Abstract: A battery powered user-wearable device includes a light source and a light detector and is configured to obtain at least two different types of physiological measurements using the light source and the light detector. During a first period of time, the user-wearable device is operated in accordance with a first operational mode that is used to obtain a first type of physiological measurement. In the first operational mode the light source is driven to emit pulses of light at a low frequency. During a second period of time, the user-wearable device is operated in accordance with a second operational mode that is used to obtain a second type of physiological measurement. In the second operational mode the light source is either driven to continually emit light or is driven to emit pulses of light at a high frequency. The first operational mode consumes less power than the second operational mode.

Abstract: A method and system for determining homeostatic risk in a patient, in order to screen metabolic diseases and/or their complications and/or their treatment management, is provided. The method includes receiving, from one or more sensors coupled with the patient, galvanic skin response, bioimpedance, a photoplethysmogram (PTG), and blood pressure from the patient, calculating a first score based on the PTG, calculating a second score based on the galvanic skin response, calculating a third score based on the bioimpedance, calculating a fourth score based on the blood pressure, calculating a homeostatic risk score based on the first, second, third and fourth scores that were calculated, wherein the homeostatic risk score corresponds to the homeostatic risk of the patient, and displaying the homeostatic risk score.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a blockage in a vessel and, in particular, a stenosis in a blood vessel. In some particular embodiments, the devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are configured to assess the severity of a stenosis in the coronary arteries without the administration of a hyperemic agent.

Abstract: A biological information measuring device includes a case section having, in sectional view, a trapezoidal shape including an upper base and a lower base shorter than the upper base, a first leg substantially orthogonal to the upper base and the lower base, and a second leg that is the opposite side of the first leg, a display section disposed on the second leg side, a main circuit board housed in the case section, a flexible board configured to electrically connect the main circuit board and the display section, and a pulse-wave sensor section disposed on the first leg side and configured to detect a pulse wave signal of a user. The flexible board is disposed on the lower base side.

Abstract: A device, system and method for skin detection are presented. To enable a reliable, accurate and fast detection the proposed device comprises a thermal sensor input for obtaining thermal sensor data of a scene, a light sensor input for obtaining light sensor data of the scene, and an evaluation unit for analyzing the obtained thermal sensor data and the obtained light sensor data and for detecting skin areas within the scene based on said analysis.

Abstract: A comparatively light and compact permanent magnet arrangement for an MRI apparatus has a pair of opposed permanent magnet arrays with a shimming system to adjust the uniformity and strength of a magnetic field in a central chamber of the apparatus. The MRI apparatus is used to examine the extremities of a patient to determine cardiovascular characteristics from an analysis of the blood flow through selected arteries in the extremity. The information collected can be used to calculate such characteristics as total cardiac output, blood flow, arterial wall thickness and elasticity and the presence of plaque.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a biological tissue diagnosis apparatus, which comprises: at least one lighting control unit for irradiating a contrast agent excitation energy on at least one tissue of interest within a living body in which an imaging contrast agent has been injected; at least one inspection unit for imaging an energy radiated from the at least one tissue of interest; and a determination unit for determining, on the basis of the image data imaged by the at least one inspection unit, whether a tube or perfusion of the at least one tissue of interest is abnormal.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for continuous, non-invasive measurement of arterial blood pressure. One embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises (a) a first radiation source (1) and at least one other radiation source (2); (b) at least one detector (4); (c) an air pressure generator, one or more valves, a manometer and a cuff (9, 10, 11, 12) for applying time-variable pressure on the body part, wherein a pressure signal p(t) corresponds to the arterial blood pressure; (d) a reference signal generator (6); and (e) a filter (7), which receives the reference signal and separates a supplementing signal from a favored signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for assessing diabetes in an individual by characterization of a pulse waveform indicative of the response of a portion of the cardiovascular system of the individual to pressure pulses produced during the cardiac cycle, where “assessing diabetes” comprises determining the presence or likelihood of diabetes; the degree of progression of diabetes; a change in the presence, likelihood, or progression of diabetes; a probability of having, not having, developing, or not developing diabetes; the presence, absence, progression, or likelihood of complications from diabetes; or a combination thereof. Embodiments of the present invention comprise determining a measure of arterial compliance of the individual from the pulse waveform; and assessing diabetes based on the measure of arterial compliance.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting biometric information of a living body detects a pulse wave and extracts the biometric information of the living body in a non-invasive method. The apparatus for detecting biometric information includes a surface pulse wave measurement unit for measuring a surface pulse wave of an object. The surface pulse wave measurement unit includes at least one light source that radiates incoherent light and at least one photodetector that measures an intensity of light radiated by the at least one light source and reflected from a surface of the object. The surface pulse wave measurement unit measures the surface pulse wave of the object based on a change in the intensity of the light reflected from the surface of the object.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a heart rate detection method used in an earphone and an earphone capable of detecting heart rate. The method comprises: providing a cavity inside the earphone, and installing a microphone in the cavity; providing an acceleration sensor in the earphone; performing self-adaptive filtering process on signals collected by the acceleration sensor, and obtaining estimated signals of the signals generated by body movement of a wearer in the signals collected by the microphone; subtracting the estimated signals from the signals collected by the microphone to obtain signals related to heart rate; and detecting heart rate according to the signals related to heart rate. The technical scheme of the invention adopts an enclosed cavity to place the microphone to reduce interference of external noises and reinforce signal information collected by the microphone.

Abstract: An implant for measuring the intracorporeal pressure with telemetric transmission of the measured value. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: A connector includes a housing, a female snap connector member carried by the housing and configured to mechanically and electrically connect to a male snap connector member of an electrode, a three-axis accelerometer carried by the housing and configured to sense proper acceleration of the connector, and a microprocessor in electrical communication with the snap connector and with the accelerometer. The microprocessor is configured to receive cardiac activity data from the electrode, to receive proper acceleration data from the accelerometer, and to correlate the cardiac activity data to the proper acceleration data to define processed data.

Abstract: Monitoring muscle data can include one or more fully flexible sensor patches having sensor modules configured to sense muscle data, data processing modules, transmitter modules configured to transmit the muscle data, and a microcontroller configured to control the modules on one patch side and an adhesive layer on the other patch side; a wearable mobile hub having one or more of a receiver, transmitter, and/or transceiver module configured to be operably coupled with the one or more sensor patches so as to receive muscle data therefrom and a muscle data processing unit configured to process the received muscle data, and one or more user feedback interfaces to provide processed muscle data to the one or more user feedback interfaces; and a base station configured for receiving, storing, and analyzing the muscle data for one subject received from the mobile hub in comparison with one or more other subjects.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for detecting, measuring, or locating cells or substances present in even very low concentrations in vivo in subjects, using targeted magnetic nanoparticles and special magnetic systems. The magnetic systems can comprise magnetizing subsystems and sensors subsystems, including as examples SQUID sensors and atomic magnetometers. The magnetic systems can detect, measure, or location particles preferentially internalized by cells due to the action of antibodies, proteins, macromolecules, or nutrients required for cellular metabolism. Example magnetic systems are capable of detecting sub-nanogram amounts of these nanoparticles.

Abstract: An electrical capacitance tomography sensor comprised of a sensor having a plurality of electrodes, where each electrode is further comprised of a plurality of capacitance segments. Each of the capacitance segments of each electrode can be individually addressed to focus the electric field intensity or sensitivity to desired regions of the electrodes and the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an external apparatus that allows automated quantification of the quality of the endoscopy procedure and methods for using the same. The apparatus of the invention includes an endoscope tracking device that is operatively connected to an endoscope cord surface so that a variety of information related to movement of the endoscope can be accurately captured. Exemplary movement information include, but are not limited to, distance travelled by the endoscope, direction of movement by the endoscope, torque exerted by the endoscope, etc. The endoscope tracking device comprises an electromechanical tracking sensor(s) that produce movement information of the endoscope including the ratio of forward and backward movements as well as withdrawal time of the endoscope. As these metrics can be obtained automatically, the apparatus and the method of the present invention can be used as a quality control in daily medical practice.

Abstract: In this breast thickness measurement device and breast thickness measurement method, radiation is radiated from a plurality of different angles to a breast that is in a compressed state, a plurality of image data are generated by means of a radiation detector, and a plurality of tomographic images are generated by reconfiguring on the basis of each image datum after same has been generated. In each tomographic image, the thickness of the compressed breast is calculated on the basis of a tomographic image in which the focal point matches a first marker and a tomographic image in which the focal point matches a second marker.

Abstract: There is provided a period estimation apparatus including: a first frequency estimation unit that estimates a first frequency of a one-dimensional signal on the basis of a phase difference between the one-dimensional signal and a reference signal and a temporal change in the phase difference; and a second frequency estimation unit that estimates a second frequency of the one-dimensional signal by cutting out a comparative signal having a section length equivalent to a first period corresponding to the first frequency from the one-dimensional signal, and calculating a correlation coefficient between the comparative signal and the one-dimensional signal having the section length.

Abstract: A noninvasive method for estimating a concentration of a target analyte in a sample comprises generating a first and second (reference) radiation, a principal radiation and a target analyte carrier detection radiation; directing the first, second, principal and the target analyte carrier detection radiations at the sample which includes the target analyte; and detecting a first, second, principal and target analyte carrier detection amount of the radiation that leaves the sample. The method further comprises modulating the sample thickness in order to achieve time-wise or spatial target analyte concentration variation within the sample.

Abstract: A method for performing an optical non-invasive blood glucose concentration change indication is disclosed, including: providing an optical energy source spaced from a photo-detector by a sensing area; transmitting energy from the optical energy source across human tissue disposed in the sensing area and onto the photo-detector; storing a first reading corresponding to a light intensity observed by the photo-detector; and displaying the first reading on a display of a user device, the first reading corresponding to a baseline blood glucose concentration. Apparatus for performing the method and additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining an analyte value are disclosed.

Abstract: A pre-sterilized fluid sampling syringe is provided which includes a locking vacuum syringe, 3-way valve, check valve and thermoplastic inlet tubing capable of both aseptic welding and direct connections. The syringe is assembled with components and rendered sterile in its packaging. The packaging permits manipulation of the syringe by the user such that at time of use a vacuum can be generated in the syringe barrel by pulling and locking the plunger into a fully withdrawn position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying blobs, for example kidney glomeruli, are disclosed. A raw image may be smoothed via a difference of Gaussians filter, and a Hessian analysis may be conducted on the smoothed image to mark glomeruli candidates. Exemplary candidate features are identified, such as average intensity AT, likelihood of blobness RT, and flatness ST. A clustering algorithm may be utilized to post prune the glomeruli candidates.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for managing epilepsy. In one embodiment, a method of the present invention characterize a patient's propensity for a future epileptic seizure and communicates to the patient and/or a health care provider a therapy recommendation. The therapy recommendation is typically a function of the patient's propensity for the future epileptic seizure.

Abstract: A system and method for a pressure-detection mat used in an operating table for monitoring pressure of a subject undergoing a medical procedure and preventing the development of pressure ulcers. The disclosure relates to pressure distribution monitoring over an operating table mattress having at least one discontinuity bridged by using bridging wires to connect a first segment and a second segment of a conducting strip created by the discontinuity. The pressure distribution may be presented on a display unit in a normalized manner to provide indications for the operating team.

Abstract: The sample attachment level (M) of each tooth is measured in a plurality of tooth samples taken per tooth type from a plurality of teeth extracted as unconservable teeth. A lost periodontal membrane area (SL) is calculated based on the sample attachment level (M) and a total periodontal membrane area (S). A bite force coefficient (B) different according only to each tooth type, which reflects the bite force of each tooth, is found. The relation between the bite force coefficient (B) and a lost periodontal membrane area (SLB) at the time of loss of each tooth is statistically processed for each tooth type, and a linear equation showing the relation between the bite force coefficient (B) and the lost periodontal membrane area (SLB) at the time of loss of each tooth is prepared by use of the presence of a linear relation between both parameters.

Abstract: A electronic device, a system including the wearable electronic device, and an operating method of the wearable electronic device are disclosed. The electronic device includes a biosensor configured to sense bioinformation on a body of a user wearing the electronic device. The electronic device also includes a controller configured to determine a state of the user based on the bioinformation and surrounding environment information of a surrounding environment of the user, and control a change in a function of the electronic device based on the state of the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to a sleep diagnostic system including a mattress assembly, a plurality of sensors, data acquisition circuitry, an input device, a sleep processor, and a display device. The mattress assembly may have a sleeping surface, and the plurality of sensors may be disposed within the mattress assembly below the sleeping surface. The sensors are configured to measure at least one sleep condition and output data signals indicative of the sleep condition. The sleep processor receives signals from both the sensors and one or more other input devices, and determines a sleep characteristic based upon these received signals. The display device, which includes circuitry and a graphical user interface, receives the sleep characteristic from the sleep processor and displays it to the user.

Abstract: A wearable body composition analyzer according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include an induction part for inducing secretion of bodily liquid while being in contact with a body part, a collection part that collects the bodily liquid secreted, a sensor part that detects a body composition from the bodily liquid collected, and a wearable part to which the induction part and the collection part is detachably attached, wherein the wearable part may be worn on a body. The above-described wearable body composition analyzer may be implemented variously according to embodiments.

Abstract: Sensing devices including flexible and stretchable fabric-based pressure sensors, may be associated with or incorporated in garments intended to be worn against a body surface (directly or indirectly), or may be associated with other types of flexible substrates, such as sheet-like materials, bandages and other materials that contact the body (directly or indirectly), and may be provided as independently positionable sensor components. Systems and methods for storing, communicating, processing, analyzing and displaying data collected by sensor components for remote monitoring of conditions at body surfaces, or within the body, are also disclosed. Sensors and sensor systems provide substantially real-time feedback relating to current body conditions and may provide notifications or alerts to users, caretakers and/or clinicians, enabling early intervention when conditions indicate intervention is appropriate.

Abstract: Disclosed are a dry bonding system and a wearable device for skin bonding including the dry bonding system.

Abstract: This document describes the assessment of human physiological systems in a manner that can be applied throughout the population. Various noninvasive sensors (including wearable, passive contact, and noncontact) can be used to detect vitals and other parameters and combined with mathematical models to assess the functional state of physiological systems. For example, the health of the cardiovascular system is ultimately determined by organ blood perfusion and molecular gas exchange. In lieu of measuring these functional metrics directly, invasive sensors can be used to monitor cardiac pressures and volumes, along with pressure transit through the vascular to quantify cardiovascular health. While known to be effective these invasive techniques often require surgery and are resource intensive limiting their use to the few cases where the risks and costs are of clear immediate benefit. In contrast, noninvasive health monitors present little if any risk to the person and are simple and easy for the person to use.

Abstract: Systems, methods, sensors, and software for providing enhanced measurement and correction of physiological data are provided herein. In one example, a capacitive sensor of a measurement system is positioned onto tissue of a patient. The capacitive sensor includes one or more conductive elements with associated gain properties that are positioned near optical sensor elements proximate to the tissue of the patient, the optical sensor elements positioned to measure a photoplethysmogram (PPG) for the tissue. The measurement system drives the capacitive sensor and measures capacitance signals associated with the capacitance sensor. The measurement system corrects for at least motion noise in the PPG using the capacitance signals.

Abstract: An object information acquiring apparatus comprises an irradiation unit that irradiates an object with light; a receiving unit including detection elements that receives acoustic waves generated from the object and outputs analog signals; a conversion unit that performs A/D conversion on the analog signals to generate first digital signals; a memory that stores the first digital signals; a correction unit that generates second digital signals by correcting the first digital signals using different frequency filter in accordance with a positional relation between a position in which characteristic information of the object is acquired and each of the detection elements; and an acquiring unit that acquires the characteristic information of the object based on the second digital signals.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and software for providing enhanced measurement and correction of physiological data are provided herein. In a first example, a physiological measurement system is configured to obtain a measured photoplethysmogram (PPG) for a patient, and obtain a reference signal for the patient measured concurrent with the measured PPG, the reference signal including noise components related to at least motion of the patient. The physiological measurement system also is configured to determine a filtered PPG from the measured PPG using at least an adaptive filter with the reference signal to reduce noise components of the measured PPG, determine a final PPG by spectrally subtracting at least a portion of the noise components of the reference signal from the filtered PPG, and identify one or more physiological metrics of the patient based on the final PPG.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system (1) for estimating cardiovascular fitness of a person, comprising a heart rate monitor (10) for acquiring a heart rate signal including information about the heart rate of the person, an activity monitor (20) for acquiring an activity signal indicative of physical activity of the person, a classifier (30) for classifying the activity of the person based on the acquired activity signal, a selector (40) for selecting one or more heart rate features obtained from the acquired heart rate signal based on the acquired heart rate signal and the classification of the activity for use in an estimation of the cardiovascular fitness of the person, and an estimator (50) for estimating the cardiovascular fitness of the person based on the one or more selected heart rate features.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for determining a patient-specific probability of renal transplant survival. The method collects clinical parameters from a plurality of renal transplant donor and patient to create a training database. A fully unsupervised Bayesian Belief Network model is created using data from the training database; and, the fully unsupervised Bayesian Belief Network is validated. Clinical parameters are collected from an individual patient/donor; and, such clinical parameters are input into the fully unsupervised Bayesian Belief Network model via a graphical user interface. The patient-specific probability of disease is output from the fully unsupervised Bayesian Belief Network model and sent to the graphical user interface for use by a clinician in pre-operative organ matching. The fully unsupervised Bayesian Belief Network model is updated using the clinical parameters from the individual patient and the patient-specific probability of transplant survival.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system and/or apparatus for determining prospective heart failure event risk. Acquired from a device memory are a heart failure patient's current and preceding risk assessment periods. Counting detected data observations in the current risk assessment period for a current risk assessment total amount and counting detected data observations in the preceding risk assessment period for a preceding risk assessment period total amount. Associating the current risk assessment and preceding risk assessment total amounts with a lookup table to acquire prospective risk of heart failure (HF) event for the preceding risk assessment period and the current risk assessment period. Employing weighted sums of the prospective risk of the HF event for the preceding risk assessment period and the current risk assessment period to calculate a weighted prospective risk of the HF event for a patient. Displaying on a graphical user interface the weighted prospective risk of the HF event for the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting bio-information are provided. The apparatus includes a bio-signal detector including a light emitter including a light-emitting diode (LED) and a laser diode (LD), the LED and the LD being configured to emit optical signals on an object. The bio-signal detector further includes an optical detector including a light-receiver configured to detect optical signals modulated by the object. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to process the optical signals to detect the bio-information of the object.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a patient monitoring and display system. The system allows a clinician to trigger the occurrence of a clinical event, and record a patient's status following the clinical event. The system calculates and displays a change in a patient's status resulting from the clinical event. The system allows multiple parameters to be tracked and displayed on a single screen. The system can also display various animated organs, such as a heart or a lung, corresponding to an operation of the organs in the patient.

Abstract: A mammographic CT apparatus includes: a gantry, including a front face plate in which an insertion opening is formed for inserting a breast into an accommodation portion a radiation tube and sensing device disposed within the gantry; a driving unit configured to rotate the radiation tube and the sensing device around a rotation axis set in the normal direction of the accommodation portion, at the same angular speed and in the same direction; a collimator disposed between the accommodation portion and the radiation tube, and configured to rotate around the rotation axis integrally with the radiation tube and sensing device; and an annular shield disposed between the rotational path of the collimator and the rotational path of the radiation tube, having an annular gap corresponding to the rotational path of the collimator, wherein an edge of the collimator or sensing device is fit into the gap.

Abstract: A brake apparatus provided on a body of a medical apparatus, the brake apparatus including: a rail unit; a lever unit configured to rotate with respect to a rotational shaft; an elastic member provided on the lever unit at a first end of the lever unit and configured to provide an elastic force to rotate the lever unit; a wedge provided on a second end opposite to the first end of the lever unit, configured to be inserted into the rail unit according to rotation of the lever unit and configured to apply braking pressure on the rail unit.

Abstract: A photon-counting detector apparatus is configured to receive X-rays transmitted from an X-ray source. The photon-counting detector apparatus includes a first photon-counting detector having a first detecting material configured to detect photons using a first set of energy bins. The photon-counting detector apparatus also includes a second photon-counting detector arranged above the first photon-counting detector relative to an incidence direction of the X-rays transmitted from the X-ray source. The second photon-counting detector has a second detecting material configured to detect photons using a second set of energy bins. The first set of energy bins differs from the second set of energy bins.

Abstract: A method for generating an energy-resolved X-ray image is proposed, usable e.g. for mammography or CT applications. First, a preferably low-dose X-ray beam (5) is directed through a region of interest of an object (15) such as a female breast and initial X-ray intensity values are acquired. Based on these initial X-ray intensity values, energy threshold values of for example a photon-counting energy-resolving X-ray detector (9) are specifically adapted to local properties and features of the object (15). With such adapted energy threshold values, energy-resolved main X-ray intensity values are acquired for finally generating the energy-resolved X-ray image.

Abstract: A semiconductor radiation detector is capable of measuring a ?-ray energy spectrum at 122 keV and 662 keV and having an energy resolution of no greater than 8% with respect to 122 keV ?-rays. The semiconductor radiation detector uses a semiconductor crystal sandwiched by a cathode and an anode. The semiconductor crystal is configured from a thallium bromide single crystal in which the concentration of lead as an impurity is less than 0.1 ppm, the full width at half maximum of the (110) rocking curve in the X-ray diffraction in specimen tilting angle scan is no greater than 1.6 degrees, the full width at half maximum in specimen in-plane rotation angle scan is no greater than 3.5 degrees, and the full width at half maximum in X-ray incident angle scan is no greater than 1.3 degrees.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for imaging with detectors having moving heads are provided. One apparatus includes a gantry and a plurality of detector units mounted to the gantry. At least some of the plurality of detector units are movable relative to the gantry to position one or more of the detector units with respect to a subject. The detector units are movable along parallel axes with respect to each other.

Abstract: A process for deploying an anti-scattering grid in a mammograph is provided. The mammograph comprises a radiation source configured to emit radiation for taking mammographic images of a patient, a radiation detector comprising a network of sensors arranged periodically with a first pitch, and an anti-scattering grid arranged between the source and the detector, the anti-scattering grid comprising radiation adsorbing strips arranged parallel to each other and distributed periodically with a second pitch.

Abstract: An X-ray image diagnosis apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, a fluid information acquisition unit, a registration unit, and a capturing direction controller. The X-ray tube emits X-rays toward a subject. The X-ray detector detects the X-rays having passed through the subject. The fluid information acquisition unit acquires fluid information on a target site including a region of interest of the subject captured by an ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus. The registration unit extracts position information of a probe of the ultrasound image diagnosis apparatus. The capturing direction controller controls capturing direction for capturing the target site based on the position information and a direction in which a fluid flows indicated by the fluid information.

Abstract: A handheld X ray device comprises a camera-like X ray generator body having a zoom ring-like object at a front side of the X ray generator body as an exit of X rays and has a collimator section atop a surface of the zoom ring-like object. The camera-like X ray generator body inside has a voltage boosting circuit, an oscillator circuit, a battery, and a control circuit, and a user interface at a real panel of the camera-like X ray generator body. The glass ball-tube is a cold cathode type X-ray generator with a tungsten filament at a periphery of a cold cathode. The voltage boosting circuit, the oscillator circuit, boosting the voltage of the battery up to a predetermined high voltage under controlled of the control circuit assisting by the user interface.