Abstract: In the current diagnostic imaging workflow, transfer of handicapped patients between a hospital bed to a patient support of an imaging system and back is performed manually, which may be physically exhausting for staff and uncomfortable for the patient being transferred. Furthermore, this should be avoided in an autonomous scanning environment. Accordingly, the present application proposes an approach for enabling patient pain detection and reduction when using a patient transfer device configured to transfer a patient between a first and a second patient support.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided switch circuitry (1) for controlling power supplied to a fluid monitoring unit (4). The switch circuitry (1) comprises: a sensor (2) configured to detect fluid derived from the skin of a user and to generate a detection signal in response to detection of fluid; and a controller (3) configured to receive the detection signal, to generate a wake-up signal in accordance with the detection signal, and to supply the wake-up signal to a switch (6) controlling the power supply to the fluid monitoring unit (4) so as to activate the switch (6) and wake the fluid monitoring unit (4), wherein, optionally, the fluid is sweat. According to another aspect, there is provided method of controlling power to a fluid monitoring unit.

Abstract: An actuator or sensor device comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) arrangement which extends between fixed opposite ends. The electroactive polymer arrangement comprises a passive carrier layer and an active electroactive polymer layer, wherein at or adjacent the ends, the passive carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted with one over the other in a first order, and at a middle area between the ends, the carrier layer and the active EAP layer are mounted in an opposite order. This enables internal stresses and moments within the electroactive polymer arrangement to be used more effectively to contribute to displacement or actuation force.

Abstract: Provided is a sensor unit (104) for detecting an analyte (128) in an aqueous medium. The sensor unit comprises a surface (124) for receiving the aqueous medium thereon. Capture species (126) immobilized on the surface reversibly bind the analyte. A detector (130) detects the analyte when the analyte is bound to the capture species. The sensor unit further comprises an electrolysis assembly (132). The electrolysis assembly comprises a plurality of spatially separated electrically conductive areas (134) on the surface, and a power supply (136) for supplying a voltage across at least two of the electrically conductive areas. The voltage is sufficient to electrolyse the aqueous medium received on the surface. Further provided is a body fluid monitoring device (101) comprising the sensor unit, and a method for detecting an analyte.

Abstract: The present invention relates to patient routing. In order to provide a more efficient patient flow for autonomous image acquisition, a method is provided for controlling a patient transfer apparatus within a healthcare facility.

Abstract: Presented are concepts for detecting an ictal of a subject. One such concept generates an ictal detection threshold based on a current interictal period of the subject. An ictal of the subject may then detected based on an identifier of a potential ictal of the subject and the ictal detection threshold. Adaptation of an ictal detection threshold based on an interictal period of the subject may help to improve the accuracy of ictal detection.

Abstract: There is provided a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject, the hair cutting device comprising a light source for generating light at one or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in or on hair; a cutting element that comprises an optical waveguide that is coupled at a first end to the light source to receive light, wherein a portion of a sidewall of the optical waveguide forms a cutting face for contacting hair; a light sensor that is coupled to the optical waveguide away from the first end, wherein the light sensor is for measuring the light level in the optical waveguide and for providing an output signal representing the measured light level; and a control unit that is coupled to the light source, and coupled to the light sensor to receive the output signal, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a measure of the amount of input light transmitted across the optical waveguide from the measured light level and an input li

Abstract: An actuator device has an electroactive polymer actuator and an integrated piezoelectric transformer. At least a secondary side of the integrated piezoelectric transformer shares a piezoelectric electroactive polymer layer with the electroactive polymer actuator, so that lower external voltages can be applied to the actuator device. A diode is connected between the secondary side of the integrated piezoelectric transformer and the electroactive polymer actuator.

Abstract: The invention provides an electroactive polymer actuator comprising a capacitance compensation means adapted to at least partially offset any changes in the capacitance across the member induced by its deformation. In this way, the electronic control of the device is rendered much simpler, since a varying capacitance across the actuator member does not have to be accounted for when driving the actuator to perform a particular deformation.

Abstract: An on-body sensor system (30) comprises at least two skin interface units (32, 34) for coupling signals into and out of the body, with one of the units being for placement at a known location. One unit applies electrical signals to the body and the other senses them at a remote location. By analyzing the sensed signals using a set of pre-determined body-transmission parameters, a position of one of the skin interface units can be determined. This allows accurate placement of one or the units, for instance to allow more accurate monitoring of physiological parameters using the unit. The body transmission parameters can change over time, whereas once the interface units are put in position, their position is stable. Hence the system also includes functionality to re-calibrate the transmission parameters using at least one known stable set of initial positions of the interface units. The re-calibration comprises a process of re-calculating the parameters based on the known positions.

Abstract: An on/in-body communication system (10) is described that may include a peripheral, (such as, for example portable, unit (12)) and body-mountable unit (20). The peripheral unit and body-mountable unit may communicate via body-coupled acoustic signals. This may facilitate secure transmission of a secure key from the peripheral unit to the body-mountable unit. The body-mountable unit may include an array (28) of acoustic sensor elements (30) disposed at a body-coupling surface (32) of the body-mountable unit for receiving a transmitted acoustic signals, the array formation facilitating multi- or omni-directional sensing. A key may be transferred in an initialization procedure which may include establishing communications with an external device (42) via an off-body communication medium, acquiring from the external device a secure key, and/or driving acoustic transmission of the secure key to the body-mountable device via an acoustic signal generator (14).

Abstract: An electroactive material actuator is clamped along one edge (12) and has a pre-bend about a first axis (21) which is parallel to said edge and/or about a second axis which is perpendicular to said edge. The actuator expands with expansion coefficients along the first and second axes which differ by less than 20%. This combination of isotropic (or near isotropic) expansion with a pre-bend across at least one of main axes of the device (i.e. the axes which form the general plane of the actuator) gives rise to various additional operating characteristics.

Abstract: A system for controlling operation of an imaging or therapy apparatus. The system comprises an interface (IN) for receiving a pain measurement signal as measured by one or more sensors (S) in relation to an anatomic part (BR) of the patient (PAT) i) being imaged in an imaging procedure by the imaging apparatus or ii) being under therapy in a therapy procedure delivered by the therapy device, whilst the part (BR) is held in an adjustable fixation device (FD). A control unit (CU) of the system is configured to process the pain measurement signal to compute at least one control signal. A control interface (CIF) of the system is configured to interact during the imaging or therapy procedure with the imaging apparatus (IA) and/or the fixation device (FD) based on the control signal to a) influence the imaging or therapy procedure and/or b) to adjust the fixation device so as to change the manner in which the part (BR) is being held.

Abstract: An active matrix array of electroactive polymer actuators is provided, each electroactive polymer actuator having a switching arrangement. The switching arrangement comprises a first circuit (90) connected to a first terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator, for selectively driving the first terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator to ground or connecting it to an open circuit. A second circuit (92) is connected to a second terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator, for selectively driving the second terminal of the electroactive polymer actuator to ground or connecting it to an open circuit. Furthermore, a pull-up component (50) is permanently connected between a drive voltage and the first terminal of the electroactive polymer generator. By controlling both terminals of the electroactive polymer actuator, it is possible to reduce static power consumption, at least when no voltage is to be stored across the electroactive polymer actuator.

Abstract: An active matrix array of electroactive polymer actuators (36) is provided, each electroactive polymer actuator (36) having a switching arrangement (34). The switching arrangement comprises an input which is connected to a respective data line (30) and an output which is connected to a first terminal of the associated electroactive polymer actuator (36), wherein a second terminal of each electroactive polymer actuator is connected to a control line (110). A driver provides drive signals which comprise at least first and second drive levels for application to the data lines and third and fourth drive levels for application to the control line. Use is made of of common electrode driving (i.e. the control line driving) to enable low transistor control voltages to be used to switch larger voltages across the electroactive polymer actuators.

Abstract: There is provided a cutting assembly for use in a hair cutting device. The cutting assembly comprises an optical waveguide having a sidewall corresponding to a long edge of said optical waveguide. A portion of the sidewall forms a cutting face for contacting hair. The optical waveguide is moveable between a first, retracted position and a second, extended position. During use the cutting edge is arranged to be in contact with the hair in the extended, and not to be in contact with hair in the retracted position. The cutting assembly further comprises a movement mechanism for effecting cyclic movement of the optical waveguide between the retracted position and the extended position. A hair cutting device is also provided.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a fall detection apparatus for detecting a fall by a user, the fall detection apparatus comprising a processing unit configured to: receive measurements of movements of the user over time from a first movement sensor that is to be worn or carried by the user; determine if any of one or more objects are being carried or used by the user; and determine whether the user has fallen by processing the received measurements of the movements of the user and measurements of movements of any object that is being carried or used by the user.

Abstract: There is provided a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject, the hair cutting device comprising a light source for generating light at one or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in or on hair; a cutting element that comprises an optical waveguide that is coupled at a first end to the light source to receive light, wherein a portion of a sidewall of the optical waveguide forms a cutting face for contacting hair; a light sensor that is coupled to the optical waveguide away from the first end, wherein the light sensor is for measuring the light level in the optical waveguide and for providing an output signal representing the measured light level; and a control unit that is coupled to the light source, and coupled to the light sensor to receive the output signal, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a measure of the amount of input light transmitted across the optical waveguide from the measured light level and an input li

Abstract: There is provided a cutting element for use in a hair cutting device. The cutting element comprises an optical waveguide having a sidewall, wherein a portion of the sidewall forms a cutting face for contacting hair. The optical waveguide includes a plurality of optical structures spaced along its length, the optical structures being configured to reflect light at one or more wavelengths. When broadband light is directed along the optical waveguide the optical waveguide is such that: if the cutting face of the optical waveguide in is not in contact with a target object, then each of the plurality of optical structures reflects light having a first wavelength; and if the cutting face of the optical waveguide is in contact with a target object, then at least one of the optical structures reflects light having a second wavelength different to the first wavelength. A hair cutting device comprising the cutting element and a method of operating the hair cutting device are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject. The hair cutting device comprises at least one light source for generating laser light at two or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in hair; and a cutting element comprising an optical waveguide for receiving light from the at least one light source. The optical waveguide comprises a cutting face, the cutting face being arranged to contact hair as the hair cutting device is moved across the skin of the body of a subject. The cutting face is arranged essentially parallel to the long axis of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide is arranged to allow the light generated by the at least one light source to couple into hair when hair is close to or in contact with the optical waveguide. The at least one light source is configured to generate laser light having a first wavelength and a series of pulses of laser light having a second wavelength.