Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for upper extremity analysis and modeling using medical imaging. The systems and methods may be used to identify and segment both muscle and fatty tissue directly from the standard clinical images, and may be fully automated, thus providing rapid assessments back to the clinician and seamless integration into the clinical decision-making workflow.

Abstract: An apparatus including artificial nipple for feeding a baby who has a cleft in its palate region. The artificial nipple includes a palate region to define a region facing the baby's palate during use, and the nipple having a tongue region to define a region facing the baby's tongue during use. The palate region is less compliant than the tongue region to both mimic the hard palate and reduces unwanted movement of the nipple, making it easier for the infant to use his or her tongue to expel fluid from the nipple. The tongue region includes a feeding slit, which maybe U or V shaped, from which liquid maybe discharged without risking nasal congestion. The tongue region may further include a soft protrusion, that assists the peristaltic like tongue movement helping the baby feed, and may extend laterally to reduce the risk of nasal congestion.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying a muscle abnormality. The method may include acquiring image data associated with a plurality of muscles in an area of interest of a living subject and generating a data model for the plurality of muscles based on the image data. The method further includes calculating the volume and/or length of one of the plurality of muscles based on the data model, and determining if the volume and/or length for the muscle, as calculated, deviates from volume and/or length associated with a healthy muscle. If it is determined that the volume and/or length for the muscle deviates from the volume and/or length associated with a healthy muscle, a muscle abnormality can be identified based on the deviation.

Abstract: An apparatus including artificial nipple for feeding a baby who has a cleft in its palate region. The artificial nipple includes a palate region to define a region facing the baby's palate during use, and the nipple having a tongue region to define a region facing the baby's tongue during use. The palate region is less compliant than the tongue region to both mimic the hard palate and reduces unwanted movement of the nipple, making it easier for the infant to use his or her tongue to expel fluid from the nipple. The tongue region includes a feeding slit, which maybe U or V shaped, from which liquid maybe discharged without risking nasal congestion. The tongue region may further include a soft protrusion, that assists the peristaltic like tongue movement helping the baby feed, and may extend laterally to reduce the risk of nasal congestion.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying a muscle abnormality. The method may include acquiring image data associated with a plurality of muscles in an area of interest of a living subject and generating a data model for the plurality of muscles based on the image data. The method further includes calculating the volume and/or length of one of the plurality of muscles based on the data model, and determining if the volume and/or length for the muscle, as calculated, deviates from volume and/or length associated with a healthy muscle. If it is determined that the volume and/or length for the muscle deviates from the volume and/or length associated with a healthy muscle, a muscle abnormality can be identified based on the deviation.