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: Appurtenances to wound dressings can include: a substrate configured to attach to a wound dressing; a fluid-activated voltaic cell attached to the substrate; 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 in response to current generated by the fluid-activated voltaic cell; and a projection operably attached to the fluid-activated voltaic cell, the projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of the wound dressing and configured to sample a fluid within the interior region of the wound dressing.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed herein for preventing or treating ventilator associated pneumonia in a mammalian subject. The device includes an endotracheal tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and one or more closed cell layers in contact with the exterior surface and circumferentially surrounding one or more longitudinal portion of the endotracheal tube, wherein the closed cell layer is flexibly shaped to reversibly form a seal in a trachea of a mammalian subject.

Abstract: Computational systems and methods for reporting information regarding appurtenances to wound dressings are described. A system can include an appurtenance to a wound dressing, including a substrate, a transmission unit, a selectively activated switch, and a projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of a wound dressing and configured to sample a fluid associated with a wound; a local unit, including a receiver configured to receive signals from the transmission unit, a transmitter configured to send signals to the transmission unit, a processor, non-volatile memory, and a power source; and a central assembly, including a processor, a receiver configured to receive signals from the local unit, and at least one user interface.

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.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for unobtrusively monitoring patient activity to determine compliance of the patient with a prescribed regimen for treating a brain-related disorder. Patient activity associated with routine activities is detected with an activity sensor at the patient location, and activity data is transmitted to a monitoring location. The activity sensor and other components at the patient location may be incorporated into, or associated with, a cell phone, computing system, game system, appliance, or vehicle system, for example. Patient activity is processed at the patient location and/or monitoring location to identify activity 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.

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 for monitoring compliance of a patient with a prescribed treatment regimen are described. Two or more patient activities (including e.g., speech activity) are analyzed to determine compliance with a treatment for a brain-related disorder. Activity is detected unobtrusively during performance of routine activities with activity sensor(s) at the patient location, patient speech is detected during use of a communication system such as a mobile telephone, and activity data is sent to a monitoring system at a monitoring location. Activity and/or speech data is processed at the patient location or monitoring location to identify activity parameters or patterns that indicate whether the patient has complied with the 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 or insurance company, regarding patient compliance.

Abstract: Methods and systems for monitoring compliance of a patient with a prescribed treatment regimen are described. Patient speech is detected during use of a communication system such as a mobile telephone and analyzed to determine compliance with a treatment for a brain-related disorder, for example. Speech data representing one or more patient speech pattern and an identity signal containing information used to determine presence/identity of the patient are transmitted from a circuitry-based system at the patient location to a monitoring location. Identity of the patient as user of the communication system is determined through, e.g., biometric or authentication techniques. Speech data is analyzed to determine whether a patient speech pattern matches one or more characteristic speech patterns. Outcome of the analysis is reported to a medical caregiver or other party, for example.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for unobtrusively monitoring patient activity to determine compliance of the patient with a prescribed regimen for treating for a brain-related disorder. Patient activity associated with routine patient activities is detected with an activity sensor at the patient location, and activity data is transmitted to a monitoring location. Patient activity is processed at the patient location and/or monitoring location to identify activity 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 or insurance company, regarding compliance of the patient with the prescribed treatment regimen.

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 for monitoring compliance of a patient with a prescribed treatment regimen are described. Compliance is determined based upon analysis of the patient's speech detected during use of a communication system such as a mobile telephone by the patient. Methods and systems as described herein can be used for monitoring patient compliance with a treatment for a brain-related disorder, for example. Identity of the patient as user of the communication system is determined through the use of e.g., biometric or authentication techniques. Speech data indicative of whether the patient has complied with the prescribed treatment regimen is transmitted from a circuitry-based system at the patient location to a monitoring location, where it may be reviewed by a medical caregiver or other party, for example. Patient speech may be analyzed at the patient location and/or subjected to analysis at the monitoring location.

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: Computational systems and methods for reporting information regarding appurtenances to wound dressings are described. A system can include an appurtenance to a wound dressing, including a substrate, a transmission unit, a selectively activated switch, and a projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of a wound dressing and configured to sample a fluid associated with a wound; a local unit, including a receiver configured to receive signals from the transmission unit, a transmitter configured to send signals to the transmission unit, a processor, non-volatile memory, and a power source; and a central assembly, including a processor, a receiver configured to receive signals from the local unit, and at least one user interface.

Abstract: Appurtenances to wound dressings can include: a substrate configured to attach to a wound dressing; a fluid-activated voltaic cell attached to the substrate; 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 in response to current generated by the fluid-activated voltaic cell; and a projection operably attached to the fluid-activated voltaic cell, the projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of the wound dressing and configured to sample a fluid within the interior region of the wound dressing.

Abstract: Computational systems and methods for reporting information regarding appurtenances to wound dressings are described. A system can include an appurtenance to a wound dressing, including a substrate, a transmission unit, a selectively activated switch, and a projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of a wound dressing and configured to sample a fluid associated with a wound; a local unit, including a receiver configured to receive signals from the transmission unit, a transmitter configured to send signals to the transmission unit, a processor, non-volatile memory, and a power source; and a central assembly, including a processor, a receiver configured to receive signals from the local unit, and at least one user interface.

Abstract: Appurtenances to wound dressings can include: a substrate configured to attach to a wound dressing; a fluid-activated voltaic cell attached to the substrate; 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 in response to current generated by the fluid-activated voltaic cell; and a projection operably attached to the fluid-activated voltaic cell, the projection of a size and shape to extend into an interior region of the wound dressing and configured to sample a fluid within the interior region of the wound dressing.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed herein for preventing or treating ventilator associated pneumonia in a mammalian subject. The device includes an endotracheal tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface; and one or more closed cell layers in contact with the exterior surface and circumferentially surrounding one or more longitudinal portion of the endotracheal tube, wherein the closed cell layer is flexibly shaped to reversibly form a seal in a trachea of a mammalian subject.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed herein for preventing or treating ventilator associated pneumonia in a mammalian subject. The device includes an endotracheal tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface; an actively-controllable anchoring cuff comprising two or more inflatable balloons configured to contact the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube and configured to contact the trachea of a mammalian subject; a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure of one or more of the inflatable balloons; and a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, the controller configured to actively vary pressure of the two or more of the inflatable balloons of the anchoring cuff.