Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to floor surface cleaning or treatment machines. In various embodiments, powered floor cleaning devices are provided with improved deck assemblies. The deck assemblies are operable to control at least one of the direction and velocity of a floor cleaning device and provide improved handling and cleaning abilities.

Abstract: A self-cleaning carpet system including a carpet base, a cleaning tube, a piston, a carpet fiber group, a water assembly and a vacuum assembly. The cleaning tube is mounted in the carpet base. The piston is operably mounted with respect to the cleaning tube for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. The carpet fiber group is attached to the piston. When the piston is in the retracted position, the carpet fiber group is substantially inside the cleaning tube. When the piston is in the extended position, at least a portion of the carpet fiber group extends from the cleaning tube. The water assembly is fluidly connected to the cleaning tube for delivering water to the cleaning tube. The vacuum assembly is fluidly connected to the cleaning tube for applying a vacuum to the cleaning tube.

Abstract: A coverage robot including a chassis, multiple drive wheel assemblies disposed on the chassis, and a cleaning assembly carried by the chassis. Each drive wheel assembly including a drive wheel assembly housing, a wheel rotatably coupled to the housing, and a wheel drive motor carried by the drive wheel assembly housing and operable to drive the wheel. The cleaning assembly including a cleaning assembly housing, a cleaning head rotatably coupled to the cleaning assembly housing, and a cleaning drive motor carried by cleaning assembly housing and operable to drive the cleaning head. The wheel assemblies and the cleaning assembly are each separately and independently removable from respective receptacles of the chassis as complete units.

Abstract: A system for autonomously cleaning a floor has a robot having a chassis. A clean water tank and a dirty water tank are disposed within the chassis. A valve in fluid communication with the dirty water tank receives dirty water from a cleaning surface during a cleaning operation. A docking station has a platform. A docking station drain communicates with the valve for receiving contents of the dirty water tank when the robot is in the docking station. A water source communicates with the clean water tank to fill the clean water tank when the robot is in the docking station. A charging structure charges the robot when the robot is in the docking station.

Abstract: A floor polishing or grinding pad assembly is provided. In one aspect, a polishing or grinding pad assembly employs a fibrous pad, a reinforcement layer or ring, and multiple floor-contacting disks. In another aspect, the reinforcement layer includes a central hole through which the fibrous pad is accessible and the fibrous pad at the hole has a linear dimension greater than a linear dimension of one side of the adjacent reinforcement layer. In yet another aspect, at least one of the floor-contacting disks has an angle offset from that of a base surface of the disk, the fibrous pad and/or the reinforcement layer. A further aspect employs a smaller set of disks alternating between and/or offset from a larger set of the disks. In another aspect, the reinforcement layer includes a wavy or undulating internal edge shape.

Abstract: This document describes a mobile cleaning robot that includes a chassis that supports a drive system, a debris collection volume; and a cleaning head formed to complete a bottom of the robot. The cleaning head includes a frame for affixing the cleaning head to the chassis, a monolithic housing having an interior cavity, a suspension linkage movably suspending the monolithic housing from the frame, the suspension linkage being configured to lift the monolithic housing, a diaphragm formed of a flexible material and mated to the monolithic housing, a rigid duct mated the frame to form a pneumatic path between the monolithic housing and the rigid duct through the diaphragm, and cleaning extractors disposed in the interior cavity of the monolithic housing.

Abstract: A dishwasher (1) in the form of a commercial utensil washer or dishwasher which is designed as a batch dishwasher and is realized as a hood-type dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a treatment chamber (2) with at least one wash system which is designed as a recirculation system, wherein the treatment chamber (2) has a first treatment zone (6) and at least one further, second treatment zone (7), wherein items of washware can be treated independently of one another and at least temporarily at the same time in the first and in the at least one second treatment zone (6, 7).

Abstract: A dishwashing machine comprising a tub that defines a wash space where dishes can be washed, a sump fluidly connected to the tub, a drain pump fluidly connecting the sump to a discharge pipe, a water tank fluidly connected to the sump though an on-off value and a softener, a heat exchanger located inside the water tank, and a diverter valve.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a body that houses a motor that selectively operates a drum for processing laundry, wherein the body includes an aperture for selectively accessing the drum. A door panel provides selective access to the aperture. A controller is configured to operate at least the motor. A user interface is in communication with the controller for selecting a laundry-processing operation to be performed. An outer panel at least partially conceals the body from view. An outer selector is positioned proximate the outer panel, wherein the outer selector is in communication with the controller via the user interface.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, at least one dish rack in the treating chamber, and a rack height adjustment assembly. The rack height adjustment assembly includes an adjuster plate slidably coupled to the at least one dish rack and fixed vertically relative to the tub, the adjuster plate including at least one adjuster detent, a locking lever having a catch end that is biased to engage the adjuster detent to hold the dish rack in place in either a lowered or raised position, the locking lever being pivotally movable relative to the at least one dish rack between an engaging position where the catch end engages the adjuster detent and a release position where the catch end does not engage the adjuster detent and the dish rack is vertically movable between the lowered and raised positions, and an actuator configured to move the locking lever to the release position when the actuator is moved from an undepressed position to a depressed position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hand-held dish cleaning brush that includes an elongate handle with a scrubbing head at one end, the scrubbing head including a working part of an elastomer integrally formed with a plurality of bristles and with a plurality of scraping projections that are formed as an array of scraping teeth, wherein the bristles are not directly aligned with but off-set from the scraping teeth and pass between the scraping teeth when flexed forwardly or rearwardly toward the scraping teeth.

Abstract: A permeable mat provides a two-state mat; one in which the mat has an impervious layer when laid flat during use, so water gets captured by an upper fabric layer. And a second state in which the mat becomes permeable when it is rolled and tumbled in the washer and drier, to allow the through-flow of air and water to effectively clean and dry the mat. A pattern of permeable elements may be included as part of the rubber backing to improve washing and drying by allowing easier passage through the mat by water and washing chemicals, allowing water drainage through the rubber layer during spinning cycle, reducing the need for very high spinning forces and speeds, allowing for air flow through the mat layers, improving drying time and efficiencies and lowering the structure of the mat unit, thereby allowing for better unrolling and tumbling during washing cycles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for endoscopic imaging comprising a light source configured to generate light and an, in particular rigid, insertion portion configured to be inserted into an object and comprising a distal end, a proximal end and at least one light guiding path. The system further comprises a first imaging device mounted at the proximal end of the insertion portion and optically coupled to the light guiding path, the first imaging device comprising a plurality of first detecting elements exhibiting a first sensitivity to light. A flexible guiding portion comprising a distal end and a proximal end is provided to guide a second part of the light emanating from the medium from the distal end of the guiding portion to the proximal end of the guiding portion.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes an insertion section including a flexible tube section configured to passively bend, and a bendable section connected to the flexible tube section on a distal end side and configured to actively change its bend shape, and a characteristic changer provided in the flexible tube section and configured to change a force quantity acting on a distal end of the insertion section from an insertion target body. The apparatus also includes an analyzer configured to calculate information relating to a deformation force quantity that restores bending of the insertion section on the proximal end side of the changer, and a controller configured to control the changer based on the information relating to the deformation force quantity.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses for holding an endoscope handle and locking out an angulation lever of an endoscope handle. Given by way of illustration only and not of limitation, in an embodiment an illustrative apparatus includes: a frame; a support mechanism attached to the frame and configured to hold thereon an endoscope handle having an angulation lever; an attachment device configured to hold an endoscope handle in place on the support mechanism; and an angulation lever engagement mechanism configured to prevent an angulation lever of an endoscope handle from returning to a neutral position.

Abstract: An endoscope includes: a plurality of wires each having a distal end connected to a bending portion of an insertion portion and a proximal end extending into an operation portion; one or more tubular members provided on the operation portion and including a first part extending in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the insertion portion, a second part provided on a proximal end side of the first part and extending in a side direction to the longitudinal axis, and a bent part connecting the first part and the second part, any one of the plurality of wires being inserted into the one or more tubular members, the first part and the second part being fixed to the operation portion; and a stopper fixed in the operation portion and arranged to prevent movement of the bent part by abutting on an inside of bending of the bent part.

Abstract: A steerable instrument for endoscopic and/or invasive type of applications, such as in surgery, which has an elongated tubular body having a proximal end part with a first actuation flexible zone having a first diameter and a distal end part having a first distal flexible zone having a second diameter that is different from the first diameter. A cylindrical diameter adaptation section is arranged to connect the proximal end part to the distal end part such that a flexion in a radial direction relative to a longitudinal center axis of the longitudinal tubular body of the first actuation flexible zone results in an amplified or attenuated flexion of the first distal flexible zone.

Abstract: An endoscope as an insertion device includes an insertion portion configured to be inserted into a subject from a distal end side in a longitudinal axis direction. The insertion portion includes: a distal end portion; a bending portion provided on a proximal end side of the distal end portion and configured to bend in a first direction according to a bending operation by an operator; a passive bending portion as a first flexible tube portion provided on a proximal end side of the bending portion and configured to passively bend by receiving an external force without being bent by the bending operation by the operator; and a corrugated tube as a second flexible tube portion provided on a proximal end side of the passive bending portion. The passive bending portion has higher bending rigidity in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction than in the first direction.

Abstract: An endoscopic tissue retraction system comprising: an element configured to be movably mounted to an endoscope; and a connector configured to be secured to the element and to the tissue which is to be retracted.

Abstract: An endoscope made by a method for fixation of portions of steering wire of the endoscope, the steering wire having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the method including positioning the second wire portion and the third wire portion of the steering wire adjacent to each other, applying an adhesive, at least partly enclosing the second wire portion, the third wire portion, and the adhesive with a crimp shell, and crimping the crimp shell, the second wire portion, and the third wire portion to thereby fixate the second wire portion in relation to the third wire portion.

Abstract: A medical instrument system comprises an imaging probe including a distal tip terminating at a first distal end of the imaging probe and a lens disposed at the first distal end. The imaging probe including a first sealing feature on an external surface of the imaging probe. The medical instrument also comprises an elongated medical instrument including a distal portion terminating at a second distal end and including a working channel configured to slidably receive the imaging probe. The working channel including a second sealing feature on a surface of the working channel. The first sealing feature and the second sealing feature are shaped and configured to contact one another to prevent the passage of fluid between the first and second sealing features.

Abstract: An adapter for coupling a water bottle to an endoscope including a cap manufactured from a thermoplastic elastomer material. The cap is removably secured to an associated water bottle. The cap includes a first port and a second port. The adapter further includes a scope connector manufactured from the thermoplastic elastomer and/or thermoset elastomer having a first scope connector port and second scope connector port, wherein the scope connector is configured to be frictionally coupled to an endoscope. A first supply tube couples to the first port of the cap and the first scope connector port and a second supply tube coupled to the second port of the cap and the second scope connector port.

Abstract: Provided is an optical probe. The optical probe includes an optical input/output unit, a rotation part spaced apart from the optical input/output unit in a first direction and including a reflection surface, and a transparent electrode provided around the reflection surface.

Abstract: An overtube device includes: a tube body having a bending part and a main body part; a wire having a distal end part fixed to the bending part and a proximal end part positioned on the proximal end side and extending along a longitudinal axis; an operation part capable of pulling the wire to the proximal end side; and an overtube base having a stopper that fixes the tube body in a longitudinal axis direction so as not to advance and retract, and engages with the operation part in a state where the wire is pulled toward the proximal end side of the wire so as to hold a curved shape of the bending part. When a medical device inserted into the tube body is retracted, an engagement between the operation part and the stopper is released, and holding of the curved shape of the bending part is released.

Abstract: An image pickup system includes an image pickup device including an image pickup section, a first amplifier circuit capable of amplifying a video signal for each field, and a communication circuit configured to acquire a set gain of the first amplifier circuit, a second amplifier circuit configured to amplify the video signal outputted from the image pickup device, and a processor. According to a result of a detection indicating that the video signal is not amplified by the set gain in the first amplifier circuit, a correction gain to be set in the second amplifier circuit is calculated.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a processor including hardware. The processor performs a color attenuation process on regions other than a yellow region in a captured image including a subject image to relatively enhance the visibility of the yellow region in the captured image. The processor detects a blood region that is a region of blood in the captured image based on color information of the captured image. The processor suppresses or stops an attenuation process on the blood region based on detection result of the blood region.

Abstract: The present specification describes a system and method for computing the temperature of the tip of a multiple viewing elements endoscope based on a measurement of junction temperatures of light emitting diode (LED) illuminators inside the tip. The measurement of temperature is used for taking corrective action if the temperature exceeds a limit. The temperature measurement is used for optimizing image parameters, as the performance of image sensors is affected by changes in ambient temperature.

Abstract: A device is configured to provide a large visible area and work area in the body of a patient for access to the interior of a body. The device has at least one outer part having an outer tube. An inner tube passes into the outer tube through this outer tube having at an outer tube distal end an expanding part which is expandable beyond the outer diameter of the outer tube.

Abstract: A method of imaging an object includes obtaining an image data set from a raster scan. The image data set has a plurality of data points, each data point having an associated location and intensity; generating a reduced data set by selectively removing one or more data points from the image data set based upon an assigned probability of retaining the one or more data points in the data set, the assigned probability being a function of the intensity of a data point; generating a triangulation graph as a planar subdivision having faces that are triangles, the vertices of which are the data points and the edges of which are adjacent vertices; and segmenting the triangulated data set by finding a path with lowest cost between that vertex and every other vertex, wherein the cost is a function of the respective intensity of the vertices.

Abstract: Contrast sensitivity is an informative measure of visual function, but current tools for assessing it are limited by the attentional, motor, and communicative abilities of the participant. These participants are often less able to engage with psychophysical tasks or follow an experiment's instructions, and alternative approaches have disadvantages that limit their usefulness in clinical settings. Here, we describe an efficient new measure of contrast sensitivity—‘Curveball’—that continuously infers stimulus visibility through smooth eye tracking instead of perceptual report. The procedure rapidly lowers stimulus contrast in real time until the threshold is found. The task is repeatable, well-correlated with results from conventional psychophysical methods, and sensitive to improvements in visual acuity from refractive correction.

Abstract: Diagnostic eyewear systems are disclosed that facilitate the evaluation of and adjustment to monovision as a solution for near vision loss experienced by corrected nearsighted and normal vision persons. The diagnostic eyewear include a magnifying lens and a non-magnifying lens, and a frame that allows the user to switch the locations of the magnifying and non-magnifying lenses from one eye to another. Multiple diagnostic eyewear may be provided as a set, with the magnifying lens of each eyewear having a different magnification power. The diagnostic eyewear may be used to determine magnification eye preference, magnification strength and distance eye preference in order to facilitate acclimation to monovision.

Abstract: Generally, a machine may include a processor and a memory connected to the processor, where the memory stores instructions executed by the processor to determine first and second properties related to dry eye symptoms of a patient. The properties may be used to form a dry eye forecast. A treatment recommendation may be selected based at least in part upon the dry eye forecast. The treatment recommendation may be supplied to a device.

Abstract: A method to image an in vivo object in an eye includes illuminating an object in the eye by a light source; configuring one or more detectors to receive light from a conjugate plane behind a confocal plane of the object, the conjugate plane acting as a light screen; receiving at the one or more detectors a backscattered light from the light source which has been refracted at least in part by the object before being backscattered from the light screen to provide a detector data; and processing the detector data over a time period by a computer to generate information about the object.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing eye tracking using various real-time computational solutions to a three-dimensional eye tracking framework. An exemplary eye tracking system for a NED device includes sensors that are directed toward and angularly offset from a user's eyes in a manner that causes circular features (e.g., irises and/or pupils) of the user's eyes to appear elliptical within sensor planes of the individual sensors. An iris and/or pupil of an eye will appear circular when the eye is looked at straight on (i.e., perpendicular to an optical axis of the eye's lens) but elliptical when observed from an angular offset. The eye tracking systems and methods disclosed herein exploit these principles to track movements of the user's eyes with a higher degree of accuracy than conventional eye tracking systems.

Abstract: Optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) is an eye movement elicited by the tracking of moving objects in a visual field. It is characterized by an alternating smooth pursuit in one direction and saccadic movement in the other direction. The presence or absence of OKN indicates whether or not the moving stimulus was visible to the observer, without the explicit cooperation of the observer. It can be a tool for objective visual acuity assessment for patients such as young children who lack cognitive, attentional and language capabilities. Since the patient's head movement and unstable eye gaze may occur during the test, which often brings noises and irrelevant activities in the responses, making recognition of presence/absence of the OKN a challenging task. The present invention, using a dynamic velocity threshold (DVT) filter, provides a system and method for a quick and reliable OKN test and quantitative assessment of visual acuity.

Abstract: A fundus camera displays guide information on a display panel which can be viewed by a testee to guide the testee to adjust a relative position of the fundus camera and a tested eyeball of the testee to a determined position. Therefore, the testee can use the above-mentioned fundus camera to self-shoot fundus images with better image quality. A method for self-shooting fundus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system that monitors various conditions of a plurality of hospital beds located in different rooms of a healthcare facility is provided. Alternatively or additionally, other types of equipment may be monitored by the system. Various configurations of network interface units that are coupleable to or integrated into a hospital bed are also disclosed. The system receives data from the hospital beds and/or other equipment and initiates a communication to a wireless communication device of at least one designated caregiver in response to the received data being indicative of an alarm condition.

Abstract: Techniques for transmitting diagnostic information stored in an implantable medical device (IMD) based on patient hospitalization are described. For example, the IMD may transmit higher resolution diagnostic information to a clinician and/or an external device during a hospitalization period to aid the clinician in evaluating heart failure treatment and when discharge is proper. This higher resolution diagnostic information may include one or more patient metrics automatically generated and transmitted by the IMD at least once every two hours. During a post-hospitalization period, the IMD may transmit lower resolution diagnostic information to a clinician that indicates a risk level of re-hospitalization. The lower resolution diagnostic information may include the risk level and/or patient metrics once a day, for example. In this manner, the IMD transmitted diagnostic information may be tailored to the specific heart failure monitoring needed by the patient.

Abstract: A computing device arrangement (20) for receiving fetal monitoring data from a fetal monitoring system is disclosed. The computing device arrangement comprises a display device (30) arranged to display the fetal monitoring data, a touchscreen device (32) and a processor arrangement (24) communicatively coupled to the display device and the touchscreen device. The processor arrangement is arranged to receive the fetal monitoring data from the fetal monitoring system, control the display device to display the fetal monitoring data, receive a freeform input (36) in a region of the touchscreen device from the touchscreen device; modify the fetal monitoring data by annotating a displayed region (34) of the fetal monitoring data with the freeform input, said displayed region corresponding to the region of the touchscreen device; and generate an output of the modified fetal monitoring data to for storage in a data storage device (28).

Abstract: The virtual stethoscope and otoscope includes a head having a hollow internal volume with a diaphragm on one side and an otoscope cone on the opposite side. The head is coupled to one end of the tube and a microphone is coupled to an opposite side of the tube. The microphone is coupled to a cable and connector which is attached to a patient computing device. The diaphragm is placed on the patient and the body vibrations produce sound waves which are detected by the microphone. The microphone converts the sound waves into electrical signals which are amplified by the patient computing device and transmitted to a medical professional computing device. Alternatively, the otoscope can be positioned to view a portion of the patient. A camera converts the photo data into electrical signals which are transmitted from the patient computing device to the medical professional computing device.

Abstract: Detection systems and methods configured to scan and interpret a suspected infection at in vivo biological target site, comprising emitting excitation light selected to elicit fluorescent light from a suspected infection at the target site; sensing fluorescent light emanating from the target site elicited by such excitation light; sensing heat levels above ambient body temperature emanating from the target site; and then based at least in part on the sensed fluorescent light and the heat levels, determining a probability whether the target site comprises an infection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for detecting and quantifying the plaque levels and/or lesions in companion animals, and the use of such information during trials of oral health products. The methods disclosed enable the trialling of companion animals for a shorter period of time, without the need for long and expensive trials on oral health products to be conducted. The methods described are conducted on conscious pet animals.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processor including hardware. The processor is configured to: acquire video data; estimate a spatial distribution of a predetermined biological component for which a component spectrum temporally varies with respect to image data of a predetermined frame among a plurality of frames included in the video data; generate biological component video data in which the biological component is extracted from the video data based on the estimated spatial distribution of the biological component in the image data of the predetermined frame; and generate periodic variation video data of the biological component by applying, to the biological component video data, a filter for extracting a predetermined frequency component.

Abstract: A system for monitoring autoregulation may include processing circuitry configured to receive a blood pressure signal indicative of an acquisition blood pressure of a patient at an acquisition site and an oxygen saturation signal indicative of an oxygen saturation of the patient. The processing circuitry may determine a cerebral autoregulation status value based on the blood pressure signal and the oxygen saturation signal. The processing circuitry may determine a non-cerebral autoregulation status value based on the cerebral autoregulation status value and an adjustment value. The processing circuitry provide to an output device a signal indicative of the non-cerebral autoregulation status value and a signal indicative of the cerebral autoregulation status value to enable a clinician to monitor the autoregulation status of the patient.

Abstract: A cardiovascular health assessment score, representing a working tissue flow and indicating the dependence on central and peripheral control mechanisms, is generated by the evaluation system and used to support a variety of individualized medicine and health applications. One or more of the individualized medicine and health applications may be implemented as part of the evaluation system and incorporate the cardiovascular health assessment.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to a system and method for detecting or indicating a state of visual impairment of a patient due to a medical condition, and more particularly to a method, system and application or software program configured to create a virtual-reality (“VR”) environment that implements visual symptom tests, and which utilizes eye tracking technology to detect or indicate visual symptoms and associated medical conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in providing patient ventilations includes electrodes configured to provide airflow activities signals, chest compression sensors configured to provide chest displacement signals due to chest compressions, a processor and a memory configured to receive the airflow activities and chest displacement signals, identify a presence of chest compressions based on the chest displacement signals, subsequently confirm an absence of chest compressions applied to the patient based on the chest displacement signals, adjust signal processing parameters for the airflow activities signals in response to the confirmed absence of chest compressions, and process the airflow activities signals using the adjusted signal processing parameters to determine feedback for providing the patient ventilations in the absence of chest compressions, and an output device coupled to the processor and the memory and configured to provide the ventilation feedback.

Abstract: A device for collecting cardiovascular data relating to an individual user, comprising a control unit assembly with an electronic controller and a pneumatic unit, an arm band having an inflatable bladder and configured to surround the left arm of the individual, wherein the pneumatic unit has a pump and a pressure sensor, and is configured to inflate and deflate the inflatable bladder, so that the electronic controller can determine the arterial pressure of the user, the device further comprising an acoustic sensor being coupled to the external wall of the arm band and having a sensitive side such that in use configuration, the sensitive side is adjacent to the chest of the user, whereby at least a cardiovascular timing characteristic can be inferred from signals from the acoustic sensor and the pressure sensor. The device may also comprise a set of contact electrodes to provide additionally ECG functionality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wearable devices for monitoring of vital signs. More specifically, the present invention relates to a one-piece wearable device for mounting on the upper arm of the patient and monitoring of multi-parameter vital signs without any attached cable.

Abstract: A medical device for review of clinical data in a playback mode is described. The medical device includes at least one output device comprising at least one display screen, at least one memory, and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and the at least one output device, the at least one processor configured to receive signals indicative of patient data from one or more patient interface devices communicatively coupled to the medical device, control the at least one display screen to provide a first visual representation of the patient data as an operational interface, and selectively display a playback interface at the at least one display screen wherein the playback interface enables user interactive review of the patient data based on a second visual representation of the patient data.