Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking head motion during medical imaging. In accordance to one aspect, a head holder for a medical scanner is provided. The head holder includes at least one movable component that moves with patient's head while the head is placed on the movable component during brain imaging. The head holder further includes one or more inertial measurement units (IMUs) attached to the movable component that measure motion data, wherein any change in orientation of the movable component indicated by the motion data represents movement of the head. The one or more IMUs may communicate with a computer system during brain imaging in substantially real time to record motion parameters.

Abstract: A method for operating a medical diagnostic system that is configured to use a system component of the diagnostic system to generate examination data of a person under examination during an examination procedure is provided. The examination procedure with control of the system component is controlled by a piece of control software, and a component driver exchanges control commands of the control software with the system component in order to control the system component. The method includes providing an event driver that communicates with the control software via an interface of the control software. Via the event driver, a first event is detected in the examination procedure and reported to the event driver. When the first event is detected in the examination procedure, the use of the system component in the examination procedure is modified to a first type defined by the event driver.

Abstract: A medical imaging system comprising: a microwave antenna array comprising a transmitting antenna and a plurality of receiving antennae, wherein the transmitting antenna is configured to transmit microwave signals so as to illuminate a body part of a patient and the receiving antennae are configured to receive the microwave signals following scattering within the body part; a processor configured to process the scattered microwave signals and generate an output indicative of the internal structure of the body part to identify a target within the body part; and a delivery device comprising a delivery needle for implanting a marker at the site of the target, the delivery device being movable relative to the microwave antenna array; wherein the receiving antennae are further configured to receive microwave signals scattered or emitted by the delivery needle and the processor is further configured to monitor a position of the delivery needle and to guide the delivery needle to the target within the body part.

Abstract: Devices and methods for delivering an ingestible medicament of a medicament tablet into the gastrointestinal tract of a user. A device according to the invention includes a vibrating ingestible capsule and a hollow medicament compartment housing. The vibrating capsule includes a housing, a vibrating agitator disposed within the housing, a power supply, and a control element. The hollow medicament compartment housing is associated with the housing of the capsule and includes at least one aperture. The hollow of the medicament compartment housing is configured to have the medicament tablet disposed therein. The aperture(s) are dimensioned to enable fluid communication the surrounding environment and the hollow.

Abstract: A flow-sensing arrangement within a spirometer. The arrangement includes a tubular-member for allowing an air-passage along a longitudinal-axis thereof. At-least two disc-shaped air-resistive elements are removably-arranged within the tubular member to resist the air-flow. Each of the resistive-elements include perforations for allowing the air-passage through the resistive-element. At-least two ports extend radially outward through a wall of the tubular member, such that each of the two ports are located within the tubular-member near the resistive-elements to cause determination of at least a pressure-difference there-between.

Abstract: A nasal/oral cannula for collecting a flow of exhaled gases and its method of manufacture are disclosed. The cannula comprises an elongated tubular body having a first and a second end portion, a surface and an internal volume; a wall internally disposed within said tubular body, said wall defining a first subvolume of said internal volume in the lengthwise direction of the tubular body; and an inlet through said surface, for introducing exhaled gases into said first subvolume. The first end portion defines an exit port for exhaled gases from said subvolume, and said wall is arranged directly adjacent to said inlet.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring at least one metric associated with foot-based movement include: receiving at a processor a plurality of sensor measurement signals for a foot, each pressure sensor measurement signal indicating one or more pressure measurements taken at a respective, different part of the foot during movement; and computing, at the processor, the at least one metric associated with foot-based movement based on a combination of the received at least three pressure sensor measurement signals from the foot.

Abstract: A method and system for calibrating a measurement from a shoe-based sensor device for measuring pressure at one or more parts of a shoe sole and providing at least one pressure sensor measurement signal indicating the measured pressure, the method being performed at a processor that receives the at least one pressure sensor measurement signal and including: determining a minimum value for the at least one pressure sensor measurement signal and storing the determined minimum value as a correction constant in a data memory associated with the processor; and correcting a value for the at least one pressure sensor measurement signal received subsequent to the step of storing, by the stored correction constant.

Abstract: Disclosed is sampling HF-QRS signals from a number of subjects (or derived values or features), and using e.g. deep learning-convolutional neural networks to find features or values which are (i) sufficiently similar for the same subject over all samples, yet (ii) sufficiently different among different subjects to allow identification. Also disclosed is finding signatures which are sufficiently stable over a particular period such that these signatures are within a deviation threshold, and then monitoring all subjects to be identified at least as often as the period used to establish the deviation threshold.

Abstract: According to the techniques herein, one or more sensors coupled to an aligner are used to sense one or more physical qualities of the aligner to determine whether the physical qualities indicate that the aligner material has relaxed and has, e.g., reduced the force systems applied to teeth and/or that the teeth movement for the stage has slowed down. The sensors may provide a signal that represents whether or not the physical qualities fall below a threshold value. A treatment plan may be modified if needed. These techniques have the potential to make treatment plans faster and more effective by speeding up some stages while making sure some, perhaps other, stages are implemented only after the teeth are near the appropriate position.

Abstract: A person support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, cot, recliner, or the like, includes an exit detection system having a plurality of force sensors that support the weight of an occupant positioned on a support surface. The force sensors are part of an exit detection system that issues an alarm when the occupant exits, or is about to exit, the person support apparatus. The distribution of weight applied to the force sensors is used to determine if the occupant is about to exit the person support apparatus. Compensation is made to the exit detection system for changes in the weight distribution that are not caused by movement of the occupant. Such changes may be due to siderail movement, support surface pivoting, and/or movement of other components of the person support apparatus.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for measuring respiratory effort of a subject are provided. A thorax effort signal and an abdomen effort signal are obtained. The thorax effort signal and the abdomen effort signal are each divided into a volume-contributing component of the respiratory effort and a paradox component. The paradox component represents a non-volume-contributing component of the respiratory effort. The abdomen paradox component is negatively proportional to the thoracic paradox component. The thorax effort signal or the abdomen effort signal or both are weighted by a weight factor to obtain a volume-proportional signal. The volume-proportional signal is proportional to the actual respiratory volume of the respiratory effort. A calibration factor for calibrating the thorax effort signal and the abdomen effort signal is obtained by optimizing the weight factor by minimizing thoracic paradox component and the abdomen paradox component.

Abstract: An over-the-ear hearing assessment device and a method for evaluating the performance of over-the-ear hearing devices are described. An exemplary over-the-ear hearing assessment device includes an ear cup defining an interior volume and positionable at least partially over the ear of a user. The ear cup includes a shell, a cushion, and an acoustic port extending from an exterior to the interior volume of the ear cup. The acoustic port is sealably engagable with a microphone.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus includes a light source, an imaging device, a signal processing circuit, and a controller. The controller causes the light source to irradiate a first portion of the scatterer, causes the element to obtain an image signal from a first target area, causes the light source to irradiate a second portion of the scatterer, and causes the element to obtain an image signal from a second target area. The circuit uses the image signals to generate data regarding the position of a target object inside the scatterer. A first distance between the first portion and a center of the first target area is equal to a second distance between the second portion and a center of the second target area, or a difference between the first and second distances is smaller than 10% of a smaller one of the first and second distances.

Abstract: The disclosed system determines a fetal blood oxygenation level. During operation, the system activates two or more light sources, having different wavelengths, which are positioned on the abdomen of a pregnant mammal to direct light into the maternal abdomen toward a fetus. Next, the system receives a set of mixed signals from a set of photodetectors, which are positioned at different locations on the maternal abdomen to receive reflected light that traverses both maternal and fetal tissue. The system then performs a filtering operation that removes signal components associated with a maternal heart rate and a maternal respiration rate from the set of mixed signals to produce a set of fetal signals. Next, the system combines the set of fetal signals to produce a composite fetal signal. Finally, the system determines the fetal blood oxygenation level by performing a pulse-oximetry computation based on the composite fetal signal.

Abstract: A system for transdermal alcohol sensing to be worn near a skin surface of a user, including: an alcohol sensor; a microporous membrane; a housing coupled to the alcohol sensor and the membrane, defining a volume between the alcohol sensor and a first membrane side, and fluidly isolating the volume from a second membrane side opposing the first membrane side; an electronics subsystem electrically coupled to the alcohol sensor, operable to power and receive signals from the alcohol sensor; and a fastener operable to position the second membrane side proximal the skin surface.

Abstract: A medical diagnostic device includes a wirelessly transmitted time data receiver and processor. Associated devices, methods and functionality are also described.

Abstract: A glucose sensor comprising one or more optical energy source is disclosed. In various embodiments one or more beam splitter/combiner is implemented to receive optical energy from the one or more optical energy source. One or more beam splitter/combiner provides provide optical energy to detector(s) to determine glucose in a body tissue.

Abstract: A substance concentration analysis method includes calculating a difference for the particular time between a first measured amount of mid-infrared (MIR) radiation absorbed by or emitted from a body in a first wavelength and a second measured amount of MIR radiation absorbed by or emitted from the body in a second wavelength, calculating a quotient including a dividend based on the difference divided by a divisor based on a dT/dt value, and calculating the concentration of the substance in the body based on a correlation with the quotient.

Abstract: A computer system for simultaneously sampling multiple light channels is configured to emit a first pulse-oximetry light signal from a first light source and to emit a second pulse-oximetry light signal from a second light source. The computer system then captures a combined pulse-oximetry signal from both the first pulse-oximetry light signal and the second pulse-oximetry light signal simultaneously at a photoreceptor sensor. The computer system identifies information within the combined pulse-oximetry signal, wherein the first light source and the second light source capture different attributes of the information.

Abstract: This application features a method of forming a nanoporous layer. The method includes steps of reducing metal ions in a reverse micelle phase composition to form nanoparticles, removing surfactant from the composition to form clusters of the nanoparticles, dispensing the composition including the nanoparticle clusters dispersed in a liquid on a substrate, and drying to form the nanoporous layer. The nanoporous layer includes nanoparticles deposited to form a three dimensional network of irregularly shaped bodies. The nanoporous layer also includes a three dimensional network of intercluster spaces that are not occupied by the three dimensional network of irregularly shaped bodies.

Abstract: An analyte sensor comprising: a sensing layer disposed on the analyte sensor; and a membrane disposed over at least a portion of the sensing layer, wherein the membrane comprises a low surface tension polymer of a modified polysiloxane in an amount of 1% or less by weight of a total formulation of the membrane.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure describe a diversion device that traps an initial flow of blood in a diversion chamber of the diversion device. The diversion chamber may be defined, in part, by a housing shell, a housing base, and a filter. The filter may be a porous material that allows air, but not blood, to flow through it. After the diversion chamber is filled, a subsequent flow of blood may be directed into a collection vessel through an internal conduit of the diversion device.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a photographing processing method based on brain wave detection and a wearable device. The method includes evaluating an emotional state of a user based on a detected brain wave signal of the user. The method includes obtaining an emotional tag that labels the emotional state and combining the emotional tag into a photo taken in the emotional state.

Abstract: The application relates to an apparatus, method and computer program for identifying an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) event. The event may be identified by monitoring signals obtained from a plurality of biometric sensors wherein the biometric sensors are configured to measure one or more biometric parameters of a subject. When an OCD event is identified one or more outputs maybe provided in response to the identification of the event. The outputs comprise providing instructions to the subject to perform one or more actions to mitigate the OCD event. Further signals are obtained from the plurality of biometric sensors after the one or more instructions have been provided and these signals are used to monitor a response of the subject to the one or more instructions.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a video signal that comprises a time series of images of a face of a human, wherein the images in the time series of images comprise a set of landmark points in the face, applying tracking processing to the video signal to reveal variations over time of at least one image parameter at the set of landmark points in the human face, generating a set of variation signals indicative of variations revealed at respective landmark points in the set of landmark points, applying processing to the set of variation signals, the processing comprising artificial neural network processing to produce a reconstructed PhotoPletysmoGraphy (PPG) signal, and estimating a heart rate variability of a variable heart rate of the human as a function of the reconstructed PPG signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices and methods for rhythmic therapy. A system streams a patient specific audio file to a patient for therapy or rehabilitation while the patient is performing an exercise, where the audio comprises a musical track selected from a library of musical tracks, and simultaneously playing a second audio file with a motivational message, for example, and further where the tempo of the track, or the selection of the tracks are changed based on data received from sensors and determining if the patient is improving or regressing.

Abstract: A prick test kit comprises a bottom tray containing a plurality of wells disposed in an array, wherein each of the wells contains a vial of a small amount of a specific well associated antigen, with each well and associated vial having a different antigen disposed therein, each of the vials having a rubber cap disposed thereon that is sterile and able to be pricked by a needle such that the small amount of antigen can be removed therefrom. A penetrating plate is disposed above the wells and having on the lower surface thereof diametrically opposite from the vials in the wells a plurality of piercing needles, one associated with each of the wells and directed downward there to but not touching any of the files. A separating plate is disposed between the bottom tray and the penetrating plate. A sterile covering is provided for containing the entire assembly.

Abstract: A variety of medical and non-medical devices are exploited by users to address a wide range of conditions. However, in the vast majority of instances, the device has a limited number of options with respect to its fit for the user and its performance. Further, the determination of target performance and fit are established on a qualitative basis rather than a quantitative basis. In many instances, these combinations lead to low user acceptance of the device due to the resulting performance and fit issues. Accordingly, it would enhance performance and user acceptance if a quantitative determination provided a recommended type where options exist, and this determination provided the basis of a custom designed device to the user's specific anatomical and/or performance requirements.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a device for processing a fetal electrocardiogram (fECG). The processing may include obtaining a fetal vector cardiogram (VCG) from said multiple ECG signals, and providing the fetal vector cardiogram as an input to the machine learning classifier configured with trained parameters, and obtain a classification from the machine learning classifier.

Abstract: Medical imaging analysis systems are configured to perform automatic image registration algorithms that perform three-dimensional (3D), affine, and/or intensity-based co-registration of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, such as multiparametric MRI (mpMRT) data, using mutual information (MI) as a similarity metric. An apparatus comprises a computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of imaging series of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data for imaged tissue of a patient; and a processor coupled to the computer-readable storage medium. The processor is configured to receive the imaging series of MRI data; identify a volume of interest (VOI) of each image of the imaging series of MRI data; compute registration parameters for the VOIs through the maximization of mutual information of the corrected VOIs; and register the VOIs using the computed registration parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a skin assessment member. The skin assessment member is transparent. The skin assessment member is a single, integral member. The skin assessment member is nonporous. A length and a width of the skin assessment member are each between 20 times and 80 times larger than a thickness of the skin assessment member. A density of a material forming the skin assessment member is between 0.75 g/cm3 and 2.2 g/cm3. The skin assessment member includes a plurality of markings that are disposed flush with a flat surface of the skin assessment member or fully embedded within the skin assessment member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting patient movement and ensuring compliance with patient turning, comprising strap having at least a horizontal and one or more sensors positioned on the horizontal component; a display comprising a processor and a database, configured to receive information from the one or more sensors and to generate a timer to ensure patient turning at a predetermined time.

Abstract: A system for monitoring medical conditions including pressure ulcers, pressure-induced ischemia and related medical conditions comprises at least one sensor adapted to detect one or more patient characteristic including at least position, orientation, temperature, acceleration, moisture, resistance, stress, heart rate, respiration rate, and blood oxygenation, a host for processing the data received from the sensors together with historical patient data to develop an assessment of patient condition and suggested course of treatment. In some embodiments, the system can further include a support surface having one or more sensors incorporated therein either in addition to sensors affixed to the patient or as an alternative thereof. The sensor can include bi-axial or tri-axial accelerometers, as well as resistive, inductive, capactive, magnetic and other sensing devices, depending on whether the sensor is located on the patient or the support surface, and for what purpose.

Abstract: An example of a system for providing a patient with pain management includes a pain monitoring circuit. The pain monitoring circuit may include parameter analyzer circuitry and pain score generator circuitry. The parameter analyzer circuitry may be configured to receive and analyze one or more timing parameters and one or more baroreflex parameters allowing for determination of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) of the patient. The one or more timing parameters are indicative of time intervals during which values of the one or more baroreflex parameters are used to determine the BRS. The pain score generator circuitry may be configured to compute a pain score using an outcome of the analysis. The pain score is a function of the BRS during the time intervals and indicative of a degree of pain of the patient.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for managing pain of a subject. A system may include a motion sensor configured to sense at least one functional signal indicative a physical state of the subject. The at least one functional signal may include at least one motor activity signal or at least one sleep state signal. A pain analyzer circuit may extract, from the functional signal, signal metrics indicative of subject motor control or kinetics, and generate a pain score using the signal metrics. The pain score may be output to a user or a process. The system may additionally include an electrostimulator to generate and deliver a closed-loop pain therapy according to the pain score.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for monitoring one or more health or physiological parameters in a subject. The systems and methods may comprise a patch coupled to an injector. Data may be transmitted to a mobile device or remote server, where the data may be processed. Processed data may be used to inform a subject on a health or physiological condition.

Abstract: A robot is devoted to assisting users with mental illness with software and hardware to provide multiple user modules, including psychotherapy, sympathy, meditation training, expression gestures and words, and hugging responses. Biofeedback and medical data collection are also achieved. Cameras, microphones, speakers, sensors and artificial intelligence, including speech recognition, voice identification and other algorithms are employed. At least three levels of security, and preferably four are used: user, caregiver, manager and programmer personnel are provided different levels of access.

Abstract: A device includes a handle, an expandable structure including a plurality of splines extending from a proximal hub to a distal hub, a first electrode on a first spline of the plurality of splines, an outer tube extending from the handle to the proximal hub, and a shaft extending through the outer tube from the handle to the distal hub. The expandable structure has a collapsed state and a self-expanded state. The handle is configured to retract the shaft. Retracting the shaft may expand the expandable structure outward of the self-expanded state.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates a method of diagnosis and/or treatment of a solid tumor. The method includes directly measuring neural activity within a solid tumor for a time and determining a state of the solid tumor based on the neural activity. The diagnosis and/or treatment can be determined based on the state of the solid tumor. In some instances, the neural activity can be used in a closed loop to detect the neural activity, determine the state, determine the risk, apply treatment, check again for neural activity, and cease treatment when the neural activity is gone.

Abstract: A flexible system for utilizing data from different monitoring techniques and capable of providing assistance to patients with diabetes at several scalable levels, ranging from advice about long-term trends and prognosis to real-time automated closed-loop control (artificial pancreas). These scalable monitoring and treatment strategies are delivered by a unified system called the Diabetes Assistant (DiAs) platform. The system provides a foundation for implementation of various monitoring, advisory, and automated diabetes treatment algorithms or methods. The DiAs recommendations are tailored to the specifics of an individual patient, and to the patient risk assessment at any given moment.

Abstract: A psychological pressure evaluation method includes obtaining a physiological parameter measurement value of a user, determining a psychological pressure evaluation model of the user based on a physiological parameter reference value of the user and a common psychological pressure evaluation model, where the common psychological pressure evaluation model reflects a change relationship between a psychological pressure value change amount and a physiological parameter value change amount, and determining a psychological pressure evaluation result of the user based on the physiological parameter measurement value of the user and the psychological pressure evaluation model of the user.

Abstract: In aspects of a wearable article for determining a task, a system includes a delivery device usable to administer a liquid responsive to an applied force, and includes a wearable article with multiple sensors to detect movements of the wearable article and handling of the delivery device. A task determination module is implemented to receive sensor data identifying the movements of the wearable article and the applied force, and can determine a task from a set of tasks associated with the delivery device that corresponds to the movements of the wearable article. The task determination module can then determine whether the task was performed correctly based on a comparison of the sensor data to a correct pattern of use for the task.

Abstract: Disclosed is a layered body comprising a polymer comprising repeating units having the general structure —CH2—CHR1—COOR2— as defined herein, to a process for producing such a layered body, to a layered body produced by that process and to the use of a layered body for electrophysical measurements.

Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to medical devices that include a transmitter assembly positioned on top of a sensor assembly. A sensor assembly includes a sensor base having a bottom surface and a top surface having an interface. The interface accommodates a sensor stack that includes at least one sensor head having electrical contact pads connected to an elastomeric connector. The sensor assembly further includes a mounting base having a first side that attaches to the bottom surface of the sensor base, and a second side that adheres to a patient's skin. A transmitter assembly includes a transmitter shell and a transmitter cap having an interface that engages with the sensor base. Also, the transmitter assembly includes electrical contacts disposed on the transmitter cap that connect with the electrical contact pad(s) of the sensor assembly.

Abstract: An ablation catheter system configured with a compact force sensor at a distal end for detection of contact forces exerted on an end effector. The force sensor includes fiber optics operatively coupled with reflecting members on a structural member. In one embodiment, the optical fibers and reflecting members cooperate with the deformable structure to provide a variable gap interferometer for sensing deformation of the structural member due to contact force. In another embodiment, a change in the intensity of the reflected light is detected to measure the deformation. The measured deformations are then used to compute a contact force vector. In some embodiments, the force sensor is configured to passively compensate for temperature changes that otherwise lead to erroneous force indications. In other embodiments, the system actively compensates for errant force indications caused by temperature changes by measuring certain local temperatures of the structural member.

Abstract: High-density mapping catheters with an array of mapping electrodes are disclosed. These catheters can be used for diagnosing and treating cardiac arrhythmias, for example. The catheters are adapted to contact tissue and comprise a flexible framework including the electrode array. The array of electrodes may be formed from a plurality of columns of longitudinally-aligned and rows of laterally-aligned electrodes.

Abstract: A capsule for traversing the gastrointestinal tract, including one or more compartments configured to sample the environment surrounding the capsule or configured to deliver content to the environment surrounding the capsule, an internal controller configured to activate the one or more compartments to sample or deliver, wherein the capsule includes a tracking system configured to identify the location of the capsule in real-time and activate a compartment when reaching a specific location in the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for determining an emplacement of sensors in a wound dressing are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wound dressing includes a plurality of sensors configured to measure wound or patient characteristics. One or more processors are configured to receive wound or patient characteristics data as well as emplacement data. The received data can be used to determine an emplacement of the plurality of sensors, the wound dressing, or a wound. The sensors can include a set of nanosensors. The wound dressing can include pH sensitive ink which can be utilized for determining a placement of the wound dressing and determining a pH associated with the wound. The wound dressing can be used in a negative pressure wound therapy system.

Abstract: An electronic device and method for measuring user body information are provided. The method for measuring user body information includes detecting a contact of a user's body portion on at least two spots of a touch screen of the electronic device, upon detecting the contact of the user's body portion on the at least two spots of the touch screen, applying power to a first coil in the electronic device, and measuring the user body information using at least one of a voltage and a second current measured after a first current is induced across the user's body by a first magnetic field generated from the first coil as the power is applied.