Abstract: There is disclosed a medical device for implantation in a body comprising: one or more sensors for sensing a physiologically or clinically relevant parameter; and telemetric communications means for telemetrically transmitting data related to a parameter sensed by the one or more sensors to a remote device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a medical device adapted to be implanted in the heart of a patient and operable therein i) as a heart valve; or ii) to assist in the functioning of one of the patient's heart valves; or iii) to monitor the functioning of one of the patient's heart valves. The device includes one or more sensors for sensing a physiologically or clinically relevant parameter of a patient. A telemetric communication device telemetrically transmits data related to a parameter sensed by the sensor to a remote device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an impedance spectrum which is characteristic of a sample of bodily matter in a resonant circuit and which may be used to analyse the sample.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for analysis and therapy of the eye utilizing laser-induced ultrasound.

Abstract: A method for detecting the occurrence of a condition in a respiring subject includes the steps of: introducing emitted subject respiratory gases to a gas sensing device; detecting certain species present in the emitted subject respiratory gases with the gas sensing device; and correlating the presence of the species with the occurrence of the condition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gas sampling apparatus adapted for use in a hand-held gas sensing device having at least one gas sensor, the apparatus comprising: a gas inlet; a gas conductor for conducting gas from the gas inlet to the sensor or sensors; a gas outlet; a gas conductor for conducting gas from the sensor or sensors to the gas outlet; and a vacuum containment enclosing an inner region having a pressure below atmospheric pressure and adapted for connection to the gas outlet so that a flow of gas is developed from the gas inlet to the vacuum containment.

Abstract: A method for identifying a change in the composition of a liquid, comprising the steps of applying a time varying electrical or electromagnetic input signal to the liquid in a range of frequencies encompassing a resonant frequency of an electrical circuit comprising the liquid; measuring an impedance quantity of the electrical circuit comprising the liquid by means of the output signal as a function of the frequency of the time varying electrical or resonant frequency input signal in said range of frequencies; determining a resonant frequency of the electrical circuit comprising the liquid; after a change in the composition of the liquid, measuring variation in the impedance quantity at or near to the previously determined resonant frequency of the electrical circuit comprising the liquid; and relating the variation in the impedance quantity at or near to the resonant frequency of the electrical circuit comprising the liquid to a change in the composition of the liquid.

Abstract: [There is disclosed a method for detecting the occurrence of a condition in a respiring subject comprising the steps of: introducing emitted subject respiratory gases to a gas sensing device; detecting certain species present in said emitted subject respiratory gases with said gas sensing device; and correlating the presence of said species with the occurrence of the condition] A method for detecting the occurrence of a condition in a respiring subject includes the steps of: introducing emitted subject respiratory gases to a gas sensing device; detecting certain species present in the emitted subject respiratory gases with the gas sensing device; and correlating the presence of the species with the occurrence of the condition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gas sampling apparatus (10) adapted for use in a hand-held gas sensing device (12) having at least one gas sensor (14), the apparatus comprising: a gas inlet (16); a gas conductor (18) for conducting gas from the gas inlet to the sensor or sensors; a gas outlet (20), a gas conductor (22) for conducting gas from the sensor or sensors to the gas outlet; and a vacuum containment (24) enclosing an inner region having a pressure below atmospheric pressure and adapted for connection to the gas outlet so that a flow of gas is developed from the gas inlet to the vacuum containment.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for analysis and therapy of the eye utilizing laser-induced ultrasound.

Abstract: A microorganism analyzer has a flow-through arrangement into which a microorganism-containing sample may be introduced, and a headspace connected or connectible to a gas analyzer. The headspace is connected to the flow-through arrangement so as to be affected by the sample.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for interrogating a sensor comprising the steps: applying a periodic electrical signal to the sensor; obtaining a signal therefrom; and performing an operation on the obtained signal to obtain the sensor response at a plurality of frequencies, said operation including a transformation to the frequency domain of said signal or a quantity related to said signal.

Abstract: A method for identifying a microorganism is described that includes abstracting gas or vapor associated with the microorganism from a detection region and flowing the same over an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to gases or vapors and observing the response of the sensors. An apparatus for detecting a microorganism is also disclosed having a detector means for detecting a gas or vapor associated with the microorganism which includes an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to the gases or vapors.

Abstract: A laser ultrasound probe, suitable for intravascular use, of the kind having an ultrasonic transducer element comprising an ultrasound receiving surface of piezoelectric polymeric material and an optical fiber with one end directed forwardly from that surface and arranged to receive laser radiation for transmission through the optical fiber and emission from the said one end thereof, wherein the optical fiber is coupled with laser source means adapted to provide alternatively a relatively low average power laser beam, which, when modulated or pulsed and emitted from the one end of the optical fiber and incident on a target, will generate ultrasound at an intensity suitable to be received by the transducer element and converted thereby into electrical monitoring signals, and a relatively high average power laser beam suitable, when incident on the said target, to produce ablation thereof, the transducer element being sufficiently robust to withstand the ultrasound which is then also generated.

Abstract: A method for identifying a microorganism is described that includes abstracting gas or vapor associated with the microorganism from a detection region and flowing the same over an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to gases or vapors and observing the response of the sensors. An apparatus for detecting a microorganism is also disclosed having a detector means for detecting a gas or vapor associated with the microorganism which includes an array of sensors of which an electrical property varies according to exposure to the gases or vapors.