Abstract: A method for assembling a blank including accessing a blank having a main panel portion and at least one flap portion coupled to the main panel portion. The method further includes positioning a plate adjacent to the blank, the plate having a curved edge, folding the flap portion relative to the main panel portion about the curved edge of the plate such that the flap portion is coupled to the main panel portion along a curved line thereof.

Abstract: A method composition and system respond to ionizing, radiation to adjust biological activity. In some approaches the ionizing radiation is X-ray or extreme ultraviolet radiation that produces luminescent responses that induce biologically active responses.

Abstract: A method for brachytherapy in a lumpectomy cavity of a breast including, positioning a distal end of a brachytherapy device within the cavity, expanding an expandable surface portion located between proximal and distal ends of the device within the cavity, the source lumen tubes defining a curved configuration within the cavity; and positioning a source of radiation sequentially within one or more source lumens of the source lumen tubes according to a brachytherapy treatment plan. The device includes an inner tube, and a plurality of source lumen tubes located around the inner tube and including distal ends secured together with the inner tube at the distal end disposed within the body cavity, the source lumen tubes comprising proximal portions sufficiently long to extend outside the breast.

Abstract: A heart monitoring system for a person includes one or more wireless nodes forming a wireless network; a wearable body sensor having a wireless transceiver adapted to communicate with the one or more wireless nodes.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation treatment regime includes identifying a target area of a patient that comprises at least some cancer cells, or other cells amenable to pathological genetic regulations. An electromagnetic radiation source, for example, a low frequency and/or radio frequency electromagnetic radiation source, is selected, along with treatment session parameters, such as, pulse frequency, pulse duration, electrical current, magnetic flux density, and/or treatment session exposure time. An amount of electromagnetic radiation is applied to the target area, and a response to the electromagnetic radiation by at least some of the cancer cells in the target area is measured. Based on an evaluation of the measured response, the treatment parameters may be modified for one or more subsequent electromagnetic radiation treatment session.

Abstract: Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. In one embodiment, a pump apparatus includes a pump housing defining a pumping chamber. The housing has a spindle extending into the pumping chamber. A spindle magnet assembly includes first and second magnets disposed within the spindle. The first and second magnets are arranged proximate each other with their respective magnetic vectors opposing each other. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a therapeutic method for improving the hemodynamics, the overall microcirculation in organs, and the restoration and preservation of deficient endothelial function in a patient, the method includes maintaining blood circulation in the patient's veins and arteries and temporarily relieving the heart of its pumping function. Relief may be accomplished by increasing the preload of the right ventricle so as to improve oxygenation of the myocardium and its contractility, reducing and diffusing regular pulsations in the proximity of the aortic root so as to improve the hemodynamics of the left ventricle of the heart, and/or mechanically stimulating the endothelium by shear forces so as to reduce systemic and pulmonary afterload.

Abstract: A blood pump includes an impeller having a plurality of foldable blades and a cannula having a proximal portion with a fixed diameter, and a distal portion with an expandable diameter. The impeller can reside in the expandable portion of the cannula. The cannula has a collapsed condition for percutaneous delivery to a desired location within the body, and an expanded condition in which the impeller can rotate to pump blood. A flexible drive shaft can extend through the cannula for rotationally driving the impeller within the patient's body.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for implanting, positioning, removing, replacing and operating intra-aortic balloon pumps.

Abstract: A cardiovascular device (11), adapted to be fitted into a cardiac ventricular cavity (2) having a volume with blood flowing therethrough, which is bounded by walls (8) and has a larger longitudinal dimension (D1) and a smaller transverse dimension (D2). The device includes a diaphragm (16) that can be disposed in the ventricular cavity (2) substantially transverse to the larger longitudinal dimension (D1), in such an arrangement as to reduce ventricular volume, the diaphragm (16) having a peripheral edge (15) which can be sealingly engaged with the ventricle walls (8) and being adapted to be alternately driven between an active blood pushing displacement and an inactive return displacement.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment an adjustable urethral sling includes a flexible mesh support having a mesh envelope at a suburethral potion and an expansion chamber within the mesh envelope. A conduit may be provided that extends along the flexible mesh support and that is in fluid communication with the expansion chamber. When installed in a patient the sling may loop under the urethra and out exit sites. An access port may be provided in a subcutaneous pocket and attached to the conduit to allow for remote expansion of the expansion chamber from a desirable location to allow adjustment of the sling with the patient in a standing position. The mesh envelope allows tissue ingrowth around the container so that the container can be expanded for a long period of time after implantation. The expansion chamber may be U-shaped to provide lateral closing pressure to the urethra when expanded.

Abstract: A surgical implant and method for its use. The surgical implant includes a biocompatible mesh having first and second ends, a length greater than a width, and a centering device including a solid, button-like element having opposing first and second surfaces and a peripheral outer edge extending therebetween. The centering device further includes a filamentary element having first and second ends fixedly secured to the peripheral edge of the button-like element so as to form a loop therebetween. The filamentary element is woven through the mesh at its longitudinal center in a direction perpendicular to the length of the mesh.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for treatment of male incontinence and a method for female cystocele repair in which a sling material is positioned between the descending rami of the pubic bone. In such an operation a “hammock-like” sling material is positioned below the urethra in males, or below the posterior bladder wall in the case of cystocele in females.

Abstract: A method of implanting a medical device includes implanting a cylinder into a corpora cavernosum of a patient, and coupling the cylinder to a reservoir, a pump, and a deflation assembly. The deflation assembly is separate from the reservoir and separate from the pump. The method additionally includes implanting the deflation assembly between transversalis fascia and an exterior surface of a pelvis of the patient.

Abstract: An endoscopic device for autonomous locomotion through a selected body cavity in a predetermined direction, the device comprising a hollowed, cylindrical body that extends between two, preferably, the front and rear, end portions, respectively. The body is made of a relatively elastic material and includes an anchor for temporarily and alternately attaching the end portions to a wall portion of the body cavity in synch with corresponding axial extensions and contractions of the body. The body incorporates a reinforcement structure distributed along its length that is substantially rigid in a radial direction and yields in an axial direction, the structure specifically comprising either a plurality of relatively rigid rings or at least one helical spring.

Abstract: An endoscopic support device configured to support an endoscope during a surgical procedure is disclosed. The endoscopic support device has a connection ring with a height smaller than its diameter and configured to be in an open or deployed position and in a closed or non-deployed position. The support device also has at least two guiding elements, an orientation component, and extension means for manipulating the ring between the deployed and non-deployed positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for accessing a bodily passageway includes: an endoscope including an insertion portion configured to inserted into the bodily passageway; a drive tube including a lumen configured to receive the endoscope; a helically-wound thread disposed on an outer wall of the drive tube and configured such that rotation of the drive tube causes the drive tube with the endoscope to move along the passageway; a flexible drive shaft configured to transfer rotary motion generated by a power supply; and a rotatable drive collar disposed on the endoscope and configured to rotate the drive tube relative to the endoscope, the rotatable drive collar including a stator, a rotor rotatable over the stator and detachably coupled to the drive tube, a rotary gear configured to transfer the rotary motion from the flexible drive shaft to the rotor to rotate the drive tube, and a watertight seal disposed between the stator and the rotor.

Abstract: In a minimally invasive surgical system, an image capture unit includes a prism assembly and sensor assembly. The prism assembly includes a beam splitter, while the sensor assembly includes coplanar image capture sensors. Each of the coplanar image capture sensors has a common front end optical structure, e.g., the optical structure distal to the image capture unit is the same for each of the sensors. A controller enhances images acquired by the coplanar image capture sensors. The enhanced images may include (a) visible images with enhanced feature definition, in which a particular feature in the scene is emphasized to the operator of minimally invasive surgical system; (b) images having increased image apparent resolution; (c) images having increased dynamic range; (d) images displayed in a way based on a pixel color component vector having three or more color components; and (e) images having extended depth of field.

Abstract: An endoscope optical system includes a negative lens that focuses light entering along an incident optical axis, a first prism that deflects and emits the light from the negative lens along a first axis substantially orthogonal to the incident optical axis, a second prism having a first reflecting surface, which deflects the light from the first prism along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis, and a second reflecting surface that deflects and emits the light substantially parallel to the first axis and that faces the first prism, a third prism that deflects the light from the second prism substantially parallel to the incident optical axis, and a positive lens that focuses the light from the second prism, in this order from an object side, the negative lens and the first prism being rotatable about the first axis relative to the second prism.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus (110) comprising a first device (120) adapted to be releasably operatively coupled to a second device (130). The second device comprises a detection coil (136) associated with a coupling arrangement (133) of the second device. The first device comprises a sensing coil (2206) arranged at a coupling region (123) of the first device, the coupling region being operatively associable with the coupling arrangement of the second device. The apparatus also has a circuit (125) connected to the sensing coil and configured to detect at least coupling of the first device to the second device through interaction of the detection coil with an electrical signal imparted upon the sensing coil.

Abstract: An embolism filter adapted to selectively stop an embolism filter along a length of guidewire, including a filter adapted to encircle a guidewire and at least one self-deploying stop attached to the filter and which selectively stops movement of said filter.

Abstract: A surgical port includes a port body having a lumen extending therethrough and a plate having an opening. The port body may be made from foam. The port is configured such that rotation of the plate with respect to the port body aligns the opening and lumen defining a passage therethrough for the insertion of surgical instruments.

Abstract: Various embodiments of mouthpieces for use during endoscopic procedures are disclosed herein. According to various embodiments, a mouthpiece may include a shield, a primary instrument channel, a bite block, an oxygen administration channel and a tongue depressor. The shield, bite block, oxygen administration channel and tongue depressor may be integrally formed.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for classifying the severity of a medical condition detected by a medical device using wavelet based multi-resolution analysis of biomedical signals. Biomedical signals are converted into a set of wavelet coefficients including scales of wavelet coefficients at different resolutions ranging from a finest scale to a coarsest scale. Features of the biomedical signal useful in diagnosing a biomedical condition are identified by determining whether corresponding identifying features appear in at least one of the plurality of scales of wavelet coefficients. The identifying features determined to appear in the various scales of wavelet coefficients are conditionally linked together and used to classify a degree of severity of a diagnosed biomedical condition based on the number of identifying features appearing in different scales of wavelet coefficients. In some embodiments, alerts can be generated based on the diagnosed degree of severity of the biomedical condition.

Abstract: A method for identifying changes in an epilepsy patient's disease state, comprising: receiving at least one body data stream; determining at least one body index from the at least one body data stream; detecting a plurality of seizure events from the at least one body index; determining at least one seizure metric value for each seizure event; performing a first classification analysis of the plurality of seizure events from the at least one seizure metric value; detecting at least one additional seizure event from the at least one determined index; determining at least one seizure metric value for each additional seizure event, performing a second classification analysis of the plurality of seizure events and the at least one additional seizure event based upon the at least one seizure metric value; comparing the results of the first classification analysis and the second classification analysis; and performing a further action.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a person includes a processor coupled to one or more wireless nodes; a wearable mobile appliance in communication with the client and one or more wireless nodes; and one or more computer implemented agents with rules executed by the processor, the rules being selected to respond to a client communication relating to a predetermined health condition, each agent communicating with another computer implemented agent, the client or the treatment professional, and upon receiving a communication from the client, the processor selecting one or more computer implemented agents to reply with an instruction on healthy client behavior.

Abstract: A method of aggregating medical information can include receiving, at a remote aggregation system, individual syndromes collected by mobile personal medical devices associated with respective bodies as the mobile personal medical devices move within an environment, aggregating the individual syndromes at the remote aggregation system, and determining whether an environmental syndrome exists for at least some of the individual syndromes. Related systems and computer program products are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device (1) for determining a stress related condition of a person and providing feedback about this condition comprises body sensors (20) for detecting stress related body parameters, a stress assessing element (40), and a feedback device, wherein the stress assessing element (40) is designed for processing input provided by the body sensors (20) and for determining control parameters for controlling the feedback device, on the basis of the input provided by the body sensors (20). The body sensors (20) are integrated in a textile structure, so that the tested person does not sense the sensors (20), as a result of which there is no chance that the test results get influenced by an interaction between the device (1) and the person.

Abstract: An injectable detecting device is provided for use in physiological monitoring. The device includes a plurality of sensors axially spaced along a body that provide an indication of at least one physiological event of a patient, a monitoring unit within the body coupled to the plurality of sensors configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors and create processed patient data, a power source within the body coupled to the monitoring unit, and a communication antenna external to the body coupled to the monitoring unit configured to transfer data to/from other devices.

Abstract: A system and method for knowledge verification utilizing biopotentials and physiologic metrics, which includes a computer-based device having stored thereon Probe, Relevant and Gallery image data, and a biopotential amplifier removably connected to a human subject via disposable Ag/Ag—Cl electrodes. Furthermore, the system comprises an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter to digitize said biopotential data for subsequent storage on said computer-based device, analysis software for discriminating said subject's event-related response to the exogenous stimuli, a visual display system comprising an LCD video monitor, and control software for presenting the Probe, Relevant and Gallery visual stimuli in a weighted, pseudo-random sequence which can be modulated by the outcome of said analysis software.

Abstract: A medical machine for fluid treatment comprises a module (400) for management and sending of signal messages containing information relating to means (3) for fluid treatment. The module (400) comprises means (401) for determining a form for sending a signal message which is selectable automatically or manually from among a plurality of predefined forms. The module further comprises means (403) for generating contents of the signal message which comprise information (404a, 404b, 404c, 404d) relating to means (3) for fluid treatment; the contents (412) are created by selecting, for example via touch buttons on a touch screen, from among a selectable plurality of types of predefined contents (404a, 404b, 404c, 404d) and associating the relative data (405a, 405b, 405c, 405d) to the selected type; the module further comprises means (406) for determining at least an addressee to whom to send the signal message.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and devices for vitalimetrics-guided health/lifestyle and improvement.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for visualising a chronological sequence of measurements, in particular obtained from a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) process, comprising the step of presenting measured data in polar coordinate graphing system. A device 100 is disclosed that comprises a measuring unit 101, in particular a continuous glucose measuring unit, a communication link 103 for transmitting the measured data, in particular a wireless transmission device with a sending 104 and a receiving part 105, and a display 110, optionally with a computing unit 107 that is designed and programmed to visualise data obtained from the measuring unit according to the previously described method, in particular a mobile phone display, MP3 player display, handheld computer display, laptop computer display, personal computer display or other display device being addressable by the communication link.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calibrating an analyte-measurement device that is used to evaluate a concentration of analyte in bodily fluid at or from a measurement site in a body. The method involves measuring a concentration, or calibration concentration, of an analyte in blood from an “off-finger” calibration site, and calibrating the analyte-measurement device based on that calibration concentration. The invention also relates to a device, system, or kit for measuring a concentration of an analyte in a body, which employs a calibration device for adjusting analyte concentration measured in bodily fluid based on an analyte concentration measured in blood from an “off-finger” calibration site.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a physical quantity calculator for setting correlation windows to two echo signals obtained by transmission/reception of ultrasound to and from a biological tissue and different in time on the same sound rays and performing a correlation arithmetic operation between the correlation windows to thereby calculate physical quantities related to elasticity of respective regions in the biological tissue, an elastic image data generator for generating elastic image data of the biological tissue with respect to an elastic image forming region of a transmission/reception surface of the ultrasound, based on the physical quantities, a physical quantity average unit for calculating an average of the physical quantities in the elastic image forming region for every frame, a comparator for comparing a value calculated by the physical quantity average unit and a preset average value of the physical quantities, and a notification unit for notifying a result of comparison by the com

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including a multi-thresholding unit that performs multi-thresholding on the volume data of the blood flow speed on the basis of a reference value related to the blood flow speed. A surface extraction unit extracts a surface of the blood flow on the basis of the multi-threshold volume data. A weighting unit performs a weighting used for calculating the position of the center of gravity for the blood flow region formed by the blood flow surface. A center of gravity position calculation unit calculates a position of the center of gravity of the blood flow region. The Doppler sample marker position setting unit sets the position of the Doppler sample marker to the position of the center of gravity for the blood flow region. A Doppler sample marker movement control unit controls movement of the Doppler sample marker on the basis of the Doppler sample marker position setting data.

Abstract: A portable ultrasound imaging system employs a mechanically focused multi-element circular annular transducer that is mechanically scanned using a motor. Received echoes are processed to form two dimensional gray scale B mode images or two dimensional color tissue flow images which are displayed on a display unit. In case of color flow imaging, a high pulse repetition frequency imaging sequence is employed for a reasonable frame rate and special down-sampling techniques are applied to achieve an effective low pulse repetition frequency for flow estimation with enough signal to noise ratio. The system also includes a docking subsystem which charges a system battery and transfers patient and image data between a PACS system, workstation or other information system and the portable ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: Embodiments of adaptively performing clutter filtering are disclosed. In one embodiment, by way of non-limiting example, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to output a plurality of ultrasound data corresponding to each pixel of a color Doppler mode image; and a processing unit in communication with the ultrasound data acquisition unit and being configured to calculate a power difference value corresponding to each of the pixels based on the plurality of ultrasound data, determine whether the power difference value is equal to or larger than a first threshold value, and if the power difference value is equal to or larger than the first threshold value, then perform first clutter filtering upon the plurality of ultrasound data, or if the power difference value is less than the first threshold value, then perform second clutter filtering upon the plurality of ultrasound data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed providing for the use of ultrasound energy to measure blood flow within blood vessels by Doppler velocity measurement. Directional high-frequency pulsed-wave Doppler measurements can be made with a suitable ultrasonic needle transducers for in vivo measuring of blood flow. A needle probe can include a ultrasonic material such as PMN-PT. Such blood flow measurements can be made in any part of the body, e.g., in the central retinal vein and branch retinal veins.

Abstract: A combination of an ultrasonic scanner and an omnidirectional receive transducer for producing a two-dimensional image from received echoes is described. Two-dimensional images with different noise components can be constructed from the echoes received by additional transducers. These can be combined to produce images with better signal to noise ratios and lateral resolution. Also disclosed is a method based on information content to compensate for the different delays for different paths through intervening tissue is described. The disclosed techniques have broad application in medical imaging but are ideally suited to multi-aperture cardiac imaging using two or more intercostal spaces. Since lateral resolution is determined primarily by the aperture defined by the end elements, it is not necessary to fill the entire aperture with equally spaced elements. Multiple slices using these methods can be combined to form three-dimensional images.

Abstract: An imaging probe includes a first nub protruding from an elongate housing in a direction away from the long axis and configured to be grasped by a robot apparatus performing a procedure of the object or subject to position the imaging probe in connection with a region of interest of the subject or object to image the region of interest with the probe. The imaging probe further includes at least one other nub located on and protruding from the elongate housing in a direction away from the long axis and configured to be grasped by a robot apparatus performing the procedure to facilitate grasping the first nub by the robot apparatus.

Abstract: A biological condition evaluation apparatus determines a symptom of a heart abnormality based on at least one index calculated from a heartbeat interval and/or a pulse interval. The apparatus determines whether it is in a referential period where an amount of change in the index is comparatively small. The apparatus determines whether a plurality of conditions are satisfied or not in an evaluation period set after the referential period. One condition is that an amount of change in the index in the evaluation period is greater than that observed during the referential period. Another condition is that a rate of change in the index is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The apparatus determines that there is a symptom of a heart abnormality, when both the conditions are satisfied.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement device is mounted with a radio-controlled clock function in a main body without lowering reception performance of the standard radio wave of the radio-controlled clock. A substrate including a sensor mounting surface and a sensor non-mounting surface is mounted with a pressure sensor. An antenna for receiving the standard radio wave including time information of the radio-controlled clock is mounted. The antenna includes a bar-shaped magnetic body core and a coil wound around the magnetic body core. A pump is arranged such that an axis line direction of the motor and an extending direction of the magnetic body core are substantially orthogonal. The substrate and the substrate are arranged so that the sensor non-mounting surface of the substrate and the antenna mounting surface of the sensor face each other.

Abstract: An electronic sphygmomanometer acquires a patient ID and recommended site information read from an ID card before measurement. The recommended site indicating the site to be attached to a cuff of a left site or a right site is thereby specified for every person to be measured (patient ID). Thereafter, the site to be attached to the cuff is guided by notifying the specified recommended site to the person to be measured.

Abstract: An electronic sphygmomanometer determines whether a position of a measurement site falls within a proper range, and notifies whether the position of the measurement site falls within the proper range. When determination is made that a time in which the position of the measurement site falls within the proper range is not less than a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds), measurement of a blood pressure is automatically started. When determination is made that a time in which the position of the measurement site is out of the proper range is not less than a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds), the measurement of the blood pressure is started. Further, whether the position of the measurement site falls within the proper range is notified while correlated with the measurement result.

Abstract: A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection comprises an input processor and a signal processor. The input processor receives first sampled data representing a first signal portion of a heart activity related signal and second sampled data representing a second signal portion of a heart activity related signal. The signal processor determines distribution data associated with degree of similarity between the first and second signal portions by determining a difference between (a) values derived by applying a first function to mean adjusted sampled values of the first signal portion and (b) values derived by applying a second function to mean adjusted sampled values of the second signal portion. In response to the determined distribution data, the signal processor initiates generation of a message associated with the degree of similarity between the first and second signal portions.

Abstract: A method, system, stethoscope and server for classifying a cardiovascular sound recorded from a living subject. The method comprises the steps of: identifying diastolic and/or systolic segments of the cardiovascular sound; dividing at least one of the identified diastolic and/or systolic segments into a number of sub-segments comprising at least a first sub-segment and at least a second sub-segment; extracting from the first sub-segment at least a first signal parameter characterizing a first property of the cardiovascular sound, extracting from the second sub-segment at least a second signal parameter characterizing a second property of the cardiovascular sound; and classifying the cardiovascular sound using the at least first signal parameter and the at least second signal parameter in a multivariate classification method.

Abstract: A thermometer is described which is suitable as an indwelling thermometer to detect pyrexia or oestrus in a mammal. The thermometer provides a continued signal that a predetermined reference temperature has been exceeded, which temperature is selected to be indicative of pyrexia or oestrus in a given species and may change according to species.

Abstract: An improved digital tuning fork device for administering a vibratory sensation test to a human subject comprising an integrated vibratory mechanism and timer, with the vibratory mechanism generating vibrations having a known frequency and amplitude, with the amplitude of the vibrations degrading over time to replicate in a controlled manner the natural degradation of vibrations generated by a mechanical tuning fork, and a method of use thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a psychophysical test to assess the cone photoreceptor pathway by determining the sensitivity of the cone photoreceptors. The test may be used to determine of a subject is suffering from, or is likely to suffer from, a disease state involving the fovea, parafovea, macula, neurological pathways used by these area to communicate with the visual processing centers in the brain and cone photoreceptors and/or ganglion cells. The present disclosure also describes an apparatus for such testing purposes. Using the novel cone photoreceptor sensitivity test and apparatus, the present disclosure shows that cone photoreceptor sensitivity in subjects with primary open angle glaucoma was decreased as compared to a control group (p=0.04). This cone photoreceptor sensitivity test is shown to have excellent repeatability, can be administered in a short time, does not require extensive subject instruction and meets other limitations required for application in a clinical setting.