Abstract: A fluid retention device and method of use is defined for retaining surgical fluids used during surgical operations. The device includes a base and a sidewall attached to the base. The sidewall defines a retention area on the base. The sidewall includes a hollow interior that is selectively expanded to raise the sidewall from the base and to define an upstanding perimeter around the retention area. The retention area is sufficient to retain at least one medical personnel and an operating table, supporting a surgical patient. A suction pump may be provided for removing the surgical fluids retained within the retention area and for delivering the fluids outside of the area.

Abstract: Teeth are screened for periodontal disease using digitized images manipulated and annotated on a processor. A digitized radiographic image of a tooth shows locations of a bone boundary and a cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) of the tooth. The digitized radiographic image is marked on the processor with a location on the bone boundary and with a pair of CEJ points at opposite ends of the CEJ visible in the radiograph. A ratio between (a) a distance between the bone boundary location and the adjacent CEJ point as numerator and (b) a distance between the CEJ points as denominator is calculated on the processor and compared with a threshold ratio-value for a corresponding tooth from a database accessible by the processor. A calculated ratio-value which is greater than the database threshold ratio-value is indicative of periodontal disease in the tooth. The probability of the correct diagnostic decision is determined by the relative magnitude of the calculated ratio-value and the threshold ratio-value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a joint positioning device for positioning a joint and methods for using such devices. The joint positioning device may comprise a patient support comprising a substantially flat surface, the patient support configured to be positioned on a medical examination table; a first leg and a second leg extending from the patient support, the legs configured to immobilize the patient support to the medical examination table in a lateral or longitudinal direction. The joint positioning device may further comprise a vertical pillar or pole, the vertical pillar or pole oriented substantially perpendicular to the substantially flat surface of the patient support, the vertical pillar or vertical pole extending in an opposite direction from the first leg and the second leg.

Abstract: A method is performed on a processor for detecting duplication anomalies in a set of patient dental insurance records submitted as part of a dental insurance claim. At least one hash code is generated for at least some of the patient dental insurance record documents. A Hamming Distance is calculated by comparing the hash code(s) of recently submitted patient dental insurance record documents against a database which includes hash codes generated from previous dental insurance claims. Those dental insurance forms are flagged for further human review if the calculated Hamming Distance between the compared hash codes is less than a threshold amount.

Abstract: Teeth are screened for periodontal disease using digitized images manipulated and annotated on a processor. A digitized radiographic image of a tooth shows locations of a bone boundary and a cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) of the tooth. The digitized radiographic image is marked on the processor with a location on the bone boundary and with a pair of CEJ points at opposite ends of the CEJ visible in the radiograph. A ratio between (a) a distance between the bone boundary location and the adjacent CEJ point as numerator and (b) a distance between the CEJ points as denominator is calculated on the processor and compared with a threshold ratio-value for a corresponding tooth from a database accessible by the processor. A calculated ratio-value which is greater than the database threshold ratio-value is indicative of periodontal disease in the tooth. The probability of the correct diagnostic decision is determined by the relative magnitude of the calculated ratio-value and the threshold ratio-value.