Abstract: Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating patient signal analysis. In accordance with one aspect, first and second patient signal data are received from a patient monitor. The first and second patient signal data may then be segmented into respective first and second regions of interest, from which respective first and second waveform parameters may be extracted. One or more morphology indices may then be generated based on the first and second waveform parameters to compare shapes of the first and second regions of interest.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating EKG signal vectors for EKG sensing positions, comprising receiving an EKG axis vector and generating two or more component vectors from the EKG axis vector, each component vector identified by a magnitude and direction.

Abstract: A pulse data detecting apparatus, pulse data detecting method, and pulse data detection program are provided capable of suppressing an influence of the condition of the body surface to be measured and obtaining an appropriate measurement result under a wide range of conditions. In the present invention, a blood-flow-suppressing-projection protrusion-control mechanism section causes a blood-flow-suppressing projection to protrude to press or compress the body surface to suppress a blood flow on a downstream side, thereby increasing a blood pressure of a measurement region at the time of measurement. A light-receiving element receives reflected light of light applied from a light-emitting element to a skin surface, and outputs an electrical signal. Increasing the blood pressure of the measurement region enables to obtain an output signal at a sufficient output level from the light-receiving element. A CPU calculates a pulse rate based on the output signal from the light-receiving element.

Abstract: Method for determining the stroke volume of a heart comprising: attaching electrodes to the front legs or arms or head, and the hind legs of the body; connecting an alternating current source to the left pair of front legs/arms or head, and hind legs; connecting an alternating current source to the right pair of front legs/arms or head, and hind legs; attaching a number of electrode pairs to the thoracic skin, such that the electrodes are in contact with the skin of the thorax at predetermined positions, wherein the electrode pairs are each connected to an independent input of a data acquisition/calculation device; determining the beginning the cardiac cycle and measuring with the number of electrode pairs on the thorax the voltage at the beginning of the cardiac cycle at the predetermined positions; measuring during the cardiac cycle with the number of electrode pairs on the thorax the voltages at the predetermined positions and determining the voltage changes Vmeas(?) compared to the voltage at the beginnin

Abstract: The invention provides a system for measuring stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and cardiac power (CP) from a patient that features: 1) an impedance sensor connected to at least two body-worn electrodes and including an impedance circuit that processes analog signals from the electrodes to measure an impedance signal (e.g. a TBEV waveform); 2) an ECG sensor connected to at least two chest-worn electrodes and including an ECG circuit that processes analog signals from the electrodes to measure and ECG signal; 3) an optical sensor connected to a body-worn optical probe and including an optical circuit that processes signals from the probe to measure at least one optical signal (e.g. a PPG waveform) from the patient; 4) processing system, typically worn on the patient's wrist and connected through a wired interface to the optical sensor, and through either a wired or wireless interface to the TBEV and ECG sensors.

Abstract: A method for measuring a neural response to a stimulus. Measurement circuitry is settled prior to a stimulus, by connecting a sense electrode to the measurement circuitry to allow the measurement circuitry to settle towards a bio-electrically defined steady state. Charge is recovered on stimulus electrodes by short circuiting the stimulus electrodes to each other. An electrical stimulus is then applied from the stimulus electrodes to neural tissue, while keeping the sense electrode disconnected from the measurement circuitry. After the stimulus, a delay is imposed during which the stimulus electrodes are open circuited and the sense electrode is disconnected from the measurement circuitry and from the stimulus electrodes. After the delay, a neural response signal present at the sense electrode is measured by connecting the sense electrode to the measurement circuitry.

Abstract: A method and medical device for determining sensing vectors that includes sensing cardiac signals from a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes forming a plurality of sensing vectors, determining signal differences during a detection window in each of the plurality of sensing vectors, ranking sensing vectors of the plurality of sensing vectors in response to the determined signal differences, and selecting one or more sensing vectors of the plurality of sensing vectors in response to the determined rankings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an ECG monitoring system includes two or more electrodes configured to record cardiac potentials from a patient, at least one processor, and a rapid acquisition module executable on the at least one processor to: determine that an impedance of each electrode is less than an impedance threshold; record initial ECG lead data based on the cardiac potentials; determine that a noise level in each ECG lead of the initial ECG data is less than a noise threshold; start a recording timer once the noise level is below the noise threshold; record an ECG dataset while the noise level is maintained below the noise threshold until the recording timer reaches a predetermined test duration; store the ECG dataset and provide a completion alert.

Abstract: A system and method for secure physiological data acquisition and storage. An identifier of a physiological monitoring patch is obtained by a programming wand, the patch configured to store the identifier within a cryptographic circuit. A password for accessing physiological monitoring data collected using that patch is generated based on at least a portion of the identifier, the password is encrypted using a secret key, and the encrypted password is loaded into the cryptographic circuit. The key is loaded onto a monitor recorder that couples with the patch and obtains the physiological monitoring data using the patch, wherein the monitor recorder offloads the data together with the identifier and the decoded password. The identifier and the password are reported to a server that stores the offloaded physiological monitoring data using the identifier within a secure database and grants access to the data upon receipt of the decoded password.

Abstract: A fetal state estimation apparatus estimates a state of a fetus in a maternal body based on a potential signal indicating a change in potential on a surface of the maternal body. The fetal state estimation apparatus is configured to include a rotation angle estimation unit which estimates a rotation angle of the fetus with respect to the maternal body at every beating of a heart of the fetus based on the potential signal and a fetal movement estimation unit which estimates a fetal movement which is a movement of the fetus based on the potential signal and the estimated rotation angle.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices for the detection, quantification, and/or monitoring of characteristics in samples. The disclosed methods and devices can be used, for example, to identify the presence and location of atrial fibrillation indicators with high spatial resolution. The disclosed methods and devices can even be used to identify the presence and location of atrial fibrillation indicators using non-simultaneously collected data.

Abstract: Physiological monitoring can be provided through a lightweight wearable monitor that includes two components, a flexible extended wear electrode patch and a reusable monitor recorder that removably snaps into a receptacle on the electrode patch. The wearable monitor sits centrally on the patient's chest along the sternum oriented top-to-bottom. The placement of the wearable monitor in a location at the sternal midline, with its unique narrow “hourglass”-like shape, significantly improves the ability of the wearable monitor to cutaneously sense cardiac electrical potential signals, particularly the P-wave and the QRS interval signals indicating ventricular activity in the ECG waveforms. In particular, the ECG electrodes on the electrode patch are tailored to be positioned axially along the midline of the sternum for capturing action potential propagation in an orientation that corresponds to the aVF lead used in a conventional 12-lead ECG that is used to sense positive or upright P-waves.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting information relating to heart data can involve operations including identifying arrhythmia events in physiological data obtained for a living being, receiving human assessments of at least a portion of the arrhythmia events, determining a measure of correlation between the human assessments and the identified events, and selectively presenting information regarding the identified events based on the measure of correlation. The operations can also include identifying atrial fibrillation events in physiological data obtained for a living being, obtaining heart rate data for the living being, and presenting information regarding the heart rate data and duration of the atrial fibrillation events together with a common time scale to pictographically represent heart rate trend with atrial fibrillation burden during a defined time period.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying and using at least one nonlinear feature determined from multiscale electroencephalography (EEG) data to evaluate an epileptogenicity level of a patient is described. A multiscale algorithm is applied to EEG data recorded from the patient to produce scaled EEG data. At least one nonlinear feature value for the received EEG data and/or the scaled EEG data is determined and the at least one nonlinear feature value is used, at least in part, to evaluate the epileptogenicity level of the patient.

Abstract: Methods for assessing a health condition of an individual using single coil magnetic induction tomography imaging are provided. A target area for medical imaging on a patient can be identified. A plurality of coil property measurements can be obtained using a single coil. The plurality of coil property measurements can be performed with the single coil at a plurality of discrete locations relative to the target area. The coil property measurements can be processed to generate an image of the conductivity distribution of the target area. The image can be analyzed to assess a health condition of the patient.

Abstract: This method of determining an intracochlea tissue impedance comprises using at least two stimulating electrodes to apply an electrical stimulus to intracochlea tissue. A voltage caused by the stimulus is measured between two measuring electrodes distinct from the stimulating electrodes. From the voltage a stimulus-response characteristic of tissue between the two measuring electrodes is determined. This allows the tissue/electrode interface impedance and potential and the tissue impedance and potential to be uniquely determined. In turn, modiolus currents can be estimated in monopolar stimulation mode. Also provided is automated initiation of re-mapping of the device when tissue characteristics change.

Abstract: A medical image diagnostic apparatus has an imaging unit that images volume data of a region-of-interest of an object, an extracting unit that extracts a characteristic point from the volume data; and, a generating unit that generates an observation sectional image from the volume data using the characteristic point and correlation parameters.

Abstract: A solution for diagnostic applications is proposed. Particularly, a corresponding diagnostic system includes means (903-906) for providing (A1-A3) a plurality of input signals representative of a body-part being perfused with a contrast agent over time, each input signal being indicative of a response to an interrogating stimulus of a corresponding location of the body-part possibly including the contrast agent, means (909-930) for generating (A4.1-A4.3) a plurality of filtered signals from selected input signals of selected locations, each filtered signal at each instant over time being generated from a corresponding selected input signal according to a portion of the selected input signal including said instant, and means (933-939) for monitoring (A4.4-A4.

Abstract: Extracting a tubular structure from volume data, determining a target region which should be reached by an endoscope through the tubular structure, extracting, among plurality on a route of the tubular structure, a point that satisfies a given condition as a target point that should be reached by a distal end portion of the endoscope, and identifying and determining a route of the tubular structure from a predetermined start point in the tubular structure to the extracted target point as a route through which the endoscope should be passed.

Abstract: A method of detecting whether a localization element is within or outside of an introducer sheath generally includes obtaining a localization signal from the localization element and detecting the state of the localization element relative to the sheath based upon the quadrature component of the localization signal. A baseline quadrature component is typically established with the localization element outside of the sheath. When the quadrature component deviates from this baseline value, it is indicative of the localization element being within the sheath. Conversely, when the quadrature component remains relatively close to the baseline value, it is indicative of the localization element being outside of the sheath. In an electrophysiology study, the state information can be used to take corrective action with respect to the data being collected.

Abstract: A method comprises generating a model of an anatomic region and receiving a true image from an endoscopic image capture probe positioned within the anatomic region. The method further comprises identifying a true fiducial region in the true image and identifying a plurality of virtual tissue structures in the model of the anatomic region. The method further comprises matching one of the plurality of the virtual tissue structures with the true fiducial region and determining a probe pose of the endoscopic image capture probe from the matched one of the plurality of virtual tissue structures.

Abstract: There is provided a computerized method of tracking a position of an intra-body catheter, comprising: physically tracking coordinates of the position of a distal portion of a physical catheter within the physical body portion of the patient according to physically applied plurality of electrical fields within the body portion and measurements of the plurality of electrical fields performed by a plurality of physical electrodes at a distal portion of the physical catheter; registering the physically tracked coordinates with simulated coordinates generated according to a simulation of a simulated catheter within a simulation of the body of the patient, to identify differences between physically tracked location coordinates and the simulation coordinates; correcting the physically tracked location coordinates according to the registered simulation coordinates; and providing the corrected physically tracked location coordinates for presentation.

Abstract: A method is provided for sensing ammonia in a breath sample. The method comprises conditioning the breath sample so that the conditioned breath sample has a relative humidity greater than a relative humidity corresponding to a first inflection point of a downwardly concave lowest ammonia iso-concentration curve. It also comprises contacting the conditioned breath sample with an interactant that interacts with the ammonia in the conditioned breath sample, wherein the interaction causes a change in an optical characteristic in relation to the amount of the ammonia in the breath sample. It further comprises using the change in the optical characteristic to sense the ammonia in the breath sample. Related apparatuses are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of selecting needles with an injection length suited for administration of a therapeutic agent in the subcutis at a body location.

Abstract: A method for distinguishing blinking events and instrument gazes on the basis of an eye-opening width. The eye-opening width represents an instantaneously detected clearance between the eyelids of an eye. In a step of ascertaining, a blinking event is ascertained using at least one blinking limit value. The blinking event is ascertained when an opening width value, which represents the eye-opening width, is smaller than the blinking limit value. In a step of determining, an instrument gaze is determined using a maximum blinking duration. The instrument gaze is determined when the detected blinking event is detected as lasting longer than the maximum blinking duration. The steps of the method are able to be carried out anew when the opening width value is greater than an open limit value following the determination of the instrument gaze.

Abstract: An individual authentication method includes (i) indicating a first position of a user's arm or arms when gripping an electrocardiographic sensor, (ii) measuring the user's electrocardiographic activity at the first position by using the electrocardiographic sensor, (iii) indicating a second position of the user's arm or arms when gripping the electrocardiographic sensor, the second position being different from the first position, (iv) measuring the user's electrocardiographic activity at the second position by using the electrocardiographic sensor, (v) receiving ID information of the user, and (vi) registering, in a database, electrocardiographic authentication information including first authentication information associating the ID information with the user's electrocardiographic activity measured at the first position, and second authentication information associating the ID information with the user's electrocardiographic activity measured at the second position.

Abstract: An analytical system for examining a body fluid and a method of operation of an analytical system, typically for blood sugar tests, including an exchangeable magazine (18) as a consumable, which includes a plurality of magazine units (24) that are each provided with at least one analytical aid (32, 34) and with a transport element (28), a hand-held device (12) having a magazine guide (16) for receiving the magazine (18), a transport mechanism (48) that engages on the transport elements so as to transport the magazine in steps in the magazine guide, including a positioning mechanism (50) for positioning an active magazine unit in a predefined functional position, wherein retaining elements (52, 54) of the positioning mechanism can be brought into engagement with transport elements of the magazine.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a device that allows measuring blood sugar levels in mammals—primarily humans—by measuring the refraction of electromagnetic radiation from the skin or body tissue, without the need for invasive sampling, such as penetrating or pricking the skin. The device uses the blue light portion of the visible spectrum and near-infrared (IR) radiation as a source of electromagnetic radiation. The device falls within the field of medical diagnostics and is essentially designed to be portable, so that the users can wear it on their wrists, for example. The signals of reflected light/radiation measured by the sensor unit are filtered by the frequency filtering set and mathematically processed in order to Calculate the current blood sugar level. The accuracy of the measurement result of the device is comparable to the results obtained with the standard method of measuring by blood sampling. A method for measuring of blood sugar level using said device is also disclosed.

Abstract: Sleeves and cases for protecting medical devices against contamination, and methods for cleaning and disinfecting medical devices are provided. The various embodiments enable a single medical device to be used by more than one patient successively while reducing the risk of disease transmission from patient to patient.

Abstract: A method for providing a assistance for maintaining or improving an individual's wellness, comprising the steps of measuring a presence and/or concentration of one or more biomarkers in a sample from the individual; predicting a wellness need for maintaining or improving the individual's wellness based on the measured presence and/or concentration of the one or more biomarkers, wherein the one or more biomarkers are indicators of the wellness need; and altering the living environment of the individual, providing a wellness product or service to the individual or providing information, guidance or advice to the individual for addressing the wellness need of the individual. A system providing assistance for maintaining or improving an individual's wellness is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a blood measuring apparatus including: a spectroscope; an optical system configured to irradiate a living body with excitation light from a light source, and to guide, to the spectroscope, Raman scattered light from the living body; a control unit configured to adjust an irradiation position at which the living body is irradiated with the excitation light by the optical system; and a detector configured to detect a spectrum of the Raman scattered light using light of each wavelength dispersed by the spectroscope. A plurality of the spectra detected by the detector are integrated, and numerical value information regarding a substance included in blood of the living body is measured based on an integration result, and the control unit adjusts the irradiation position such that the plurality of spectra are detected at changed positions.

Abstract: A system and a method for creating a stable and reproducible interface of an optical sensor system for measuring blood glucose levels in biological tissue include a dual wedge prism sensor attached to a disposable optic that comprises a focusing lens and an optical window. The disposable optic adheres to the skin to allow a patient to take multiple readings or scans at the same location. The disposable optic includes a Petzval surface placed flush against the skin to maintain the focal point of the optical beam on the surface of the skin. Additionally, the integrity of the sensor signal is maximized by varying the rotation rates of the dual wedge prisms over time in relation to the depth scan rate of the sensor. Optimally, a medium may be injected between the disposable and the skin to match the respective refractive indices and optimize the signal collection of the sensor.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an avatar engine having a controller to retrieve a user profile of a user, present the user an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, detect one or more responses of the user during a communication exchange between the user and the avatar, identify from the one or more responses a need to determine a medical status of the user, establish communications with a medical diagnostic system, receive physiological information associated with the user, submit the physiological information to the medical diagnostic system, receive from the medical diagnostic system a diagnostic analysis of the physiological information, and present the diagnostic analysis to at least one of the user and a medical agent of the user, wherein the user is presented the diagnostic analysis by way of the avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A band limiter comprises an optical filter, which has first and second filter sections, and a filter moving mechanism for moving the optical filter. The first filter section reduces intensity of blue light, which is emitted from a B-LED, in a wavelength range of greater than or equal to a peak wavelength of the blue light to generate first blue light. The second filter section reduces intensity of the blue light in a wavelength range of less than or equal to the peak wavelength of the blue light to generate second blue light. A light source controller places the first filter section in a light path of the blue light in a normal mode to generate the first blue light, and places the second filter section in the light path of the blue light in an oxygen saturation mode to generate the second blue light.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an implantable biosensor includes a sense antenna comprising a silicon carbide substrate and a radiating electrode formed on the substrate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing calibration of analyte sensor including applying a control signal, detecting a measured response to the control signal, determining a variance in the detected measured response, and estimating a sensor sensitivity based on the variance in the detected measured response is provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a puncturing system for generating a puncture wound for obtaining a sample of a body fluid, comprising a press-on part to be pressed onto a body part in which a puncture wound is to be generated, a trigger, by the actuation of which a user can trigger a puncturing motion of a puncturing element after the press-on part is pressed on, and a testing facility for determining at least one test parameter on which a sample-obtaining probability depends. A securing facility is also provided that, in a locked state, locks the trigger such that no puncturing motion can be triggered, and, in a triggering state, releases the trigger such that a puncturing motion can be triggered by actuation thereof, whereby the securing facility is transitioned from the locked state to the triggering state by the testing facility when the test parameter determined by the testing facility meets defined minimum requirements.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of a sensor cartridge element include a sensor module, an electrode arrangement installed on the sensor module, and a delivery arrangement securely coupled to the sensor module. The sensor module includes an analysis cell and a skin piercing member. The electrode arrangement generates an electrical signal when exposed to a fluid sample collected in the analysis cell. The delivery arrangement includes a drug reservoir, a piston chamber, and a valve arrangement providing selective fluid communication between the drug reservoir and the piston chamber. Metering electronics and an actuator can manage collection of fluid samples and/or dispensing of drug doses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting with diagnosing and/or titrating medication for predetermined conditions and/or assessing the effectiveness of medication prescribed for a predetermined condition including, but not limited to, Attention Deficit Disorder (“ADD”) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”). A diagnostic test is provided that includes display of both target and non-target images. Responses to these display images are analyzed to measure subject criteria including response time consistency, response time, impulsivity, omissions, multiple responses, and guessing. Such data, or numerical quantifiers calculated from such data, may be used to assist with titrating medication for one or more predetermined conditions and/or assessing the effectiveness of medication prescribed for a predetermined condition.

Abstract: Embodiments for driver confidence evaluation while operating a vehicle by a processor. Driver confidence, based upon one or more psychophysical parameters of a driver, is combined and correlated with a plurality of environmental factors and route information. A confidence in vehicular operational capabilities of the driver may be detected according to the correlation.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a fetus in a pregnant woman, and/or the maternal health risk for pregnancies complicated by such as pre-eclampsia and hypertensive disorders is configured to be worn by the pregnant woman, preferably so as to allow monitoring during daily life, e.g. in the form of an adhesive patch. The unit has a sound sensor, e.g. a microphone or accelerometer, to be positioned on the skin of the abdominal area so as to detect a vascular sound from umbilical arteries of the fetus or from the uterine arteries of the pregnant woman. The sound sensor is functionally connected to a processing unit which executes a processing algorithm on the captured vascular sound and extracts a signal parameter accordingly. The processing unit then communicates the signal parameter, e.g. using an audio signal, a visual display or by means of a wired or a wireless data signal.

Abstract: A near-infrared spectrum imaging system for diagnosis of the depth and the area of burn skin necrosis comprises a spectrum imager and a computer controlled system. The spectrum imaging system comprises a light source (101), an optical lens (102), a filter (103), a driving controller (105a, 105b, 104), and a CCD camera (106). The filter (103) uses a wide-spectrum liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) or an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) that obtain 1100-2500 nm waveband spectral signals of burn skin necrosis tissue of a target region. A compute controlled system is internally provided with a universal module, a data module, a spectrum correction module, a spectrum matching module, and a burn wound three-dimensional synthesizing module.

Abstract: An automated infant cry analyzer with high accuracy to detect important acoustic features of cry is provided. The system's accuracy was rigorously tested and was compared to ground truth manual coding. The resulting methods and systems are applied to infant developmental disorders.

Abstract: A sleep assist system to monitor and assist the user's sleep, comprising: a bedside device adapted to be positioned near the user's bed, the bedside device optionally comprising a loudspeaker, a light source, a microphone, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, a control unit, an air quality sensor, a display unit, a user interface. The system further comprises a first sensing unit positioned in the user's bed comprising one or more sensors adapted to sense at least pressure and changes in pressure exerted by the user lying in the bed; an additional sensor device to be in contact with the user's body, and to be coupled to the bedside device; the system is configured to correlate the data obtained from both the first sensing unit and the additional sensor device.

Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of a method and system for sleep detection. For example, in one embodiment, a method is described for automatically characterizing digitized breath sounds recorded from a subject over time as indicative of the subject being one of asleep and awake. This method comprises identify individual breathing cycles in a given segment of the recorded breath sounds; calculating one or more preset breathing cycle characteristics from the identified breathing cycles; evaluating a relative regularity of the calculated characteristics for the given segment; and upon the relative regularity satisfying a preset high regularity condition, outputting a sleep status indicator that the subject was likely asleep during the segment, otherwise outputting a wake indicator that the subject was likely awake during the segment.

Abstract: A portable system is provided for measuring a ketone, such as an acetone, in the breath or other bodily fluid of a user. The system includes a portable measurement device that analyzes fluid samples and generates corresponding ketone measurements. The portable measurement device communicates with an application which runs on a smartphone or other mobile device of the user. The application tracks, and generates graphs of, the ketone measurements, and may include various features for facilitating the analysis of the measurements.

Abstract: An activity meter (100) includes (i) a sleep level judging section (112) for repeatedly detecting a sleep level of a user and (ii) a notifying section (113) for automatically notifying the user of specific information only during a period during which a most recent sleep level is less than a predetermined level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods for determining metabolic function in tissues of an animal. In particular, the invention relates to methods for determining the penumbra in ischaemic tissues using MRI techniques in association with hyperoxic conditions and an oxygen carrier. The invention also relates to systems adapted to perform the methods.

Abstract: An electro impedance measuring belt for placing electrodes around the thorax of a patient comprises an array of a plurality of spaced apart electrodes, and a support structure, on which the electrodes are arranged. The support structure with the electrode array comprises two angulated legs on which the electrodes are lined up, the two legs spread out from an apex at an angle, such that, when the belt is put around the thorax of a patient, the array of electrodes extends from the back of the patient, where the apex of fee angulated legs is to be located, essentially parallel to the ribs to the lower part of the breastbone of the patient.

Abstract: Body-mountable devices comprising a dyed polymer layer that covers a portion of an electronic structure embedded in a transparent polymer are described. An example method for fabricating a body-mountable device includes providing a dyed polymer material on an electronic structure. The electronic structure comprises at least one antenna, a sensor, and an electronic device. The example method also includes molding the dyed polymer material to provide a dyed polymer layer that covers a portion of the electronic structure.