Abstract: An intraoperative nerve monitoring system for monitoring nerve activity within a trachea of a patient. The intraoperative nerve monitoring system includes an endotracheal (ET) tube assembly, which includes an ET tube partially inserted within a trachea and a surface electrode wrapped about the ET tube. The ET tube is configured to monitor nerve activity when the ET tube is partially inserted within the trachea and is contacting a target tissue and to output a nerve signal. The intraoperative nerve monitoring system also includes a pressure sensor assembly configured to sense an amount of pressure between the surface electrode and the target tissue and a console including an output device configured to output indicators based on the monitored nerve activity and the sensed amount of pressure to facilitate proper placement of the ET tube in the trachea and to indicate nerve activity.

Abstract: A method of managing a disease and an apparatus performing the same are provided. The method of managing livestock disease includes receiving biometric information of livestock from a biosensor capsule settled in a body of the livestock, detecting a singular point deviating from a reference value, based on the biometric information, monitoring a health state by increasing a disease probability of the livestock when the singular point is detected, and detecting a disease by determining an abnormality in the health state of the livestock when the disease probability of the livestock is a first threshold value or more. An animal subject suspected of reproductive disorders (ovarian cyst) may be rapidly detected, and intensive care (veterinary examination and hormone prescription) may be provided to the farm, thereby increasing productivity of the farm.

Abstract: Improved ingestible event markers are provided. Aspects of the markers may include the presence of a matrix layer that includes a binder and source of an electron acceptor. Alternatively or in addition to the matrix layer, aspects of the markers may include a large surface area electrode having a surface area that exceeds the surface area of the circuitry of the marker. Aspects further include methods of making and using the ingestible event markers.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus may include a frame and a patient support surface positioned on the frame. A plurality of force sensors may be coupled to at least one of the frame and the patient support surface. Each of the plurality of force sensors may be configured to detect a force applied to the respective force sensor. A user interface may include a display and at least one user input. A controller may be in communication with each of the plurality of force sensors. The controller may include a processor and a memory device. The memory device may include instructions that, when executed by the processor, process data signals from the plurality of force sensors to determine a mobility score of a patient supported on the patient support surface.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for identifying false detection of pause-triggered episode in cardiac ECG data. In some examples, a medical system is configured to receive a cardiac electrogram of a pause-triggered episode, the cardiac electrogram sensed by a medical device via a plurality of electrodes, determine whether one or more of false pause detection criteria are satisfied based on the cardiac electrogram, wherein the one or more of false pause detection criteria comprise: at least one criterion for relative flatness of amplitude values of the cardiac electrogram in a time interval between a last pre-pause beat and a pause detection time, classify the pause-triggered episode as one of a plurality of classifications based on the determination of whether the false pause detection criterion is satisfied, and output an indication of the classification of the pause-triggered episode to a user display.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the reliability of an input in a medical device in which at least one value is entered into the medical device, an occurrence probability density of the at least one value is calculated on the basis of an input history, an error probability of the input is calculated from an a priori error probability density stored in a first database and loaded from the first database and the calculated occurrence probability density, and the error probability is output for further handling of the input.

Abstract: Provided is a method for assessing a correlation degree and an influence degree between a health degree in a health domain of concern and each preventive interventional action, based on biological information acquired in a time-series manner. The method comprises: acquiring biological information of an individual in a time-series manner; performing, based on the acquired biological information, an assessment of a health degree of the individual in a time-series manner; acquiring an intervention amount of each of one or more preventive interventional actions in a time-series manner; deriving a correlation degree and an influence degree between the time-series intervention amount of each of the one or more preventive interventional actions and the time-series health degree of the individual; and determining, as a relevant preventive interventional action, a preventive interventional action whose correlation degree is a given value or more, among the one or more preventive interventional actions.

Abstract: A method of generating an assessment of medical condition for a patient includes obtaining a patient data tensor indicative of a plurality of tests conducted on the patient, obtaining a set of tensor factors, each tensor factor of the set of tensor factors being indicative of a decomposition of training tensor data for the plurality of tests, the decomposition amplifying low rank structure of the training tensor data, determining a patient tensor factor for the patient based on the obtained patient data tensor and the obtained set of tensor factors, applying the determined patient tensor factor to a classifier such that the determined further tensor factor establishes a feature vector for the patient, the classifier being configured to process the feature vector to generate the assessment, and providing output data indicative of the assessment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for segmentation of selected data. In various embodiments, automatic segmentation of fiber tracts in an image data may be performed. The automatic segmentation may allow for identification of specific fiber tracts in an image.

Abstract: A heat response monitor, comprises an accelerometer, a core temperature sensor, an estimation device, and an enabler. The estimation device uses accelerometry-based functionality to provide a gait-based heat stroke risk score, and the estimation device uses an estimated core temperature of a wearer of the core temperature sensor, to provide an estimated core temperature-based heat stroke risk score. The gait-based heat stroke risk score and the estimated core temperature-based heat stroke risk score are used to determine if a wearer of the heat response monitor is in risk of heat injury.

Abstract: A system for assessing emergency risk of patients in an emergency department is provided. The system includes a patient carrier comprising a transmissive structure, one or more optical or radar sensors configured to measure respiration information of the patient via light or radio waves traveling through at least a portion of the transmissive structure of the patient carrier, one or more additional sensors configured to measure injury information and cardiac information of the patient, and a computer system comprising one or more physical processors that are programmed with computer program instructions that, when executed cause the computer system to: determine an emergency risk parameter for the patient based on the cardiac information, the injury information and the respiration information of the patient obtained from the one or more sensors. The emergency risk parameter for the patient indicates that the patient requires medical intervention within a specified time period.

Abstract: A signaling device including a data processing device; sensors for heart rate, breathing activity, galvanic skin response, skin blood flow, and movement of a person which respectively include radio communication devices for a wireless connection to the data processing device, wherein the data processing device is configured to wirelessly receive data captured by the sensors regarding a physiological condition of the person and to generate an acoustic, visual or tactile signal as a function of a change of the physiological condition, wherein the data processing device is configured to store the captured data in measurement series, to analyze the measurement series and to detect an increasing or excursive change of the condition in the measurement series, wherein the signal indicates a catheterization requirement of the person.

Abstract: A process and unit for determining an estimate for a respiratory signal. Measured values are received, and a sum signal is generated, which is a superimposition of the respiratory signal to a cardiogenic signal. The unit detects heartbeats, and a respective heartbeat time period for each. An intermediate signal is calculated by compensating the influence of the cardiac activity on the sum signal. The unit determines an attenuation signal, which is an indicator of the average time curve of the contribution of the cardiogenic signal to the intermediate signal in a predefined reference heartbeat time period. An intermediate signal section is generated as a section of the intermediate signal in a heartbeat time period and intermediate signal sections are mapped to the reference heartbeat time period. The estimated respiratory signal is calculated with the use of the mapped intermediate signal sections and of the attenuation signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a visualized virtual agent configured to provide a visual response to a user, wherein the visualized virtual agent is further configured to provide an artificial physiological color change response to a user on the basis of one or more user-specific parameter, wherein the visualized virtual agent is configured to acquire user-specific data for at least one user-specific parameter using at least one sensor, the one or more user-specific parameter comprising activity data of the user and/or physio-psychological data of the user, and wherein the artificial physiological color change response is provided in response to monitored changes of the acquired user-specific data for the at least one user-specific parameter of the activity data of the user and/or the physio-psychological data of the user, the artificial physiological color change response comprising at least in part a color change of the visualized virtual agent.

Abstract: An adjustable privacy screen has a length-adjustable support member that can be wedged between adjacent walls. The support member may include locking telescoping tubes, and optionally, semi-rigid brace members that may be bent to wedge the device between adjacent walls. An opaque privacy drape is releasably attachable, e.g., by adhesive or mechanical fasteners, to the support member. A sensor mounted on the support member is operable to cause a signaling device on the support member to provide an alert signal to a caregiver upon detection of a predetermined condition by the sensor. The sensor may also be operable to cause a mechanism to operate to release the privacy screen from its position wedged between adjacent walls. One or more legs may be releasably attachable to the support member.

Abstract: A computer device, obtains a mammographic image of a unilateral breast. The mammographic image includes a cranial-caudal (CC)-position mammographic image and a mediolateral-oblique (MLO)-position mammographic image. The computer device invokes a breast detection model to perform a prediction of a condition of the unilateral breast according to the CC-position mammographic image and the MLO-position mammographic image. The device obtains a prediction result of the unilateral breast, and generates and outputs a detection report that includes the prediction result.

Abstract: Intraoral three-dimensional (3D) tomosynthesis imaging systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are used to generate one or more two-dimensional (2D) x-ray projection images and to reconstruct, using a computing platform, the one or more 2D x-ray projection images into one or more 3D images of an object, such as teeth of a patient, which can then be displayed on a monitor in order to enhance diagnostic accuracy of dental disease. The intraoral 3D tomosynthesis imaging system can include a wall-mountable control unit connected to one end of an articulating arm, the other end of which is connected to an x-ray source, which is configured to generate x-ray radiation that is acquired by an x-ray detector held at a desired position by an x-ray detector holder that is removably coupled to a collimator at an emission region of the x-ray source.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a stationary X-ray source for a multisource X-ray imaging system for tomographic imaging. The stationary X-ray source includes an array of thermionic cathodes and, in most embodiments a rotating anode. The anode rotates about a rotation axis, however the anode is stationary in the horizontal or vertical dimensions (e.g. about axes perpendicular to the rotation axis). The elimination of mechanical motion improves the image quality by elimination of mechanical vibration and source motion; simplifies system design that reduces system size and cost; increases angular coverage with no increase in scan time; and results in short scan times to, in medical some medical imaging applications, reduce patient-motion-induced blurring.

Abstract: The invention refers to a system for providing a spectral image using a conventional CT system. The system comprises a data providing unit (11) for providing first projection data and second projection data, wherein the first and second projection data have been acquired using different acquisition spectra, wherein the first projection data has been acquired during a scout scan and the second projection data has been acquired during a diagnostic scan, or wherein the first and second projection data have been acquired by a first and second part of the detector, respectively. The first and second part of the detector acquire projection data with different acquisition spectra. A spectral image generation unit (12) generates a spectral image based on the projection data. With this system a spectral image can be provided using a conventional CT system with a decreased acquisition time.

Abstract: An adaptive X-ray anti-scatter device (20) for placement in the source-detector axis (22) of an X-ray imager (8) comprising:—an anti-scatter filter having a source orientable surface and a detector orientable surface, wherein the anti-scatter filter comprises a plurality of realignable slats (24) for absorbing incident X-rays, wherein the slats are separated by a plurality of interstitial portions (26); and—a first actively deformable member (26a) comprising a first set of one or more actively deformable actuators (28a, 28b) disposed across a first region of the first actively deformable member (26a), wherein one or more actively deformable actuators of the first set of one or more actively deformable actuators are configured to change the alignment of a corresponding of slat of the anti-scatter filter in relation to the source-detector axis, wherein at least a portion of each actuator of the first set of one or more actively deformable actuators is partially or fully recessed within the interstitial portions

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for digital radiography. The system may include an X-ray generation module, an X-ray acquisition module, a control module, a support module and a power supply module. The system may include one or more moving components. The X-ray acquisition module may have different configurations, such as a vertical configuration, a horizontal configuration and a free-style configuration. The control module may be configured for controlling the motion of the moving components, the selection of an X-ray acquisition module of a specific configuration, and parameters of the X-ray exposure and image acquisition. The support module may include a system of guiding rails. The power supply module may include a supercapacitor.

Abstract: This application proposes an improved medical imaging device enabling a timely communication of critical findings. The medical imaging device comprises an image acquisition unit, adapted to acquire image data of a subject to be imaged. The medical imaging device further comprises a local data processing device having an artificial-intelligence-module, Al-module, adapted to automatically detect a finding on basis of the acquired image data and to determine a priority status of the detected finding. Further, the medical imaging device comprises a notification module, adapted to provide, if the determined priority status reaches or exceeds a notification threshold, a notification data containing the detected finding. The application further proposes a medical imaging system, a method of operating a medical imaging device, a computer program element and a computer-readable medium having stored the computer program element.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with an imaging device (12) configured to acquire a set of angiographic images of a lumen. At least one processor (10) includes blood-velocity-determination functionality (16) that determines blood velocity within the lumen, via image processing. Current-flow-related-parameter-determination functionality (18) determines a value of a flow-related parameter at the location based upon the determined blood velocity. Flow-related-parameter-receiving functionality (19) receives an indication of a value of a second flow-related parameter of the subject, and index-determination functionality (21) determines a value of a luminal-flow-related index of the subject at the location, by determining a relationship between the value of the current flow-related parameter and the value of the second flow-related parameter. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for locating a target subject associated with an X-ray system. The X-ray system may include an X-ray source, a detection component, an arm, and a platform. The X-ray system may also include a first positioning component, a second positioning component, or a third positioning component. The first positioning component may be configured to determine a target point where a region of interest (ROI) of the target subject locates. The second positioning component may be configured to locate the target subject. The third positioning component may be configured to obtain location information of a target device associated with the target subject in real-time.

Abstract: A method for determining a correction profile of an imaging device may include obtaining first data relating to the imaging device; comparing the first data and a first condition; obtaining, based on the comparison, a first correction profile relating to the imaging device; and calibrating, based on the first correction profile, the imaging device.

Abstract: One or more auscultation sensors attached to the skin of an at-least-prospectively contagiously-infected patient are connected via a corresponding associated one or more sensor cables so as to provide for one or more health care practitioners to listen to auscultation sounds from the one or more auscultation sensors from a relatively safe distance, without a need for close proximity to the patient when listening.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for non-invasively detecting and monitoring medical conditions using multiple modalities of sensing include at least two electrodes configured to be positioned on a subject, an acoustic sensor configured to be positioned on a subject, a thoracic impedance measurement module connected to the electrodes, for measuring a first impedance between the electrodes, and a heart acoustic measurement module connected to the acoustic sensor, for detecting and measuring a heart sound from the acoustic sensor.

Abstract: A first region of interest and a second region of interest are set respectively including a first end and a second end of a blood vessel of interest running in an umbilical cord. A template representing a fluctuation of a pulse at the first end is produced from a change of brightness information in the first region of interest. A graph representing a fluctuation of a pulse at the second end is produced from a change of brightness information in the second region of interest. A propagation time of blood is calculated by identifying a portion, in the graph, which matches the template. A length of the umbilical cord is estimated based on the propagation time.

Abstract: Described are non-invasive methods and associated embodiments for determining an indicator of hemodynamic function using a lumped parameter model of cardiovascular function. The model uses data obtained using a non-invasive cardiovascular imaging modality such as Doppler echocardiography as well as blood pressure data. Various embodiments allow for the diagnosis, monitoring or prognosis of cardiovascular disease including complex valvular, vascular and ventricular diseases (C3VI) as well as prospectively assessing the effect of interventions on cardiovascular function and heart workload.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for calculating a pulse wave velocity based on a plurality of intravascular ultrasonic pulses directed along a vessel. For each ultrasonic pulse, a plurality of echoes is received from a plurality of distances along the vessel. A first ultrasound Doppler signal is received from a first distance from the pulse origin and a second ultrasound Doppler signal from a second distance from the pulse origin. A first and second flow velocity metric is obtained based on the first and second ultrasound Doppler signal, respectively. The pulse wave velocity is calculated based on the time delay, which is based on the first flow velocity metric and the second flow velocity metric.

Abstract: An analysis method and an electronic apparatus for breast image are provided. The method includes the following steps. One or more breast ultrasound images are obtained. The breast ultrasound images are used for forming a three-dimensional (3D) breast model. A volume of interest (VOI) in the breast ultrasound image is obtained by applying a detection model on the 3D breast model. The VOI is compared with a tissue segmentation result. The VOI is determined as a false positive according to a compared result between the VOI and the tissue segmentation result. The compared result includes that the VOI is located at a glandular tissue based on the tissue segmentation result. In response to the VOI being located in the glandular tissue of the tissue segmentation result, the VOI is compared with the lactiferous duct in the 3D breast model.

Abstract: Microresonator structures including a top polymer film layer, a bottom polymer film layer, and a smart hydrogel structure sandwiched between the polymer film layers. An ultrasound resonator cavity having a resonance frequency is defined between the top and bottom polymer layers, and the smart hydrogel structure is configured to provide a change in height to the ultrasound resonator cavity due to volumetric expansion or contraction of the smart hydrogel structure, in response to interaction of the smart hydrogel structure with one or more predefined analytes in an in vivo or other environment. Related methods of use for determining the presence or concentration of a given target analyte, as well as methods of fabricating such microresonator structures are also described.

Abstract: Provided is a non-invasive system and method of determining pennation angle and/or fascicle length based on image processing. An ultrasound scan image is processed to facilitate distinguishing of muscle fiber and tendon. The processed ultrasound scan image is then analyzed. The pennation angle and/or fascicle length is determined based on the analysis. An example method includes receiving an ultrasound scan image of at least a portion of a skin layer as disposed above one or more additional tissue layers, the image provided by a plurality of pixels. The method continues by introducing noise into the pixels of the image and thresholding the pixels of the image to provide a binary image having a plurality of structural elements of different sizes. The method continues with morphing the structural elements of the binary image to remove small structural elements and connect large structural elements.

Abstract: Devices, systems and/or methods for monitoring and/or stimulating osteogenesis use sensor data from a target site of a bone to produce a quantitative output that can be used to determine the healing rate of the patient, when the bone at the target has fully consolidated and/or to direct further treatment of the patient.

Abstract: An intraluminal imaging device (102) includes a flexible elongate member sized and shaped for positioning within a vessel of a patient, the flexible elongate member including a proximal portion and a distal portion; an imaging assembly (110) disposed at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, the imaging assembly including a conductor interface (320); a plurality of wires (330) extending along a length of the flexible elongate member and in communication with the imaging assembly, wherein the plurality of wires are coupled to the imaging assembly at the conductor interface; and a guide member (350) disposed adjacent to the conductor interface, wherein the plurality of wires extend through the guide member. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging catheter includes: a drive shaft including a signal transmitter and receiver at a distal end portion and configured to rotate and move forward and backward; a support tube on an outer periphery of the drive shaft along an axial direction and configured to move forward and backward i with the drive shaft; a sheath in which the drive shaft is positioned; a relay connector connected to a proximal end of the sheath; and a sealing member providing a seal between the relay connector and the support tube at a position proximal of the sheath proximal end. The relay connector includes a main lumen extending from the sealing member to the sheath proximal end and an injection lumen communicating with the main lumen at a communication port. A distal end of the support tube is movable to a position proximal of the front edge of the communication port.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging apparatus includes: a processor; and a storage. The storage is configured to store first-type reference data corresponding to a first observation target and second-type reference data corresponding to a second observation target. The processor is configured to transmit, to an ultrasound probe, a signal for making the ultrasound probe transmit an ultrasound wave to an observation target, receive an echo signal, perform frequency analysis based on the echo signal to calculate a frequency spectrum, obtain reference data, correct the frequency spectrum using the reference data, calculate a feature based on the corrected frequency spectrum, when the observation target is the first observation target, obtain the first-type reference data as the reference data, and when the observation target is the second observation target, obtain the second-type reference data as the reference data.

Abstract: High frequency ultrasound transducers configured for use with high frequency ultrasound diagnostic imaging systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an ultrasound transducer includes a concave lens having an average thickness in a center portion that that is substantially equal to an odd multiple a ¼-wavelength of the center frequency of the ultrasound transducer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling an activation state of an ultrasound probe that is part of an ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound probe includes a cable, and the ultrasound imaging system includes a probe holder defining a slot for allowing passage of a cable. The activation state of the ultrasound probe is controlled by a processor based on signals received from a sensor assembly attached to the probe holder and configured to detect movement of the cable through the slot defined by the probe holder.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for guiding the acquisition of an ultrasound image. A 3D ultrasound image is acquired by an ultrasound probe at a first position and an anatomical structure is identified within the 3D ultrasound image. A target imaging plane is estimated based on the identified anatomical structure and it is determined whether the target imaging plane is present within the 3D ultrasound image. If the target imaging plane is present, a displacement between a central plane of the 3D ultrasound image and the target plane is determined. If the displacement is below a predetermined threshold, the target imaging plane is extracted and if the displacement is above the predetermined threshold, an instruction to acquire a 3D ultrasound image with the ultrasound probe at a second position, different from the first position, is generated based on the displacement. The invention further provides a method for estimating a target imaging plane.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes ultrasound systems and methods for smart shear wave elastography in anisotropic tissue. An example method may include identifying muscle fiber structures from a 3D ultrasound image dataset. The method may include providing a representation of at least one identified muscle fiber structure relative to a surface of a transducer. The method may include selecting at least one of the identified muscle fiber structures. The method may include determining a target measurement plane based on an orientation of the selected muscle fiber structure. The method may also include transmitting ultrasound pulses in accordance with a sequence configured to perform shear wave imaging in the target measurement plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing shear wave elastography using push and/or detection ultrasound beams that are generated by subsets of the available number of transducer elements in an ultrasound transducer. These techniques provide several advantages over currently available approaches to shear wave elastography, including the ability to use a standard, low frame rate ultrasound imaging system and the ability to measure shear wave speed throughout the entire field-of-view rather than only those regions where the push beams are not generated.

Abstract: A shear wave elastography method for imaging an observation field in an anisotropic medium, including an initial ultrasonic acquisition step during which initial physical parameters are acquired in at least one region of interest; a spatial characterization step during which a set of spatial characteristics of the anisotropic medium is determined on the basis of the initial physical parameter; an excitation substep during which an shear wave is generated inside the anisotropic medium on the basis of the set of spatial characteristics; and an observation substep during which the propagation of the shear wave is observed simultaneously at a multitude of points in the observation field.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to generate contrast image data on the basis of a contrast signal acquired from an examined subject to whom a contrast agent is administered. The processing circuitry is configured to generate blood flow image data on the basis of a blood flow signal estimated by performing a filtering process on the contrast signal. The processing circuitry is configured to output information indicating a region where the contrast agent is stagnant within a region of interest, on the basis of the contrast image data and the blood flow image data.

Abstract: An ultrasound system produces 3D images at a high framerate of display. A volumetric region is scanned with plane wave or diverging transmit beams to insonify a large part of or even the entire volumetric region with each transmit event. To avoid the acquisition of clutter signals in the azimuth and elevation dimensions, the plane waves or diverging beams are transmitted at angles intermediate the elevation and azimuth directions. By transmitting plane waves or diverging beams at multiple different angles which are each a combination of both the elevation and azimuth directions, sidelobe clutter is reduced in the resulting compounded images.

Abstract: An ultrasound system produces high quality images at a high framerate of display. A plane or volume to be imaged is scanned by different diverging transmit beams to acquire a series of different sub-frames, the number of sub-frame acquisitions comprising a total number of transmit beams which would produce a high quality image. The echoes received in response to the transmit beams of a sub-frame are coherently combined with the echoes received in other sub-frames. Each time the echoes of a new sub-frame have been coherently combined with the echoes of all other different sub-frames, a full image is produced. After a complete series of sub-frames has been received and the echoes combined, another series of sub-frame acquisition is commenced and a new series of sub-frames acquired. As each new sub-frame is acquired, it is coherently combined with all the other different and most recently acquired sub-frames.

Abstract: A biological fluid sampling vessel may include a container portion having an opening and an interior for housing a urine sample therein. The vessel may further include a sampling portion that removably engages the container portion to close off the interior. The sampling portion may include a sampling wand configured for obtaining a sample.

Abstract: An ocular device for insertion into the eye (for example, into a lacrimal punctum or a conjunctival sac) are described herein. The ocular device may continuously capture specific analytes from tear fluid. Several embodiments of the ocular device may have one or more open channels and pores that enable tears to drain naturally through while capturing specific analytes. A mechanism of detecting analytes in bodily fluids using materials comprised of DNAzymes and/or aptamers are described herein. Aptamers are oligonucleotide or peptide molecules that bind to a specific target molecule. DNAzymes are designed to catalyze a number of biological reactions (i.e., RNA cleavage, DNA cleavage, ligation, or phosphorylation reactions). A number of ways an ocular insert may capture analytes in tear fluid in vivo for subsequent in vitro analysis are described herein. Additionally, a specific mechanism for colorimetric detection of analytes using aptamer- and/or DNAzyme-crosslinked hydrogels are described herein.

Abstract: Viruses, including corona viruses such as COVID-19, are often present in the mouth or nose of a person before they infect the body. The disclosed electrochemical device destroys or denatures viruses in the mouth or nose rendering the viruses ineffective to cause infection by applying a low voltage potential to the mucus. The device can being configured to detect viruses through chronoamperomatry.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a hydraulic drive assembly, a drive mechanism, and a biopsy member. The hydraulic drive assembly includes a chamber housing, a drive piston, a driven piston, a cavity in the chamber housing between the drive piston and the driven piston, and a hydraulic fluid that fills the cavity and hydraulically connects the drive piston to the driven piston. The chamber housing defines a proximal chamber, a distal chamber, and a transition chamber, collectively forming a continuous passage. The drive mechanism includes a motor, a drive gear attached to the motor, a driven gear engaged with the drive gear, and a drive link member coupling the driven gear to the drive piston. The drive mechanism is drivably connected to the drive piston to move the drive piston in the proximal chamber. The driven piston moves in the distal chamber. The biopsy member is connected to the driven piston.