Abstract: Disclosed herein are breathing disorder identification, characterization and diagnosis methods, devices and systems. In general the disclosed methods, devices and systems may rely on the characterization of breath sound amplitudes, periodic breath sounds and/or aperiodic breath sounds to characterize a breathing disorder as obstructive (e.g. obstructive sleep apnea—OSA) or non-obstructive (e.g. central sleep apnea—CSA).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing the composite comprising: a) melt blending the matrix with the fibers to produce a melted composite, b) injecting the melted composite into a mold and allowing the melted composite to solidify and, c) removing at least a portion of the outermost layer of a composite such that the fibers protrude from the surface of the composite. Also provided is composite produced by the methods of the invention comprising soft and hard fibers embedded in a soft rubber-like matrix, wherein the fibers protrude from the composite's surface. In specific embodiments, the composite comprises carbon fibers and poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibers in a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix, wherein the fibers protrude from the composite's surface. Slip-resistant product comprising the composite are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing the composite comprising: a) melt blending the matrix with the fibers to produce a melted composite, b) injecting the melted composite into a mold and allowing the melted composite to solidify and, c) removing at least a portion of the outermost layer of a composite such that the fibers protrude from the surface of the composite. Also provided is composite produced by the methods of the invention comprising soft and hard fibers embedded in a soft rubber-like matrix, wherein the fibers protrude from the composite's surface. In specific embodiments, the composite comprises carbon fibers and poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibers in a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix, wherein the fibers protrude from the composite's surface. Slip-resistant product comprising the composite are also provided.

Abstract: A locking member for a gate apparatus comprises a body mountable to a gripping array of a support, said body having a mating form mutually engageable with the gripping array, whereby axial motion of said body relative to said gripping array is inhibited. A member extends away from said body, said member defining a cross-tie mount for receiving a mating end of a cross-tie. The cross-tie mount has a cross-tie end retainer which is movable between a first position securing said cross-tie in said cross-tie mount, and a second position permitting release of said cross-tie from said cross-tie mount, whereby the cross-tie may be moved to function as a gate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mask for use in respiratory monitoring and/or diagnostics. The mask comprises at least one transducer responsive to sound and/or airflow for generating a signal, and a support structure to rest on the subject's face. In one embodiment, the support structure comprises two or more limbs that provide a transducer support for supporting the transducer at a distance from a nose and mouth area, allowing monitoring via the transducer of sound and/or airflow produced by the subject. Also described is a mask comprising a transducer responsive to airflow for generating a signal and a support structure to rest on the subject's face and extend outwardly over a nose and mouth area to provide a transducer support supporting the transducer at a distance from a nose and mouth area of the subject's face and at a preset orientation, for monitoring via the transducer of airflow produced by the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are breathing disorder identification, characterization and diagnosis methods, devices and systems. In general the disclosed methods, devices and systems may rely on the characterization of breath sound amplitudes, periodic breath sounds and/or aperiodic breath sounds to characterize a breathing disorder as obstructive (e.g. obstructive sleep apnea—OSA) or non-obstructive (e.g. central sleep apnea—CSA).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are different embodiments of a hand hygiene compliance system, beacon, wearable monitor and kit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are breathing disorder identification, characterization and diagnosis methods, devices and systems. In general the disclosed methods, devices and systems may rely on the characterization of breath sound amplitudes, periodic breath sounds and/or aperiodic breath sounds to characterize a breathing disorder as obstructive (e.g. obstructive sleep apnea—OSA) or non-obstructive (e.g. central sleep apnea—CSA).

Abstract: A locking member for a gate apparatus comprises a body mountable to a gripping array of a support, said body having a mating form mutually engageable with the gripping array, whereby axial motion of said body relative to said gripping array is inhibited. A member extends away from said body, said member defining a cross-tie mount for receiving a mating end of a cross-tie. The cross-tie mount has a cross-tie end retainer which is movable between a first position securing said cross-tie in said cross-tie mount, and a second position permitting release of said cross-tie from said cross-tie mount, whereby the cross-tie may be moved to function as a gate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and device for apnea and hypopnea detection. In one embodiment, a method is provided for detecting apneas and hypopneas from a digitized breath sound recording acquired from a candidate suspected of sleep apnea. The method comprises scanning an amplitude profile of the digitized breath sound recording to identify a prospect event segment; evaluating characteristics of the prospect event segment for consistency with one or more preset apnea-specific criteria; classifying the prospect event segment as representative of an apnea upon it satisfying each of the one or more apnea-specific criteria; evaluating the prospect event characteristics for consistency with one or more preset hypopnea-specific criteria distinct from the apnea-specific criteria; and classifying the prospect event segment as representative of a hypopnea upon it satisfying each of the one or more hypopnea-specific criteria.

Abstract: A connector apparatus has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion mounts to an upright that has knobby hand grip protrusions. The second portion provides a connection for a laterally extending cross-member. The first portion interacts with the knobby hand grip protrusions to have a combination of a first degree of freedom permitting motion in one direction, while inhibiting motion in a second degree of freedom. The second portion has a releasable connection to the cross-member, and when engaged, has a degree of freedom of motion about an axis of the second portion cross-wise to the axis of the upright. The second portion has a releasable, retained, pin connector with a quarter-turn lock to prevent accidental disengagement. The connection of the second portion is offset such that when two connectors are seated back-to-back their cross-tie connections stand in substantially the same horizontal plane relative to the ground.

Abstract: A cantilevered support system is provided. The cantilevered support system comprises a vertical support pole and longitudinally extending upper and lower support arm assemblies that are securable to a wall.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are different embodiments of a hand hygiene compliance system, beacon, wearable monitor and kit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are breathing disorder identification, characterization and diagnosis methods, devices and systems. A mask is also disclosed for use in respiratory monitoring, characterization and/or diagnosis. In some embodiments, breath sound data are acquired concurrently with positional data to characterize a position dependence of a subject's breathing disorder.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for monitoring, identifying and determining the breathing cycle of an individual from processed acoustic signal waveform data. The breathing sounds of an individual are recorded using a microphone and digitized such that the breathing sounds may be plotted. The data is segmented and transformed to form a plurality of segments representative of a frequency spectrum. The frequency spectrum data is transformed so as to produce magnitude bins and the sum of lower magnitude bins and the sum of higher magnitude bins are determined in a sampling of segments. A Bands Ratio is determined from the sum of lower magnitude bins and the sum of higher magnitude bins in the sampling of segments. A first bands ratio is then determined within a given segment and compared to the mean bands ratio. If the first bands ratio of the given segment is greater than the mean bands ratio by at least a predetermined multiplier, the given segment is labeled as inspiration.

Abstract: According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a thermoelectric module (10) that comprises a thermoelectric layer (15) comprising one p-type (7p) and one n-type (7n) portions presenting together an upper and a lower main surfaces (11,12). The thermoelectric module (10) further comprises a first and a second thermal resistor elements (1r, 2r), and a first thermal bridge element (3c), between and adjacent to the first and second thermal resistor elements (1r, 2r). The first and second thermal resistor elements (1r, 2r) and the first thermal bridge element (3c) cover the whole lower main surface (12). The p-type (7p) and the n-type (7n) portions are adjacent and directly coupled by an interface (7i). The first thermal bridge element (3c) spans at least over the orthogonal projection of the interface (7i) on the lower main surface (12).

Abstract: A connector apparatus has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion mounts to an upright that has knobby hand grip protrusions. The second portion provides a connection for a laterally extending cross-member. The first portion interacts with the knobby hand grip protrusions to have a combination of a first degree of freedom permitting motion in one direction, while inhibiting motion in a second degree of freedom. The second portion has a releasable connection to the cross-member, and when engaged, has a degree of freedom of motion about an axis of the second portion cross-wise to the axis of the upright. The second portion has a releasable, retained, pin connector with a quarter-turn lock to prevent accidental disengagement. The connection of the second portion is offset such that when two connectors are seated back-to-back their cross-tie connections stand in substantially the same horizontal plane relative to the ground.

Abstract: A cantilevered support system is provided. The cantilevered support system comprises a vertical support pole and longitudinally extending upper and lower support arm assemblies that are securable to a wall.

Abstract: A patient carrier comprises a patient support configured to be locatable above a toileting receptacle. The patient support includes a back support portion, a leg support portion, and a seat support portion. The patient support is movable about a first axis between an upright orientation and an inclined orientation. The seat support portion is movable about a second axis relative to the back support portion and leg support portion, and is operable to transition between a seating configuration and a toileting configuration when the patient support is in the inclined orientation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and device for apnea and hypopnea detection. In one embodiment, a method is provided for detecting apneas and hypopneas from a digitized breath sound recording acquired from a candidate suspected of sleep apnea. The method comprises scanning an amplitude profile of the digitized breath sound recording to identify a prospect event segment; evaluating characteristics of the prospect event segment for consistency with one or more preset apnea-specific criteria; classifying the prospect event segment as representative of an apnea upon it satisfying each of the one or more apnea-specific criteria; evaluating the prospect event characteristics for consistency with one or more preset hypopnea-specific criteria distinct from the apnea-specific criteria; and classifying the prospect event segment as representative of a hypopnea upon it satisfying each of the one or more hypopnea-specific criteria.