Abstract: To provide a non-invasive blood pressure estimation apparatus, which can accurately estimate systolic blood pressure from blood flow sound of a dialysis patient and continuously estimate systolic blood pressure by continuously picking up the blood flow sound. A blood pressure estimation apparatus creates a standard pulse curve by relating a start point and end point of a rising phase of a pulse wave to diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure, respectively, creates a correspondence curve between blood flow sound power and estimated blood pressure by contrasting the standard pulse curve with the blood flow sound power curve obtained from blood flow sound at a shut site, with the two curves plotted on the same time axis, derives a systolic blood pressure estimation linear function from the correspondence curve, inputs a measured maximum value of the blood flow sound power into the linear function, and thereby estimates systolic blood pressure.

Abstract: An angiographic image processing system includes a filtering module (40) configured to filter an angiographic image based on blood vessel diameter (46) to identify neovasculature having small blood vessel diameter, and a display sub-system (32, 70) configured to display the angiographic image with the identified neovasculature. A neovasculature density computation module (72) is configured to compute density of the neovasculature identified by the filtering module (40).

Abstract: According to some embodiments, there is provided a medical monitoring device that includes one or more sensors, wherein a sensor is adapted to sense a parameter of a patient and computator adapted to receive an output of at least one sensor and to compute a condition-index-value directly related to a condition of the patient.

Abstract: A relation is formed between an n-tuple having n components and formed at a first point in time and at least one other n-tuple having n components formed at at least one corresponding later point in time, wherein n is a natural number equal to or greater than 1, and the components comprise at least one derived parameter and/or one read-in data value. If this relationship satisfies a predetermined calibration criterion, a calibration signal is triggered and is displayed, and/or automatically triggers a recalibration of the haemodynamic monitoring device. For example, the pulse contour cardiac output PCCO is derived from the arterial pressure curve as the constituent component of a 1-tuple. As long as this differs from the reference cardiac output CORef by less than a predefined threshold value, for example 101 or 15% of the reference cardiac output, parameter determination continues without initiating a new calibration.

Abstract: A first generating unit generates a plurality of blood vessel image data sets at the plurality of imaging angles by performing subtraction processing for the plurality of mask image data sets and the plurality of contrast image data sets. A second generating unit generates a blood vessel volume data set including an artery region, a vein region, and a capillary vessel region by performing reconstruction processing for the plurality of blood vessel image data sets. A third generating unit generates a capillary vessel volume data set associated with the capillary vessel region by removing the artery region and the vein region from the blood vessel volume data set. A fourth generating unit generates a capillary vessel image data set by performing three-dimensional image processing for the capillary vessel volume data set.

Abstract: An automated method of determining a measure of a subject's heart age comprising the steps of: prompting a user for a plurality of inputs, each relating to an attribute of the subject, each attribute defining one or more of a demographic status of the subject, a lifestyle status of the subject, a physical condition of the subject and a medical history of the subject; receiving, from the user, a plurality of said inputs; determining from said received inputs, a set of parameters for which input data has been received as input from the user; selecting a heart age calculation algorithm from a predetermined set of heart age calculation algorithms according to said set of parameters; and calculating a heart age for the subject according to the selected algorithm; and providing as output said calculated heart age.

Abstract: Techniques of inducing a physiological perturbation to monitor a heart failure status of a patient are described. An implantable medical device (IMD) may induce a physiological perturbation in the patient to monitor and determine how the patient responds to the physiological change. This response may be indicative of heart failure improvement or worsening. For example, the IMD may deliver electrical stimulation with parameters configured to perturb the patient (e.g., stimulation that deviates from stimulation therapy). The IMD may then detect at least one physiological parameter to monitor the patient's response to the perturbation. Based on the detected physiological parameter, the IMD may generate a heart failure status. The heart failure status may then be used for adjusting patient therapy, with or without the use of remote monitoring.

Abstract: A patient monitoring system may determine one or more reference points of a physiological signal. The system may select one or more fiducial points on the physiological signal relative to the reference points. The one or more fiducial points may be selected by selecting a point spaced by a time interval relative to one of the reference points. The time interval may be a predetermined constant, or the time interval may depend on physiological information. The system may generate a fiducial signal based on the selected fiducial points, calculate physiological information such as a respiration rate based on the selected fiducial points, or both.

Abstract: A computer-based device and predictive model executable by computer software for use with the device to predict or estimate a percentage probability of death from thrombosis in a patient with active cancer.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device for cardiac resynchronization therapy with effort based rate-responsive pacing is described. The device calculates a rate-responsive stimulation frequency based on output signal of an effort sensor between a base frequency (fbase) and a maximum frequency (fmax). The device determines a target stimulation frequency based on the difference between a first frequency and the maximum frequency (fmax). The first frequency is the higher frequency of the base frequency (fbase) and the spontaneous frequency of the patient. The device calculates a stimulation frequency that has an immediate increase in the pacing rate from the higher of the initial value of the current stimulation frequency, or the spontaneous frequency to the target stimulation frequency, within a predetermined time, or a predetermined number of cardiac cycles. A plurality of consecutive effort zones (Z1-Z4) is defined over the extent of the dynamic range of the output signal of the effort sensor.

Abstract: A method of calculating blood flow in an organ of a subject using output radiofrequency signals transmitted to the organ and input radiofrequency signals received from the organ, the method comprises determining a phase shift of the input radiofrequency signals relative to the output radiofrequency signals and using the phase shift to calculate the blood flow in the organ.

Abstract: A mobile measurement device comprising a computing device; one or more sensors that are coupled to the computing device using one or more corresponding compatible digital interfaces; and logic encoded with instructions which when executed perform determining and storing vascular function information and one or more of: values of metrics or parameters; physiological analysis of the parameters and the vascular function information; recommendations for actions that an individual or healthcare provider should take in response to the recommendations or parameters. Embodiments further include processes for using vascular function information collected from a mobile measurement device to generate the parameters, analysis, and recommendations.

Abstract: User interfaces for medical perfusion systems that provide oxygenation, filtering, and recirculation of blood in connection with various medical procedures are provided. In particular, methods of displaying and communicating a desired target flow rate and cardiac index during cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.

Abstract: Implanted electrodes can be used to deliver electrical stimulation signals to areas near blood vessels, nerves, or other internal body locations. In an example, an electrode can be implanted in a cervical location and can be used to measure dimensional changes in an artery using impedance plethysmography. Measured artery dimensional changes can be used to determine one or more physiological parameters associated with a patient's health status, such as pulse transit time, relative pulse pressure, or aterial compliance, among others. These parameters can be used to monitor a patient health status or to modulate a patient's therapy, among other uses. In some examples, an electrode configured to deliver an electrostimulation signal to nerve tissue can be used to provide non-neurostimulating electrical stimulation plethysmography signals near a blood vessel.

Abstract: A wireless network having an architecture that resembles a peer-to-peer network has two types of nodes, a first sender type node and a second receiver/relay type node. The network may be used in a medical instrumentation environment whereby the first type node may be wireless devices that could monitor physical parameters of a patient such as for example wireless oximeters. The second type node are mobile wireless communicators that are adapted to receive the data from the wireless devices if they are within the transmission range of the wireless devices. After an aggregation process involving the received data, each of the node communicators broadcasts or disseminates its most up to date data onto the network. Any other relay communicator node in the network that is within the broadcast range of a broadcasting communicator node would receive the up to date data.

Abstract: A method to measure arterial elasticity and arteriosclerosis includes a measuring step and a sampling step to obtain a pulse waveform which represents the displacement of an arterial wall during elastic dilation and contraction. The method of the invention also includes a first differentiation step and a second differentiation step to respectively obtain a first differential pulse waveform and a second differential pulse waveform. The evaluation data is obtained when the arterial wall dilates to the maximum thereof. In an evaluating step, the maximum elastic force represented by the second differentiation of the maximum displacement of the arterial wall is divided by the maximum displacement of the arterial wall to obtain an arterial elasticity coefficient to determine extent of arteriosclerosis and prevent cardiovascular diseases. The present invention has advantages of noninvasive and direct evaluation to arterial elasticity, easy operation, high accuracy and low cost and thus has very high utility.

Abstract: The systems, devices, and methods described herein provide for the estimation and monitoring of cerebrovascular system properties and intracranial pressure (ICP) from one or more measurements or measured signals. These measured signals may include central or peripheral arterial blood pressure (ABP), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) or cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV). The measured signals may be acquired noninvasively or minimally-invasively. The measured signals may be used to estimate parameters and variables of a computational model that is representative of the physiological relationships among the cerebral flows and pressures. The computational model may include at least one resistive element, at least one compliance element, and a representation of ICP.

Abstract: A sphygmomanometer cuff is provided for measuring the blood pressure over a blood vessel. The sphygmomanometer cuff has at least one inflatable cuff part (3), which can be filled with a fluid for exerting pressure on the blood vessel, wherein the inflatable cuff part (3) has different widths at at least two points (I, II) along its longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A distributed medical sensing system including a first body sensing device configured to sense medical characteristics, the first body sensing device being located in a first sterile field and a second body sensing device configured to sense medical characteristics, the second body sensing device being located in a second sterile field, the second sterile field being spaced from the first sterile field. The syJostem also includes a computing device outside of the first and second sterile fields and communicatively coupled to the first and second body sensing devices, the computing device configured to respectively receive first and second medical characteristic data from the first and second body sensing devices, process the first and second medical characteristic data, and transmit the processed first and second medical characteristic data to respective first and second user interface devices.

Abstract: A distributed medical sensing system including a first hub configured to receive first medical characteristic data from a first body sensing device, the first body sensing device being located in a first sterile field and a second hub configured to receive second medical characteristic data from a second body sensing device, the second body sensing device being located in a second sterile field spaced from the first sterile field. The system also includes a computing device outside of the first and second sterile fields and communicatively coupled to the first and second hubs, the computing device configured to receive the first and second medical characteristic data from the respective first and second hubs, process the first and second medical characteristic data, and transmit the processed first and second medical characteristic data to the respective first and second hubs.

Abstract: A standard handheld cellular telephone for obtaining diagnostic data is described. In at least one aspect, a standard handheld cellular telephone has a processor, a cellular transceiver, a signal transmitter, a signal receiver and memory for storing instructions for execution by the processor. The acoustic, electromagnetic, optical, and positioning functions of a cellular telephone are exploited. The standard handheld cellular telephone is configured to be capable of performing operations including causing the signal transmitter to transmit a signal through a medium when the signal transmitter is placed adjacent to the medium, receiving with the signal receiver one or more propagations of the transmitted signal after the transmitted signal has passed at least in part through the medium, and obtaining diagnostic data from the received one or more signal propagations.

Abstract: An implant assembly is implanted in vivo within a vascular system in the implant assembly has a diameter greater than a vessel and compliance characteristics such that, upon release, the implant assembly forms an interference fit is between the anchor structure and the vessel wall, thereby preventing further distal movement.

Abstract: A delivery system for fixation of an implant assembly having an intracorporeal device at a deployment site using an anchoring structure. This invention provides an implant assembly having an anchor for fixation within a vessel. The anchoring structure adapted to be delivered via a catheter.

Abstract: Hypoxia is diagnosed through measurements of oxygen saturation. Some examples of hypoxia conditions that may be diagnosed include peripheral vascular disease, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, ischemia, hypotension, and arteriosclerosis. In a specific implementation, a hypoxia condition is diagnosed based on changes in oxygen saturation in tissue. Ischemia is induced, and then measurements of changes in oxygen saturation in tissue are made. Based on changes in oxygen saturation, a diagnosis is provided of whether a patient has or does not have a hypoxia condition.

Abstract: Sensor guide wire for intravascular measurements of a physiological variable in a living body, comprising a core wire running along at least a part of the sensor guide wire and a sensor element arranged in a jacket in a sensor region of the sensor guide wire. The jacket is tubular and is provided with a jacket wall and a portion of the core wire that extends longitudinally along the sensor region forms part of the wall of the jacket, in order to provide more space in the jacket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring changes in the intra-thoracic pressure of a patient due to the patient's respiratory activity or volumetric changes in the extra-thoracic arterial circulatory system due to cardiac function based on the changes in pressure in the patient's extra-thoracic arterial circulatory system as measured by a plethysmography sensor, such as an photoplethysmograph. A frequency spectrum is generated for the plethysmograph signal and the frequencies of interest is isolated from the frequency spectrum by setting appropriate cutoff frequencies for the frequency spectrum. This isolated frequency is used to filter the plethysmograph signal to provide a signal indicative of the patient's respiratory activity or cardiac function.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an implantable medical device includes a controller circuit, a posture sensing circuit, and a physiological sensing circuit. The controller circuit senses a change in a physiological signal as a result of a change in posture, and generates a response as a function of that change. In another embodiment, the controller circuit identifies a heart failure condition as a function of the change in the physiological signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a patient's circulatory fill status is adapted to provide a dilution curve and is capable to derive the ratio between the patient's global end-diastolic volume GEDV and the patient's intra thoracic thermo volume ITTV from the dilution curve. Further, a computer program for determining a patient's circulatory fill status has instructions adapted to carry out the steps of generating the dilution curve on basis of provided measurement data of dilution versus time, deriving the ratio between the patient's global end-diastolic volume GEDV and the patient's intra thoracic thermo volume ITTV from the dilution curve, and determining the patient's circulatory fill status on basis of the ratio between the patient's global end-diastolic volume GEDV and the patient's intra thoracic thermo volume ITTV, when the computer program is run on a computer. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for use in analysing impedance measurements performed on a subject, the subject being arranged such that body fluid levels in at least one leg segment of the subject changes between a first time and a second time, the method including, in a processing system, at the first time, determining at least one first impedance value indicative of the impedance of the at least one leg segment of the subject; at the second time, determining at least one second impedance value indicative of the impedance of the at least one leg segment of the subject; and, determining an indicator based on the at least one first and at least one second impedance values, the indicator being indicative of changes in the body fluid levels.

Abstract: Tools and techniques for estimating a probability that a patient is bleeding or has sustained intravascular volume loss (e.g., due to hemodialysis or dehydration) and/or to estimate a patient's current hemodynamic reserve index, track the patient's hemodynamic reserve index over time, and/or predict a patient's hemodynamic reserve index in the future. Tools and techniques for estimating and/or predicting a patient's dehydration state. Tools and techniques for controlling a hemodialysis machine based on the patient's estimated and/or predicted hemodynamic reserve index.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for remote monitoring of patient cognitive function using implanted cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices and a patient management system. The method comprising: presenting a cognitive test to a patient via a user interface; receiving a result of the cognitive test using the user interface; and using the result of the cognitive test in determining a heart failure condition status.

Abstract: A system and method for providing computerized, knowledge-based medical diagnostic advice. The medical advice is provided to the general public over a network, such as a telephone network with the use of a telephone or the Internet with the use of an Internet access device. Alternatively, the medical advice can be provided to a patient in a stand-alone mode by use of a computer. The invention utilizes a list-based processing method of generating and executing diagnostic scripts. For the purpose of diagnosing a health problem of a patient, medical knowledge is organized into a list of the diseases to be considered. Each disease on the disease list includes a list of symptoms that is checked in a patient. Each symptom on the symptom list is then further described as a response to a list of one or more questions asked of the patient about the symptom. This triply-nested list structure is converted by suitable data structure transformations into a script that is stored.

Abstract: Physical monitoring systems are disclosed which may allow for alarm sensitivity adjustment. A user may indicate an alarm sensitivity of a patient monitoring system to a physiological parameter, signal metric, operating condition metric, or other parameter or metric. The patient monitoring system may configure one or more alarm settings based on the indicated alarm sensitivity. Low sensitivity may reduce the probable occurrence or severity of alarm activations, while high sensitivity may increase the probable occurrence or severity of alarm activations.

Abstract: This invention describes a method for processing pressure signals derivable from locations inside or outside a human or animal body or body cavity. Different aspects of the invention relate to a method for optimal differentiating between cardiac beat- and artifact-induced pressure waves, a method for obtaining new and improved information from said pressure signals. In particular, this invention describes the use of said inventive method for processing of pressure signals for controlling an adjustable shunt valve. The method can be incorporated in a processing unit of a device for use in draining fluid from a brain or spinal fluid cavity.

Abstract: A method facilitating the measurement of hemodynamic parameters by injection of an indicator in an indicator dilution technique using an extracorporeal circuit connected to a patient, includes reducing a pressure spike associated with the introduction of the indicator into the extracorporeal circuit. The method diverts blood flow during an indicator introduction and then returns the diverted blood back into the extracorporeal circuit after the introduction is completed.

Abstract: Provided herein are implantable systems that include an implantable photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, which can be used to obtain an arterial PPG waveform. In an embodiment, a metric of a terminal portion of an arterial PPG waveform is determined, and a metric of an initial portion of the arterial PPG waveform is determined, and a surrogate of mean arterial pressure is determined based on the metric of the terminal portion and the metric of the initial portion. In another embodiment, a surrogate of diastolic pressure is determined based on a metric of a terminal portion of an arterial PPG waveform. In a further embodiment, a surrogate of cardiac afterload is determined based on a metric of a terminal portion of an arterial PPG waveform.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for non-invasively assessing one or more hemodynamic parameters associated with the circulatory system of a living organism. In one aspect, the invention comprises a method of measuring a hemodynamic parameter by measuring a non-calibrated value of the parameter non-invasively, and inducing a stress of the circulatory system while measuring a second parameter. The response of the circulatory system to the stress is determined directly from the subject, and a calibration function is derived from the response and applied to the non-calibrated measured value to produce a calibrated measure of the actual value of the hemodynamic parameter. Methods of using backscattered acoustic energy for determination of hemodynamic markers are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heart rate variability device and cloud health management system. The heart rate variability device comprises a CPU and is adapted with a telecommunication and communication module. The cloud health management system comprises more than one cloud server and a stress-relieved mechanism server. The invention may serve as a heart rate variability device on one hand, and on the other hand may make use of the telecommunication and communication module to internet-connecting to a hospital, a stress-relieved mechanism and a cloud, thereby forming a new business model to achieve the objectives of reducing cost for heart rate variability disease and accomplishing entire health management.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of at least a portion of an anatomical structure of the patient. The portion of the anatomical structure may include at least a portion of the patient's aorta and at least a portion of a plurality of coronary arteries emanating from the portion of the aorta. The at least one computer system may also be configured to create a three-dimensional model representing the portion of the anatomical structure based on the patient-specific data, create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic within the portion of the anatomical structure, and determine a fractional flow reserve within the portion of the anatomical structure based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for adaptive and autonomous calibration of pulse transit time measurements to obtain arterial blood pressure using arterial pressure variation. The apparatus and methods give pulse transit time (PTT) devices an ability to self-calibrate. The methods apply a distributed model with lumped parameters, and may be implemented, for example, using pulse transit time measurements derived from a wearable photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensor architecture with an intervening pressurizing mechanism.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.

Abstract: A medical system provides navigation assistance to a surgeon for navigating a flexible medical device through linked passages of an anatomical structure to a target area. For tracking, navigation, and other purposes, information of extrema is determined during expansion and contraction cycles of an object by receiving time sampled information from sensors distributed along a length of a flexible device so as to indicate the shape of the device over time while the device extends through a lumen of the object so as to conform to and resemble the shape of the lumen, displacements over time of a selected point at a selected insertion length of the flexible device into the lumen of the object relative to a reference point are determined, extrema time points are determined by identifying sign changes of the slope of the determined displacements over time, and extrema types are determined using extrema type characteristics.

Abstract: A trainable, adaptable system for analyzing functional or structural clinical data can be used to identify a given pathology based on functional data. The system includes a signal processor that receives functional data from a device monitoring a subject and normalizes the functional data over at least one cycle of functional data. The system also includes a neural network having a plurality of weights selected based on predetermined data and receiving and processing the normalized functional data based on the plurality of weights to generate at least one metric indicating a degree of relation between the normalized functional data to the predetermined data. A diagnostic interpretation module is included for receiving the at least one metric from the neural network and classifying the functional data as indicative of the given pathology or not indicative of the given pathology based on a comparison of the at least one metric to at least one probability distribution of a likelihood of the given pathology.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for guided penetration of a chronic total occlusion in a blood vessel are disclosed. The invention is directed to an apparatus that facilitates accurate placement of a drilling tip within a body lumen using ultrasound-based detection to determine the position of the intravascular catheter relative to the vessel occlusion and vessel walls.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to systems and methods for optimizing the performance and minimizing complications related to implanted sensors, such as pressure sensors, for the purposes of detecting, diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease in a medical patient. Systems and methods for anchoring implanted sensors to various body structures are also provided.