Abstract: An exemplary EMG response detection system may be configured to 1) direct an implantable stimulator to sequentially present a plurality of substantially identical stimulation events to a patient, 2) record a plurality of EMG signals generated by a muscle in the patient and each corresponding to a presentation of a particular stimulation event included in the plurality of substantially identical stimulation events, 3) determine an asynchronous component of each of the recorded EMG signals, and 4) utilize the asynchronous components of the recorded EMG signals to determine whether an EMG response is evoked by the stimulation events.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mapping cardiac fibrillation in a patient include deploying a catheter in the patient's heart, wherein the catheter includes an array of at least one stacked electrode pair having a first electrode and a second electrode. Each electrode pair is configured to be orthogonal to the surface of a cardiac tissue substrate. A plurality of measurements are obtained from the electrode array in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue substrate for a duration indicative of a number of electrical circuit cores and distribution of the electrical circuit cores across the cardiac tissue substrate in the patient's heart. These are processed to obtain the density and distribution of electrical circuit cores which are mapped onto a representation of the patient's heart.

Abstract: A method of automatically determining which type of treatment is most appropriate for a cardiac arrest victim, the method comprising transforming one or more time domain electrocardiogram (ECG) signals into a frequency domain representation comprising a plurality of discrete frequency bands, combining the discrete frequency bands into a plurality of analysis bands, wherein there are fewer analysis bands than discrete frequency bands, determining the content of the analysis bands, and determining the type of treatment based on the content of the analysis bands.

Abstract: An electrode connector includes a housing, an electrically conductive contact plate, a lead wire terminal electrically connected to the contact plate and an electrically conductive member. The housing defines a first opening configured to receive at least a portion of an electrode therethrough. The contact plate defines a bore aligned with the first opening. The bore is configured and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the electrode therein. The electrically conductive member is electrically coupled to the lead wire terminal. The electrically conductive member is supported on the housing and is spaced apart from the first opening.

Abstract: A method of potential equalization monitoring includes connecting a plurality of electrical devices to a patient, electrically connecting each of the plurality of electrical devices to a common equipotential grounding hub, the equipotential grounding hub defining a ground, monitoring a flow of current to the ground from at least one of the plurality of electrical devices, detecting a change in the balance of electrical charge between the plurality of devices, and identifying a source of the change in the balance of electrical charge.

Abstract: An electrocardiogram display device includes an electrocardiogram waveform generating unit that generates electrocardiogram waveforms of a plurality of leads based on electrocardiogram data of each of the leads, an arranging instruction unit that instructs an arranging order of the electrocardiogram waveform of each lead by performing inputting, a display unit, and a displaying control unit that arranging the electrocardiogram waveform of each lead in a corresponding arranging order in response to instruction of the arranging instruction unit to create and display one screen image on the display unit.

Abstract: A system for assessing a cardiac condition of a subject includes a sensor configured to record a plurality N of electrocardiographic signals from the subject to generate an ECG (electrocardiogram). The system further includes a processor configured to compute an RMS (root-mean-square) magnitude function from the recorded signals, and to measure from the RMS magnitude function an RMS variable that contains information about the cardiac condition of the subject. The ECG may be a standard 12-lead clinical ECG. The measured RMS variables may include RMS T-wave width, RMS RT recovery time, and RMS QT interval.

Abstract: A biosignal measurement device is proposed which can improve measurement accuracy without forcing an excessive burden on subjects. A biosignal measurement device used for measurement of a biosignal in a head includes a support that can support the head, and an electrode provided to the support. The electrode has a plurality of teeth each including an annular portion in which a pair of linear members having conductivity are formed in an annular shape, and a rod-like portion in which the pair of linear members are wound in opposite directions and formed in a rod-like shape. The rod-like portion in each of the plurality of teeth is directly or indirectly fixed at one end to the support.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a specifying unit and a deriving unit. The specifying unit specifies a fluid region in a plurality of magnetic resonance images that are acquired by applying a labeling pulse to a label region and that are mutually related. The deriving unit derives an index indicating dynamics of a fluid on the basis of the specified fluid region.

Abstract: A shape sensing device, system and method include an interventional instrument (102) having regions of articulation to be configured to change shape during an interventional procedure. An optical fiber (202) is disposed on or about the areas of articulation in a pattern to provide an optical signal indicating an instantaneous change or current position or orientation of the instrument. A signal interpretation module (115) is configured to receive the optical signals and interpret the instantaneous change or current position or orientation of the instrument.

Abstract: The invention relates to wireless biotelemetry of low level bioelectric and biosensor signals by directly modulating the backscatter of a resonant circuit. Low level electrical analog or digital signals are directly applied to a resonant circuit containing a voltage-variable capacitor such as a varactor diode, that proportionally shifts the resonant frequency and so amplitude of radiofrequency backscatter in a way that represents analog bioelectric or biosensor waveform data. By strongly driving the resonant circuit with a radiofrequency source, a voltage variable capacitance can be caused to amplify the bio-signal level by a parametric process and so provide sufficient sensitivity to telemeter for low millivolt and microvolt level signals without additional amplification. A feature of the device is its simplicity and that it accomplishes both modulation and preamplification of low level sensor signals by the same variable capacitance circuit which reduces the device size and power consumption.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system may determine one or more reference points of a physiological signal. The system may select one or more fiducial points on the physiological signal relative to the reference points. The one or more fiducial points may be selected by selecting a point spaced by a time interval relative to one of the reference points. The time interval may be a predetermined constant, or the time interval may depend on physiological information. The system may generate a fiducial signal based on the selected fiducial points, calculate physiological information such as a respiration rate based on the selected fiducial points, or both.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a system and method for determining respiration rate from a video of a subject. In one embodiment, a video is received comprising plurality of time-sequential image frames of a region of a subject's body. Features of pixels are extracted from that region from each image frame and vectors formed from these features. Each image frame has an associated feature vector. A N×M video matrix of the vectors of length N is constructed such that a total number of columns M in the video matrix correspond to a time duration over which the subject's respiration rate is to be determined. The video matrix is processed to obtain a matrix of eigenvectors where principal axes of variations due to motion associated with respiration are contained in a first few eigenvectors. One eigenvector is selected from the first few eigenvectors. A respiration rate is obtained from the selected eigenvector.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems to identify a user of a wearable fitness monitor using data obtained using the wearable fitness monitor. Data obtained from motion sensors of the wearable fitness monitor and data obtained from heartbeat waveform sensors of the wearable fitness monitor may be used to identify the user.

Abstract: A lancet pricking device comprises a lancet, a launching spring, a trigger part and a holder housing the lancet, launching spring and trigger part. The lancet comprises a lancet body, lancet cap and pricking needle. The pricking needle is in both the lancet body and lancet cap. The trigger part has a pair of arms positioned inside the holder. The launching spring is attached to the lancet body. The lancet body is secured to the arms of the trigger part by an abutment of the lancet body on the arms such that the launching spring is compressed before a pricking operation. The trigger part cannot be pushed toward the inside of the holder before the lancet cap is removed, but can be pushed toward the inside of the holder after the cap is removed. The lancet body warps when pressed to release the secured lancet body.

Abstract: Devices associated with on-body analyte sensor units are disclosed. These devices include any of packaging and/or loading systems, applicators and elements of the on-body sensor units themselves. Also, various approaches to connecting electrochemical analyte sensors to and/or within associated on-body analyte sensor units are disclosed. The connector approaches variously involve the use of unique sensor and ancillary element arrangements to facilitate assembly of separate electronics assemblies and sensor elements that are kept apart until the end user brings them together.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical sensor that may be implanted within a living animal (e.g., a human) and may be used to measure the concentration of an analyte in a medium within the animal. The optical sensor may wirelessly receive and may be capable of bi-directional data communication. The optical sensor may include a semiconductor substrate in which various circuit components, one or more photodectors and/or a light source may be fabricated. The circuit components fabricated in the semiconductor substrate may include a comparator, an analog to digital converter, a temperature transducer, a measurement controller, a rectifier and/or a nonvolatile storage medium. The comparator may output a signal indicative of the difference between the outputs of first and second photodetectors. The measurement controller may receive digitized temperature, photodetector and/or comparator measurements and generate measurement information, which may be wirelessly transmitted from the optical sensor.

Abstract: An optical sensor for detecting chemical, biochemical or biological substances includes a laser and a semiconductor chip. The sensor includes at least one photodetector and at least one high-contrast grating that are monolithically integrated in the semiconductor chip. The high-contrast grating is configured to optically couple radiation emitted by the laser into the photodetector. The coupling behavior of the high-contrast grating depends on the optical properties of external substances that are brought near to or in contact with the high-contrast grating.

Abstract: A medical device including an optical sensor is configured to measure an optical signal by integrating a current induced on a light detector of the optical sensor to obtain a voltage signal. The voltage signal is compared to a threshold. Responsive to the voltage signal reaching the threshold, an optical sensor control parameter is adjusted. The optical sensor is operated to produce the voltage signal using the adjusted control parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining a blood oxygen saturation level and/or the presence of fecal matter within a subject's lower GI tissue is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a spectrophotometric sensor operable to transmit light into the subject's tissue, and to sense the light; b) sensing the subject's lower GI Tissue Using the Sensor, and Producing signal data from sensing the subject's tissue; c) processing the signal data, including determining the presence of one or more wavelength dependent light absorbing materials not present within blood within the subject's lower GI tract from the signal data; and d) determining the blood oxygen saturation level and/or presence of fecal matter within the subject's lower GI tissue, including accounting for the presence of the wavelength dependent light absorbing material not present within blood within the subject's lower GI tract determined using the signal data.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may include an adapter which is capable of converting signals from an oximeter sensor such that the signals are readable by an oximeter monitor. In an embodiment, the adapter is capable of converting signals relating to calibration information from the oximeter sensor. The calibration information may relate to wavelengths of light emitting diodes within the oximeter sensor. In a specific embodiment, the adapter will convert wavelength calibration information in a first form relating to data values stored in a digital memory chip to a second form relating to a resistance value of an expected resistor within the oximeter sensor.

Abstract: A pulse oximetry sensor includes reusable and disposable elements. To assemble the sensor, members of the reusable element are mated with assembly mechanisms of the disposable element. The assembled sensor provides independent movement between the reusable and disposable elements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relates to analyte sensors. In particular, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to non-consuming intravascular glucose sensors based on fluorescence chemistry.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for providing continuous measurement of an analyte concentration. In some embodiments, the device has a sensing mechanism and a sensing membrane that includes at least one surface-active group-containing polymer and that is located over the sensing mechanism. The sensing membrane may have a bioprotective layer configured to substantially block the effect and/or influence of non-constant noise-causing species.

Abstract: A thin film sensor, such as a glucose sensor, is provided for transcutaneous placement at a selected site within the body of a patient. The sensor includes several sensor layers that include conductive layers and includes a proximal segment defining conductive contacts adapted for electrical connection to a suitable monitor, and a distal segment with sensor electrodes for transcutaneous placement. The sensor electrode layers are disposed generally above each other, for example with the reference electrode above the working electrode and the working electrode above the counter electrode. The electrode layers are separated by dielectric layer.

Abstract: A specimen transfer device adapted to receive a blood sample is disclosed. The specimen transfer device includes a housing and an actuation member. A deformable material is disposed within the housing and is deformable from an initial position in which the material is adapted to hold the sample to a deformed position in which at least a portion of the sample is released from the material. A viscoelastic member is disposed within the housing between the material and the housing and between the material and the actuation member. The viscoelastic member is engaged with the actuation member and the material such that movement of the actuation member from a first position to a second position deforms the material from the initial position to the deformed position.

Abstract: A system and method that enables a person to unobtrusively quantify the effect of mobility, physical activity, learning, social interaction and diet on cognitive function.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnosing and/or treating mood disorders, such as depression, is provided. Right vestibular function in subjects diagnosed with a mood disorder is diminished compared with subjects who do not have a mood disorder. Accordingly, a method and apparatus for determining right vestibular function in a subject is provided, from which a diagnosis of a mood disorder may be determined. Stimulation of the vestibular system of a subject diagnosed with a mood disorder may reduce symptoms of the mood disorder in the subject. A method and apparatus for registering a subject's response to stimulation of the vestibular system and providing therapeutic vestibular stimulation based on the subject's response is provided. A subject's response to stimulation of the vestibular system may be based on measurements of nystagmus in the subject.

Abstract: An alertness device includes a heart rate sensor configured to obtain an electrocardiographic signal of a person, a calculation unit configured to calculate the electrocardiographic signal obtained from the heart rate sensor, a waveform generation unit configured to generate an RRI waveform from an electrocardiographic waveform of the electrocardiographic signal, and a determination unit configured to determine the alertness of the person based on the electrocardiographic signal. The calculation unit replicates a same number of RRI waveforms as that of anchors, each anchor being a point where a certain RRI is shorter than an adjacent preceding RRI, moves the time axes of the replicated RRI waveforms such that the anchors of the replicated RRI waveforms are in phase with each other, and calculates a PRSA signal defined as an RRI average for each time axis. The determination unit determines the alertness based on the RRIs and the PRSA signals.

Abstract: A method and system for determining anaerobic threshold intensity (AnT) of a user in a freely performed physical exercise. A physiological response of a user is measured by heart rate and measured heart rate values are recorded as heart rate data. An external workload values are recorded and are each associated with one measured heart rate values to form a plurality of data points. The data points are filtered to form accepted data points, which are classified within a plurality of heart rate segments representing a heart rate within an anaerobic threshold (AnT) of the user. A data point with highest probability is stored for each segment. A first probability factor for each accepted data point is calculated. The calculated first probability factor is compared to a stored probability factor in each segment, and the higher probability factor is retained. AnT is calculated using the stored probabilities in each segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods deform the surface of the material with a probe, such as a mechanical device or a gas/liquid jet, while optically recording in detail the three-dimensional (3D) topography of the resulting surface deformation. The probe effectively applies a forcing function to the material, the attributes of which are known by performing calibrations prior to use or by direct measurement while it is applied. The topography is effectively the system output that is measured as indicative of the underlying mechanical properties of the material. In one application, systems and methods that apply a pressure in-vivo to human tissue and analyze a three-dimensional topography of the resulting surface deformation to identify localized inhomogeneities and anomalies in the human tissue.

Abstract: A method differentiates a blood vessel from a nonvascular tissue during a minimally invasive surgery using a device. A device may be any penetration sensor device, such as a dilator sensor device, a hollow needle sensor device, or a trocar sensor device, which penetrates the skin and subcutaneous layers to reach a target location inside the body. The penetration sensor device includes a sensor probe which can make optical measurements to determine various parameters of the tissue at the tip of the sensor probe. These parameters may include an optical signal level returned from tissue contacting the tip of the sensor probe, an oxygen saturation level of the tissue, a total hemoglobin concentration, a blood flow, and a pulse. Based on these parameters, the presence or absence of a blood vessel at the tip of the penetration sensor device can be determined while the device travels towards the target location for surgery.

Abstract: A system for wirelessly monitoring the health of an infant comprising a sensing module removably disposed within a wearable article. At least a portion of the sensing module can be in contact with an infant's foot. The sensing module can include a processing unit configured to receive and process health readings received by the sensing module. A wireless transmitter can also be in communication with the processing unit. The wireless transmitter can be configured to transmit the processed health readings to a receiving station. The receiving station can indicate an alarm if the processed health readings indicate a health trend that falls outside of a particular threshold.

Abstract: An electronic device including a body case which has an accommodating section at least partially in a curved shape, a frame which has a first frame section and a second frame section having a width shorter than a width of the first frame section, and is accommodated in the accommodating section, and a circuit board which is accommodated in the accommodating section so as to be laminated on the frame, and provided so as not to overlap with the second frame section when viewed from a laminated direction of the frame.

Abstract: The present invention is related, in general, to an electrode patch and/or a wireless system for measuring the physiological condition of a subject, and more particularly to an electrode patch for ECG monitoring. The present invention further includes a method of sensing, analyzing and/or transmitting or relaying a physiological signal. The wireless system and/or electrode patch of the present invention is preferably lightweight and compact. The electrode patch preferably additionally provides a low, power system for extended battery life and use. The electrode patch and wireless system of the present invention still further preferably allows for good and reliable measurement of physiological signals form the subject. The electrode patch is still preferably simple to apply as a single patch, but versatile enough to be reconfigured as more than one patch.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for greater mapping resolution and location precision has a basket-shaped, high density electrode assembly for large-area mapping, and an integrated distal tip providing an array of ultra-high density microelectrodes for acute focal mapping. The basket-shaped electrode assembly 18 has a plurality of electrode-carrying spines and the distal tip has a nonmetallic, electrically insulating substrate body with indentations in which microelectrodes are positioned in a manner that the outer surface is generally flush with the outer surface of the substrate body to present a generally smooth, atraumatic distal tip profile.

Abstract: Provided are embodiments of systems for monitoring the health of an employee while the employee is located in an employee workstation. A system for monitoring the health of an employee including for collecting, from a plurality of biometric sensors disposed throughout an employee workstation, biometric heath data indicative of biometric characteristics of the employee. The system configured to determine an employee biometric health profile including biometric health characteristics; biometric health conditions and/or biometric heath risks for the employee based at least in part on the collected biometric health data. The system configured to generate a health plan for the employee based at least in part on the biometric health profile, and to display the employee biometric heath profile and the health plan to the employee workstation and an employer computer.

Abstract: The biological signal averaging processing device includes a waveform input unit for continuously obtaining a biological signal in which analogous waves appear repeatedly, a summing-averaging processing unit which sums the biological signal obtained from the waveform input unit each time a predetermined time period lapses after a desired start time point to obtain an average wave, a noise level detection part which detects a noise level of random noise contained in the biological signal obtained from the waveform input unit each time the predetermined time period lapses after the desired start time point, a display part for displaying information, and a display control part for displaying the information on the screen of the display part. The display control part displays the noise levels detected by the noise level detection part on the screen of the display part in a chronological manner in association with the respective predetermined time periods.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system may generate an autocorrelation sequence for a physiological signal such as a photoplethysmograph signal. A series of peak values may be identified for the autocorrelation sequence. The peak values may be modified based on a historical distribution of a physiological parameter. A physiological parameter such as respiration rate may be determined based on the modified peak values.

Abstract: A patient monitor including a physiological measurement logic engine receives physiological data from a physiological sensor. The logic engine abstracts one or more features of the physiological data and determines a category for the abstracted feature. The logic engine further encodes the category of each of the one or more features and determines an action to perform based on the encoded categories.

Abstract: A heartbeat measuring apparatus includes a receiver that receives a millimeter wave signal reflected by a user; an identifier that identifies a plurality of characteristic points of the received millimeter wave signal in time series, the characteristic points including a local maximum point, a local minimum point, and an inflection point; a memory that stores a heartbeat characteristic point pattern indicating a first arrangement order of a first inflection point following a first local maximum point, a first local minimum point following the first inflection point, a second inflection point following the first local minimum point, and a second local maximum point following the second inflection point; an acquirer that acquires, from among the identified characteristic points, a first characteristic point set including first characteristic points that are arranged in an order identical to the first arrangement order; and an outputter that outputs heartbeat information on the user.

Abstract: There is provided a system for use with a patient in a healthcare environment, the system comprising a medical device configured to monitor or treat a patient, the medical device being for use in a room in which the patient is located and comprising an alarm unit configured to issue an audible alarm; a detection unit configured to detect whether a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; a remote alarm unit configured to issue an alarm to alert a healthcare staff member located outside the room in which the patient is located; and a control unit that is connected to the medical device, the remote detection unit and the alarm unit, the control unit being configured to: (i) control the alarm unit in the medical device to issue an audible alarm in the event that the medical device detects an alarm condition for the patient or the medical device and the detection unit detects that a healthcare staff member is in the room in which the patient is located; and (ii) control the remote a

Abstract: A medical diagnostic imaging apparatus includes: a bed device on which an examinee lies down; a gantry having a tunnel-shaped inner portion into which the bed device moves and inserts a table with which the examinee is in direct contact, and being configured to obtain information on an interior of the examinee by imaging the examinee located in the inner portion; and a control device configured to control drive of the bed device and the gantry. The medical diagnostic imaging apparatus further includes a multi-degree-of-freedom support mechanism mounted at a position facing the bed device with the gantry interposed in between and configured to support the table based on a control by the control device in accordance with movement of the table.

Abstract: A mammographic apparatus that includes X-ray detectors configured to detect X-rays entering the X-ray detectors, and attached to a holding-arm placed on a floor. The mammographic apparatus further includes circuitry configured to move the X-ray detectors between a scanning position and a waiting position. The X-ray detectors in the scanning position face an X-ray tube that generates X-rays across a breast-table, and the X-ray detectors in the waiting position are closer to the holding-arm than are the X-ray detectors in the scanning position.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for generating at least one x-ray image of a patient having incorporated contrast medium, using x-rays having an energy spectrum and an x-ray detector. The energy spectrum is modified by at least one first filter arranged in the beam path in front of the patient, the patient absorbing a dose in order to generate detector data for the x-ray image and the x-ray image having a CNR value which represents the ratio of the maximum contrast in the image to the noise. The energy spectrum and contrast medium are matched to each other, taking into account the thickness of the patient to be x-rayed, in such a way that an optimization criterion which is taken from an x-ray image that is generated or simulated by way of trials is maximized. Furthermore, an x-ray system is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to on embodiment, a photon counting CT apparatus includes a hybrid detector and processing circuitry. The hybrid detector includes CT detectors and PCCT detectors. The CT detectors output integral signals concerning the detected X-rays. The PCCT detectors output a count signal for each of a plurality of energy bands concerning the detected X-rays. The processing circuitry estimate a count signal concerning an estimation target CT detector of the CT detectors based on an integral signal output from the estimation target CT detector and a count signal output from the PCCT detector. And the processing circuitry reconstruct an image based on the estimated count signal and the count signal.

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: An X-ray computed tomography apparatus includes an X-ray generation circuit generating X-rays, X-ray detection circuit including X-ray detection modules detecting the X-rays for respective energy widths, counting circuit counting a photon originating from the X-rays for the respective energy widths based on an output from the X-ray detection circuit, and reconstruction circuit reconstructing a medical image based on an output from the counting circuit. Each of the X-ray detection modules includes a collimator collimating the X-rays, diffraction cell arranged on a rear surface side of the collimator and diffracting the X-ray at an angle corresponding to an energy of the X-ray, and X-ray detector cells arranged in a predetermined distance away from a rear surface of the collimator, and detecting the diffracted X-ray.

Abstract: A mobile fluoroscopic imaging system having a portable radiation source capable of emitting radiation in both single and, alternatively, pulse emissions and adapted to move in all degrees of freedom; a portable detector operable to detect radiation from the radiation source, wherein the detector is adapted to move independently of the radiation source in all degrees of freedom; the radiation source and detector each comprises an alignment sensor in communication with a computer; the computer is in communication with the radiation source and the detector; the position, distance and orientation of the radiation source and the detector are established by the computer; and the computer sends an activation signal to the radiation source to indicate when radiation may be emitted. Preferably, the radiation source is prevented from emission of radiation until the detector and the radiation source have achieved predetermined alignment conditions.

Abstract: Devices and methods for embedding a standard dose checker feature within existing CT systems by obtaining and analyzing information from the existing CT system, detecting a radiation parameter value therefrom, comparing the detected radiation parameter with a predetermined threshold, and generating an operation-signal to affect the operation of the CT system based on the comparison between the detected radiation parameter and the predetermined threshold and the state of the CT system.