Abstract: A data management unit for supporting health control, the unit including: a processor, a data input adapted to input data and/or requests and connected to the processor, a data storage connected to the processor, wherein the processor is adapted to assign a tag referring to an event chosen from a group of tags comprising the fasting tag and at least one other event tag to a new data received from the data input or a measurement unit, wherein the tag is assigned either automatically by the processor and/or via the data input, wherein the fasting tag can only be assigned to the new data if a time stamp of the new data is within a predefined fasting window, wherein the predefined fasting window is stored in the data storage.

Abstract: A cervical collar has a front component formed from a compressible foam material and defines a recess constituting part of a tracheal opening. The collar also has a height adjustment mechanism secured to the front component which forms a substantially rigid border about the tracheal opening, and a sternum pad formed from a compressible foam material. The height adjustment mechanism selectively connects the front component to the sternum pad at a permanently locked position among a plurality of predefined distances.

Abstract: A cervical collar has a front component formed from a compressible foam material and defines a recess constituting part of a tracheal opening. The collar also has a height adjustment mechanism secured to the front component which forms a substantially rigid border about the tracheal opening, and a sternum pad formed from a compressible foam material. The height adjustment mechanism selectively connects the front component to the sternum pad at a permanently locked position among a plurality of predefined distances.

Abstract: A cervical collar including an anterior portion having a rigid or semi-rigid shell anterior main support piece. The anterior portion defines resilient or flexible edges formed along the periphery of the main support piece. The flexible edges form a three-dimensional anatomically configured proximal support portion defined along a proximal area of the anterior portion. The anterior main support piece defines a supporting spring portion centrally located along the proximal area of the anterior portion. The proximal support portion is formed around and encompasses the supporting spring portion.

Abstract: A data management unit for supporting health control and avoiding wrong dose suggestion, the unit including: a processor to provide a dose helper functionality with regard to a predefined medicament, a display, a data input unit, a data storage, a clock unit adapted to determine the absolute time of a dose helper request received by the data input. The processor is adapted to initiate storing at least the time of a dose helper request that is outside the time range around the usual dose time in the data storage. The processor is further adapted to execute the dose helper functionality only if the time of the most recent dose helper request is within the dose time window around the usual dose time. The processor is further adapted to initiate sending a recommendation message for change of usual dose time and/or dose time window to the display.

Abstract: A data management unit for supporting health control, the unit including: a processor, a data input adapted to input data and/or requests and connected to the processor, a data storage connected to the processor, wherein the processor is adapted to assign a tag referring to an event chosen from a group of tags comprising the fasting tag and at least one other event tag to a new data received from the data input or a measurement unit, wherein the tag is assigned either automatically by the processor and/or via the data input, wherein the fasting tag can only be assigned to the new data if a time stamp of the new data is within a predefined fasting window, wherein the predefined fasting window is stored in the data storage.

Abstract: A cervical collar has a front component formed from a compressible foam material and defines a recess constituting part of a tracheal opening. The collar also has a height adjustment mechanism secured to the front component which forms a substantially rigid border about the tracheal opening, and a sternum pad formed from a compressible foam material. The height adjustment mechanism selectively connects the front component to the sternum pad at a permanently locked position among a plurality of predefined distances.

Abstract: A cervical collar has a front component formed from a compressible foam material and defines a recess constituting part of a tracheal opening. The collar also has a height adjustment mechanism secured to the front component which forms a substantially rigid border about the tracheal opening, and a sternum pad formed from a compressible foam material. The height adjustment mechanism selectively connects the front component to the sternum pad at a permanently locked position among a plurality of predefined distances.

Abstract: A cervical collar including an anterior portion having a rigid or semi-rigid shell anterior main support piece. The anterior portion defines resilient or flexible edges formed along the periphery of the main support piece. The flexible edges form a three-dimensional anatomically configured proximal support portion defined along a proximal area of the anterior portion. The anterior main support piece defines a supporting spring portion centrally located along the proximal area of the anterior portion. The proximal support portion is formed around and encompasses the supporting spring portion.

Abstract: A cervical collar including an anterior portion having a rigid or semi-rigid shell anterior main support piece. The anterior portion defines resilient or flexible edges formed along the periphery of the main support piece. The flexible edges form a three-dimensional anatomically configured proximal support portion defined along a proximal area of the anterior portion. The anterior main support piece defines a supporting spring portion centrally located along the proximal area of the anterior portion. The proximal support portion is formed around and encompasses the supporting spring portion.

Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a valve including a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the housing defines a first and second nozzle, and the bottom portion of the housing defines an opening. A diaphragm has an open position and a closed position, and the diaphragm is disposed between the top portion of the housing and the bottom portion of the housing. A first fluid flow path between the first nozzle and the second nozzle is defined by the housing and the diaphragm, when the diaphragm is in the closed position. A second fluid flow path between the opening and the first nozzle is defined by the housing and the diaphragm, when the diaphragm is in the closed position. Such a valve can be used for a number of purposes including hemodialysis procedures.

Abstract: A cervical collar including an anterior portion having a rigid or semi-rigid shell anterior main support piece. The anterior portion defines resilient or flexible edges formed along the periphery of the main support piece. The flexible edges form a three-dimensional anatomically configured proximal support portion defined along a proximal area of the anterior portion. The anterior main support piece defines a supporting spring portion centrally located along the proximal area of the anterior portion. The proximal support portion is formed around and encompasses the supporting spring portion.

Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a valve including a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the housing defines a first and second nozzle, and the bottom portion of the housing defines an opening. A diaphragm has an open position and a closed position, and the diaphragm is disposed between the top portion of the housing and the bottom portion of the housing. A first fluid flow path between the first nozzle and the second nozzle is defined by the housing and the diaphragm, when the diaphragm is in the closed position. A second fluid flow path between the opening and the first nozzle is defined by the housing and the diaphragm, when the diaphragm is in the open position. Such a valve can be used for a number of purposes including hemodialysis procedures.

Abstract: A cervical collar including an anterior portion having a rigid or semi-rigid shell anterior main support piece. The anterior portion defines resilient or flexible edges formed along the periphery of the main support piece. The flexible edges form a three-dimensional anatomically configured proximal support portion defined along a proximal area of the anterior portion. The anterior main support piece defines a supporting spring portion centrally located along the proximal area of the anterior portion. The proximal support portion is formed around and encompasses the supporting spring portion.

Abstract: A cervical collar has an anterior portion and a posterior portion having side extending portions removably connecting to the anterior portion. The posterior portion includes a rigid or semi-rigid main support piece and a resilient edge integrally secured to at least a substantial portion of a periphery of the main support piece that is substantially more flexible than the main support piece. The main support piece defines opposed upper side sections and a lower section. The upper side sections extend upwardly from the side extending portions and are oriented toward a proximal middle region and spaced apart by a first distance. The lower section extends continuously between the side extending portions and is spaced a second distance from the upper side sections.

Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a device and method for hemodialysis including a needle access port having a housing defining a septum, wherein the septum is configured for needle access. Generally, the needle access port will have three septa for communication with valves configured to be anastomosed to a large-diameter blood vessel. The valves are in fluid communication with a flow of blood through the large-diameter blood vessel. The device also includes an elongate tube having a first and a second elongate lumen, wherein a first end of the tube is coupled to the needle access port and a second end of the tube is coupled to the valve. The device can be cleaned by injecting a cleaning fluid into a first septum of the needle access port and extracting it though the second septum of the needle access port.

Abstract: An orthopedic device, in the form of a cervical collar having reduced vascular obstruction, has less contact with, and produces less pressure on, the sternocleidomasteoidus area of the neck, thus transferring pressure away from the veins of the neck (vena jugularis externa and interna) to other portions of the neck. Specifically, the shape of the cervical collar at the anterior portion thereof, when applied to the neck of a patient, leaves a clearance of the neck veins by way of fold lines or recessed surfaces provided along a posterior surface of the anterior portion of the collar. The fold lines or recessed surfaces are generally arranged perpendicularly on either side of an open access area defined in the anterior cervical collar portion. Fold lines allow the generally rigid plastic of a cervical collar to naturally curve into a shape that provides the appropriate clearance for the neck veins.

Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a device and method for hemodialysis including a needle access port having a housing defining a septum, wherein the septum is configured for needle access. Generally, the needle access port will have three septa for communication with valves configured to be anastomosed to a large-diameter blood vessel. The valves are in fluid communication with a flow of blood through the large-diameter blood vessel. The device also includes an elongate tube having a first and a second elongate lumen, wherein a first end of the tube is coupled to the needle access port and a second end of the tube is coupled to the valve. The device can be cleaned by injecting a cleaning fluid into a first septum of the needle access port and extracting it though the second septum of the needle access port.

Abstract: An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a valve including a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the housing defines a first and second nozzle, and the bottom portion of the housing defines an opening. A diaphragm has an open position and a closed position, and the diaphragm is disposed between the top portion of the housing and the bottom portion of the housing. A first fluid flow path between the first nozzle and the second nozzle is defined by the housing and the diaphragm, when the diaphragm is in the closed position. A second fluid flow path between the opening and the first nozzle is defined by the housing and the diaphragm, when the diaphragm is in the closed position. Such a valve can be used for a number of purposes including hemodialysis procedures.

Abstract: A cervical collar has an anterior portion and a posterior portion having side extending portions removably connecting to the anterior portion. The posterior portion includes a rigid or semi-rigid main support piece and a resilient edge integrally secured to at least a substantial portion of a periphery of the main support piece that is substantially more flexible than the main support piece. The main support piece defines opposed upper side sections and a lower section. The upper side sections extend upwardly from the side extending portions and are oriented toward a proximal middle region and spaced apart by a first distance. The lower section extends continuously between the side extending portions and is spaced a second distance from the upper side sections.