over the ears, a first VIPS transmitter in one of the two wrap-around ends, a second VIPS transmitter in the other of the two wrap-around ends, and a processor. The first and second VIPS transmitters and the at least one VIPS receiver may measure multiple phase shifts and/or multiple amplitudes in a fluid and/or a tissue in the patient's head. The processor may determine that the multiple phase shifts and/or multiple amplitudes matches a predefined stroke-specific VIPS signature and thus detect evidence of a stroke.

Abstract: A device for detecting spatial differences in fluid level changes in a tissue of a patient may include a support structure for securing the device to a body part of the patient, a processing element operably connected to the support structure, a wireless networking interface operably connected to the support structure and in communication with the processing element and an external computing device via a network, a first transmission module operably connected to the support structure and in communication with the processing element, a second transmission module and a third transmission module operably connected to the support structure and in communication with the processing element. When activated, the first transmission module transmits a first time varying magnetic field through the tissue of the patient. The second and third transmission modules, which are spatially separated from one another, receive first and second versions, respectively, of the first time varying magnetic field.

Abstract: A matching card game is provided. The object of the game is the speed with which a player can dispose of his cards before his opponent. The card game requires each player to react to card indicia with speed and keen sensitivity in order to facilitate speedy disposal of one's cards. The card game includes a card deck having base cards and variety cards which are embellished in various colors and indicia, as well as commands or actions such as pick 1 and jump 1. A die marked with indicia is utilized for choosing a dealer as well as for collecting the letters “S” “P” “E” “E” “D” by each round winner for determining ultimate game card winner.

Abstract: A diaphragm-type pressure sensor employs a monocrystalline wafer as a pressure-responsive diaphragm. The wafer has a central active area surrounded by a first bonding area on one side and a second bonding area on the other side. The first bonding area is attached by a first layer of bonding material to a base, and the second bonding area is attached by a second layer of bonding material to a cap. The inside diameter of the first bonding layer is greater than the inside diameter of the second bonding layer by an amount of at least approximately six times the thickness of the diaphragm. This disparity between the respective inside diameters of the two bonding layers results in the relief of radially-directed tensile loading on the first bonding layer when a pressure to be measured is applied to the first side of the diaphragm. Consequently, the probability of a fracture occurring in this bonding layer is minimized.

Abstract: Silicon capacitive pressure sensors are produced by a batch-process method, comprising the steps of: (1) providing first and second wafers of conductive silicon; (2) oxidizing a surface of each wafer with a layer of silicon dioxide; (3) removing a predefined area of the silicon dioxide layer from a first one of the wafers, leaving an exposed surface of unoxidized silicon in the predefined area; (4) superimposing the second wafer onto the first wafer so that the silicon dioxide layer of the second wafer is in contact with the silicon dioxide layer of the first wafer; (5) fusing the two wafers together at their contacting silicon dioxide layers; (6) metallizing selected areas of the outer surfaces of the two wafers to form electrical contacts; and (7) cutting the wafers into individual pressure sensors.

Abstract: A parallel beam load cell wherein sensitivity to transverse load position changes is reduced by changing the shape of one of the beams in the vicinity of one strain gage element whereby the neutral axis of said beam is changed with respect to said strain gage element. Longitudinal load position sensitivity is reduced by changing the cross sectional area of one of the beams adjacent one strain gage element.