08th week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 44 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140051924 | In Vivo Capsule Device with Electrodes - A capsule endoscopic device with movement control is disclosed. The capsule endoscopic device comprises a capsule housing, one or more electrodes disposed fixedly through the capsule housing and a processing unit inside the capsule housing. The electrodes apply electrical stimulus to living body tissue in a patient's gastrointestinal track. The processing unit generates the electrical stimulus according to a quantified movement of the capsule endoscopic device to adjust movement of the capsule endoscopic device. Also, the capsule device can be configured for multi-function electrodes. In one embodiment, the capsule device can be configured to use the electrodes to adjust movement in vivo. In another embodiment, the capsule device can be configured to use the electrodes to download data stored in an archive memory inside the capsule device. In yet another embodiment, the capsule device can configure the electrodes to collect electrochemical data. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051925 | FILTER SWITCHING DEVICE FOR FLUORESCENCE ENDOSCOPIC TELEVISION CAMERA SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a filter switching device for a fluorescence endoscopic television camera system, and more particularly, to a filter switching device for a fluorescence endoscopic television camera system, which selectively transmits light to a detector sensor of a television camera according to the white light condition or the fluorescence condition to diagnose patients using a fluorescence endoscope. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051926 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF FLUIDS AND MEDICALINSTRUMENTATION - Methods and devices for orally administering fluids and medical instrumentation to individuals for the promotion of health are disclosed. An apparatus is described comprising a pacifier configured to hold fluid and configured for sucking. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a balloon positioned within a cavity of the pacifier. The balloon is configured to facilitate expulsion of the fluid from the cavity and to limit a user's ingestion of air. In other embodiments, the apparatus includes a cartridge or ampoule configured to store a fluid and expel the fluid through the pacifier. Systems are disclosed which include the pacifier apparatus, a known quantity of fluid or powder, and sterile packaging. Other systems are disclosed whereby various attachments, both medical and non-medical, couple to the apparatus. Methods of using and methods of manufacturing are also disclosed. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051927 | ELECTRONIC CABLE ASSEMBLIES FOR USE WITH MEDICAL DEVICES - The present disclosure is directed to a cable assembly for a medical device. The cable assembly may include a plurality of conductors each defining a longitudinal axis. The plurality of conductors may be spaced so that the longitudinal axes of the plurality of conductors are parallel. The cable assembly may further include a layer of insulation material completely surrounding each of the plurality of conductors. The layer of insulation material may also extend between adjacent conductors to substantially fill areas between adjacent conductors along a length of the cable assembly, and at least one conductor may be electrically coupled to electronics at a distal portion of the electronic device. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051928 | CANNULA ARRANGEMENT FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY - An arrangement for surgery including a hub and a cannula assembly connected thereto. The cannula assembly defines a first fully enclosed chamber extending substantially along a length of the cannula assembly, with the first fully enclosed chamber being coextensive with a head central passage of the hub such that a first tool is configured to extend through the hub and the first fully enclosed chamber. The cannula assembly defining a second fully enclosed chamber that extends along only a portion of the length of the cannula assembly and spaced from the hub. The second fully enclosed chamber having an entrance and an exit being spaced from the hub for allowing a second surgical tool to extend through the second fully enclosed chamber without also passing through the hub or the first fully enclosed chamber. The first fully enclosed chamber and the second fully enclosed chamber being substantially parallel. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051929 | HYGIENE PROTECTOR FOR ENDOSCOPES, ENDOSCOPE WITH HYGIENE PROTECTOR, AND METHOD FOR FITTING A HYGIENE PROTECTOR ONTO AN ENDOSCOPE - The invention relates to a hygiene protection for endoscopes having at least one working channel ( | 2014-02-20 |
20140051930 | SURGICAL RETRACTOR AND METHOD OF USE - A retractor includes a base. A blade is connected to the base and extends between a first end and a second end. The blade includes at least one cavity configured to facilitate movement of the second end relative to the blade. A first member is disposed with the first end and connected to the second end. The first member is engageable to dispose the second end between a first linear orientation and a second non-linear orientation. Systems and methods are disclosed. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051931 | CONFIGURED AND SIZED CANNULA - A dilator retractor and the dilators that are used for minimally invasive spinal surgery or other surgery are configured to accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient as by configuring the cross sectional area in an elliptical shape, or by forming a funnel configuration with the wider end at the proximate end. In some embodiments the distal end is contoured to also accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient so that a cylindrically shaped, funnel shaped, ovoid shaped dilator retractor can be sloped or tunneled to accommodate the bone structure of the patient or provide access for implants. The dilator retractor is made with different lengths to accommodate the depth of the cavity formed by the dilators. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051932 | MINIMALLY-INVASIVE PORTAL METHODS FOR PERFORMING LUMBAR DECOMPRESSION, INSTRUMENTED FUSION/STABILIZATION, AND THE LIKE - Minimally-invasive portal systems and methods for performing lumbar decompression, instrumented fusion/stabilization, and the like. In some implementations, an access tube defining a depth may be disposed at least partially within the body of a patient. A cross-sectional area of the access tube may be adjusted in one or more dimensions. One or more retractor devices may be positioned at least substantially concentrically within the access tube and then secured to the access tube in a fixed position. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051933 | Single Port Device Having Integral Filter/Vent - A laparoscopic port device includes a compliant port body having a distal and proximal end having a lumen extending therethrough. The lumen has a filtering agent configured to retain or treat particulate contaminates present in insufflation gases. The laparoscopic port device further includes a valve operatively connected with the lumen to selectively regulate flow of the insufflation gases therethrough. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051934 | Stabilizing Port for Surgery for Facilitating Concurrent Introduction of Multiple Instruments - An access port assembly is provided including an access port having a proximal end and a distal end and a stabilizing anchor mechanically connected to the access port for stabilizing the access port within a tissue incision. An outer circumferential rim of the access port is configured and dimensioned to define a plurality of openings to facilitate concurrent introduction of a plurality of instruments. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051935 | ACCESS ASSEMBLY HAVING UNDERCUT STRUCTURE - An assembly for accessing a body cavity is provided. The access assembly includes a flexible outer sleeve configured to be received through an opening in tissue. The outer sleeve defines a passageway therethrough and a notch formed about an inner surface thereof. The access assembly further includes a support plate configured for selective reception through the passageway of the outer sleeve and within the notch formed in the inner surface. The support plate defines at least a first opening configured to receive a surgical instrument therethrough. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051936 | Ergonomic and Versatile Handles for Tools Including Surgical Instruments - A surgical instrument includes first and second members, with each member including a handle adjacent a first end of the member, a working portion having an inner surface and an outer surface and extending from a second, opposite end of the member, and a pivot portion located between the handle and the working portion. The first and second members are pivotally connected at the pivot portions about a pivot axis such that the handles are movable between an open position in which the handles are spaced apart and the working portions are adjacent one another and a closed position in which the handles have been brought together and the working portions are spaced apart. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051937 | THROAT SPRAY DEVICE WITH ILLUMINATION - A throat spray device with light apparatus, which providing lightening and allow the user of the throat spray to see his or her throat in a mirror, is disclosed in the present invention. Said throat spray device comprises of a throat spray of any kind that is commercially appropriate, a light apparatus with attachment means which attach the light apparatus to said throat spray. Said light apparatus is powered with a battery and has lightening means controlled by a on/off switch. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051938 | Device to detect and treat Apneas and Hypopnea - A method and apparatus for the treatment of Sleep Apnea events and Hypopnea episodes wherein one embodiment comprises a wearable, belt like apparatus containing a microphone and a plethysmograph. The microphone and plethysmograph generate signals that are representative of physiological aspects of respiration, and the signals are transferred to an imbedded computer. The embedded computer extracts the sound of breathing and the sound of the heart beat by Digital Signal Processing techniques. The embedded computer has elements for determining when respiration parameters falls out of defined boundaries for said respiration parameters. This exemplary method provides real-time detection of the onset of a Sleep Apnea event or Hypopnea episode and supplies stimulation signals upon the determination of a Sleep Apnea event or Hypopnea episode to initiate an inhalation. In one embodiment, the stimulus is applied to the patient by a cutaneous rumble effects actuator and/or audio effects broadcasting. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051939 | OBTAINING PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS USING EAR-LOCATED SENSORS - An apparatus and method for obtaining one or more physiological measurements associated with a user using ear-located sensors is disclosed herein. One or more of different types of sensors are configured to engage a user's ear. In some cases, the sensors will be included in one or both of a pair of earphones to capture physiological parameters. A portable device is configured to be in communication with the earphones to receive physiological parameters from the sensor(s) therein, and to potentially provide control signals to the sensors or other components in the earphones. The portable device determines physiological measurements corresponding to the received physiological parameters. The portable device is also configured to provide a user interface to interact with the user regarding the physiological measurements. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051940 | OBTAINING PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS USING EAR-LOCATED SENSORS - An apparatus and method for obtaining one or more physiological measurements associated with a user using ear-located sensors is disclosed herein. One or more of different types of sensors are configured to engage a user's ear. In some cases, the sensors will be included in one or both of a pair of earphones to capture physiological parameters. A portable device is configured to be in communication with the earphones to receive physiological parameters from the sensor(s) therein, and potentially to provide control signals to the sensors or other components in the earphones. The portable device determines physiological measurements corresponding to the received physiological parameters. The portable device is also configured to provide a user interface to interact with the user regarding the physiological measurements. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051941 | OBTAINING PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS USING A PORTABLE DEVICE - An apparatus and method for obtaining one or more physiological measurements associated with a user using a portable device alone or in combination with a detachable unit is disclosed herein. One or more of different types of sensor sets are included in one or more planar surfaces of the portable device and/or the detachable unit in communication with the portable device. The accuracy of physiological measurements is automatically ensured by the fixed positioning of the sensors relative to each other. A variety of different physiological measurements can be obtained using a portable device that users normally carry around and use on a daily basis, instead of requiring use of a separate/dedicated medical device. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051942 | Systems And Methods For Sleep Monitoring - A data collection module receives signals generated using at least one of an electromyography (EMG) sensor connected to a user, an electroencephalography (EEG) sensor connected to the user, an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor connected to the user, and an oxygen saturation (SPO2) sensor connected to the user. A mobile computing device is implemented independently of the data collection module and communicates with the data collection module. The mobile computing device includes a processor and a tangible computer readable medium including a sleep study application embodied as code for: selectively prompting the data collection module to store data samples generated based on the signals; receiving the data samples from the data collection module; and transmitting sleep study data including the data samples to a first data server. The mobile computing device further includes a communications module that wirelessly downloads the sleep study application from a second data server. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051943 | Systems And Methods For Sleep Monitoring - A data collection module for performing a sleep study is described. The data collection module includes a first module, a second module, and a collection control module. The first module receives an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal from an ECG sensor connected to a user. The second module receives an electroencephalography (EEG) signal from an EEG sensor connected to the user. The collection control module: communicates with a mobile computing device; in response to a prompt from the mobile computing device, stores data samples generated based on the ECG and EEG signals in a tangible computer readable medium; and selectively transmits the data samples to the mobile computing device. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051944 | Systems And Methods For Sleep Monitoring - A mobile computing device for performing a sleep study includes a processor, a tangible computer readable medium, and a communications module. The tangible computer readable medium includes a sleep study application embodied as code for: selectively prompting a data collection module to store data samples generated based on signals generated using at least one of an electromyography (EMG) sensor connected to a user, an electroencephalography (EEG) sensor connected to the user, an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor connected to the user, and an oxygen saturation (SPO2) sensor connected to the user; receiving the data samples from the data collection module; and transmitting sleep study data including the data samples to a first data server. The communications module wirelessly downloads the sleep study application from a second data server. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051945 | EXPANDED FREQUENCY ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY/ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY LIGHT APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE - The invention is an apparatus and method that measures expanded frequencies of electromagnetic activity in a user's brain and heart. The apparatus includes a computer, a display screen, a software program for rapid measurement and digital display of the users electromagnetic brain and heart frequencies above about 500 Hz, a plurality of EEG sensors and an EKG sensor that are connected to the computer. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051946 | RE-WEARABLE WIRELESS DEVICE - A re-wearable wireless device includes a reusable component to be secured to a disposable component. The reusable component includes a sensor interface to receive signals from an electrode secured to a living subject and monitors physiological and physical parameters associated with the living subject and a cellular wireless communication circuit. An adhesive base the device includes a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer partially covering the first adhesive layer around a perimeter thereof, where the first and second adhesive layers include different adhesives. A method of establishing a link between two wireless devices is also disclosed, where a first wireless device with an insignia representing a communication channel address identification is provided. An image of the insignia is captured with a mobile telephone computing device comprising an image sensor. The captured image is processed to extract the communication channel address identification represented by the insignia. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051947 | S&M TO IDENTIFY A SUBGROUP OF ADHD AT HIGHER RISK FOR COMPLICATING CONDITIONS - This invention is directed to embodiments of systems and methods to identify a subgroup of ADHD at higher risk for complicating conditions that, for example, may be of concern to an ADHD evaluation, may account for attention and behavior symptoms, and may lead a clinician to exclusion of ADHD from primary diagnosis. In one embodiment, a method for identifying a subgroup of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients at higher risk for complicating conditions is provided. The method can include receiving, from a user or clinician, evaluation data associated with a plurality of patients identified with ADHD as a primary diagnosis; obtaining EEG data for each of the plurality of patients; determining, based at least in part on the EEG data, an indicator of ADHD, wherein the indicator supports a positive or negative ADHD evaluation; correlating the indicator with a user's or clinician's evaluation data; and based at least in part on the correlation, determining at least one subgroup of the plurality of patients, wherein the correlation provides positive support for diagnosis of ADHD or provides support for further testing for complicating conditions before proceeding with diagnosis of ADHD in at least one patient within the at least one subgroup. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051948 | APPARATUS FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING WITH OPTICAL AND FOOTSTEP SENSORS - Wearable apparatus for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors are provided. Real-time, noninvasive health and environmental monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low-profile devices, such as earpiece modules. Physiological and environmental data is collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is stored and/or processed. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051949 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR LOCATING RELATIVE POSITIONS OF MULTIPLE PATIENT ANTENNAS - Systems and methods described herein use near field communications to locate a set of antennas attached to, coupled with, or near the patient. A signal emitted by an antenna in the set of antennas can be received by the other antennas in the set. A second signal can be further transmitted from another antenna in the set. The differential phase and/or time shifts between the antennas from the multiple signal transmissions can contain sufficient information to find the locations of the antennas in antenna centric coordinates. The antenna locations can then be used to find a location of a pill transmitter swallowed by the patient. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051950 | USE OF BIOMARKERS AND THERAPEUTIC AGENTS WITH SURGICAL DEVICES - Biomarkers are collected and used to determine biological propensities of a patient, to determine the efficacy of medical devices, to select and administer therapeutic agents, to select medical devices, to make adjustments to medical devices, and/or to adjust surgical techniques. An apparatus includes a port to draw a biological fluid (e.g., a mist) from a surgical site. The apparatus includes a sensor having a cantilevered beam. The beam includes substances selected to attract certain biomarkers as the fluid is communicated across the beam. The same apparatus or another apparatus is used to administer a therapeutic agent based at least in part on collected biomarker data. The therapeutic agent delivery apparatus may include a device that is also used to create a wound at a surgical site. For instance, a harmonic surgical instrument may be used to both collect biomarkers and administer a therapeutic agent (e.g., gene therapy using sonoporation). | 2014-02-20 |
20140051951 | APPARATUS FOR COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF HUMAN BODY FLUIDS - The present invention relates to the analysis apparatus capable of collecting the body fluid such as urine or blood, for embodiment urination and measuring or calculating the specific constituent from the collected body urine, and the apparatus for collecting body fluid capable of using by connecting to the analysis apparatus and its related article, in which the apparatus for collecting and analyzing for the body fluid of a patient consists of the body fluid collecting part and the collecting part case, the apparatus for collecting body fluid consists of the body fluid collecting part, the total tube and adapter, the collecting part is constructed with the absorbing tube, the sensor tube, the cleansing tube and the passage and is attachable/detachable connected to the collecting part, a diaper and pants exclusive for a patient are provided as the related article such that it is convenient to possess and has effects in the urination having no relations to the intention of a patient or in case of unable to use hand or foot by the intention, moreover in using together with a diaper and in nursing an acute or chronic patient. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051952 | FLOWOMETRY IN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY FOR ANALYTE LEVEL ESTIMATION - Optical coherence tomography (herein “OCT”) based analyte monitoring systems are disclosed. In one aspect, techniques are disclosed that can identify fluid flow in vivo (e.g., blood flow), which can act as a metric for gauging the extent of blood perfusion in tissue. For instance, if OCT is to be used to estimate the level of an analyte (e.g., glucose) in tissue, a measure of the extent of blood flow can potentially indicate the presence of an analyte correlating region, which would be suitable for analyte level estimation with OCT. Another aspect is related to systems and methods for scanning multiple regions. An optical beam is moved across the surface of the tissue in two distinct manners. The first can be a coarse scan, moving the beam to provide distinct scanning positions on the skin. The second can be a fine scan where the beam is applied for more detailed analysis. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051953 | ADAPTIVE CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS - This disclosure describes, among other features, systems and methods for customizing calibration curves, parameter algorithms, and the like to individual users. An initial calibration curve generated based on a population can be used as a starting point in an algorithm for measuring a physiological parameter such as glucose. The measurement algorithm can determine one or more initial measurement values for a user based on the initial calibration curve. In certain embodiments, one or more alternative measurements, such as invasive or minimally invasive measurements, can periodically or sporadically be input into the measurement algorithm. The algorithm can use the alternative measurements to adapt the calibration curve to the individual. As a result, measurements for the individual can more accurately reflect the individual's actual parameter values. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051954 | HEMOGLOBIN DISPLAY AND PATIENT TREATMENT - The present disclosure describes embodiments of a patient monitoring system and methods that include the measure and display of hemoglobin statistics. In an embodiment, total hemoglobin trending is displayed over a period of time. Statistics can include frequency domain analysis, which may be unique for each patient monitored. The total hemoglobin trending and/or statistics can further be used to help control the treatment of a patient, such as being used to control IV administration. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051955 | DETECTING DEVICE - A detecting device includes at least one detecting module. In the detecting module, a light source unit is configured to emit a first beam and a second beam. The wavelength of the first beam is different from that of the second beam. A packaging unit is disposed on the light source unit and a light detecting unit and on transmission paths of the first beam and the second beam from the light source unit. An optical microstructure unit is disposed on the transmission paths of the first beam and the second beam. The first beam and the second beam emitted from the light source unit pass through the packaging unit to pass the optical microstructure unit to be transmitted to a biological tissue, and then pass through the optical microstructure unit to pass the packaging unit to be transmitted to the light detecting unit in sequence. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051956 | NIRS SENSOR ASSEMBLY INCLUDING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE AND OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT EMI SHIELDING - A near infrared spectrophotometric sensor assembly for non-invasive monitoring of blood oxygenation levels in a subject's body is provided. The assembly includes at least one light source, at least one light detector operable to detect light emitted by the light source, an electromagnetic interference shielding disposed around at least a portion of the light detector, wherein the electromagnetic interference shielding includes an electrically conductive substrate that is optically transparent, and one or both of a light blocking sheet disposed relative to at least one of the light detectors and an encapsulating material. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051957 | Analyte Monitoring Device and Methods of Use - An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051958 | Analyte Meter Communication Module - Presented herein is a modular analyte measurement system. The analyte measurement system includes an analyte meter and at least one modular attachment. In one embodiment, a modular attachment is provided to communicate with, and transmit/receive data to, one or more external devices. Embodiments of the present invention relate to modular components of the analyte measurement system. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051959 | MACHINE LEARNING IN DETERMINING CATHETER ELECTRODE CONTACT - Cardiac catheterization is carried out by memorizing a designation of a contact state between an electrode of the probe and the heart wall as one of an in-contact state and an out-of-contact state, and making a series of determinations of an impedance phase angle of an electrical current passing through the electrode and another electrode, identifying maximum and minimum phase angles in the series, and defining a binary classifier adaptively as midway between the extremes. A test value is compared to the classifier as adjusted by a hysteresis factor, and a change in the contact state is reported when the test value exceeds or falls below the adjusted classifier. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051960 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO GATHER AND ANALYZE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC DATA - Example devices are disclosed herein that include a first elongated band coupled to a first housing to be located on a first side of a head of a subject and a second housing to be located near a second side of the head of the subject, the first elongated band comprising a first set of electrodes. The example device also includes a second elongated band coupled to the first housing and to the second housing, the second elongated band comprising a second set of electrodes. In addition, the device includes a third elongated band coupled to the first housing and to the second housing, the third elongated band comprising a third set of electrodes. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051961 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO GATHER AND ANALYZE ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC DATA - Example devices are disclosed herein that include a central body portion and a plurality of extensions extending from the central body portion, each extension having an end coupled to an electrode. The example device also includes an adjustment band disposed along a longitudinal axis of the central body to adjust a position of the extensions. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051962 | DETECTING LOSS OF FULL SKIN CONTACT IN PATIENT ELECTRODES - Patient electrodes, patient monitors, defibrillators, wearable defibrillators, software and methods may warn when an electrode stops being fully attached to the patient's skin. A patient electrode includes a pad for attaching to the skin of a patient, a lead coupled to the pad, and a contact detector that can change state, when the pad does not contact fully the skin of the patient. When the detector changes state, an output device may emit an alert, for notifying a rescuer or even the patient. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051963 | METHOD OF DETECTING SIGNAL CLIPPING IN A WEARABLE AMBULATORY MEDICAL DEVICE - A wearable medical device and method of detecting clipping of ECG signals is disclosed. In one embodiment, the wearable medical device comprises a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes configured to sense an ECG of a patient and an ECG acquisition circuit electrically coupled to a pair of the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and configured to provide an amplified and conditioned analog ECG signal, a programmable attenuation/gain stage electrically coupled between a first gain stage and a second gain stage, an ADC electrically coupled to the ECG acquisition circuit to receive and digitize the amplified and conditioned analog ECG signal and provide a digitized ECG signal, and a signal conditioning to and control unit electrically coupled to the ECG acquisition circuit and the ADC to receive and monitor the digitized ECG signal and to detect clipping of the amplified and conditioned analog ECG signal based upon the digitized ECG signal. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051964 | MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING APPARATUS - A medical diagnostic imaging apparatus according to an embodiment comprises: a bed device on which an examinee lies down; a gantry having a tunnel-shaped inner portion into which the bed device moves and inserts a table with which the examinee is in direct contact, and being configured to obtain information on an interior of the examinee by imaging the examinee located in the inner portion; and a control device configured to control drive of the bed device and the gantry. The medical diagnostic imaging apparatus further comprises a multi-degree-of-freedom support mechanism mounted at a position facing the bed device with the gantry interposed in between and configured to support the table based on a control by the control device in accordance with movement of the table. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051965 | Implantable Zero-Wire Communications System - The present invention provides implantable systems that communicate wirelessly with each other using a unique format that enables devices configurations and applications heretofore not possible. Embodiments of the present invention provide communication apparatuses and methods for exchanging information with implantable medical devices. In some embodiments, two implantable devices communicate with each other using quasi-electrostatic signal transmission in a long wavelength/low frequency electromagnetic band, with the patient's body acting as a conductive medium. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051966 | PHOTOACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND PROBE UNIT FOR USE THEREWITH - A photoacoustic measurement apparatus which includes a diffuser plate for diffusing laser light inputted from the upstream side of an optical system, a lens system for focusing the laser light diffused by the diffuser plate, and an optical fiber cable which includes an optical fiber having a core and cladding structure and a light energy resistant structure at an end portion on the side of the lens system, and is disposed such that the laser light focused by the lens is inputted from one end, in which the light projection unit projects the laser light guided by the optical fiber cable as the measuring light. In a photoacoustic measurement performed by guiding the measuring light using an optical fiber, high energy measuring light can be guided while inhibiting end face damage of the optical fiber. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051967 | PHOTOACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND PROBE UNIT FOR USE THEREWITH, AND ENDOSCOPE - A photoacoustic measurement apparatus which includes a diffuser plate which diffuses laser light inputted from the upstream side of an optical system, a lens system which focuses the laser light diffused by the diffuser plate, and an optical fiber cable which includes an optical fiber having a core and cladding structure and is disposed such that the laser light focused by the lens system is inputted from one end, in which the light projection unit projects the laser light guided by the optical fiber cable as the measuring light. In a photoacoustic measurement performed by guiding the measuring light using an optical fiber, high energy measuring light can be guided while inhibiting end face damage of the optical fiber. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051968 | RECTAL BALLOON WITH SENSOR CABLE - An endorectal balloon having a pocket thereon for holding a sensor cable that can be used for radiation dosimetry or to detect motion of the prostate or balloon. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051969 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An object information acquiring apparatus includes a light irradiating unit that radiates light to an object to generate a photoacoustic wave, a transducer that receives the photoacoustic wave, outputs a photoacoustic signal, transmits and receives an ultrasound wave beam to and from the object, and outputs an ultrasound echo signal, a determining unit that determines whether there is an object on an optical path from the light irradiating unit, and an image processor that generates internal image data of the object using the photoacoustic signal. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051970 | OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS - The present invention employs an object information acquiring apparatus comprising a probe including a plurality of conversion elements which receive acoustic waves emitted from an object and convert the acoustic waves into received signals, a delay unit which matches phases of the plurality of received signals output from the plurality of conversion elements, a signal adder which adds the plurality of received signals output from the delay unit, for each group to obtain latter input signals, and an adaptive signal processor which generates internal image data of the object by performing adaptive signal processing on the plurality of latter input signals output from a plurality of the signal adders. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051971 | LIGHT IRRADIATING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND OBJECT INFORMATION ACQUIRING APPARATUS - A light irradiating apparatus is used, which is characterized by having: a probe including an irradiating unit which guides light to an object, a housing containing the irradiating unit, and a touch sensor acquiring a contact condition amount between the object and the housing; and a controller controlling irradiation with light from the irradiating unit based on a level of the contact condition amount and a change in the contact condition amount, wherein in a case where the contact condition amount is equal to or more than a first reference value while the change in the contact condition amount which occurs when the housing is pressed against the object is a positive value, the controller performs a control which enables irradiation with light from the irradiating unit when the change in the contact condition amount is equal to or more than a second reference value. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051972 | DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND APPLICATIONS OF SAME - A drug delivery device includes a catheter having first and second ends; a flexible membrane having a rim securely connected to an inner surface of the catheter to define a first volume between the first end and the flexible membrane, and a second volume between the flexible membrane and the second end, such that the second volume is substantially the same as a desired drug volume; and a pressurizable member coupled to the catheter for operably delivering a drug. In use, a desired volume of the drug is preloaded into the second volume of the catheter that in turn is slid into a guidance device, when the guidance device is placed in a target of interest, the pressurizable member applies a pressure into the first volume to exert a force upon the flexible membrane to operably squeeze the second volume, thereby unloading the drug into the target. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051973 | MRI IMAGING SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A RENDERED IMAGE - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging system, having an MRI device that images at least a portion of an animal. The system includes: a photon transmitter that is introducible within the body of an animal; at least one imaging photon detector that detects fluorescence excited within the animal by transmitted photons from the photon transmitter; and an image processor that superimposes an MRI image and a photon detector image to yield a combined image. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051974 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MRI IMAGING USING POLARIZED LIGHT - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging system, including: an MRI device adapted to image at least a portion of an animal; a photon source; an imaging photon detector that detects photons emitted by the photon source; and an image processor that superimposes the MRI image and the photon detector image. The system also includes one or more polarizers located between the animal and the photon detector. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051975 | MULTIPLE HETEROGENEOUS IMAGING SYSTEMS FOR CLINICAL AND PRECLINICAL DIAGNOSIS - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging system. The system includes: at least one MRI device that images an object; an image processor; at least one photon detector of a first type to generate at least one first optical image of the object; and at least one photon detector of a second type to generate at least one second optical image of the object. The image processor superimposes the MRI image, the first optical image(s) and the second optical image(s) so as to yield a rendered 3D computer MRI image of the object. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051976 | MRI APPARATUS COMBINED WITH LIGHTFIELD CAMERA - An MRI apparatus that induces a magnetic resonance signal from an object to be imaged. The apparatus includes: magnet poles for creating a homogeneous magnetic field; and a set of RF coils for generating a radio frequency (RF) excitation pulse in the imaging volume of the apparatus, and for acquiring magnetic resonance signals resulting from the RF excitation pulse. The apparatus also includes a light-field (plenoptic) camera and the object may be imaged concurrently by both MRI and plenoptic channels. The obtained images can be superimposed. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051977 | Optimal Respiratory Gating In Medical Imaging - Methods and computer-readable mediums are provided for obtaining an optimally gated medical image. For example, in one embodiment, a method is provided that acquires medical images in list mode. The method also acquires a respiration correlated signal S(t). Thereafter, a final upper strain threshold value and a final lower strain threshold value pair that has a narrowest interval are selected. The medical images are synchronized with the respiration correlated signal S(t). The synchronized images and signal are used to create an optimally gated medical image. In various embodiments, the disclosed optimal gating can be utilized in PET systems and in other embodiments the disclosed optimal gating can be utilized in SPECT systems. In yet other embodiments, the optimally gated images can be matched to MRI systems and in still other embodiments, the optimally gated images can be matched to CT systems. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051978 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM FOR NON-CONTRAST MRA AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE SIGNAL ACQUISITION METHOD EMPLOYED BY THE SAME - A magnetic resonance imaging system uses a first RF coil for acquiring a magnetic resonance signal from a subject, and a device for estimating a cardiac phase of the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal acquired by the first RF coil. The first RF coil, for example, can be an RF coil exclusive to cardiac phase estimation. The magnetic resonance imaging system also uses a second RF coil for acquiring a magnetic resonance signal based on the estimated cardiac phase, and a device for reconstructing a magnetic resonance image of the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal acquired by the second RF coil. Thus, MRA can be performed by estimating a cardiac phase. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051979 | RELAXATION-CORRECTED ECG-TRIGGERING AND NAVIGATOR-GATING TECHNIQUE - A system and method for recording magnetic resonance images with reduced relaxation-related artifacts. The system and method improve the conventional methods for acquiring magnetic resonance images of in vivo tissue by augmenting the procedures for eliminating artifacts caused by motion with procedures for eliminating artifacts caused by spin of the magnetic resonance-active nuclei in the specimen of interest. One procedure to eliminate such spin inhomogeneities is to require a delay defined by the time N*T | 2014-02-20 |
20140051980 | Simulated Bone or Tissue Manipulation - A tissue manipulation system includes Programmable Markers configured to be implanted on opposite sides of one or more portions of tissue within a patient's body, Markers communicating with one another to enable a determination of their relative positions and External Device receiving and transmitting signals to Markers containing information as to Marker's positions. Device is configured to: capture an image of the tissue portions with Markers; manipulate the image of the tissue portions in a virtual environment or a simulated environment to a desired restored orientation; determine desired positions Markers will have when the tissue portions are in the desired restored orientation; program implanted Markers with the desired orientations. Device generates an indicator signal upon Markers being manipulated into the desired orientations; and manipulate the tissue portions after Markers have been programmed, until an indicator signal is generated indicating that the desired restored orientation has been substantially achieved. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051981 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF TUMOR ACTIVITY USING TUMOR INTERSTITIAL FLUID PRESSURE - A scanning apparatus, is used to effect multiple images of a tumor in which a contrast agent has been localized as a detectable marker over a selected time to map the change in the imaged marker. The rate of change in the imaged marker and/or contrast intensity of the dyed tissues is used to assess tumor aggressiveness and as an early predictor of response to cancer therapy. In particular, following the marking of tumor or cancerous tissues by the initial localization of an imageable contrast agent, the rate of change in the volume and/or area of the imaged marker is used to provide an indication of tumor interstitial fluid pressure (TIFP). | 2014-02-20 |
20140051982 | TWO-PART LOCAL SHOULDER COIL, AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY APPARATUS AND METHOD EMPLOYING SAME - Improved patient comfort is provided by a symmetric local coil arrangement designed to support the production of an MRT image of a shoulder, wherein the housing of the local coil arrangement is composed of two separable parts. The symmetric local shoulder coil arrangement is designed to be useable for either of a right or left shoulder of a human subject by rotating the local coil arrangement about a rotational axis that is parallel to an axis of symmetry of the local shoulder coil and perpendicular to anterior and posterior members of the shoulder coil. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051983 | ELECTROMAGNETIC INSTRUMENT TRACKING SYSTEM WITH METAL DISTORTION DETECTION AND UNLIMITED HEMISPHERE OPERATION - Electromagnetic tracking systems and methods for correcting hemispherical ambiguity are described. The system may include a single transmitter having three coils arranged in an industry-standard coil arrangement (ISCA). The tracking system may also contain a receiver having three coils arranged in an ISCA configuration, as well as a fourth coil having a different orientation then any of the other three coils of the receiver. The fourth coil may be used to determine the correct solution to the hemispherical ambiguity that can occur when tracking using two three-coil assemblies. Other embodiments are described. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051984 | ULTRASOUND PROBE WITH INTEGRATED ELECTRONICS - A hand-held ultrasound system includes integrated electronics within an ergonomic housing. The electronics includes control circuitry, beamforming and circuitry transducer drive circuitry. The electronics communicate with a host computer using an industry standard high speed serial bus. The ultrasonic imaging system is operable on a standard, commercially available, user computing device without specific hardware modifications, and is adapted to interface with an external application without modification to the ultrasonic imaging system to allow a user to gather ultrasonic data on a standard user computing device such as a PC, and employ the data so gathered via an independent external application without requiring a custom system, expensive hardware modifications, or system rebuilds. An integrated interface program allows such ultrasonic data to be invoked by a variety of such external applications having access to the integrated interface program via a standard, predetermined platform such as visual basic or c | 2014-02-20 |
20140051985 | PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROLITHOTOMY TARGET FINDING SYSTEM - A target finding system identifies a surgical target such as a kidney stone by disposing an emitter such as a magnetic source behind or adjacent the surgical target, and employing a circuit to identify an axis to the emitter, thus defining an axis or path to the surgical target. An array of sensors arranged in an equidistant, coplanar arrangement each senses a signal indicative of a distance to the emitter. A magneto resistor sensor generates a variable resistance is responsive to the distance to a magnetic coil emitting a magnetic field. An equal signal from each of the coplanar sensors indicates positioning on an axis passing through a point central to the sensors and orthogonal to the plane. In one embodiment, a pair of Wheatstone bridges enhances the accuracy of the system. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051986 | Systems and Methods for Registration of Multiple Vision Systems - A method comprises generating a model of an anatomic region and receiving a true image from an endoscopic image capture probe positioned within the anatomic region. The method further comprises identifying a true fiducial region in the true image and identifying a plurality of virtual tissue structures in the model of the anatomic region. The method further comprises matching one of the plurality of the virtual tissue structures with the true fiducial region and determining a probe pose of the endoscopic image capture probe from the matched one of the plurality of virtual tissue structures. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051987 | Systems and Methods for Configuring Components in a Minimally Invasive Instrument - A catheter system comprises an elongate flexible catheter and a support structure mounted on the catheter. The support structure comprises a first alignment feature and a second alignment feature. The system further comprises a first sensor component mated with the first alignment feature and a second sensor component mated with the second alignment feature. The first sensor component is fixed relative to the second sensor component in at least one degree of freedom at the support structure by the first alignment feature. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051988 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REPRESENTING A BIOLOGICAL HOLLOW ORGAN - A method for representing a biological hollow organ is proposed. A 3D data record and a 2D data record are received. The 2D data record includes a part of a medical instrument, which is arranged within the biological hollow organ and has a point which can be detected in the 2D data record. The position of the detectable point is determined in the 2D data record and is transferred into the 3D data record. A subvolume of the 3D data record is determined. The center of gravity of the volume of the subvolume is the specific position of the detectable point in the 3D data record and the dimensions and the alignment of the subvolume can be predetermined. The subvolume of the 3D data record is visualized. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051989 | DEVICES ADAPTED FOR ULTRASOUND LOCATION IN PATIENTS AND METHOD OF USE - The present invention relates to devices including a plurality of voids that enhance visualization of the devices in a patient using ultrasound imaging. The sizes of the voids can vary to accommodate ultrasound devices having different ultrasound wave frequencies. The present invention is also directed to a method for using ultrasound imaging technology to detect the location of devices comprising a plurality of voids in a patient. An ultrasound device, such as a wireless, portable ultrasound device, may be used to propagate ultrasound waves towards the patient where the device is inserted. An ultrasound imaging device may then be used to generate an image of the device or a portion thereof from which the location of the device in the patient can be determined. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051990 | METHOD & APPARATUS FOR SOLID ORGAN TISSUE APPROXIMATION - Surgical bolts are useful for solid visceral wound hemostasis. The devices utilize flexible, variable depth transfixing bolts that penetrate the viscera. These bolts bring the tissue into apposition and hold said tissue in apposition while the wound heals. These bolts, or soft tissue rivets, overcome the limitations of sutures that are currently used for the same purposes. The devices are flexible, bendable, and conformable in their wet or dry state. The bolts include pressure plates that are capable of exerting compressive pressure over broad areas of visceral wounds without causing tearing of the friable parenchyma. The bolts are placed and removed by open surgery or laparoscopic access. The bolts can be placed into tissue where both sides of the bolt are exposed, or they can be placed blindly into tissue where the bolt does not protrude out of the tissue at its distal end. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051991 | X-RAY DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A marker-coordinate detecting unit detects coordinates of a stent marker on a new image when the new image is stored in an image-data storage unit; and then a correction-image creating unit creates a correction image from the new image through, for example, image transformation processing, so as to match up the detected coordinates with reference coordinates that are coordinates of the stent marker already detected by the marker-coordinate detecting unit in a first frame. An image post-processing unit then creates an image for display by performing post-processing on the correction image created by the correction-image creating unit, the post-processing including high-frequency noise reduction filtering-processing, low-frequency component removal filtering-processing, and logarithmic-image creating processing; and then a system control unit performs control of displaying a moving image of an enlarged image of a set region that is set in the image for display, together with an original image. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051992 | LOCALIZATION OF A TARGET USING IN VIVO MARKERS - An apparatus and method of localization of a target using in vivo markers is described. The method may include adjusting a position of a target volume within the body relative to a treatment beam using the in vivo markers. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051993 | AUTOMATED ACTIVATION/DEACTIVATION OF IMAGING DEVICE BASED ON TRACKED MEDICAL DEVICE POSITION - Methods and systems for controlling an imaging procedure are provided. A medical device is introduced within a patient, and a position (e.g., location and/or orientation) of the medical device is detected within the patient relative to a reference position (e.g., a previously detected position of the medical device or a position within a desired path). Imaging of the patient is automatically activated based on the detected relative position, such that the patient is imaged only during relevant times. In one method, instability/stability of the medical device is detected, in which case, the imaging is automatically activated when the medical device is unstable, and deactivated when the medical device is stable. For example, if tissue is to be ablated with the medical device, medical personnel can be made aware of inadvertent movement of the medical device via the image, and can correct any displacement of the medical device from the ablation site. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051994 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A TARGET POSITION FOR A MEDICAL PROCEDURE - A method for determining the location, in a coordinate system, of a target position for an invasive medical procedure on a patient. An entry mark that defines the coordinate system and indicates an entry position for the procedure is affixed to the patient. A site marker, which can be identified in a radioscopy image, is fixed in a known relative location in the coordinate system. At least two 2D radioscopy images of the patient, which both depict the respective site marker and the target position, are recorded from different recording directions. The location of the target position in the coordinate system is determined from the representation of the target position and from the representation of the site marker in the 2D radioscopy images and from the relative location of the site marker in the coordinate system. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051995 | IMAGING SYSTEM FOR GENERATING A RENDERED IMAGE - An imaging system having an imaging device for imaging at least a portion of an animal. The imaging device may be of an X-ray computed tomography (CT) type, a positron emission tomography (PET) type, a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) type, or a fluorescence and phosphorescence microscopy (FPM) type. The system also includes: a photon transmitter that transmits photons and that is introducible within the body of an animal; at least one imaging photon detector that detects fluorescence excited within the animal by the transmitted photons; and an image processor that superimposes an imaging device image and a photon detector image so as to yield a combined image. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051996 | SUBCUTANEOUS CAVITY MARKING DEVICE AND METHOD - These are subcutaneous cavity marking devices and methods. More particularly, upon insertion into a body, the cavity marking device and method enable one to determine the center, orientation, and periphery of the cavity by radiographic, mammographic, echogenic, or other non-invasive imaging techniques. Also, the device contains a bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable marker. The device may be combined with various substances enhancing the radiopaque, mammographic, or echogenic characteristics of the marker or the body allowing it to be observed by any non-invasive imaging techniques. This is further a method of marking a subcutaneous cavity using a bioabsorbable material and a bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable marker in conjunction with the material. The method also may combine any of the features as described with the device. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051997 | OCCLUSION PERFUSION CATHETER - Catheters for occluding, visualizing, irrigating, evacuating, and delivering agents to a treatment area are disclosed. The catheters comprise a catheter body comprising five lumens, first and second occlusion balloons coupled to the catheter body, an optional space-occupying balloon coupled to the catheter body and disposed between the first and second occlusion balloons, and an optional visualization means that enables visualization between the first and second occlusion balloons. Methods for using these catheters are also disclosed. A method comprises inflating the first and second occlusion balloons, inflating the space-occupying balloon, allowing fluid to exit via an evacuation lumen, optionally irrigating or aspirating to facilitate fluid exit via said lumen, and delivering an agent to a treatment area via the agent lumen. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051998 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING AN ELASTIC IMAGE - An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is provided. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes a physical quantity calculating unit configured to calculate a physical quantity related to elasticity of biological tissue of a subject based on echo signals obtained by transmission/reception of ultrasound, an elastic image data generating unit configured to generate elastic image data having information indicative of a display form corresponding to the physical quantity calculated, a display unit configured to display an elastic image having the display form corresponding to the calculated physical quantity, and a calculating unit configured to calculate values related to a cardiac pulsation of the subject, wherein the calculated physical quantity and the information indicative of the display form correspond to each other such that the information indicative of the display form changes according to the calculated physical quantity over a range of physical quantities set according to the cardiac pulsation values. | 2014-02-20 |
20140051999 | System and Methods for Nerve Monitoring - A system and related methods for performing nerve detection during surgical access using ultrasound testing during surgery. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052000 | ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An ultrasound imaging system and method includes acquiring first 4D ultrasound data of a first partial volume for a first period of time that is longer than an estimated cardiac period and acquiring second 4D ultrasound data of a second partial volume for a second period of time that is longer than the estimated cardiac period. The system and method includes combining the first 4D ultrasound data with the second 4D ultrasound data to generate 4D ultrasound data of a region-of-interest. The system and method also includes generating and displaying an image based on the 4D ultrasound data. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052001 | Mitral Valve Detection for Transthoracic Echocardiography - A mitral valve is detected in transthoracic echocardiography. The ultrasound transducer is positioned against the chest of the patient rather than being inserted within the patient. While data acquired from such scanning may be noisier or have less resolution, the mitral valve may still be automatically detected. Using both B-mode data representing tissue as well as flow data representing the regurgitant jet, the mitral valve may be detected automatically with a machine-learnt classifier. A series of classifiers may be used, such as determining a position and orientation of a valve region with one classifier, determining a regurgitant orifice with another classifier, and locating mitral valve anatomy with a third classifier. One or more features for some of the classifiers may be calculated based on the orientation of the valve region. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052002 | FLUORESCENT IMAGE ACQUISITION AND PROJECTION APPARATUS FOR REAL-TIME VISUALIZATION OF INVISIBLE FLUORESCENT SIGNAL - A fluorescent image acquisition and projection apparatus for real-time visualization of an invisible fluorescent signal is provided. The apparatus visualizes an invisible fluorescent signal generated from a target object (a tissue of a living body, a cell of a living body, or the like) by using a photodetection unit and a projector in real time. The apparatus directly projects a visualized fluorescent signal onto a region of the target object where the invisible fluorescent signal is generated, thereby enabling users to determine and confirm the generation location of the fluorescence with the naked eye. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052003 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING RADIATION SOURCE VARIABILITY FOR OPTICAL GAS MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS - An infrared detector includes a radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation. The detector includes a source monitoring apparatus configured to generate output signals ( | 2014-02-20 |
20140052004 | ENDOSCOPIC CAMERA ILLUMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - An endoscopic camera system having an imaging device for taking images during an exposure period at a predetermined number of frames per second; an illumination system for providing light for the imaging device; and an illumination controller that supplies a drive current to the illumination system, the illumination controller altering the drive current to the illumination system so light is only provided for a portion of each image frame corresponding to the exposure period and for a second portion of each frame outside of the exposure period. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052005 | ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS AND MEASURING METHOD - An endoscope apparatus and a measuring method measure a subject using a pattern projection image obtained by projecting a fringe pattern onto a subject. The endoscope apparatus includes an elongated insertion section, an imaging section at a tip portion of the insertion section to acquire the image of a subject, an illumination section at the tip portion of the insertion section to emit the illumination light that illuminates an observation visual field of the imaging section, and a pattern projection section at the tip portion of the insertion section to project a fringe pattern onto the subject. A tip surface of the insertion section includes an objective optical system that forms the image of the subject on the imaging section, one or more illumination windows through which illumination light is emitted, and one projection window through which a fringe pattern is projected onto the subject from the pattern projection section. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052006 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PEDAL REVASCULARIZATION ASSESSMENT - Diffuse optical flow (DOF) sensors can be used to assess deep tissue flow. DOF sensors positioned on a foot can provide fluctuating light intensity data to an analyzer, which can then determine absolute and/or relative blood flow. The determined absolute and/or relative blood flow can be signaled to an operator, for example a surgeon for intra-operative use. DOF sensors may be utilized to assess pedal revascularization, for example to guide interventional procedures and to evaluate their efficacy. A support structure can carry a plurality of DOF sensors, such that when the support structure is placed onto a patient's foot, the DOF sensors are disposed adjacent different locations on the foot. The different locations may correspond to different topographical regions of the foot, for example different pedal angiosomes. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052007 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING HRV AND RRV AND USE TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL CONDITION ONSET - The present disclosure relates to a method and system for identifying potential condition onset based upon a combination of Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Respiratory Rate Variability (RRV) and/or confounding factors. The present method and system may involve data collection, a temporal abstraction (TA)-based approach, and data analysis to identify potential condition onset in patients. The present method and system may generate and amend a classification scheme to be operable to determine that a patient is facing potential condition onset. The present method and system may further be operable to provide clinical decision making support. Embodiments of the present method and system may be operable to identify trends, such as temporal patterns, and to undertake a variety of analyses of collected and/or TA data to provide indicators, and determinations of potential condition onset in patients. As an example, the present method and system may be applied to identify potential condition onset of sepsis in infant patients. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052008 | HYPERTENSION MONITORING AND NOTIFICATION DEVICE BASED ON CONTEXT INFORMATION - Disclosed is a hypertension monitoring and notification device based on context information, which includes a data gain and storage unit for storing bio information of a user, context data, and weather and health information; a user context analysis unit for deducing context information of the user from the bio information and the context data to analyze context necessary for measuring hypertension; a specific hypertension analysis unit for analyzing specific hypertension using the context information; a blood pressure grade analysis unit for determining a blood pressure grade via the analyzed context information to deduce blood pressure signal light information and to transmit a recommendation content; and a result output and notification unit for outputting and notifying the user and the doctor of the bio information, the blood pressure signal light information, the specific hypertension information, and the context information. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052009 | MONITORING BLOOD PRESSURE IN A MEDICAL INJECTION SYSTEM - A pressure sensor, for example, employed by a medical injection system for monitoring blood pressure, is isolated from relatively high pressures by a volume of a compressible medium, preferably air, or other suitable gas. The volume fills an entirety of a cavity of a pressure transducer assembly, and is enclosed between a pressure transmission interface of the assembly and the pressure sensor. The pressure transducer assembly is integrated into a fluid circuit such that the pressure transmission interface is exposed to flow through the fluid circuit. The cavity of the assembly has a configuration that allows transmission of a patient's blood pressure from the fluid circuit, via the interface and gas volume, to the pressure sensor, yet prevents transmission of the relatively high pressures, for example, injection pressures. The pressure transducer assembly may be part of a disposable fluid circuit subassembly, for example, packaged as a kit. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052010 | EXERCISE DETERMINATION METHOD, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An exercise determination method includes: acquiring a detection value from an acceleration sensor; and controlling, by a processor, starting or stopping of a heart rate sensor depending on the acquired detection value. An electronic device includes a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory, configured to acquire a detection value from an acceleration sensor, and control starting or stopping of a heart rate sensor depending on the acquired detection value. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052011 | System, Method and Computer Program Product for Detection of Changes in Health Status and Risk of Imminent Illness - A method for analysis of cardiac rhythms and the clinical status of a patient, based on calculations of entropy and moments of time series intervals. An optimal determination is made of segments of data that demonstrate statistical homogeneity, specifically with regard to moments and entropy. The invention also involves calculating moments and entropy on each interval segments with the goal of diagnosis of cardiac rhythm. More specifically, an absolute entropy measurement is calculated, providing dynamic information of fundamental importance in diagnosis and analysis. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052012 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY UPDATING CARDIAC MORPHOLOGY DISCRIMINATION TEMPLATES FOR USE WITH IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES - Techniques are provided for updating a morphology template used to discriminate abnormal cardiac rhythms. In one example, a non-weighted candidate morphology template is generated based on far-field R-wave morphology. A weighted candidate morphology template is generated based on an ensemble average of the non-weighted candidate morphology template and a previous (i.e. active) morphology template. The previous morphology template is then selectively updated based on a comparison of additional R-waves against both the non-weighted and the weighted candidate templates. Thereafter, abnormal cardiac rhythms such as ventricular tachycardia and supraventricular tachycardia are discriminated using the updated morphology template based on newly-detected far-field R-waves. These techniques provide a method for updating the morphology discrimination template in response to long-term changes in morphology due to cardiac remodeling or cardiac disease progression. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052013 | METHOD FOR ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX RHYTHM DISORDERS - A method of analyzing a complex rhythm disorder in a human heart includes accessing signals from a plurality of sensors disposed spatially in relation to the heart, where the signals are associated with activations of the heart, and identifying a region of the heart having an activation trail that is rotational or radially emanating, where the activation trail is indicative of the complex rhythm disorder and is based on activation times associated with the activations of the heart. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052014 | Mainstream Gas Analyzer Configurable To Removably Couple With A Sidestream Gas Sampling Component - Systems and methods for analyzing respiratory gas are configured to function in both divertive and non-divertive configurations. A mainstream gas analyzer housing economically and removably couples with a sidestream gas sampling component. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052015 | QEEG Correlates of Effective Cognitive Functioning (memory and problem solving) in Diverse Clinical Conditions - A previous patent (Thornton, 2001) by the inventor focused on the quantitative EEG (QEEG) correlates of successful cognition in normal subjects across a variety of cognitive measures. The present patent focuses on three critical cognitive skills (auditory memory, reading memory and problem solving) and examines a database which is comprised of normal subjects as well as subjects with head injuries, attention deficit disorders, learning disabilities, reading disabilities, math disabilities and unspecified clinical/learning problems. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052016 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING AUTISM - A system for diagnosing autism comprises a measuring device, a movie display, a speaker, and a computer connected with the measuring device and the speaker. The computer contains a control program therein, the control program being capable of arranging a sequence of human-voiced syllables in a pseudo-random order and allowing the sequence of the human-voiced syllables to be played from the speaker while a silent subtitled movie being played on the movie display. The measuring device can measure brain response of a patient to obtain an averaged MMN value, which can be compared with a cut-off point by the control program, whereby, if the averaged MMN value is less than the cut-off point, the patient is deemed to have suffered from an autism. The present invention can provide objective data for quantitative analysis for autism, and provide an easy way to diagnose autism. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052017 | TOUCH SCREEN MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND METHODS - A capacitive touch screen device forms a capacitance between a body part of a user and a sensor layer. The sensor layer of the device includes capacitive sensors that allow a current to flow to the body part from the device when contact is made. The body part contacts the device through a bodily fluid. The current drawn is measured and a value for the bodily fluid is determined. This value is compared against known values to diagnose a possible medical condition or to infer characteristics of the bodily fluid. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052018 | SPECIMEN REMOVAL BAG AND METHODS OF USING SAME - A specimen retrieval system for use with minimally invasive surgical procedures is disclosed. The system permits excised tissue having a dimension, a size, a shape, or a volume larger than a natural orifice or a surgical incision used in a minimally invasive procedure to access the surgical site, to be removed from the body through the natural orifice or surgical incision. The system comprises a specimen retrieval container and a compression structure. The compression structure is configured to apply a compressive force to the container to reduce or alter at least one of a dimension, a size, a shape, and a volume of the container and the tissue contained therein, such that the tissue can be removed through the natural orifice or surgical incision without need to surgically alter or enlarge the orifice or original incision. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052019 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR REMOVING SPRING BASED MULTIPLE BIOPSY SPECIMENS FROM MULTIPLE BIOPSY STORAGE CYLINDERS BEFORE AND AFTER BIOPSY FIXATION AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL PROCESSING - An apparatus for removing biopsies from spring based multiple biopsy storage cylinders for analysis. The storage cylinders and spring based biopsy mechanism permit 360 degree biopsy mechanism rotation and increase the number and diameter of biopsies stored. Additional storage cylinder improvements allow closed storage cylinder opening for removing internal plastic cylinders or biopsies before fixing, thereby leaving the same multiple biopsy instrument available for additional biopsies on the same patient. The improvements allow for removing the surrounding biopsy mechanism and biopsies from closed storage cylinders after actuator removal and histopathological processing of biopsies to paraffin embedding. Additionally apparatuses, tools and methods are described for simultaneously separating numerous actuators from storage cylinders and removing numerous paraffin embedded biopsies from storage cylinders and surrounding biopsy mechanisms for histopathological slide fabrication. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052020 | MAGNETIC APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USE - Provided herein is a magnetic apparatus for collecting superparamagnetic particles from a subject. The superparamagnetic particles are previously injected into the subject and have ligands bound thereto that are specific for one or more non-cell biomarkers. In one embodiment, the superparamagnetic particles are injected into and retrieved from a cavity such as a joint cavity. These compositions and methods allow for the sequestration and removal of inflammatory mediators, as both a diagnostic of the local immune response and a therapeutic that can reduce inflammation in the local disease environment. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052021 | REMOVABLE FLASH CHAMBER - A needle hub and catheter assembly are disclosed herein. The needle hub includes an introducer needle having a lumen extending therethrough. A needle hub is coupled to a proximal end of the introducer needle. A flash chamber is removably coupled to the needle hub or the introducer needle. An interior of the flash chamber is in fluid communication with the lumen of the introducer needle when the flash chamber is coupled to the needle hub or the introducer needle. As such, the flash chamber can collect a sample of blood that can be accessed when the flash chamber is removed. In some instances, the blood can also be dispensed from the flash chamber into a test strip or other testing device. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052022 | Flashback Blood Collection Needle - A needle assembly includes a transparent or translucent housing with a fluid inlet and outlet end, a flashback chamber, and a venting mechanism therebetween. The venting mechanism includes a blocking member to control the fluid flow in the venting mechanism so that it flows along the longest path through the vent. Substantially axially aligned inlet and outlet cannulas extend from the housing and communicate with the chamber. A sealable sleeve covers the external end of the outlet cannula. Relative volumes of the cannulas, the chamber, and the sleeve are selected to provide rapid reliable flashback indicative of venous entry with an internal vent positioned within the housing to divide the interior into first and second chambers, with the second chamber being adapted to maintain a negative pressure therein relative to the external environment so as to inhibit leakage of blood from the needle tip on withdrawal from the patient. | 2014-02-20 |
20140052023 | Single Use Lancet Assembly - A single use, spring-driven lancet assembly having a housing, a removable cap, a lancet, a lancet trigger member and a spring. The lancet trigger comprises a nose that extends from the front of the housing. When the lancet assembly is pressed against the skin or vice versa, the trigger is pushed toward the rear of the housing. A pair of flexible trigger arm members in contact with cocking lugs on the lancet body push the lancet to the rear and compress the spring. As the trigger and lancet move to the rear within the housing, the flexible arm members of the trigger are spread apart and the released lancet is propelled forward. The spring recoils into a neutral position and draws the lancet and its needle back into the housing. The lancet assembly cannot be re-cocked and the lancet needle cannot be intentionally or accidentally extended from the housing. | 2014-02-20 |