Abstract: This invention relates to a wall mountable drip tray (1) of the type comprising a mounting plate (5) for mounting the drip tray to a wall, a liquid reservoir (7) extending forwardly from the mounting plate and in which the wall mountable drip tray further comprises monitoring equipment (9) including a proximity sensor (8) for detecting an individual or equipment in the vicinity of the drip tray. The monitoring equipment further comprises a transceiver for communicating with one or more of a remote control unit (23), a fixed network unit (35) and a mobile network unit (37) of a monitoring system (21). By providing such a wall mountable drip tray, existing hand hygiene infrastructure, specifically wall mounted antibacterial liquid dispensers, in an installation can be incorporated into a new monitoring system and will not become obsolete.

Abstract: A removable tube structure comprising of a tube and a plate conjoined to one end of the tube, whereby the plate having a hole in the center, of the same diameter as the inside diameter of tube, allows for removable mounting of the tube structure onto and over one end of a two telescoping tube toilet paper roll mandrel assembly, and the plate having an area extending radially outward, whereby the plate can be contacted by an empty or full toilet paper roll being pushed axially towards the plate by at least one finger of a user, which actuates the removable tube structure and compresses the telescoping tubes of the mandrel assembly, in order to remove and replace the roll of toilet paper, and the associated telescoping tube mandrel assembly, from a mandrel assembly holder.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for dispensing paper product, such as folded towels, and having a dispensing mechanism that restricts the movement of the product holding platform during replenishment (e.g., when the dispenser lid is open) and allows free movement of the platform when dispensing (e.g., when the dispenser lid is closed).

Abstract: A body drying system for use in a shower including a power unit configured to supply heated air, an airflow transitional part configured to be supported by part of a shower closure, and a hand-held air delivery nozzle. The hand-held air delivery nozzle is fluidly coupled to the power unit by way of the airflow transitional part. The hand-held air delivery nozzle is configured to expel the heated air.

Abstract: A splash shield for a toilet plunger or brush includes a membrane that fits over the top of a toilet bowl. The membrane seals tightly around the toilet bowl rim and has an aperture proximate the center so the user can slide the plunger or brush handle up through the aperture and affix the edges of the membrane around the toilet bowl, and then plunge or clean the toilet. After use, the user can remove the membrane from the toilet bowl and wrap the contaminated head of the plunger or brush within the membrane and take it away to be cleaned. A new membrane may be placed on the cleaned plunger or brush to act as a sanitary cover until its next use.

Abstract: The toilet lid light is a position sensitive light that is adapted for use with a toilet. The toilet lid light is a device that illuminates the toilet during use in periods of darkness. Specifically, the toilet lid light is illuminated when the toilet seat is put in the up position for the purposes of: 1) providing visual feedback regarding the location of urinary tract discharge relative to the boundaries of the toilet bowl during use; and, 2) providing visual feedback regarding the position of the toilet seat for the purpose of assisting in the proper subsequent use of the toilet. The toilet lid light comprises a lamp, a housing, and a fastener. The lamp is contained within the housing. The fastener attaches the housing to the bottom side of the toilet seat.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner including an agitator in the form of a brush bar, the brush bar including a plurality of radially extending bristles and a sealing material disposed between the bristles. The sealing material extends over substantially the entire circumferential and axial extent of the regions of the brush bar between the bristles. The cleaner head further includes a housing defining a chamber which at least partially surrounds the brush bar, a dirty air inlet in a lower part of the chamber and a front opening that exposes the brush bar at the front of the housing. The brush bar is supported for rotation with respect to the housing and arranged in the chamber such that the brush bar seals against the housing thereby restricting flow of air through the front opening.

Abstract: A cleaner that includes a nozzle assembly; a cleaner body that is coupled to the nozzle assembly and that is configured to rotate; and a water cleaning device that is coupled to the nozzle assembly, the water cleaning device including: a water tank that is configured to (i) hold a cloth and (ii) store water to provide to the cloth and that includes an air hole through which air enters the water tank from outside of the water tank, and an adjusting device that is configured to open or close the air hole based on a rotation of the cleaner body is disclosed.

Abstract: A mop includes a mop head, a secondary cleaning head and a handle. The mop head includes a secondary cleaning head chamber and a first attachment element. The secondary cleaning head is selectively receivable in the secondary cleaning head chamber and includes a second attachment element that cooperates with the first attachment element to selectively connect the secondary cleaning head with the mop head. The handle connects with the secondary cleaning head and is operatively connectable to the mop head. The handle is connected with the mop head when the secondary cleaning head is received in the secondary cleaning head chamber and the second attachment element is engaged with the first attachment element, and the handle is disconnected with the mop head when the secondary cleaning head is not received in the secondary cleaning head chamber.

Abstract: A cleaning pad for use with a surface cleaning appliance, such as a steam mop, includes a cleaning composition and at least one visually discernible indicator that alerts a user to the condition of the cleaning pad. The visually discernible indicator can change color as the cleaning composition is consumed.

Abstract: Provided herein is a handheld cleaning device, which stores cleaning wipes as well as fluid. In an embodiment, the cleaning device comprises a hollow inner longitudinal portion, a hollow base, and a hollow outer longitudinal portion. All three hollow portions are joined together to form a single hollow fluid reservoir. In use, a cylindrical role of cleaning wipes may be slipped over the hollow inner longitudinal portion such that the hollow inner longitudinal portion is located inside the cylindrical roll of the cleaning wipes. The hollow outer longitudinal portion is located outside the cylindrical roll of the cleaning wipes and secures the cylindrical roll of cleaning wipes to the device. Further, the hollow base is located under the cylindrical roll of the cleaning wipes and further secures the cylindrical roll of cleaning wipes to the device.

Abstract: A method for operating a water-conducting domestic appliance, such as a dishwasher, includes filling the water-conducting domestic appliance with a minimum amount of filling water that is circulated by a pump, and checking a water flow diverter for malfunctions and determining from an operational parameter of an electromotor that drives the pump whether the pump runs smoothly, thereby indicating whether the quantity of filling water corresponds to at least a nominal quantity of filling water. When the water flow diverter is not malfunctioning, the pump is again checked for smooth running or a refilling step is carried out to increase the minimum amount of filling water. Conversely, when the water flow diverter is malfunctioning, the check for smooth running or the refilling step are omitted.

Abstract: A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.

Abstract: A dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, includes a circulation pump for circulating a washing liquid in a hydraulic circuit. Connected to an induction side of the circulation pump is a pump sump through which washing liquid flows. The sump pump includes at least one filter element that retains dirt particles contained in the washing liquid and can be cleaned by at least one cleaning device provided in the pump sump.

Abstract: An automatic dishwasher having first and second sprayers located within a washtub, a diverter valve to selectively divert liquid flowing from the wash chamber between the first and second sprayers, and a drive system moving the first sprayer in the wash chamber.

Abstract: A multiple chamber dishwasher has a door with multiple parts that can be linked for cooperative movement in a first mode and unlinked for independent movement in a second mode. A mode selector operatively coupled to a transformation link that effects conversion of the door between the first and second modes allows user selection of the door mode and can be associated with a door handle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a dispenser for dosing a product in a washing machine leading to an optimized dosing result, a dispenser controller programmed with an algorithm to execute the method of the present invention as well as to the use of said dispenser for controlling dosing of a product in a washing machine.

Abstract: A rack mounting assembly for supporting an upper rack assembly within a tub of a dishwasher appliance is provided. The tub defines an alignment slot and a screw hole. The rack mounting assembly includes a mounting body defining a mounting hole and a protruding member configured for engaging the alignment slot of the tub when the mounting body is properly aligned. A retention feature, such as one or more flexible arms, extends from the protruding member and toward the tub to hold the mounting body in place until a screw may be passed through the mounting hole and into the screw hole to secure the mounting body to the tub.

Abstract: A display apparatus for a living body insertable apparatus includes an inserting unit configured to be inserted into a living body, and a power unit configured to generate a propulsive force for the inserting unit in the living body. The display apparatus includes a driving force detector, a display calculator, and a display controller. The driving force detector acquires a value relating to a driving force of the power unit. The display calculator determines a display area of a gauge configured to have the display area varying according to the driving force, based on the value. The display controller outputs a signal to display the gauge on a display device.

Abstract: In the case of a method according to the invention for connecting at least two components of an endoscope, at least one brazing preform, which contains a high-temperature brazing solder, is introduced into at least one brazing solder reservoir of at least one of the components, the at least two components are held in relation to one another in such a way that at least one brazing gap that is in capillary connection with the at least one brazing solder reservoir is formed between joining regions of the at least two components that are assigned to one another, and the arrangement (1, 22) comprising the at least two components and the at least one brazing preform is heated to a brazing temperature of the high-temperature brazing solder. The invention also relates to a component of an endoscope and to an endoscope.

Abstract: A rotational device for rotating an endoscope having an operating element for moving a movable assembly of the endoscope includes a rotatable assembly, to which an endoscope is connectable, a stationary assembly, relative to which the rotatable assembly is rotatable, a first drive means for rotating the rotatable assembly relative to the stationary assembly in order to put a shaft of an endoscope connected to the rotatable assembly into rotational motion about a longitudinal axis of the endoscope, and a second drive means for moving an operating element of the endoscope connected to the rotatable assembly relative to the shaft of the endoscope in order to move an assembly of the endoscope, which assembly is movable by means of the operating element.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are discussed herein for an endoscope. The endoscope has a distal tip with an oblique portion and a flat portion, the oblique portion defines a plane that forms an angle between and including 20 and 40 degrees to a central axis of the endoscope. A related sheath may have similar features at the distal tip.

Abstract: An otoscope comprising a handle portion and a head portion substantially tapering along its longitudinal axis, wherein the head portion has a proximal end adjacent to the handle portion and a smaller distal end configured to be introduced in an outer ear canal. The otoscope comprises an optical electronic imaging unit at the distal end of the head portion, especially at a distal tip of the head portion, wherein the electronic imaging unit exhibits at least one optical axis which is radially offset from the longitudinal axis, and wherein the distal end is configured for accommodating the electronic imaging unit in such a way that the radial offset can be maximum with respect to the diameter of the distal end.

Abstract: Navigation guidance is provided to an operator of an endoscope by determining a current position and shape of the endoscope relative to a reference frame, generating an endoscope computer model according to the determined position and shape, and displaying the endoscope computer model along with a patient computer model referenced to the reference frame so as to be viewable by the operator while steering the endoscope within the patient.

Abstract: Coronary sinus cannulation apparatus and methods relating to tissue visualization catheters that can locate and/or cannulate a morphological feature within a body lumen, such as the coronary sinus, are described. Such devices can also perform a variety of therapeutic tissue treatments under direct in vivo visualization thereafter. Moreover, such apparatus and methods may also be utilized with guidewires to facilitate delivery into the coronary sinus to eliminate repositioning of the device and/or repeating an entire sequence of operations, consequently improving procedure effectiveness and reducing procedure time.

Abstract: The endoscope system includes an image signal acquisition processing unit and an image generation unit that acquire a first still image and a video or a second still image before and after acquisition of the first still image based on an image signal obtained by imaging an observation target using an image sensor, an association unit that associates the first still image with the video or associates the first still image with the second still image, and a storage unit that stores the first still image and the video associated with each other or stores the first still image and the second still image associated with each other.

Abstract: A washing instrument comprises a washing instrument body to which a distal configuration portion of an insertion device is attached, a three-way cock which communicates with both a first washing opening and a second washing opening that spout out a washing liquid at different positions inside a receiving chamber of the distal configuration portion and thus switches communication directions and which adjusts a liquid supply volume, a liquid supply function comprising a syringe coupling portion having a syringe to supply the washing liquid and a check valve, and a movement regulating portion which positions the distal configuration portion at a position where the washing liquid is directly spouted out from the first washing opening and the second washing opening to a swing base that is provided in the receiving chamber and that swings the movement direction of the extension of a treatment instrument.

Abstract: An electronic endoscopic device includes a light source, an endoscopic scope including an imaging unit provided at a tip end, a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the tip end, and a light source control unit that performs a light emission control and a light emission stop control in a frame period. The imaging unit includes a plurality of pixels and a driving unit, and the electronic endoscopic device further includes a control unit in which, when a temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit exceeds a threshold value, the control unit performs a control such that, in a frame period following a first frame period, a period in which the light emission stop control is performed is set to be longer, and a read-out speed of the imaging signal is set to be slower.

Abstract: A protective guide for protecting a cell extraction device during a Pap smear. A camera protective cover encloses a camera and a light emitting device. A thin, flexible transparent sheath encloses the camera cover. A cell extraction device cover encloses the cell extraction device. The location of the cervix is determined by utilizing the camera. The cell extraction device is pushed outward from the cell extraction device cover so that said cell extraction device head contacts the cervix and removes cells from the cervix. The cell extraction device is pulled back into the cell extraction device cover after the cells have been removed from the cervix. In a preferred embodiment the camera and light emitting device is an endoscope and the camera cover is an endoscope cover.

Abstract: An arthroscope having an elongated core with a square radial cross section.

Abstract: A solid state illuminator can be used for a variety of surgery procedures, such as retinal surgery. A retinal illumination system my have at least one light emitting diode located on a substrate with the substrate positioned on an eye of a patient. A light pipe can continuously extend from the light emitting diode into a sclera of the eye via a cannula. A system controller may be configured to activate the light emitting diode to illuminate an interior of the eye.

Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in systems and computer-implemented methods for determining a score representing an amount of staining of the cornea. The methods include obtaining a digital image of the cornea stained with a tracer material, receiving a selection of a portion of the image, and processing, by a processing device, the selection to exclude areas with one or more artifacts to define an evaluation area. For each of a plurality of pixels within the evaluation area, a plurality of Cartesian color components are determined and a hue value in a polar coordinate based color space is calculated from the components. An amount of staining of the cornea is then determined as a function of the hue value. The methods also include assigning a score to the evaluation area based on the amount of staining calculated for the plurality of pixels.

Abstract: Ocular surface interferometry devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for imaging an ocular tear film. An imaging device can be focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image, wherein the specularly reflected light may be produced from various portions of the ocular tear film by obliquely illuminating various portions of the ocular tear film with a multi-wavelength light source, such as in a tiling pattern(s). The imaging device can also be focused on the lipid layer to capture a second image containing the background signal(s) present in the first image. The second image can be subtracted from the first image to reduce and/or eliminate the background signal(s) in the first image to produce a resulting image, which can used to measure a tear film layer thickness.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for improved aiming during Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) on young children and those unable to cooperate with OCT imaging by synchronization with retinal birefringence scanning (RBS). OCT is performed without knowing whether or not the subject is looking at the intended target. The present invention combines OCT retinal imaging, such as, but not limited to, time domain OCT, SDOCT, or SSOCT, with RBS technology that provides accurate information on the presence or absence of foveal fixation. Therefore, the present invention only analyzes data during foveal fixation. A system combining OCT with RBS is implemented such that both systems co-operate in a specified alignment, such that when the RBS fixation detection system detects alignment with the fovea of the eye, the OCT system will be aimed at the retinal region of interest, usually but not necessarily including the macular area.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a device for determining a condition of an organ of either a human or an animal may be provided. The device may include a first optical source and a second optical source. The device may also include a detector. The device may additionally include a lens system. The device may further include a switching mechanism configured to switch between an optical examination mode and a Raman mode. The lens system during the optical examination mode may be configured to direct a first light emitted from the first optical source. The lens system during the Raman mode may be configured to direct a second light emitted from the second optical source. The lens systems during the Raman mode may be further configured to direct a third light to the detector.

Abstract: A spectrometer includes an illuminating section; a receiving section configured to detect radiation reflected from an object including an optically inhomogeneous scattering medium; a hardware section configured to obtain a solution of an inverse problem to reconstruct an absorption spectrum of the optically inhomogeneous scattering medium, wherein the illuminating section includes at least one light-emitting diode source, a radiation spectral curve of which is divided, by at least two spectral filters having different spectral transmission curves, into at least two spectral regions, to form an equivalent radiation spectrum from at least two spectral sources, and wherein the hardware section applies the solution of the inverse problem based on information about a spectral content of the radiation of the illuminating section, a signal obtained in a form of a response from the optically inhomogeneous scattering medium, and a spectral sensitivity curve of the receiving section.

Abstract: A probe including a catheter sheath, a shaft inserted inside the catheter sheath, and an attachment portion detachably attached to a rotational drive unit, wherein the attachment portion includes an isolation member isolating the inside of the attachment portion into a first area in which a member for transmitting the drive force generated by the rotational drive unit to the shaft is rotatably held and a second area in which the catheter sheath is fixedly held; the isolation member includes: an insertion hole through which the shaft is inserted between the first area and the second area and an ejection hole provided in a surface to which an end portion on the rotational drive unit side of the catheter sheath is connected and which is approximately perpendicular to the rotation axis of the shaft; and the ejection hole defines a flow path extending to the outside of the isolation member.

Abstract: A non-invasive measurement of biological tissue reveals information about the function of that tissue. Polarized light is directed onto the tissue, stimulating the emission of fluorescence, due to one or more endogenous fluorophors in the tissue. Fluorescence anisotropy is then calculated. Such measurements of fluorescence anisotropy are then used to assess the functional status of the tissue, and to identify the existence and severity of disease states. Such assessment can be made by comparing a fluorescence anisotropy profile with a known profile of a control.

Abstract: Measurement apparatus includes sensors configured to generate signals associated with physiological parameters and adapted to be coupled to tissue comprising blood and to communicate signals associated with the parameters to feedback control circuitry capable of generating physiological information from the signals. A software application is configured to operate on a control system capable of receiving the physiological information and configured to receive voice input signals and manually entered input signals. The control system includes a touch-screen, a proximity sensor, circuitry for obtaining movement information from a positioning sensor, a mechanical system having actuators, and a wireless transmitter to transmit the physiological information over a wireless link to a host.

Abstract: Multispectral digitized images are provided by utilizing 2 or more spectral bands, providing images and information regarding a pigmented or other differentiated tissue sample at differing depths. The images are transformed to enhance morphological patterns characteristic of melanoma, such as the statistical properties of the pigment network, image texture or homogeneity, and the lesion reflectance, in order to provide information about lesion morphology at different depths. The images can also be processed and transformed to extract features such as blood volume saturation, oxygen saturation, or other characteristics that can be identified based on differential reflectance or absorption of light.

Abstract: A portable vein projector, including an LED light source, a CMOS image sensor, a semi-transparent and semi-reflecting mirror, a micro-projector, and an image processing unit. The LED light source operates to project near-infrared light on the skin surface area. The near-infrared light is reflected by the skin surface, and part of reflected light penetrates through the semi-transparent and semi-reflecting mirror, enters into the CMOS image sensor to form an image in the CMOS image sensor. The image is transmitted from the CMOS image sensor to the image processing unit where the image is processed, and the image is transmitted to the micro-projector. The micro-projector outputs visible light. The visible light is reflected by the semi-transparent and semi-reflecting mirror and is imaged on the skin surface area to yield a vein image.

Abstract: A system and an imaging method for using photoacoustic effect are provided in the present invention. The system includes a light source for generating a light beam, a wave-guide probe and an ultrasound receiving device. The wave-guide probe further has a reception portion and at least one transmission portion. The reception portion receives the light beam and then triggers a photoacoustic effect inside the reception portion so as thereby to generate at least one sound wave thereinside to be further transmitted to the at least one transmission portion. The transmission portion is merged into the organic medium. When the sound wave is transmitted to the transmission portion, an ultrasound area is generated inside the organic medium. The ultrasound receiving device is located adjacent to the organic medium, receives the ultrasound generated in the ultrasound area to form an ultrasound image of the organic medium, so as to achieve the imaging method.

Abstract: An activity monitoring device, methods and computer readable media are provided. The activity monitoring device includes a housing configured for attachment to a body part of a user and a display screen attached to the housing. Further included is a first sensor disposed in the housing for capturing motion of the activity monitoring device when attached to the body part of the user and a second sensor disposed in the housing for sampling a heart rate of the user. Memory is disposed in the housing for storing the motion captured by the first sensor and the heart rate sampled by the second sensor. A processor is disposed in the housing and is configured to determine a physical state of the user during a period of time. For motion that is below a threshold the processor identifies the physical state to be a sedentary state and for motion that is at or above the threshold the processor identifies the physical state to be an active state.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the instance disclosure are assessing a fitness of a user using a weighing scale apparatus. Specific embodiments concern an arrangement of devices configured and arranged to monitor physiological parameters while the user is standing on a platform region of the device, and communicate an assessed fitness to the user as feedback. Further specific embodiments concern methods of monitoring physiological parameters of a user using the apparatus, assessing the fitness of the user based on one or more of the physiological parameters, and communicating the assessed fitness to the user as feedback.

Abstract: In one aspect, a photoplethysmograph system to measure a user's heart rate includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LED) that provide a constantly-on light signal during a measurement period. The one or more light-emitting diodes are in optical contact with an epidermal surface of the user. The one or more light-emitting diodes emit a light signal into the tissue of the user, and wherein the tissue contains a pulsating blood flow. A light-intensity sensor circuit converts the reflected LED light from the tissue into a second signal that is proportional to a reflected light intensity. The second signal includes a voltage or current signal. A computer-processing module calculates the user's beat-to-beat heart rate from the second current signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for measuring vital signs (e.g. SYS, DIA, SpO2, heart rate, and respiratory rate) and motion (e.g. activity level, posture, degree of motion, and arm height) from a patient. The system features: first and second sensors configured to independently generate time-dependent waveforms indicative of one or more contractile properties of the patient's heart; and a cuff-based oscillometric module. A processing component, typically worn on the patient's body and featuring a microprocessor, receives the time-dependent waveforms generated by the different sensors and processes them to determine patient-specific calibration values for use in a continuous blood pressure measurement based on pulse wave velocity (PWV).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system and methods for measuring physiological parameters. More specifically, the present invention relates to a noncontact technology by which one or more physiological parameters of a subject may be efficiently and quickly detected. Among other advantages, the present invention can be used to assess and monitor vital signs of one or more subjects in a variety of contexts including for medical or security triage purposes, for use in healthcare waiting rooms, as part of human imaging systems, or during surgery.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus and method for measuring a vital sign of a subject are provided. A plurality of frames showing a subject is captured. A region of interest (ROI) on the subject is detected. A vital-sign signal is generated according to the sensing signals related to the ROI. A quality index of the vital-sign signal is evaluated. Whether the subject is a living body is determined according to the quality index. A determination result of determining whether the subject is the living body is used to control a heart-rate measurement operation.

Abstract: A magnetocardiography arrangement for producing stress magnetocardiograms that comprises a magnetocardiograph (1) and a stress unit (2) consisting of non-magnetic components. The magnetocardiograph (1) and the stress unit (2) are arranged in a shielded chamber (4) for shielding against external magnetic fields, and the stress unit (2) is or includes a bicycle ergometer braked by means of pressurized gas or a pressurized gas mixture from a source (6) for the pressurized gas or the pressurized gas mixture arranged outside the shielded chamber (4).

Abstract: A method includes storing baseline data representing at least one local or global electrical characteristics for at least a portion of a region of interest (ROI) of a patient's anatomical structure. The baseline data is determined based on electrical measurement data obtained during at least one first measurement interval. The method also includes storing in memory other data representing the at least one local or global electrical characteristics for the at least a portion of the ROI based on electrical measurement data obtained during at least one subsequent measurement interval. The method also includes evaluating the baseline data relative to the other data to determine a change in the at least one local or global electrical characteristics. The method also includes generating an output based on the evaluating to provide an indication of progress or success associated with the applying the treatment.