Abstract: A method determining lung pathology severity from a subject under test includes receiving a training set comprising a plurality of breath flow signals and a plurality of audio signals for a convolutional neural network (CNN). The method includes training a convolutional neural network and creating at least one test graph using a breath flow signal and an audio signal from the subject under test. The method further includes inputting the at least one test graph associated with the subject under test into the CNN and determining an existing pathology and associated severity for the subject under test. Also, the method includes determining a prediction for a future possible condition of the subject and determining the lung pathology severity be computing a distance between the future possible condition of the subject under test and the existing pathology and associated severity.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining lung pathology from audio respiratory and breath flow signals comprises receiving a plurality of breath flow signals and a plurality of audio signals comprising a training set for a convolutional neural network (CNN), wherein the plurality of breath flow signals and the plurality of audio signals are extracted from sessions with patients with known pathologies of known degrees of severity. The method also comprises analyzing the plurality of audio signals and the plurality of breath flow signals, wherein the analyzing comprises extracting a plurality of descriptors associated with the audio and breath flow signals. Further, the method comprises creating a plurality of graphs using information from the descriptors, wherein at least one of the graphs comprises a plot combining descriptors from both the audio and the breath flow signals. The method also comprises training the CNN using the plurality of graphs.

Abstract: A medical device (10) includes a device housing (12). An in-line thermal mass flow sensor (26) includes a heater (28) and at least one temperature sensor (30). The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is vertically mounted on or in the device housing. The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of the fluid through the medical device. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to: read the flow rate of the fluid measured by the in-line thermal mass flow sensor; and detect at least one bubble in the fluid based on the measured flow rate.

Abstract: A medical device (10) includes a device housing (12). An in-line thermal mass flow sensor (26) includes a heater (28) and at least one temperature sensor (30). The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is vertically mounted on or in the device housing. The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of the fluid through the medical device. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to: read the flow rate of the fluid measured by the in-line thermal mass flow sensor, and detect at least one bubble in the fluid based on the measured flow rate.

Abstract: An infusion pump (10) includes a fluid chamber (28) having an outlet valve (34) and a piezo-stack actuator (36) comprising a stack of piezo-electric layers (38). An electronic processor (18) is programmed to operate the outlet valve and the piezo-stack actuator to pump fluid through the fluid chamber at a programmed flow rate.

Abstract: An infusion pump including a fluid chamber having an outlet valve and a piezo-stack actuator including a stack of piezo-electric layers. The infusion pump also includes a linear actuator to measure displacement of the piezo-stack actuator during operation. An electronic processor is programmed to operate the outlet valve and the piezo-stack actuator to pump fluid through the fluid chamber at a programmed flow rate.

Abstract: A medical device (10) for use in a Magnetic Resonance environment includes a keypad (22) having keys (24). Light sources (26) are disposed with respective keys of the keypad to illuminate the respective keys. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to: perform user interfacing operations in which user inputs are received via the keypad; during the user interfacing operations, control the light sources to selectively illuminate keys usable in the user interfacing operations; and controlling or configuring the medical device in accord with the user inputs received during the user interfacing operations.

Abstract: The following relates generally to ensuring patient safety while operating a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine. Many MRI systems operate using: fiber optic cables to carry signals, electrically conductive cables to carry other signals, and radio frequency (RF) coils to create an electromagnetic field. Typically, the electrically conductive cables and RF coils do not interact in a way that causes harm to a patient. However, certain shapes and/or lengths of cables exhibit the phenomenon of “resonance” that increases their propensity to concentrate RF currents induced by the RF coils. This may increase the temperature of the cable or other component in the MRI system leading to patient harm. The methods disclosed herein provide a solution to this by sensing a shape of the fiber optic cable and determining if the fiber optic cable will exhibit resonance. If it is determined that resonance may potentially occur, an alarm may be generated or a radio frequency amplifier may be interlocked.

Abstract: A method for determining respiratory rate from an audio respiratory signal comprising capturing the audio respiratory signal generated by a subject using a microphone. The method also comprises segmenting the audio respiratory signal into a plurality of overlapping frames. For each frame of the plurality of overlapping frames, the method comprises extracting a signal envelope, computing an auto-correlation function, computing an FFT spectrum from the auto-correlation function and computing a respiratory rate of the subject using the FFT spectrum.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance probe (2) includes a fiber optic sensor probe (32) and a sheath (38). The fiber optic sensor probe (32) includes a non-ferrous sensor (42) on a distal portion (36) configured for insertion into a subject, a locking element (34) connected to the distal portion (36), and a proximal portion (44) connected to the locking element (34) and in light communication via an optical fiber (48) with the non-ferrous sensor (42) and includes a connector (46). The sheath (38) covers the distal portion (36) of the fiber optic sensor probe (32), engages the locking element (34), and provides a sterile outer surface (70).

Abstract: An electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode patch (10) system (50) for use in a magnetic resonance (MR) environment includes a flexible patch material (12) configured for attachment to human skin, and a plurality of electrodes (20). The electrodes (20) Care attached to the patch material (12) and configured to sense a plurality of ECG signals with different amplitudes across pairs of electrodes in at least two different directions.

Abstract: A medical device (10) for use in a Magnetic Resonance environment includes a keypad (22) having keys (24). Light sources (26) are disposed with respective keys of the keypad to illuminate the respective keys. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to: perform user interfacing operations in which user inputs are received via the keypad; during the user interfacing operations, control the light sources to selectively illuminate keys usable in the user interfacing operations; and controlling or configuring the medical device in accord with the user inputs received during the user interfacing operations.

Abstract: An infusion pump (10) includes a fluid chamber (28) having an outlet valve (34) and a piezo-stack actuator (36) comprising a stack of piezo-electric layers (38). An electronic processor (18) is programmed to operate the outlet valve and the piezo-stack actuator to pump fluid through the fluid chamber at a programmed flow rate.

Abstract: A medical device (10) includes a device housing (12). An in-line thermal mass flow sensor (26) includes a heater (28) and at least one temperature sensor (30). The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is vertically mounted on or in the device housing. The in-line thermal mass flow sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of the fluid through the medical device. At least one electronic processor (18) is programmed to: read the flow rate of the fluid measured by the in-line thermal mass flow sensor, and detect at least one bubble in the fluid based on the measured flow rate.

Abstract: A cable for use in biopotential measurements in a magnetic resonance (MR) environment comprises a flexible plastic or polymer sheet (32, 40) extending as a single unitary structure from a first end to an opposite second end, and an electrically conductive trace (38, 58) disposed on the flexible plastic or polymer sheet and running from the first end to the opposite second end. The electrically conductive trace has sheet resistance of one ohm/square or higher, and may have a hatching or checkerboard pattern. The cable may further include an electrically insulating protective layer (50, 70) disposed on the substrate and covering the electrically conductive trace, an electrode (30) disposed on the electrically conductive trace at the second end, an edge connector (74) at the first end, or various combinations of such features.

Abstract: A temperature measurement probe (130) for use in a magnetic resonance environment, includes an elongated substrate (202), at least one highly resistive, electrically conductive traces (200, 200a, 200b, 200a?, 200b?) one printed at least one thermistor (204) disposed on the substrate and electrically connected with the trace. The thermistor is configured to be placed in thermal communication with a patient in the magnetic resonance environment. In some embodiments, the printed trace may be carbon-based, silicone based, or may be a doped semiconductor material.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) safe touchscreen display (10) includes a touchscreen (16) and a film (30, 32) that has a high frequency shielding layer (20, 28) and a low frequency shielding layer (18, 26). A bus bar (14) conductively couples the low frequency shielding layer (18, 26) to the high frequency shielding layer (20, 28) around a perimeter of a face of the film (30, 32) and the edge of the film (30, 32). The film (30, 32) is adjacent to a rear face of the touchscreen (16). The bus bar (14) facilitates the connection of the touchscreen (16) and layers (18, 20) to the display (12) to form a Faraday cage around the display components contained within the display housing (11).

Abstract: The following relates generally to ensuring patient safety while operating a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine. Many MRI systems operate using: fiber optic cables to carry signals, electrically conductive cables to carry other signals, and radio frequency (RF) coils to create an electromagnetic field. Typically, the electrically conductive cables and RF coils do not interact in a way that causes harm to a patient. However, certain shapes and/or lengths of cables exhibit the phenomenon of “resonance” that increases their propensity to concentrate RF currents induced by the RF coils. This may increase the temperature of the cable or other component in the MRI system leading to patient harm. The methods disclosed herein provide a solution to this by sensing a shape of the fiber optic cable and determining if the fiber optic cable will exhibit resonance. If it is determined that resonance may potentially occur, an alarm may be generated or a radio frequency amplifier may be interlocked.

Abstract: When employing a valve in a medical device in or near a bore of a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, MR-compatible materials are employed to minimize the susceptibility of the valve to the strong magnetic fields generated by the MR scanner. An MR-compatible actuator comprises a shame memory alloy (SMA) wire or member (12) that is actuated by application of a constant power signal. The constant power signal is supplied by a control circuit (50) that is generated using a power feedback signal derived from measured current and voltage feedback signals. Once the SMA member is actuated, the power signal can be reduced and pulse width modulated to maintain the SMA member in an active state, which in turn maintains the valve in a closed state until the power signal is terminated.

Abstract: An electrically controlled valve (10) includes a shaft (36), a piezoelectric motor (34) affixed to an end of the shaft (36), a controller (54), a follower (42), a valve member (40), and a valve seat (28). The piezoelectric motor (34) drives the shaft with a first direction and a second opposite direction. The controller (54) provides power to the piezoelectric motor (34) to move the shaft with a first speed and a second speed, the first speed being faster that the second speed. The follower (42) receives the shaft (36), and slides relative to the shaft in response to the shaft moving with the first speed, and grips and moves with the shaft in response to the moving with the second speed and includes a valve member (40). The valve member (40) moves with the follower (42). The valve member (40) is configured to be moved by the follower (42) against the valve seat (28) to restrict fluid flow and to be moved by the follower (42) away from the valve seat to increase the fluid flow.