Abstract: A needle is provided that has terminals located at or near its tip. The terminals are connectable to an impedance calculating circuit configured to enable the impedance calculating circuit to apply an alternating current input electrical signal to the terminals. The terminals are further configured to enable the impedance calculating circuit to measure a resultant electrical signal and calculate an impedance of biological tissue surrounding the tip. The needle may further include light transmitting media, that extends along the needle, and that is connectable to a light circuit. The light circuit may include an emitter/detector pair for transmitting light from the emitter, along the media, and emitting the light from the tip. A reflection of the emitted light may be transmitted from the tip to the detector and the light circuit may calculate the light absorption of the tissue.

Abstract: A needle is provided that has terminals located at or near its tip. The terminals are connectable to an impedance calculating circuit configured to enable the impedance calculating circuit to apply an alternating current input electrical signal to the terminals. The terminals are further configured to enable the impedance calculating circuit to measure a resultant electrical signal and calculate an impedance of biological tissue surrounding the tip. The needle may further include light transmitting media, that extends along the needle, and that is connectable to a light circuit. The light circuit may include an emitter/detector pair for transmitting light from the emitter, along the media, and emitting the light from the tip. A reflection of the emitted light may be transmitted from the tip to the detector and the light circuit may calculate the light absorption of the tissue.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for screening for and monitoring a condition are provided. In a method conducted at a communication device a virtual environment is provided which is output to a user via one or more output components of the communication device. The user is required to interact with the environment by way of a series of instructions input into the communication device. The virtual environment includes a number of environment-based discriminators which, based on a user's interaction relative thereto, facilitate discrimination between a user with and without a condition. Data points relating to the user's interaction in relation to each of the number of environment-based discriminators are recorded and compiled into a payload including a user identifier. The payload is output for input into a machine learning component configured to discriminate between users with and without the condition by identifying patterns in the data points.

Abstract: A laryngoscope comprising a handle (1) having an axis (5) and carrying a light source (3) of a type having an axis (4) extending in the general direction in which a light beam is emitted thereby is described. The laryngoscope has a removable and replaceable, preferably disposable, blade (7) of translucent material carried by the handle and extending generally transversely relative to the handle axis. The blade has a proximal end (6) and a distal end (13), and the light source is directed transversely relative to the axis of the handle so as to aim the light beam directly at, and generally at right angles to, a transverse light receiving face (11) formed at the proximal end of the blade. A light focusing “lens” (9) may be interposed between the light source and the transverse light receiving face.

Abstract: A system and component parts thereof are provided for monitoring a controlled area in a maternity or other healthcare facility. Access-ways to and from the controlled area are each provided with an access-way monitoring station and all infants and mothers subject to monitoring are provided with an infant mother station of a cooperant pair thereof. Each of the infant and mother rations has attachment means enabling secure attachment thereof to the body of the infant or mother. All stations have communication means enabling wireless communication of identification data directly between them. The infant and mother stations recognize unique identification data transmitted by one to the other of such stations, and indicator means such as an LED indicate that recognition of the unique identification data has taken place so as to result in positive identification to the mother station of the associated infant station.