Abstract: The present invention has been derived from the ubiquitous automatic hand dryer, but including also a spraying system to sanitize the dried hands. The hollow spraying & drying chamber with hundreds ventilator outlets and multiple spray nozzles functions as a closed-loop, air-recycling system: The drying air is pressed towards the surface of the inserted hands in a down-stream angle; this downstream being enforced by the ventilator aspirating the air from the bottom outlet of the spraying & drying chamber. In contrast to the ubiquitous automatic hand dryer, the casing is closed, completely on the side walls and leaving only small openings at the higher-end side, large enough to insert the hands and suck-in air from above. With this closed chamber and the air-stream from outside above downward along the hand's surface, any emission of air-water droplets as aerosols, upward and to the environment, against the incoming air-stream, is impossible.

Abstract: The invention is a toilet seat lift is a stick made of a disposable, flushable material with a stop and adhesive area to attach to the toilet seat lid. It is placed between the lid and the seat to lift the lid up. It can also be used to lift the seat and lid from the bowl. Once used the toilet seat lift can be disposed by placing it within the toilet bowl and flushed.

Abstract: A blower apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a motor including a shaft arranged to extend along a central axis extending in a vertical direction, and a bearing arranged to rotatably support the shaft; an impeller coupled to the shaft on an upper end side of the shaft; an impeller housing arranged to house the impeller, and including an air inlet on an upper side; a plurality of stationary vanes arranged on a lower side of the impeller housing; a cylindrical first ring arranged radially inside of the stationary vanes; and a cylindrical second ring arranged radially outside of the stationary vanes, and fixed to the impeller housing. The stationary vanes, the first ring, and the second ring are defined by a single monolithic member, and together define at least a portion of a stationary vane support portion.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner for cleaning a surface is convertible between an upright mode and a canister mode. The vacuum cleaner includes a diverter assembly to selectively divert a working air flow through different working air flow paths which correspond to the upright mode and the canister mode. The vacuum cleaner can further include a removable suction nozzle.

Abstract: A self-moving floor treatment device (A) comprises a machine body base (100) and a water tank (200). A cleaning cloth (210) is attached onto the bottom of the water tank (200), and the water tank (200) is connected to the bottom surface of the machine body base (100) in a manner of floating up and down. By mounting the water tank (200) on the machine body base (100) in. a floating manner to leave a certain gap therebetween, the water tank (200) and the cleaning cloth (210) can float up and down within a certain range of space.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides cleaning robot, including a cleaning agent mopping device (1), a cleaning agent absorbing device (2), a water wiping (3) and washing device (4), and a water absorbing device arranged in turn along a moving direction of the cleaning robot. Each time when the cleaning robot of the present disclosure works to clean the to-be-cleaned surface, the cleaning robot can perform the four steps including cleaning agent mopping, cleaning agent absorbing, water wiping and washing, and water absorbing, thus, both hydrolysable and non-hydrolysable stains can be effectively cleaned by the cleaning robot. Thus, the cleaning robot is very practical, easy to operate, and simple to use.

Abstract: An autonomous floor-traversing robot includes: a wheeled body including a chassis and at least one motorized wheel configured to propel the chassis across a floor, the chassis defining an interior compartment disposed beneath a chassis ceiling; a cover extending across at least a central area of the chassis ceiling; and a graspable handle connected to the chassis and located outside the cover so as to be accessible from above the robot, the handle arranged to enable lifting of the robot. The chassis ceiling defines drainage channels configured to conduct the liquid away from the central area of the chassis ceiling.

Abstract: A cleaning cloth, and in particular a cleaning cloth for floors suitable for being attached to a mop base, and fitted with special coupling devices that make it easy to attach it to the mop base and ensure it is held securely.

Abstract: A warewash machine for washing wares includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having an inlet side, an outlet side, multiple spray zones between the inlet side and the outlet side, and a conveyor arrangement for moving wares along a conveyance path through the multiple spray zones in a ware travel direction. A prescrapping zone is located toward the inlet side of the chamber, the prescrapping zone having a blow-off system comprising a plurality of prescrapping nozzles and a compressed air feed line for delivering compressed air to the prescrapping nozzles.

Abstract: A warewash machine carries out at least one of (i) delivering both compressed air and rinse liquid to a plurality of wash spray nozzles of the warewash machine for spraying onto the wares during at least part of a washing operation of a ware cleaning cycle, wherein the wash liquid is recirculated from a wash tank below the spray zone; or (ii) lowering wares from the spray zone into a wash tank below the spray zone to submerge the wares within wash liquid of the wash tank and delivering compressed air into the wash tank during at least part of a washing operation of a ware cleaning cycle; or (iii) delivering both compressed air and rinse liquid to a plurality of rinse spray nozzles of the warewash machine for spraying onto the wares during at least part of a rinsing operation of a ware cleaning cycle.

Abstract: An endoscopic system including an endoscope device that outputs image data, an illumination device that illuminates a body of a patient, and circuitry that obtains, from the image data, at least two frames each captured with a different illumination state, generate, from at least two obtained frames, a composite image that has a reduced specular reflection light component with respect to at least one of the obtained frames, and generate a video signal including the composite image.

Abstract: There is provided a surgical system including a monitoring sensor configured to sense a characteristic of a surgical site within a body, in a sensing region of the surgical site which includes at least a part of a region outside a display field of an endoscope, and circuitry configured to detect an occurrence of a medical abnormality in the region outside the display field of the endoscope based on a result of the sensing by the monitoring sensor, and generate notification information regarding the detected medical abnormality.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an image processing device, an image processing method, a program, and an endoscope system that can reduce a burden on a user. A parallax amount adjustment unit adjusts the parallax amount of a three-dimensional (3D) biological image of an imaged living organism, depending on whether the parallax of the 3D biological image puts a burden on a user. The present technology can be applied to an endoscope system or the like that captures an image of a living organism with an endoscope, for example.

Abstract: Provided is a capsule endoscope that includes a light source configured to emit light to an internal surface of an organ of a human body, an image sensor configured to use light reflected from the internal surface of the organ to generate image data, a processor configured to perform coding on the image data to generate coded data, and perform logical operation on the coded data and a binary code to generate final data, and a communication circuit configured to output the final data to an outside of the human body.

Abstract: An operation device for an into-bore introduction device, includes: a projecting portion formed to project from a grasping section in a radial direction to a longitudinal axis of the grasping section, in a surface between a surface on which a bending operation knob is disposed and a surface on which operator's palm abuts to grasp the grasping section, in the grasping section; a pressing switch disposed on the projecting portion; and an inclined surface formed distantly by as much as a predetermined distance from the pressing switch, and in which an amount of the inclined surface to project outside in the radial direction is decreased on an insertion section side of the projecting portion.

Abstract: An airbag tube apparatus has a hollow tube with a closed end and an open end. A side hole is disposed near the closed end; when matter leaves the airbag tube apparatus, it enters the hollow tube from the side hole and flows out of the open end. A balloon is attached to the hollow tube, and connected to a vent. The balloon in a large volume can flexibly fix animal tissue. A vent is connected to the balloon, a valve, and a pneumatic module to form an air inflator to inflate, hold and deflate the balloon. The valve opens and closes the liquid flow in the vent, and is controlled by a circuit module; the pneumatic module, providing inflating function, is controlled by the circuit module; the circuit module, has a microprocessor unit, a memory unit and an input-and-output unit.

Abstract: An overtube including: a manipulator channel through which is passed a long manipulator in which a movable portion disposed at a distal end is driven by a driving portion disposed at a proximal end; and a storage unit that stores identification information for the manipulator channel in a readable manner from outside.

Abstract: An endoscope which promotes downsizing and cost reduction, and a manufacturing method of an endoscope are provided. For this reason, in an endoscope, a lens unit containing a lens in a lens tube, an image capturing element of which an image capturing surface is covered with element cover glass, and an adhesive resin fixing the lens unit of which an optical axis of the lens is coincident with the center of the image capturing surface to the element cover glass with a separation portion are disposed.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscope apparatus provided with: an elongated insertion portion that is inserted into a body; an image-acquisition portion that has an imaging optical system disposed at a distal end of the insertion portion and that acquires two images having parallax for the same imaging subject; an identifying portion that identifies an image of an object, which is in close proximity to the imaging optical system, that is captured only in one of the two images acquired by the image-acquisition portion; and a close-proximity-image-removal processing portion that processes the image so that the image of the object identified by the identifying portion is removed from the image.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment comprises a laryngoscope comprising a handle; a blade, the blade including a cavity, the cavity housing a lighting system comprising a light source and a battery; and a cover that locks in place over the cavity, wherein the laryngoscope comprises at least one cutout configured to allow an endotracheal tube to pass through.

Abstract: There is provided an endoscope in which the generation of heat at a front-end portion is reduced. An endoscope includes an imaging system; and, an illumination system, wherein the illumination system includes a light guide and at least one illumination lens, and the imaging system includes an objective lens unit and an image pickup element, and when a direction along a long side of the image pickup element is let to be a first direction, and a direction along a short side of the image pickup element is let to be a second direction, the illumination system is disposed at a position shifted in the second direction with respect to the imaging system, and the endoscope satisfies the following conditional expressions (1), (2) and (3) 1.35<A ??(1) 1<LH/LV ??(2) 1.5<(rV?LV)/(rH?LH)?3.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a light converter disposed on a distal end surface of a light guide, the light converter being configured to emit illumination light, which is generated by converting optical characteristics of primary light that is guided by the light guide, in a forward direction which is on the light converter side of the distal end surface, and in a backward direction which is on the light guide side of the distal end surface. The illumination apparatus further includes a light collector configured to collect backward illumination light into the light guide such that the backward illumination light is guided backward by the light guide, and a heat exhauster configured to convert the backward illumination light, which is guided by the light guide, to heat, and to exhaust the heat.

Abstract: A fluid distributor for a reprocessing device for reprocessing surgical instruments. The fluid distributor including: a first fluid routing body having a first fluid hole, the first hole having a first inlet and a first outlet, and a second fluid routing body that has at least two second fluid holes, each of the at least two second fluid holes having a second inlet and a second outlet; wherein the first fluid routing body and the second fluid routing body are rotatable relative to each other about an axis of rotation such that the first fluid hole communicates fluidically in sequence with each of the at least two second fluid holes.

Abstract: A method for cleaning the lens of a visualization device integrated into a ventilation tube positioned inside a patient, wherein the tube comprises a ventilation lumen and the lens is positioned proximal to the distal end of the ventilation lumen, the method comprising providing a suction catheter comprising a brush at its distal end; positioning the catheter inside the ventilation lumen such that the brush protrudes from the distal end of the ventilation lumen; and manipulating the catheter at its proximal end to cause the brush to make contact with the lens in order to clean the lens.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring a characteristic of an eye of a subject receive data pertaining to the subject; assign the subject to an assigned age category based on the data pertaining to the subject; adjust a brightness level of a fixation target according to the assigned age category for the subject; provide the fixation target for a subject to view; and objectively measure at least one characteristic of the eye of the subject while the subject views the fixation target at the adjusted brightness level.

Abstract: The innovation provides for a system and method available to image and visualize the palisades of Vogt via a non-contact process, analyze the image volumes acquired, evaluate the status of the palisades of Vogt from the data represented therein, and display the data in real-time or as a part of a medical record for ongoing consideration and evaluation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cytometric measurement of blood cells traversing microvasculature single-file in the eye of a subject. A miniature imaging device, having cellular resolution, records image data that can be rendered into a microcirculation time sequence and analyzed to provide useful biological information.

Abstract: A machine-implemented method including obtaining physiological signal data for a living being and performing a first analysis of the physiological signal data at a processing device local to the living being and remote from a central processing device. The method further includes transmitting from the processing device data associated with the analysis to the central processing device and performing at the central processing device a second analysis of the data associated with the first analysis. The method further includes displaying the data associated with the second analysis. The method can also include interaction between the processing device local to the living being and the central processing device. The method can also include distributing monitoring and analysis between an ambulatory and a centralized subsystem.

Abstract: A personalized adaptive health monitoring system comprises: a wearable central sensor wirelessly communicating with at least one wearable remote sensor, each sensor being configured to measure data indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a user; a portable device, and a cloud platform. The central sensor receives and processes measured data from each remote sensor and processes data measured by the central sensor. The portable device comprises: a receiver wirelessly receiving the processed data from the central sensor; a processor running a mobile application handling the processed data; and a transmitter. The cloud platform receives the processed data from the transmitter; analyzes the received processed data; and transmit results of the analysis to at least one of the portable device and an authorized healthcare entity. Analyzing the received processed data comprises comparing the received processed data with previously received data from the user and/or from other comparable individuals.

Abstract: A hospital bed is programmable with new firmware that is downloaded to the bed over a network. The firmware is downloaded to the bed automatically from a remote computer device. The remote computer device receives a message from the hospital bed which includes data regarding the version number of the bed's current firmware, and if the version number indicates that the firmware is an outdated version, the remote computer device downloads a new version of the firmware to the bed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic communication system and method provide a networking framework for wearable devices based on ultrasonic communications. The ultrasonic communication system and method incorporate a set of physical, data link, network and application layer functionalities that can flexibly adapt to application and system requirements to efficiently distribute information between ultrasonic wearable devices.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a miniaturized biosensor and nanotechnology which is embedded in a variety of medical devices which can be used for real-time device location tracking and analysis, for the purpose of optimizing device positioning both at the time of initial placement and throughout its clinical use (i.e., device continuum). The continuously acquired device-specific standardized data is then transmitted through wireless communication networks to provide continuous feedback and alerts to authorized clinical providers as to device positioning, clinical performance, and presence of pathology.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to apparatuses and techniques for non-invasive optical imaging that acquires a plurality of images corresponding to both different times and different frequencies. Additionally, alternatives described herein are used with a variety of tissue classification applications, including assessing the presence and severity of tissue conditions, such as burns and other wounds.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods can be provided which can generate data associated with at least one portion of a sample. For example, at least one first radiation can be forwarded to the portion through at least one optical arrangement. At least one second radiation can be received from the portion which is based on the first radiation. Based on an interaction between the optical arrangement and the first radiation and/or the second radiation, the optical arrangement can have a first transfer function. Further, it is possible to forward at least one third radiation to the portion through such optical arrangement (or through another optical arrangement), and receive at least one fourth radiation from the portion which is based on the third radiation. Based on an interaction between the optical arrangement (or the other optical arrangement) and the third radiation and/or the fourth radiation, the optical arrangement (or the other optical arrangement) can have a second transfer function.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the highlighting of features in composite images through the alternating of images having complementary colors. An image having a feature of interest is used to generate one or more pseudo color images. A series of a pseudo color images and one or more additional pseudo color or original color images are then alternately displayed so that the differently colored regions among the series of images are easily recognizable to an operator. The differently colored regions differ in having hues that are complementary to one another. The methods are particularly useful for the display of information using two or more imaging modalities and channels, such as is the case for some medical applications in which a natural-light image of pink or light-red tissue with deeper red or blue vasculature is overlaid with another functional image.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and systems for analyzing a sample by applying time resolved laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy to the sample to measure lifetime time decay profile data relating to the sample, and applying multivariate analysis to process the data so as to classify a sample as, for example, normal or abnormal. The sample may be cells, fluid or tissue from any organ. The sample may be in vitro or in vivo. The data may be obtained in situ or in vitro.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, devices and systems that distinguish between cancerous and healthy tissue.

Abstract: A wearable device for use with a smart phone or tablet includes LEDs for measuring physiological parameters by modulating the LEDs and generating a near-infrared multi-wavelength optical beam. At least one LED emits at a first wavelength having a first penetration depth and at least another LED emits at a second wavelength having a second penetration depth into tissue. The device includes lenses that deliver the optical beam to the tissue, which reflects the first and second wavelengths. A receiver is configured to capture light while the LEDs are off and while at least one of the LEDs is on and to difference corresponding signals to improve a signal-to-noise ratio of the optical beam reflected from the tissue. The signal-to-noise ratio is further increased by increasing light intensity of at least one of the LEDs. The device generates an output signal representing a non-invasive measurement on blood within the tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving limited-view photoacoustic tomography using an acoustic reflector are described. In particular, an acoustic reflector and ultrasonic transducer array are integrated to provide a virtual array that enhances the field of view of the ultrasonic transducer array, thereby improving the quality of photoacoustic tomography images obtained using the systems and methods described herein.

Abstract: A subject is avascularized while changing the avascularization pressure between the avascularized condition and the non-avascularized condition. A receiving circuit receives a detection signal obtained by detecting a photoacoustic wave generated in the subject by emission of measurement light to the subject. Photoacoustic image generation means generates a photoacoustic image based on the detection signal of the photoacoustic wave. Motion detection means detects the motion of each of a plurality of control points set in each photoacoustic image based on photoacoustic images at a plurality of times. Region of interest setting means sets a region of interest based on the motion detected at each control point. Blood flow information generation means generates blood flow information based on the signal strength of the photoacoustic image in the region of interest.

Abstract: Facial thermography using an infrared camera captures changes of temperature on the face that are induced by modification of the activity of the autonomic nervous system. Changes of the nose temperature are closely correlated with levels of fat oxidation after ingestion of some ingredients. Therefore, methods using facial thermography can measure the impact of a food ingredient on metabolism and more precisely on fat oxidation after consumption.

Abstract: A system for determining a clinically relevant temperature differential between a predetermined area of interest, as defined herein, on the body surface of a mammal and a control area on the body surface of said mammal, said system comprising: a visual and thermal image capturing device, said image capturing device comprising: a housing, a means for capturing a digital visual image within said housing; and a means for capturing a digital thermal image within said housing; a display apparatus, said display apparatus comprising means for showing said captured visual image and said captured thermal image; and a computing apparatus, said computing apparatus operatively connected to said image capturing device and to said display apparatus, said computing apparatus comprising: a means for selecting a control area on the surface of the skin; a means for determining an temperature of said control area; a means for selecting an area of clinical interest within said visual image; a means for calculating plane geometri

Abstract: Recent studies in computer vision have shown that, while practically invisible to a human observer, skin color changes due to blood flow can be captured on face videos and, surprisingly, be used to estimate the heart rate (HR). While considerable progress has been made in the last few years, still many issues remain open. In particular, state-of-the-art approaches are not robust enough to operate in natural conditions (e.g. in case of spontaneous movements, facial expressions, or illumination changes). Opposite to previous approaches that estimate the HR by processing all the skin pixels inside a fixed region of interest, we introduce a strategy to dynamically select face regions useful for robust HR estimation. The present approach, inspired by recent advances on matrix completion theory, allows us to predict the HR while simultaneously discover the best regions of the face to be used for estimation.

Abstract: A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) (10) and method (60) comprise a set of electrodes (12) for placement on a subject (14), a mechanism for electrically engaging (16) the set of electrodes to the subject's skin, and at least one non-invasive physiologic sensor (18, 20) configured for placement on the subject. A controller (24) monitors an output of the non-invasive physiologic sensor (18, 20) for detecting a change in a health parameter of the subject being indicative of one or more of a change in subject condition that may be a precursor to potential cardiac arrhythmia or a simultaneously occurring cardiac arrhythmia. Responsive to detecting the change, the controller (24) activates an alarm (26) for requesting a response from the subject (14) within a predetermined time. Responsive to receiving the subject's response within the predetermined time, the controller (24) inhibits the mechanism (16) from electrically engaging the set of electrodes (12) to the subject's skin.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for assessing endothelial function in a mammal. In certain embodiments the methods involve using a cuff to apply pressure to an artery in a subject to determine a plurality of baseline values for a parameter related to endothelial function as a function of applied pressure (Pm); b) applying a stimulus to the subject; and applying external pressure Pm to the artery to determine a plurality of stimulus-effected values for the parameter related to endothelial function as a function of applied pressure (Pm); where the baseline values are determined from measurements made when said mammal is not substantially effected by said stimulus and differences in said baseline values and said stimulus-effected values provide a measure of endothelial function in said mammal.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating estimated blood loss parameters of a patient to a user, the method comprising: receiving data representative of an image, of a fluid receiver; automatically detecting a region within the image associated with a volume of fluid received at the fluid receiver, the volume of fluid including a blood component; calculating an estimated amount of the blood component present in the volume of fluid based upon a color parameter represented in the region, and determining a bias error associated with the estimated amount of the blood component; updating an analysis of an aggregate amount of the blood component and an aggregate bias error associated with blood loss of the patient, based upon the estimated amount of the blood component and the bias error; and providing information from the analysis of the aggregate amount of the blood component and the aggregate bias error, to the user.

Abstract: Methods, devices, systems, and non-transitory processor-readable storage media are disclosed for determining one or more biometric properties of a subject using multiple sensors positioned along a flexible backing. At least one processor of the multi-sensor device may be configured to receive output signals from the multiple sensors, identify at least one output signal from the received output signals that exhibit measurements of a targeted biological structure, determine the one or more biometric properties of the subject based on the identified at least one output signal received from at least one of the multiple sensors, and provide the determined one or more biometric properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring blood circulation disorders, and a method therefor. The apparatus for measuring blood circulation disorders using a pulse wave transit time includes a measurement unit configured to measure a pulse wave and an electrocardiogram of a subject to be measured, a detection unit configured to detect time information of a peak value point of the electrocardiogram and a peak value point and a foot value point of the pulse wave, an operation unit configured to calculate an average pulse wave transit time using the time information of the peak value point of the electrocardiogram and the peak value point and the foot value point of the pulse wave and calculate a blood circulation disorder determination index using the average pulse wave transit time, and a diagnosis unit configured to diagnose a blood circulation disorder using the blood circulation disorder determination index.

Abstract: Representative methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed for blood pressure and other vital sign monitoring using arterial applanation tonometry, including ambulatory blood pressure and other vital sign monitoring. A representative system comprises a wearable apparatus. The various embodiments measure blood pressure and other vital sign monitoring using a plurality of pressure sensors of a pressure sensor array, with one or more of the pressure sensors 140 applanating an artery, such as a radial artery. In a first embodiment, a pressure sensor signal is utilized which has the highest cross-coherence with the signals of its nearest pressure sensor neighbors of the pressure sensor array. In a second embodiment, Kalman filtering is utilized for the pressure sensor signals from the pressure sensor array.

Abstract: A wearable device and the accompanying method for the determination of continuous pulsatile BP are described. The absolute values can be obtained in the initial phase and how a transfer function can transform the BP-signal obtain at the finger or wrist to correct BP-values corresponding to the brachial artery and at heart level. The wearable device contains an orthostatic level-correcting element, which can measure the vertical distance between heart level and finger/wrist level, where the actual measurement takes places. The wearable device may be in the form of a ring, a watch, or a bracelet. Further, the wearable device has elements for wirelessly transmitting signals to host devices such as a smart phone, tablet or other computers.