Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for providing health-care equipment in a plurality of customizable configurations. A configuration includes a selection and arrangement of health-care equipment modules that each provide specialized support for the provision of health care, including the measurement of physiological parameters. Various types of configurations include those adapted to be mounted upon a desk top or a wall surface, or adapted for wheel mounting or hand-carriable mobile configurations.

Abstract: A device has a capacitive surface and a light source. A user of the device uses the capacitive surface to change the intensity of light emitted by the light source. To increase and decrease the intensity of the light emitted by the light source, the user touches the capacitive surface with one or more fingers.

Abstract: A loss prevention system comprises a protected article and a receiver. The protected article and the receiver are located in the same room. The loss prevention system can help to prevent loss or theft of the protected article. The protected article comprises a transmitter that emits an infrared signal. The infrared signal has a carrier frequency that is modulated to encode a digital signature. The receiver detects infrared signals. The receiver performs an alarm action if the receiver does not detect within a rolling time window an infrared signal having the carrier frequency that is modulated to encode the digital signature.

Abstract: A temperature determination method includes temporarily contacting a forehead of a subject with a first surface of a removable patch, and exposing a second surface of the patch opposite the first surface to ambient conditions. The method also includes sensing a temperature of the first surface of the patch while the first surface is in contact with the forehead at a first location thereon, sensing a temperature of the second surface of the patch, and calculating a sub-skull temperature of the subject based on the sensed temperatures of the first and second surface.

Abstract: A pressure sensor for measuring the location and intensity of an applied pressure, including an elastomeric sheet; and a plurality of micro-channels embedded in the elastomeric sheet.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for that allow for varying stiffness of a system by applying a low magnetic field to magnetorheological (MR) fluid in the system. The method and system include exposed patterns on facing surfaces of sliding structures. The facing patterns contain MR fluid. When a low to moderate magnetic field is applied to the MR fluid, the patterns are magnetically attracted to MR domains confined to the opposing surface, thus requiring additional force to slide the structures past each other.

Abstract: Provided are lectenz molecules, which are mutated carbohydrate processing enzyme enzymes that are catalytically inactive and that have had their substrate affinity increased by at least 1.2 fold. Further provided are methods for making and methods of using such lectenz. Additional mutated proteins following the lectenz approach are further provided.

Abstract: A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument. The light assembly includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a light source mounted to the top surface, and the bottom surface having first and second electrical terminals. The light assembly further includes a circuit board disposed inclined to the substrate, the circuit board having first and second electrical terminals, a first connector mounting and electrically connecting the first electrical terminal of the substrate to the first electrical terminal of the circuit board, a second connector mounting and electrically connecting the second electrical terminal of the substrate to the second electrical terminal of the circuit board, a heat sink, and a thermal conductor thermally connecting at least one of the first and second electrical terminals of the substrate to the heat sink.

Abstract: An examination light apparatus including a touch-less control component that enables a user to control the apparatus without requiring physical contact between the user and the apparatus. The apparatus employs an LED control component that is configured to adapt its electrical interface to a variable quantity of light emitting diodes in order to interface with each of a plurality of lamp heads that each can include a unique arrangement and quantity of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes (LEDs) provide a high level of light quality, quantity and intensity (luminosity) while requiring low power consumption and low space and weight requirements and are employed without requiring a cooling fan. Uniform mechanical and electrical interfaces between the control component and other portions of the examination lamp provide for efficient and simple manufacturing of various examination light configurations.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for providing health-care equipment in a plurality of customizable configurations. A configuration includes a selection and arrangement of health-care equipment modules that each provide specialized support for the provision of health care, including the measurement of physiological parameters. Various types of configurations include those adapted to be mounted upon a desk top or a wall surface, or adapted for wheel mounting or hand-carriable mobile configurations.

Abstract: A multi-segmented spine includes a plurality of rigid segments joined with a flexible coupling and governed by a plurality of integrated actuators. Motion is generated in the multi-segmented spine via an intelligent activation sequence for the actuators, which can be in the form of shape memory alloys activated via resistance heating from electric current.

Abstract: A high performance piezoelectric actuator. The actuator includes a piezoelectric material exhibiting a selectively tapered width sufficient to enhance actuator fracture load capabilities. A passive material is disposed on or integrated with the piezoelectric material. A drive system is connected to the piezoelectric material. The drive system is capable of selectively applying an electric field to the piezoelectric material. In specific embodiment, the piezoelectric material includes a curved piezoelectric layer exhibits a default state of compression along a surface of the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: A hand-held flashlight comprising a metal halide arc lamp operating between 8 and 22 watts. The lamp has an arc gap of between 0.7 and 1.4 mm and a color temperature at or above 5000° Kelvin. The lamp contains a fill gas including mercury and indium in percentages to produce a point source of white light capable of penetrating dense smoke and fog. The flashlight includes a reflector containing the arc lamp and providing a collimated beam of high intensity white light. The flashlight includes a circuit for providing a high starting voltage to the lamp and a lower operating voltage after sustaining the lamp. The circuit includes a battery, a ballast, and a microprocessor for monitoring the lamp and the battery. The microprocessor provides a discernible output signal indicative of the lamp on-time and battery voltage. The microprocessor controls the application of the starting voltage from the ballast to the lamp to prevent misstarting of the lamp.

Abstract: A hand-held flashlight comprising a metal halide arc lamp operating between 8 and 22 watts. The lamp has an arc gap of between 0.7 and 1.4 mm and a color temperature at or above 5000° Kelvin. The lamp contains a fill gas including mercury and indium in percentages to produce a point source of white light capable of penetrating dense smoke and fog. The flashlight includes a reflector containing the arc lamp and providing a collimated beam of high intensity white light. The flashlight includes a circuit for providing a high starting voltage to the lamp and a lower operating voltage after sustaining the lamp. The circuit includes a battery, a ballast, and a microprocessor for monitoring the lamp and the battery. The microprocessor provides a discernible output signal indicative of the lamp on-time and battery voltage. The microprocessor controls the application of the starting voltage from the ballast to the lamp to prevent misstarting of the lamp.

Abstract: An optical reading apparatus for scanning and decoding data encoded in any of a plurality of types of 1D and 2D bar code symbology. An array of white light emitting diodes are used as an illumination source for the optical reading apparatus, allowing detection of symbologies from a target of interest regardless of the color of the symbology and/or the background of the target. The white LEDs produce a higher color temperature to allow better discrimination of the colors of the target than other known illumination sources and further produces a substantially continuous spectrum, to replicate that of a conventional white light source.

Abstract: An optical reader is suitable for reading 2-dimensional indicia. The optical reading device, that may include a bar code reader, comprises a guide whose length along the optical reader optical axis is such that when that guide contacts the part or equipment surrounding the indicia to be read, that indicia is within the optical reader depth of field. The reader comprises a housing having therein a source of illumination and optics for producing a diverging beam for illuminating indica. A spacing element transparent guide is removably attached to the housing, and does not block indicia. The line of contact of the guide with the data carrier is substantially fully visible to the operator, who can thus confirm that the guide is in proper operating position relative to the indica prior to initiating a reading operation. A reading operation can be initiated by pressing on the guide to actuate a switch, or on a manual trigger.

Abstract: A video otoscope includes an elongated body portion having a conically shaped insertion portion sized for insertion a predetermined distance into an ear canal. The insertion portion includes a tip opening and an interior having a lens system for focusing an optical image of a target onto a distally positioned imager each contained therein. The body portion includes an insufflation port to pressurize or apply a vacuum within the ear canal to allow stimulation of the tympanic membrane. In a preferred embodiment, a clear speculum releasably attached to the insertion portion transmits light to a target within the ear canal, while also allowing insufflated air to be reliably guided to the tip opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for medical inspection comprising a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument having a battery pack for providing energy to a light source for illuminating the target area, a housing, a charger for charger the battery pack that is integral with the housing and adapted to provide electric energy to the battery pack to charge the battery pack, a video adapter detachably coupled to the medical diagnostic instrument, video processing circuitry contained within the housing and an umbilicus for connecting the video adapter to the video processing circuitry.

Abstract: The invention is a laryngoscope having an image sensor assembly mounted thereto for providing video imaging of a patient's airway passage. The laryngoscope includes a distal end having a tip adapted for contact with tissue of an airway passage and an image sensor assembly mounted to a convex surface of the laryngoscope body so that an image sensor of the assembly is angled away from a tissue contacted by the tip when the laryngoscope is in use. In one embodiment, the image sensor assembly is slidably mounted on a track formed on a curved section of a laryngoscope body so that sliding of the image sensor assembly along the track adjusts the distance of the assembly from a target, and further adjusting the orientation angle of the image sensor assembly.

Abstract: An optical reader is suitable for reading 2-dimensional indicia. The optical reading device, that may include a bar code reader, comprises a lens assembly and a guide detachably mounted on a front portion of the housing for establishing a distance between the lens assembly and an equipment target that is displaced a predetermined distance from a mark target wherein the optical reader further comprises an attaching member for supporting the lens assembly on the guide to form a detachable lens-guide assembly.