Abstract: Hydrocephalus and shunt-related expenditures cost the US system over $2 billion dollars in annual expenses, with 125,000 shunt surgeries per year and an untreated mortality rate estimated at 50-60%. Existing diagnostics are expensive, inaccurate, and often harmful or invasive, and can lead to unnecessary admissions, further testing, or needless surgery. Collaborative efforts between Northwestern materials engineers headed by Dr. John Rogers alongside the leadership of neurological surgeons at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Lurie Children's Hospital have produced and validated a noninvasive, thermal biosensor capable of diagnosing ventricular shunt malfunction.

Abstract: Conventional multimodal bio-sensing demands multiple rigid sensors mounting on the multiple measuring sites at the designated place and during the reserved time. A soft, and conformal device utilizing MEMS accelerometer is a game changer to this tradition. It is suitable for use in a continuous, wearable mode of operation in recording mechano-acoustic signals originated from human physiological activities. The virtue of device, including the multiplex sensing capability, establishes new opportunity space that continuously records high fidelity signal on epidermis ranges from the subtle vibration of the skin on the order of ˜5×10?3 m·s?2 to the large inertia amplitude of the body ˜20 m·s?2, and from static gravity to audio band of 800 Hz. Minimal spatial and temporal constraints of the device that operates beyond the clinical environment would amplify the benefit of unusual mechanics of the electronics.

Abstract: Systems and techniques that provide improvements to designer applications as described to address, for example, limitations associated with constructing a user interface as it is being designed by a user in a development environment. In some implementations, a system provides a design interface through which a user can view, develop, and test functional aspects of an electronic form in real-time while the user is building the application. The system maintains associations between components of the electronic form and expressions for the components referenced in program logic for the electronic form.

Abstract: This invention discloses a sensor for measuring parameters of sweat from a skin, comprising a flexible structure comprising a fluid passage having inlet and outlet, the flexible structure being detachably attached to the skin and configured such that sweat enters the inlet as the sweat releases from the skin and flows through the fluid passage into the outlet; a thermal actuator disposed on the flexible structure over the fluid passage and configured to operably provide heat to flow of the sweat through the fluid passage; a first thermistor disposed on the flexible structure over the fluid passage between the inlet and the thermal actuator and configured to operably measure a first temperature of the sweat thereon; and a second thermistor disposed on the flexible structure over the fluid passage between the thermal actuator and the outlet and configured to operably measure a second temperature of the sweat thereon.

Abstract: A system for stimulating tissue generally comprises a resorbable implant. The resorbable implant includes a substrate, at least one contact, and a transceiver, wherein the substrate, the at least one contact, and the transceiver are resorbable. The system also includes a controller configured to communicate with the transceiver of the resorbable implant and a power supply connected to the controller. The controller delivers power to the resorbable implant from the power supply. The resorbable implant delivers electrical stimulation to tissue when the resorbable implant receives power.

Abstract: A system for obtaining optical coherence tomography of the optical system of a person, comprising: an eyepiece customized for alignment and positioning to contact a person's eye socket and having a lens pocket for receiving a refractive lens customized for the person's eye refraction characteristics; a condensing system for receiving light from the eyepiece; a scanning module optically connected to the condensing system and having a mirror tiltable in two directions for obtaining optical scanning data from the person's optical system; and a spectrometer and camera module optically connected to the scanning module for obtaining and storing the optical scanning data, wherein the eyepiece, condensing system and scanning module are arranged to provide an optical path for delivering a light beam to the person's eye, and receive reflected light to be directed to the scanning module.

Abstract: Provided is a light delivery device for delivering light to a tissue of a patient comprising a microarray of tissue penetrating members, each tissue penetrating member having a distal end and a proximal end and configured to be inserted into the tissue, wherein the tissue penetrating members are at least partially optically transparent to provide optical transmission through a surface that extends between the distal and proximal ends of each tissue penetrating member; a transparent substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface supports the tissue penetrating members; a plurality of optical sources supported by the top surface of the substrate and in optical communication with the microarray of tissue penetrating members; the plurality of optical sources is configured to operably emit light; and an encapsulation layer disposed over the microarray of tissue penetrating members.

Abstract: Provided herein are epidermal microfluidic systems and methods that allow for the collection of biofluids in a wet or aquatic environment, for example, from the surface of the skin. The described systems allow for the efficient collection of biofluids, without loss of the biofluid to the surrounding environment or introduction of extraneous liquids from the environment. The described microfluidic systems are versatile and can provide information regarding a number of biofluid properties both electronically and colorimetrically/visually.

Abstract: A wearable device includes an elastically compliant body having a side for attaching to skin of a patient, a plurality of accelerometers for receiving acoustic wave data from acoustic waves transmitted by a transducer, a short-range radio transmitter for transmitting the acoustic wave data to a computing device, a processor for receiving the acoustic wave data from the plurality of accelerometers and providing the acoustic wave data to the short-range radio transmitter, and a battery for providing power to the processor, the plurality of accelerometers, and the short-range radio transmitter. A distance between each accelerometer of the plurality of accelerometers is predetermined. The processor, the plurality of accelerometers, the short-range radio transmitter, and the battery are embedded within the elastically compliant body.

Abstract: A system for measuring a radiant exposure of electromagnetic radiation comprises an accumulation detection module (ADM) comprising a detector and configured to continuously monitor an electromagnetic radiation received by the detector; and an adaptive circuit configured to periodically interrogate the ADM; adjust a frequency of interrogation of the ADM based on an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation received by the detector; and autonomously transmit information related to an amount of the electromagnetic radiation received by the detector to a remote device.

Abstract: Provided are conformable light delivery devices for increasing light penetration depth and related methods. The device comprises a tissue penetrating member having a distal end and a proximal end, the tissue penetrating member configured to penetrate the tissue of the patient to be inserted into the tissue, wherein the tissue penetrating member is at least partially optically transparent along a surface of the tissue penetrating member positioned between the distal end of the tissue penetrating member and the proximal end of the tissue penetrating member to provide optical transmission of at least a portion of the light through the surface of the tissue penetrating member, thereby allowing at least the portion of the light to be delivered into the tissue of the patient when the tissue penetrating member is inserted into the tissue; and a substrate that supports the tissue penetrating member.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic system. The optoelectronic system includes an optoelectronic probe operably attached to a target region of a subject; and an electronic module coupled with the optoelectronic probe for wireless, real-time, and continuous measurements of physiological information of the subj ect.

Abstract: A continuous bedside pressure monitoring (CBPM) device includes an array of pressure sensors, a controller including a processor and a memory, the controller operatively coupled to the array of pressure sensors, a communication interface operatively coupled to the controller, and a flexible housing enclosing the array of pressure sensors, the controller, and the communication interface.

Abstract: Systems and techniques that provide improvements to designer applications as described to address, for example, limitations associated with constructing a user interface as it is being designed by a user in a development environment. In some implementations, a system provides a design interface through which a user can view, develop, and test functional aspects of an electronic form in real-time while the user is building the application. The system maintains associations between components of the electronic form and expressions for the components referenced in program logic for the electronic form.

Abstract: A microfluidic system includes a flexible substrate having a skin-facing surface and a back-facing surface; a microfluidic network at least partially embedded in or supported by the flexible substrate; a sensor fluidically connected to the microfluidic network, wherein the microfluidic network is configured to transport a biofluid from a skin surface to the sensor; and a capping layer, having a capping layer skin-facing surface and a back-facing surface, wherein the back-facing surface of the capping layer is attached to the skin-facing surface of the substrate. The flexible substrate is at least partially formed of a thermoplastic elastomer or a polymer configured to provide a high barrier to vapor or liquid water transmission.

Abstract: This invention relates to a soft, battery-free, flexible, non-invasive, reusable hydration sensor adherable to even small-areas and curvilinear surfaces of a body. The hydration sensor measures volumetric water content in skin as a function of depth, and wirelessly transmits data to a portable smart device. The hydration sensor includes a top layer for thermal, chemical and mechanical isolation of the hydration sensor from an environment; a bottom layer operably placed on a target area of interest on the skin; and a flexible printed circuit board (f-PCB) disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer. The f-PCB contains electronics for sensing and wireless communication. The bottom layer operably serves as a direct interface between the f-PCB and the skin and comprises a flexible adhesive for attaching the hydration sensor to the skin.

Abstract: Provided are actuation devices, virtual reality devices formed from the actuation devices, and related virtual reality methods. The devices may comprise a plurality of spatially distributed actuators, each actuator configured for interacting with a biological skin surface; a wireless controller configured to receive operative command signals to control each of the actuators; and a wireless power system to power the actuators. Also provided are unique layouts of multiple interconnected devices to achieve large area coverage.

Abstract: This invention discloses an electronic device for measuring physiological parameters of a living subject including at least a first inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a second IMU, the first IMU and the second IMU are time-synchronized to and spatially and mechanically separated from each other; and a microcontroller unit (MCU) electronically coupled to the first IMU and the second IMU for processing of data streams from the first IMU and the second IMU.

Abstract: A system for measuring a radiant exposure of electromagnetic radiation includes an accumulation detection module having a detector and configured to continuously monitor an electromagnetic radiation received by the detector; and an adaptive circuit configured to periodically interrogate the accumulation detection module; adjust a frequency of interrogation of the accumulation detection module based on an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation received by the detector; and autonomously transmit information related to an amount of the electromagnetic radiation received by the detector to a remote device.

Abstract: A system and method to join distributed energy resources (DER) to achieve common objectives is provided. The present technology organizes and/or aggregates DERs by routing a (DER) program request for resources to DER contributors capable of responding to and performing the request using a routing system. The system accesses a plurality of DER profiles, each profile associated with a DER contributor capable of contributing a resource to the request, and calculates an initial value for each DER profile based on request attributes and scoring metrics associated with the profile. The system then calculates a fitness metric for each DER profile based on the initial value using a neural network having weights based on the plurality of performance indicators and selects the DER profile and contributors to whom to route the request.