Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with acoustic transmitters, receivers, and antennas. Specifically, the present disclosure provides a transducer system for transmitting and receiving acoustic energy according to a determined acoustic emission/reception pattern. In various embodiments, an acoustic transducer system may include an array of sub-wavelength transducer elements each configured with an electromagnetic resonance at one of a plurality of electromagnetic frequencies. Each sub-wavelength transducer element may generate an acoustic emission in response to the electromagnetic resonance. A beam-forming controller may cause electromagnetic energy to be transmitted at select electromagnetic frequencies to cause a select subset of the sub-wavelength transducer elements to generate acoustic emissions according to a selectable acoustic transmission pattern. A common port may facilitate electromagnetic communication with each of the sub-wavelength transducer elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring compression applied by a compression bandage to a body portion of an individual. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate integrated with a textile configured to conform to a body portion; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including one or more strain gauges configured to generate one or more sense signals associated with a strain of the textile; circuitry operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the one or more sense signals associated with the strain of the textile; and a reporter operably coupled to the circuitry and configured to generate one or more communication signals responsive to instruction by the circuitry, the one or more communication signals associated with the strain of the textile.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring compliance of a patient with a prescribed treatment regimen are described. Patient activity is detected unobtrusively with an activity sensor at the patient location, and activity data is transmitted to a monitoring location. Patient speech detected during use of a communication system such as a mobile telephone by the patient may also be used as an activity signal. Patient activity and/or speech is processed at the patient location or monitoring location to identify activity parameters or patterns that indicate whether the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen. The activity sensor and other components at the patient location may be incorporated into, or associated with, a cell phone, computing system, game system, or vehicle system, for example. The system may provide a report to an interested party, for example a medical care provider or insurance company, regarding patient compliance with the prescribed treatment regimen.

Abstract: A nerve modulation device includes a first ultrasound transducer and a second ultrasound transducer. The first and second ultrasound transducers are configured to emit a first and second ultrasound waves, respectively, that exhibit different frequencies. The first and second ultrasound transducers can emit the first and second ultrasound waves in directions that are selected to cause the first and second ultrasound waves to intersect with each other at an intersection site that is at or near a selected nerve. At the intersection site, the first and second ultrasound waves can non-linearly interact to form an acoustic wave exhibiting a frequency that is less than the frequencies of the first and second ultrasound waves. The acoustic wave can modulate a selected nerve.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring compliance of a patient with a prescribed treatment regimen are described. Patient activity is detected unobtrusively with an activity sensor at the patient location, and activity data is transmitted to a monitoring location. Patient speech detected during use of a communication system such as a mobile telephone by the patient may also be used as an activity signal. Patient activity and/or speech is processed at the patient location or monitoring location to identify activity parameters or patterns that indicate whether the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen. The activity sensor and other components at the patient location may be incorporated into, or associated with, a cell phone, computing system, game system, or vehicle system, for example. The system may provide a report to an interested party, for example a medical care provider or insurance company, regarding patient compliance with the prescribed treatment regimen.

Abstract: Appurtenances to a wound dressing and systems for monitoring wound dressings are described. In some embodiments, a system for monitoring a wound dressing includes: an appurtenance to a wound dressing, wherein the appurtenance includes a sensor unit, an electronic identifier, and a transmitter unit operably attached to the sensor unit and to the electronic identifier; and a local unit including a receiver for the transmitter unit, a processor operably attached to the receiver, and a communication unit operably attached to the processor.

Abstract: Appurtenances to a wound dressing and systems for monitoring wound dressings are described. In some embodiments, a system for monitoring a wound dressing includes: an appurtenance to a wound dressing, wherein the appurtenance includes a sensor unit, an electronic identifier, and a transmitter unit operably attached to the sensor unit and to the electronic identifier; and a local unit including a receiver for the transmitter unit, a processor operably attached to the receiver, and a communication unit operably attached to the processor.

Abstract: Appurtenances to wound dressings are described, which include: a substrate configured to mechanically or chemically attach to a wound dressing; a transmission unit attached to a surface of the substrate, the transmission unit including circuitry and at least one antenna, the transmission unit configured to transmit a signal; and a projection operably attached to the transmission unit, the projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of the wound dressing and configured to sample a fluid associated with a wound.

Abstract: Appurtenances to cavity wound medical dressings are described. In some embodiments, an appurtenance to a cavity wound dressing includes: a substrate including at least one wound-facing surface, the wound-facing surface configured to be oriented facing a wound surface of a cavity wound; and a plurality of sensor units attached to the substrate, the plurality of sensor units oriented and positioned on the substrate relative to the wound surface of the cavity wound.

Abstract: Appurtenances to wound dressings are described, which include: a substrate configured to mechanically or chemically attach to a wound dressing; a transmission unit attached to a surface of the substrate, the transmission unit including circuitry and at least one antenna, the transmission unit configured to transmit a signal; and a projection operably attached to the transmission unit, the projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of the wound dressing and configured to sample a fluid associated with a wound.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an appurtenance to a wound dressing includes: a substrate with at least one surface of a size and shape to mate with a surface of a wound dressing; a plurality of projections attached to the substrate and positioned to secure the substrate to the wound dressing; one or more sensor units attached to the substrate, the one or more sensor units configured to sense a condition of the wound dressing; and a transmission unit attached to the substrate and operably coupled to the one or more sensor units, the transmission unit including circuitry configured to transmit information associated with the one or more sensor units.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle may be used to mark airborne material in a plume. The unmanned aerial vehicle may store a macroscopic and/or microscopic tracer material. A sensor and/or control unit may detect a substance of interest in a plume. The sensor may be configured to detect multiple different substances sharing a particular characteristic. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be piloted along a gradient of increasing concentration of the substance of interest. The tracer material may be ejected into the plume. The tracer material may be configured to react and/or interact with the substance of interest. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be piloted a predetermined distance from the plume after the tracer material has been ejected. Additional and/or different tracer material may be ejected into the plume if it is determined from measurements that ejecting additional tracer material would be beneficial.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle may be used to monitor and/or track airborne material in a plume. The unmanned aerial vehicle may be configured to eject a tracer material into the plume. The unmanned aerial vehicle may include a sensor for detecting the tracer material. The sensor may detect the position, the velocity, the concentration, amount reacted, etc. of the tracer material. The unmanned aerial vehicle and/or a remote vehicle or facility may include an electromagnetic radiation emitter to irradiate the tracer material. The sensor may measure the interactions of the electromagnetic radiation with the tracer material. The unmanned aerial vehicle and/or a remote system may determine characteristics of the plume and/or a substance of interest based on measurements by the sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with acoustic transmitters, receivers, and antennas. Specifically, the present disclosure provides a transducer system for transmitting and receiving acoustic energy according to a determined acoustic emission/reception pattern. In various embodiments, an acoustic transducer system may include an array of sub-wavelength transducer elements each configured with an electromagnetic resonance at one of a plurality of electromagnetic frequencies. Each sub-wavelength transducer element may generate an acoustic emission in response to the electromagnetic resonance. A beam-forming controller may cause electromagnetic energy to be transmitted at select electromagnetic frequencies to cause a select subset of the sub-wavelength transducer elements to generate acoustic emissions according to a selectable acoustic transmission pattern. A common port may facilitate electromagnetic communication with each of the sub-wavelength transducer elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring compression applied by a compression bandage to a body portion of an individual. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a deformable substrate integrated with a textile configured to conform to a body portion; a sensor assembly coupled to the deformable substrate, the sensor assembly including one or more strain gauges configured to generate one or more sense signals associated with a strain of the textile; circuitry operably coupled to the sensor assembly and configured to receive the one or more sense signals associated with the strain of the textile; and a reporter operably coupled to the circuitry and configured to generate one or more communication signals responsive to instruction by the circuitry, the one or more communication signals associated with the strain of the textile.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring compression applied by a compression bandage to a body portion of an individual. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a textile configured to conform to a body portion of an individual subject; one or more strain gauges integrated with the textile, the one or more strain gauges configured to generate one or more sense signals associated with a strain of the textile; circuitry operably coupled to the one or more strain gauges and configured to receive the one or more sense signals associated with the strain of the textile; and a reporter operably coupled to the circuitry and configured to generate one or more communication signals associated with the strain of the textile responsive to instruction by the circuitry when the strain of the textile is less than or greater than a threshold strain value.

Abstract: An acoustic transducer system for ultrasonic imaging may include an array of sub-wavelength ultrasonic transducer elements; at least one electromagnetically resonant element with an electromagnetic resonance within the electromagnetic frequency band coupled to each of the sub-wavelength ultrasonic transducer elements; at least one electromagnetically resonant element with an electromagnetic resonance within the electromagnetic frequency band coupled to each of the sub wavelength ultrasonic transducer elements; an electromagnetic transmission module configured to modify one or more characteristics of transmitted electromagnetic energy to effectuate an acoustic emission by the array of sub-wavelength transducer elements according to an acoustic transmission pattern corresponding to the respective electromagnetic resonance characteristics of at least some of the electromagnetically resonant elements coupled to the sub-wavelength ultrasonic transducer elements; and a common port configured to facilitate electroma

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring compliance of a patient with a prescribed treatment regimen are described. Patient activity is detected unobtrusively with an activity sensor at the patient location, and activity data is transmitted to a monitoring location. Patient speech detected during use of a communication system such as a mobile telephone by the patient may also be used as an activity signal. Patient activity and/or speech is processed at the patient location or monitoring location to identify activity parameters or patterns that indicate whether the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen. The activity sensor and other components at the patient location may be incorporated into, or associated with, a cell phone, computing system, game system, or vehicle system, for example. The system may provide a report to an interested party, for example a medical care provider or insurance company, regarding patient compliance with the prescribed treatment regimen.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for monitoring patient speech to determine compliance of the patient with a prescribed regimen for treating for a brain-related disorder. Patient speech is detected with an audio sensor at the patient location, and speech data is transmitted to a monitoring location. The audio sensor and other components at the patient location may be incorporated into, or associated with, a cell phone, computing system, or stand-alone microprocessor-based device, for example. Patient speech is processed at the patient location and/or monitoring location to identify speech parameters and/or patterns that indicate whether the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen. Patient identity may be determined through biometric identification or other authentication techniques. The system may provide a report to an interested party, for example a medical care provider, based on whether (and/or the extent to which) the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for monitoring patient speech to determine compliance of the patient with a prescribed regimen for treating for a brain-related disorder. Patient speech is detected with an audio sensor at the patient location, and speech data is transmitted to a monitoring location. Patient speech is processed at the patient location and/or monitoring location to identify speech parameters and/or patterns that indicate whether the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen. Patient identity may be determined through biometric identification or other authentication techniques. The system may provide a report to an interested party, for example a medical care provider, based on whether (and/or the extent to which) the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen. The monitoring system may transmit a report to a wireless device such as a pager or cell phone, generate an alarm or notification, and/or store information for later use.