Abstract: A controller or processor(s) implements detection of respiratory related conditions, such as asynchrony, associated with use of a respiratory treatment apparatus or ventilator. Based on data derived from sensor signals associated with the respiratory treatment, the detector may evaluate a feature set of detection values to determine whether or not an asynchrony occurs in a breath of the patient's respiratory cycle such as by comparing the values against a set of thresholds. Different events may also be identified based on the particular feature set and threshold(s) involved in the detection processing. Automated determination of feature sets may also be implemented to design different asynchrony event classifiers. The methodologies may be implemented by computers or by respiratory treatment apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide real-time optical monitoring and control of well operations using digital cameras and image analysis. The systems and methods deploy one or more digital cameras in place of or in addition to conventional sensors to capture images of a well pump during well operations. The images may then be analyzed using image analysis algorithms and programs to measure a height, position, shape, and other measurements for certain components of the well pump relative to previous images. These image-based measurements may then be used to determine various operational parameters, such as pump speed, pump load, and other operational parameters. The operational parameters may then be processed by a pump control system to optimize pump operations based on the operational parameters.

Abstract: Remote configuration of an industrial or remote telemetry device using sound. Acoustic energy directed from a remote programming device to a remote industrial or telemetry device has tones indicating a request to establish communication. By directing further acoustic energy from the remote programming device to the remote industrial or telemetry device, the remote programming device requests information relating to a current configuration of the remote industrial or telemetry device. The remote industrial or telemetry device processes the tones to identify the request and replies with acoustic energy that has associated tones indicating the information relating to the current configuration of the remote industrial or telemetry device.

Abstract: Devices and methods for providing sensory feedback during an exercise are disclosed. An exertion target is set, for a user performing the exercise, based on a self-calibration that estimates the user's ability using signal amplitudes of surface electromyography (sEMG) data, wherein the exertion target includes a target signal amplitude of muscle contractions to be reached during the exercise. sEMG data are received from a measurement device attached to the user as the user performs the exercise. Upon processing the sEMG data, sensory feedback is generated at a computing device operated by the user, wherein the sensory feedback has an intensity proportional to the user's exertion level as the user performs the exercise, and wherein the sensory feedback changes over a course of the exercise in dependence on a duration that the user maintains a muscle contraction at or above the target signal amplitude, and the change in sensory feedback is configured to encourage the user to prolong the duration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing power to devices at a well site employ a linear alternator to generate power at a well site. The linear alternator is mounted on a pump at the well site and uses the up-and-down motion of the pump to generate power. The pump may be a nodding donkey head pump or other sucker rod pump mechanisms that operate based on linear vertical motion. The linear vertical motion drives a linear rotor back and forth through a linear stator to induce current in the linear alternator. This allows the linear alternator to convert a portion of the mechanical work performed by the pump into electrical energy that can be supplied to the devices. In some embodiments, the pump-mounted linear alternator can be equipped with a position sensor to directly measure a vertical position of the pump as the alternator travels up and down with the pump.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide real-time optical monitoring and control of well operations using digital cameras and image analysis. The systems and methods deploy one or more digital cameras in place of or in addition to conventional sensors to capture images of a well pump during well operations. The images may then be analyzed using image analysis algorithms and programs to measure a height, position, shape, and other measurements for certain components of the well pump relative to previous images. These image-based measurements may then be used to determine various operational parameters, such as pump speed, pump load, and other operational parameters. The operational parameters may then be processed by a pump control system to optimize pump operations based on the operational parameters.

Abstract: A sleep monitoring system includes an ECG device (2) and a respiration inductance plethysmogram (3) which monitor cardiac activity and physical (ribcage) respiration respectively and feed representative signals to a digital data processor. Operations (5-9) process the beat interval data, while in a second thread, operations (20-24) independently process the amplitude modulation of the ECG data caused by the respiratory motion of the subject. The inductance plethysmogram device (3) provides an input to the processor which represents respiration as directly monitored independently of the ECG. Operations (30-34) process this direct respiration data independently and in parallel, in a third thread. All extracted features are fed to a classifier which in step (10) combines selected combinations of features to make decisions in real time.

Abstract: A flow meter system and method are provided for monitoring gas flow in a conduit. The flow meter system includes a plurality of components including: a sensor for sensing a flow rate of the gas flow; a communication device for transmitting information corresponding to the sensed flow rate to a remote device; an energy harvesting device for producing electrical energy from the gas flow to power operation of the communication device or other component of the flow meter system; and an energy storage device for storing electrical energy generated by the energy harvesting device.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring patients with dysphagia, or swallowing impairments, that monitors muscle movement during intensive swallowing exercises to provide adjuvant visual feedback from surface electromyography.

Abstract: A controller or processor(s) implements detection of respiratory related conditions, such as asynchrony, associated with use of a respiratory treatment apparatus or ventilator. Based on data derived from sensor signals associated with the respiratory treatment, the detector may evaluate a feature set of detection values to determine whether or not an asynchrony occurs in a breath of the patient's respiratory cycle such as by comparing the values against a set of thresholds. Different events may also be identified based on the particular feature set and threshold(s) involved in the detection processing. Automated determination of feature sets may also be implemented to design different asynchrony event classifiers. The methodologies may be implemented by computers or by respiratory treatment apparatus.

Abstract: A load cell system for measuring rod load in a pumpjack. The system includes a tension load cell operatively coupled to a bridle between first and second bridle cables at a location longitudinally spaced between a horsehead and a bridle plate of the pumpjack. The bridle plate is coupled to the first bridle cable at a first connection point and the tension load cell is coupled to the first bridle cable at a second connection point longitudinally spaced between the bridle plate and the horsehead. The load cell system defines a third connection point longitudinally spaced between the second connection point and the horsehead. The load cell system is configured to maintain substantially constant longitudinal distances between the second connection point and each of the first and third connection points during operation of the horsehead.

Abstract: Centrally optimizing production of a reservoir that has a plurality of wells comprises monitoring production of each well in the reservoir using one or more respective sensors at each well. Sensor data indicative of the monitored production of each well from the one or more respective sensors is input to a central processing device for processing to evaluate the production of each well. The production of each well is evaluated to identify opportunities for optimizing production by the plurality of wells in the reservoir. In addition, one or more actions are taken using the central processing device to optimize production by the plurality of wells based on the identified opportunities for optimizing production.

Abstract: A single pump control system monitors and controls oil and gas production operations at multiple wells. The pump control system analyzes operation data from multiple well pumps to independently and concurrently control operation of each well pump. The system obtains the operation data from sensors mounted at suitable locations around the wells. The data is then processed by pump control algorithms in the pump control system, each control algorithm applicable to and operable on a separate well pump. The pump control algorithms determine whether a well pump should be started, stopped, continue to run, and an optimal speed at which each running pump should run to maintain a cost-effective operation. Such an arrangement allows a single pump control system to automatically and independently control multiple different well pumps to optimize oil and gas production at each well.

Abstract: An implantable biocompatible expander suitable for implantation into a urinary duct, comprises an elongated sinusoidal ring comprising at least two proximal prongs and at least two distal prongs, wherein the expander is resiliently deformable from a relaxed radially expanded orientation to a radially contracted orientation suitable for transluminal delivery through the urinary duct. The expander is configured to exert an outward radial force against a wall of the urinary duct when in-situ within the urinary duct. In particular, the expander is suitable for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and configured for implantation into the prostatic urethra between, and substantially spanning the prostatic urethra between, the bladder neck and external sphincter.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing vehicle data to a mobile device is disclosed. The method may include: receiving raw vehicle data from one or more vehicle data streams using one or more protocols; recording the received raw vehicle data from the one or more vehicle data streams in a file format; and transmitting the recorded vehicle data to a mobile device having at least one application configured to interpret the transmitted vehicle data.

Abstract: Devices and methods for providing interactivity during a swallowing exercise are disclosed. Sensory guidance is presented to guide a user through a set of swallows to be completed by the user during the swallowing exercise. Signals are received from a sensor device worn by the user, the signals representing surface electromyography data obtained when the user performs the swallowing exercise. Sensory feedback of the user's exertion level is presented, the feedback generated from the electromyography data and updated as further electromyography data is received from the sensor device, wherein the sensory feedback is presented in association with an exertion level calibrated to the user's ability.

Abstract: An implantable biocompatible expander suitable for implantation into a urinary duct, comprises an elongated sinusoidal ring comprising at least two proximal prongs and at least two distal prongs, wherein the expander is resiliently deformable from a relaxed radially expanded orientation to a radially contracted orientation suitable for transluminal delivery through the urinary duct. The expander is configured to exert an outward radial force against a wall of the urinary duct when in-situ within the urinary duct. In particular, the expander is suitable for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and configured for implantation into the prostatic urethra between, and substantially spanning the prostatic urethra between, the bladder neck and external sphincter.

Abstract: An implantable biocompatible expander suitable for implantation into a urinary duct, comprises an elongated sinusoidal ring comprising at least two proximal prongs and at least two distal prongs, wherein the expander is resiliently deformable from a relaxed radially expanded orientation to a radially contracted orientation suitable for transluminal delivery through the urinary duct. The expander is configured to exert an outward radial force against a wall of the urinary duct when in-situ within the urinary duct. In particular, the expander is suitable for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and configured for implantation into the prostatic urethra between, and substantially spanning the prostatic urethra between, the bladder neck and external sphincter.

Abstract: A system for assessing grip security, the system comprising: a contact surface having at least a first contact surface region and a second contact surface region, the first contact surface region being configured to resist slip less than the second contact surface region, a sensor for detecting slip in the first contact region.

Abstract: An implantable biocompatible expander suitable for implantation into a urinary duct, comprises an elongated sinusoidal ring comprising at least two proximal prongs and at least two distal prongs, wherein the expander is resiliently deformable from a relaxed radially expanded orientation to a radially contracted orientation suitable for transluminal delivery through the urinary duct. The expander is configured to exert an outward radial force against a wall of the urinary duct when in-situ within the urinary duct. In particular, the expander is suitable for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and configured for implantation into the prostatic urethra between, and substantially spanning the prostatic urethra between, the bladder neck and external sphincter.