Abstract: In a surgical workspace, a plurality of monitoring devices may be provided to enable a surgical procedure to be remotely monitored using a remote monitoring system. A monitoring control system and a computer-implemented monitoring control methods are provided which are configured to access monitoring data, analyze the monitoring data to determine a current state of the surgical procedure, determine one or more observability requirements for the current state of the surgical procedure, and based thereon, select a subset of the plurality of monitoring devices to be perceptually prioritized by the remote monitoring system. This selection is then conveyed to the remote monitoring system via selection data. Thereby, the remote monitoring system may be controlled to enable optimal remote monitoring of the surgical procedure.

Abstract: There is provided a system (100) and method for use in assisting a user to focus on performing a personal care activity. The system (100) comprises a processing unit (102). The processing unit is configured to acquire data associated with the user during the personal care activity, process the acquired data to detect at least one characteristic indicative of a distractive event for the user in performing the personal care activity and initiate one or 5 more actions associated with the detected at least one characteristic indicative of the distractive event to assist the user in focusing on the personal care activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to providing navigation operation instructions, for example during catheterization. In order to provide improved navigation instructions, a device (10) for in-body navigation operation instructions is provided. The device comprises a position data supply (12), an anatomical data supply (14), a processor (16) and an output (18). The position data supply is configured to provide current position data of a tool portion with a tool tip inserted in an anatomy structure in a region of interest of a subject. The anatomical data supply is configured to provide 3D information of the anatomy structure; and to provide target information for the tool tip movement inside the anatomy structure.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for controlling a privacy setting of at least one sensor. A signal is acquired from one or more sensors. A characteristic of one or more subjects is detected in the acquired signal. A privacy level is set based on the detected characteristic of the one or more subjects. A privacy setting of at least one sensor is controlled based on the set privacy level.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method of determining a position and/or orientation of a hand-held device with respect to a subject. The hand-held device is for use on a body of the subject.

Abstract: A control system is provided for controlling communication between a monitor unit and a set of remote user units. A monitoring system including the control system, the monitor unit and optionally the remote user units is also provided. The monitor unit comprises a camera for collecting images of a subject being monitored and/or a microphone for collecting sounds of the subject being monitored. The control system is adapted to grant different access rights to different users, including at least: first access rights for a first remote user or first set of remote users over the Internet for accessing the collected images and/or collected sounds; and second, different, access rights for a second remote user or second set of remote users over the Internet for accessing the collected images and/or collected sounds. The system is for example for baby monitoring.

Abstract: A method 100 of displaying a three dimensional volume of an image on a two dimensional display. For each pixel in the two dimensional display, the method comprises sequentially stepping 102 through a plurality of points along a line of sight from the pixel into the three dimensional volume and determining 104 a first point along the line of sight at which the three dimensional volume has a value that satisfies a first criteria indicating that the first point comprises a surface of interest in the three dimensional image. From the first point, the method then comprises determining 106 a second point that lies normal to the surface of interest at the first point, and determining 108 a value for the pixel based on a first value associated with the second point.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for warning of an exposure of a second individual to an allergen by transfer from a first individual. Movements of the individuals are tracked so that allergen types and levels to which the individuals have been exposed can be obtained. Using knowledge of user sensitivity information to different allergens, it is determined if the first individual has been exposed to allergen types and levels which pose a risk to the second individual by GPS transfer from the first individual to the second individual. Thus, action can be taken when there is a determined risk of allergen transfer between individuals.

Abstract: There is provided a method for operating a personal care device. The method comprises obtaining, using an imaging device, image data relating to a portion of a body of a user; measuring, using the image data, a parameter relating to at least one hair growing from the portion of the body; and determining a position of the portion of the body on the body based on the measured parameter and a predetermined relation between the parameter and the position on the body. A personal care device, a personal care system and a machine-readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for validating a healthcare review. The method includes: obtaining from an author, a request to post a healthcare review on a staff experience record; analyzing the healthcare review to identify a subject of the healthcare review; ascertaining identity of the author as to how the author is related with the subject; validating the healthcare review based on the identity of the author, at least one of personal health records and electronic medical records corresponding to the author or the subject, and the staff experience record; and determining a review validity score of the healthcare review based on results from the validating of the healthcare review.

Abstract: An apparatus including a display surface for presenting an image of a user; a light emitting portion for using light to convey semantic information to the user; a sensor for measuring the position of the user relative to the light emitting portion; and a control unit to control the light emitting portion based on the measured position of the user relative to the light emitting portion so as to minimize an effect of the light conveying the semantic information provided by the light emitting portion on the presented image of the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods are proposed for generating a sleep-inducing audio signal for a subject. Such concepts may aid and/or induce sleep through the provision of subject-specific (i.e. personalized) audio that is based on psychological states previously experienced by the user (e.g. in the preceding day or week). In particular, embodiments propose that sounds experienced by a subject when in a target psychological state (e.g. positive, feel-good state) may be captured and used to generate an audio signal that may have improved sleep inducing capabilities/qualities.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method that receives at an apparatus a request from a first computing device for access to information related to a first user data set; determines, or receives an indication of a determination, whether the first computing device can access the information based on criteria for sharing information, the criteria based on one or more characteristics of the first user data set and a second user data set accessible by the first computing device; and provide a response based on the determination, the response preserving privacy of a user corresponding to the first user data set.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for controlling a privacy setting of at least one sensor. A signal is acquired from one or more sensors. A characteristic of one or more subjects is detected in the acquired signal. A privacy level is set based on the detected characteristic of the one or more subjects. A privacy setting of at least one sensor is controlled based on the set privacy level.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method (100) is described. The method includes obtaining (102) an indication comprising a skin parameter of a user. The obtained indication further includes an interaction between the user's skin and a hair removal unit. The method further includes determining (104) a position of the hair removal unit relative to the user's skin. The method further includes determining (106) a hair removal instruction for the user based on the indication and the position such that a user interface is caused (108) to provide the hair removal instruction for the user.

Abstract: A steerable multi-plane ultrasound imaging system (MPUIS) for steering a plurality of intersecting image planes (PL1 . . . n) of a beamforming ultrasound imaging probe (BUIP) based on ultrasound signals transmitted between the beamforming ultrasound imaging probe (BUIP) and an ultrasound transducer (S) disposed within a field of view (FOV) of the probe (BUIP). An ultrasound tracking system (UTS) causes the beamforming ultrasound imaging probe (BUIP) to adjust an orientation of the first image plane (PL1) such that a first image plane passes through a position (POS) of the ultrasound transducer (S) by maximizing a magnitude of ultrasound signals transmitted between the beamforming ultrasound imaging probe (BUIP) and the ultrasound transducer (S). An orientation of a second image plane (PL2) is adjusted such that an intersection (AZ) between the first image plane and the second image plane passes through the position of the ultrasound transducer (S).

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus (100) for determining a location of a personal care device on a user. The apparatus (100) comprises a processor (102) configured to detect a location of one or more parts of the body of a user, detect motions of at least one of the parts of the body of the user induced by the personal care device when the personal care device is in use and determine the location of the personal care device on the user based on the detected motions of the at least one part of the body of the user in relation to the detected location of the at least one part of the body of the user. The processor (102) is configured to acquire images of the user from an imaging sensor (108) directed at the user, and detect the location of the one or more parts of the body of a user and the motions of the at least one part of the body of the user induced by the personal care device from the acquired images of the user.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for controlling a privacy setting of at least one sensor. A signal is acquired from one or more sensors. A characteristic of one or more subjects is detected in the acquired signal. A privacy level is set based on the detected characteristic of the one or more subjects. A privacy setting of at least one sensor is controlled based on the set privacy level.

Abstract: An apparatus including a display surface for presenting an image of a user; a light emitting portion for using light to convey semantic information to the user; a sensor for measuring the position of the user relative to the light emitting portion; and a control unit to control the light emitting portion based on the measured position of the user relative to the light emitting portion so as to minimize an effect of the light conveying the semantic information provided by the light emitting portion on the presented image of the user.

Abstract: Thus there is provided an object retrieval apparatus for retrieving an object which has been lost which comprises a location module arranged to determine a location indication indicative of the location of the apparatus, a first body-coupled communication (BCC) device configured to establish a communication link with a second body-coupled communication device in a tag (3) attachable to the object, wherein the first BCC device is further configured to check the communication link at check times, the check times occurring at repeated intervals, and to generate a link status signal indicating whether the communication link is intact or not, a control module arranged to receive the link status signal, and, if the link status signal indicates a broken link, to set a flag, record the location as a loss recorded location and generate an alert.