24th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 60 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110144419 | Support Apparatus for Gastric Band System Injector - A support apparatus connects with and provides fluid communication between a needle and a syringe. The support apparatus includes at least one arm that is configured to provide cantilever support of the needle and syringe while the needle is inserted in a patient. The arm engages the patient's skin, and may be rigid, malleable, hinged, stretchable, telescoping, and/or have other properties. The support apparatus may form part of an adapter that also includes a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor senses the pressure of fluid in a gastric band system when the needle is inserted in an injection port of the gastric band system. A cable may extend from the pressure sensor to a display device, and may include markings configured to provide measurement from the needle to a patient's xyphoid process. Such a measurement may be factored into a calculation to account for hydrostatic pressure differences in pressure readings. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144420 | Apparatus for Completing Implantation of Gastric Band - An instrument comprises a handle, an articulating shaft, an end effector, and a translatable hook member. The shaft defines a side aperture, proximal to an articulating section of the shaft, through which the hook member protrudes when the hook member is translated distally. The end effector is used to form a retrogastric tunnel through blunt dissection in tissue near a patient's gastro-esophageal junction; and then to pull a gastric band through the tunnel to position the gastric band about the gastro-esophageal junction. The end effector is then used to hold a first portion of the gastric band in place while the hook member is extended distally to engage a second portion of the gastric band. The hook member may then be retracted proximally to couple the second portion of the gastric band with the first portion of the gastric band, thereby latching the gastric band in place. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144421 | PARTIALLY ERODABLE SYSTEMS FOR TREATMENT OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA - A method of maintaining airway patency in an airway of a patient. The method includes the steps of implanting a device into airway-forming tissue without affixing the device to the tissue and permitting a bioerodable portion of the device to bioerode to apply a force to the airway-forming tissue to maintain airway patency. The invention also provides devices for practicing the method. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144422 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES RELATING TO A REMOVABLE SLEEVE FOR AN IMPLANTABLE SLING - Devices and methods for delivering of a sling assembly and removal of the sleeve at least partially enclosing the sling through a single orifice of incision are disclosed. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144423 | Median Lobe Retraction Apparatus and Method - A system and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating diseases or disorders or other purposes. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device configured to deploy and implant anchor devices for comprising, distracting and/or retracting the lobes of a prostate. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144424 | METHOD OF IMPLANTING A FLUID INJECTION PORT - A method for implanting an injection port within a patient. The method involves providing a port having a housing with a closed distal end, a open proximal end, a fluid reservoir therebetween, a needle penetrable septum attached to the housing about the opening, and at least one attachment mechanism mounted to the housing at a pivot point along an outer periphery of the housing. The attachment mechanism is an arcuate hook pivotable with respect to the housing, the arcuate hook having a length extending substantially at least 180° about the pivot point. The method further involves placing the distal end of the port adjacent tissue, and rotating the arcuate hook at least 180 degrees so that a free end of the hook extends into tissue and back out again. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144425 | Apparatus and Method for Manipulating or Retracting Tissue and Anatomical Structure - Integrated systems and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating diseases or disorders or other purposes. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device configured to deploy and implant anchoring devices for such purposes. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144429 | ENDOSCOPE WITH AN IMPROVED WORKING CHANNEL - A medical device includes an insertion tube, having a proximal end and a distal end, which is configured for insertion into a body cavity of a subject. An optical assembly is contained in the distal end and configured to form an image of a target region in the body cavity. A working channel passes through the insertion tube and is configured to convey a fluid from the proximal to the distal end. The working channel has a segment adjacent to the distal end that is narrowed so as to cause the fluid to exit the working channel into the target region in a diverging cone. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144430 | ARTICULATING ENDOSCOPIC ACCESSORY CHANNEL - Methods and devices are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device. In one embodiment, methods and devices are provided for moving an end effector on a distal end of a surgical fastening device. Movement can include rotational movement of the end effector about an axis of the shaft, articulation of the end effector relative to the shaft, and actuation of an end effector, e.g., closing, firing, and/or cutting. In other embodiments, a single cable actuator is provided and is movable between a first position, in which it is effective to rotate an end effector without actuating (i.e., closing and firing) the end effector, and a second position, in which it is effective to actuate the end effector without rotating the end effector. In other aspects, methods and devices are provided for moving a flexible neck formed on a distal end of an accessory channel for use with an endoscope. Movement of the flexible neck can be used to control positioning of a tool extending through the flexible neck. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144431 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING USE OF CAPSULE ENDOSCOPES - In a method or system for limiting use of capsule endoscopes by a capsule endoscope maagnetic steering system used by a customer, the capsule endoscope is provided with a use code stored with the capsule. The use code is read and analyzed to determine whether or not the customer's capsule endoscope magnetic steering system will be enabled or disabled for use with the capsule endoscope from which the use code was read. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144432 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR COMPUTER SIMULATED MARKING TARGETING BIOPSY - A device for Computer Simulated Marking Targeting Biopsy (CSMTB) has at least a space locator, and a main control module, including a surface model sub-module, a positioning sub-module, a tracking sub-module, a virtual endoscope sub-module, and a marking targeting biopsy sub-module. The device accurately detects minimal gastric lesions, and reduces pain to patients and thus decreases the workload of a doctor. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144433 | Endoscope shaft made of a composite tube - An endoscope shaft made of a composite tube comprises an external tube and an internal tube which is softer and more resilient compared to the external tube as well as a helical spring for stiffening the composite tube. According to the invention, the helical spring in the relaxed state has an outer diameter which is larger than the inner diameter of the internal tube. Furthermore the helical spring is inserted in the internal tube preferably loosely at a spring bias, whereby it is radially pressed against the internal tube. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144434 | INTRADUCTAL INSERTION DEVICE - An intraductal insertion device includes a thrust generating section installed at an insertion portion. The thrust generating section is made up of a flexible shaft adapted to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise around a shaft axis. The thrust generating section is configured by winding the shaft axis of the flexible shaft around an axis of the insertion portion in an insertion direction. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144435 | MEDICAL APPARATUS TO SUPPORT AN ENDOSCOPIC INVESTIGATION - A medical apparatus to support an endoscopic investigation that includes a housing with a base surface, a front surface and a rear surface, and a light source that is positioned in the housing to generate light to illuminate an object that is to be investigated with an endoscope. In addition the medical apparatus includes a coupling device to couple a proximal end of an endoscope on the medical apparatus and to transmit light from the medical apparatus to the endoscope. The medical apparatus includes a screen, which is positioned on the front surface of the housing to observe an image taken by means of the endoscope, where the front surface and rear surface are each inclined toward the rear at an angle between 5 and 15 degrees with respect to the base surface. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144436 | AIRWAY MANAGEMENT - The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate improving visualization associated with intubation. A dynamically articulating laryngoscope blade can be controlled to configure to normal anatomic variants and pathologic abnormalities to facilitate placing of an endotracheal tube into a patient's trachea. Further, cameras can be integrated into and/or mounted upon the dynamically articulating laryngoscope blade. The cameras can enable stereoscopic visualization of the laryngeal aperture allowing for depth perception. Moreover, the cameras can be moved independently of the blade allowing for optimal viewing of the laryngeal opening. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144437 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PROVIDING SURGICAL ACCESS THROUGH TISSUE TO A SURGICAL SITE - Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. A surgical access port is provided that has an adjustable longitudinal length, such as by being formed from multiple segments configured to move relative to one another. An anchor can be coupled to a distal end of the surgical access port to help secure the surgical access port within a tissue opening by engaging a distal side of the tissue. Optionally, the anchor can be removably coupled to the distal end of the surgical access port, thereby allowing any one of a plurality of anchors to be selectively coupled thereto. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144438 | SURGICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING TRANSABDOMINAL CARDIAC SURGERY - The invention provides a surgical apparatus and method for performing less-invasive, closed chest cardiac surgery through a transabdominal approach, without cardiopulmonary bypass. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a heart manipulator and a coronary stabilizer which are deployed through an access cannula and secured relative to a stationary support through a surgical arm. Heart manipulator and coronary stabilizer cooperate together to enable access to all the coronary artery territories of the heart through a single access cannula. Also provided is a diaphragm tissue retractor. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144439 | SURGICAL ACCESS SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144440 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ACCESSING A BODY CAVITY - Methods and devices are provided for accessing a surgical site. In one embodiment, an access device is provided having a housing and a cannula extending distally therefrom. The cannula and the housing can define a working channel extending longitudinally therethrough. The cannula can be movable between an insertion configuration and a deployed configuration. The access device can also include an obturator insertable through the working channel. In one embodiment, the obturator can be configured to selectively mate with the cannula such that rotation of the obturator is effective to cause corresponding rotation of the cannula. In another embodiment, the obturator can be configured to move the cannula from the insertion configuration to the deployed configuration when the obturator is fully disposed within the cannula. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144441 | INFLATABLE SURGICAL RETRACTOR - An expandable surgical retractor for minimally invasive surgical applications is disclosed. The expandable retractor, preferably in the form of an inflatable balloon retractor, is inserted in a surgical corridor and expanded to the desired size and shape. The retractor of the present invention is amenable to many shapes including cylindrical, conical with the base at the depth of the corridor, hourglass, and crescent and are dictated by the surgeon's needs. Cooling of the retractor allows the retractor to maintain the expanded characteristic. The expanded relatively rigid retractor provides an ideal corridor for surgical applications. In a preferred embodiment, a second retractor, of the invention, can be placed at a greater depth through the first placed retractor; the “telescoping” effect rapidly provides greater exposure with minimal manipulation. Following surgery, such retractor(s) can be removed in a manner that minimizes bleeding and tissue damage. One such method is reheating to soften and restore the retractor to its unexpanded size. Or, laterally placed perforations allow for fracturing of the retractor by bovie cautery, facilitating removal by “unzipping” the retractor. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144442 | Methods and Devices for Providing Access into a Body Cavity - Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. In general, the methods and devices allow a surgical access device to be securely positioned within an opening in tissue to provide access to a body cavity underlying the tissue. An actuator can be rotatably disposed on or in a housing of a surgical access device such that rotation of the actuator relative to the housing is effective to move a cannula of the surgical access device between an insertion configuration in which the cannula has a reduced profile enabling it to easily be inserted into a tissue opening, and an expanded profile enabling it to form an anchor against and/or within the tissue opening. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144443 | INVERTED CONICAL EXPANDABLE RETRACTOR WITH COIL SPRING - Access devices and related methods are disclosed that generally involve flexible or adjustable cannulas that have a substantially cylindrical insertion configuration and a substantially conical expanded configuration. Various methods and features are provided for transitioning the cannula from the insertion configuration to the expanded configuration while the access device is inserted through tissue to form a conical opening through the tissue. Examples include cables, biasing elements, retaining elements, bimodal rings, and coil springs. The devices and methods disclosed herein can allow for improved retention of the access device, improved angulation of instruments passed through the access device, and can increase the integrity of a seal formed between the access device and surrounding tissue. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144444 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PROVIDING ACCESS THROUGH TISSUE TO A SURGICAL SITE - Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. A surgical access port is provided that has an adjustable longitudinal length, such as by being formed from multiple segments configured to move relative to one another. An anchor can be coupled to a distal end of the surgical access port to help secure the surgical access port within a tissue opening by engaging a distal side of the tissue. Optionally, the anchor can be removably coupled to the distal end of the surgical access port, thereby allowing any one of a plurality of anchors to be selectively coupled thereto. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144445 | ACCESS ASSEMBLY WITH RIBBED SEAL - A ribbed seal for use in endoscopic surgery is intended to be incorporated into a cannula assembly to limit the escape of insufflation gasses from a body cavity by forming a fluid-tight seal around an instrument inserted through the cannula assembly. The ribbed seal includes a relatively flat, disk shaped elastomeric overmold portion having a central aperture sized slightly smaller than the instrument such that the aperture must expand to accommodate the instrument. Molded together with the elastomeric overmold is an array of slender ribs disposed about the aperture. The ribs are designed to be relatively flexible under lateral loads. This allows the seal to bend easily as the surgical instrument is inserted through the aperture thereby maintaining a low insertion and glide force. On the other hand, the ribs are designed to be relatively rigid when loaded axially. This rigidity provides robust radial support for the instrument inserted through the center of the array of ribs. The seal performs a centering function for the instrument due to its combined elasticity and stiffness. Finally, the seal also allows for an instrument to be removed easily while maintaining the required atmospheric integrity. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144446 | WOUND RETRACTOR - An incrementally adjustable wound retractor ( | 2011-06-16 |
20110144447 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PROVIDING ACCESS THROUGH TISSUE TO A SURGICAL SITE - Methods and devices are provided for providing access through tissue to a surgical site. Generally, the methods and devices allow adjustment of a surgical access port's longitudinal length. In one embodiment, a surgical access port is provided that includes a housing having a cannula distally extending therefrom. The housing can be configured to cut a proximal portion of the cannula to adjust a longitudinal length of the cannula and hence of the surgical access port. In another embodiment, a surgical access port is provided that includes a cannula formed of a plurality of modular segments removably coupled together. One or more of the segments can be configured to be removable from the cannula to change the cannula's longitudinal length. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144448 | Methods and Devices for Providing Access into a Body Cavity - Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. In general, the methods and devices allow a surgical access device to be securely positioned within an opening in tissue to provide access to a body cavity underlying the tissue. An actuator can be rotatably disposed on or in a housing of a surgical access device such that rotation of the actuator relative to the housing is effective to move a cannula of the surgical access device between an insertion configuration in which the cannula has a reduced profile enabling it to easily be inserted into a tissue opening, and an expanded profile enabling it to form an anchor against and/or within the tissue opening. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144449 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PROVIDING ACCESS THROUGH TISSUE TO A SURGICAL SITE - Methods and devices are provided for providing access through tissue to a surgical site. Generally, the methods and devices allow adjustment of a surgical access port's longitudinal length. In one embodiment, a surgical access port is provided that includes a housing having a cannula distally extending therefrom. The housing can be configured to cut a proximal portion of the cannula to adjust a longitudinal length of the cannula and hence of the surgical access port. In another embodiment, a surgical access port is provided that includes a cannula formed of a plurality of modular segments removably coupled together. One or more of the segments can be configured to be removable from the cannula to change the cannula's longitudinal length. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144450 | Tissue retractor with movable blades and articulating wrist joint - A surgical retractor for retracting a body tissue comprising a plurality of cooperating tissue-retracting blades connected to a retractor housing through a linkage arrangement. The tissue-retracting blades are movable between a closed-blade configuration wherein said blades are in proximity to one another and an open-blade configuration wherein said blades are in a spaced apart spatial relationship. The blade spatial relationship being variably selectable by the degree of actuation input applied to a first actuator that is coupled to both the retractor housing and the linkage arrangement. The tissue-retracting blades are also movable, together as a blade assembly in a selected blade spatial relationship, when a second actuation input is applied to a second actuator to articulate a pivoting wrist joint configured in the retractor housing. Actuating the wrist joint through the second actuator allows the surgeon to vary the orientation of the spaced apart blades relative to the housing through an angular displacement of the blades about a wrist pivot axis. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144451 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING REMOTE HEALTHCARE SERVICES - An approach is provided for healthcare information management and providing remote healthcare examination. A platform receives position data corresponding to a mark to be projected onto a subject. The platform collects measurement data from a medical sensor coupled to the subject at the mark. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144452 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT ACCORDING TO EMOTION VARIATION - The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for determining emotional quotient according to emotional variation. The method for determining emotional quotient according to emotional variation includes sensing bio signals and environmental signals from a plurality of sensors; defining an emotional variation threshold value for each signal sensed at the sensing; extracting the emotional signal by analyzing the bio signals and inferring the emotional quotient for each bio signal based on the extracted emotional signal and the environmental signals; determining the emotional variation threshold values and the emotional quotient based on the inference results of the emotional quotient; and evaluating the determined emotional quotient. With the present invention, it can provide the emotional care service capable of informing and communicating the true emotional state of the person to user. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144453 | Method and System for Preventing Virus-Related Obesity and Obesity Related Diseases - A method for preventing obesity related to infection by an adipogenic adenovirus includes obtaining a sample from a person, assaying the sample to determine whether the person has been previously infected with an adipogenic adenovirus, and if the person has not been previously infected, providing the person with at least one sensor positioned to detect when a person's hand approaches a predetermined distance from the person's face. By warning the person of undesired hand-to-face contacts, the person is able to reduce the incidence of obesity related infections. Other embodiments are directed to a kit for preventing obesity caused by infection with an adipogenic, adenovirus, such kit including a container for assaying an agent indicating the presence of antibodies to Ad-36, and a sensor positioned on an item selected from the group consisting of one of a hat, a writing instrument, eye glasses, a belt, sunglasses, a bra, a shirt, and a tie. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144454 | Automated interactive drug testing system - An automated interactive drug testing system designed for testing for substance abuse that provides an immediate test result by visual analysis. The system includes at least one remote device and a central computer. Each remote device as well as the central computer include means for receiving a video feed over a network connection such that a testing subject located at a remote device can use its video camera to bi-directionally communicate with a person located at the central computer. In application, the testing subject faces the video camera so that the operator at the central computer can witness the testing and testing results. Preferably, the testing can include an eye scan and a saliva swab drug test. It is important for purposes of testing integrity, that during the entire testing process, the test specimen is never removed from view of the camera and the operator stationed at the central computer such that the operator at the central computer can view the testing samples to determine whether the test is negative or non-negative. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144455 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING A SUBJECT AT REST - Disclosed herein are methods and devices for monitoring a subject at rest. One such device comprises a sensing unit having a fluid-filled bladder configured to be placed under a substrate on which the subject lays and a sensor in fluid communication with the bladder. The sensor is configured to sense pressure variations within the bladder generated by a heart beat, respiration and body weight of the subject and to generate signals indicative of the pressure variations. A processor is configured to receive the signals and to determine and generate output indicative of the subject's heart beat and respiration and presence on the substrate. An external device is configured to display one or more of the output. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144456 | MONITORING THE BLOOD PRESSURE OF A PATIENT - A method for monitoring the blood pressure of a patient, comprising the following steps: determining a pulse arrival time signal from the patient | 2011-06-16 |
20110144457 | INSTRUMENTED, COMMUNICATING PORTABLE CLOTHING AND ACCESSORY - A garment or accessory includes: at least one sensor for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the wearer of the garment or accessory; at least one element for determining the stress as a function of at least one measurement of the physiological parameter; and a remote transmission link, by wireless element, of data representative of measurements from each sensor. In some embodiments, a sensor is adapted to measure heart rate, the blood's oxygen saturation rate and the body temperature of the wearer, preferably by pinching the lobe of an ear of the wearer. For example, this sensor is an optical sensor that uses two separate wavelengths. In some embodiments, the element for determination of the composite stress determines the composite stress as function of the variability of heart rate, the body temperature, the heart rate of the user, and the voice and/or orientation. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144458 | Method and apparatus providing timed visual images during childbirth - Disclosed is an apparatus for providing a visual image timed to coincide with uterine contractions to assist a expectant mother during childbirth labor. The apparatus is particularly useful directed to help those expectant mothers using a regional anesthesia, such as an epidural anesthesia, in the second stage of labor to push effectively. The apparatus consists of a computer system that converts signals obtained from strategically positioned sensors such as a tocodynamometer or intrauterine pressure catheter into biofeedback visual vignettes that are understandable to the expectant mother. The signals are processed into the visual vignettes or a similar pictorial image based upon the pressure of the uterine contractions so that the expectant mother may understand her contraction pattern. This in turn will allow the expectant mother to visually understand when to start and stop pushing during the second stage of labor. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144459 | LIQUID CONCENTRATION DETECTOR FOR A BLOOD PURIFICATION APPARATUS - A blood purification apparatus includes a blood purification instrument for extracorporeally circulating blood of a patient and a concentration detector detecting a concentration of liquid flowing during blood purification. The concentration detector has a light emitter irradiating light onto said liquid, a light receiver receiving light from the light emitter transmitted through said liquid, and a detector detecting the received light intensity received by the light receiver. The concentration detector detects the concentration of the liquid based on the received light intensity and can be calibrated by adjusting an amount of irradiation by the light emitter so that the received light intensity has a predetermined value. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144460 | PULSE FREQUENCY MEASURING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method and an apparatus are provided for measuring a pulse frequency in a bio-signal measurement device. A bio-signal collected by a sensor is applied as an input signal of a notch filter. A filter coefficient of the notch filter is adaptively changed according to a result of tracking the bio-signal in the notch filter and calculating a pulse frequency corresponding to the filter coefficient of the notch filter. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144461 | PULSE FREQUENCY MEASURING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method and an apparatus are provided for measuring a pulse frequency in a bio-signal measurement device. A bio-signal collected by a sensor is applied as an input signal of a notch filter. A filter coefficient of the notch filter is adaptively changed according to a result of tracking the bio-signal in the notch filter and calculating a pulse frequency corresponding to the filter coefficient of the notch filter. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144462 | MINIATURIZED MULTI-SPECTRAL IMAGER FOR REAL-TIME TISSUE OXYGENATION MEASUREMENT - A portable multi-spectral imaging system and device is disclosed. The system includes at least one image acquisition device for acquiring an image from a subject, a filtering device to filter the light received by the image acquisition device, a processor for processing the image acquired by the image acquisition device, and a display. There is software running on the processor that determines oxygenation values of the subject based on the processed image. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144463 | DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODULAR ANALYTE MONITORING - The present invention relates to a device, system and a method for measuring an analyte and in particular, to such a device, system and method in which analyte from a bodily fluid is measured and/or monitored. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144464 | Integrated Transmitter Unit and Sensor Introducer Mechanism and Methods of Use - Method and apparatus for providing an integrated transmitter unit and sensor insertion mechanism is provided. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144465 | LOW OXYGEN IN VIVO ANALYTE SENSOR - The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous and subcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144466 | Catheter-Free Implantable Needle Biosensor - Electrochemical biosensors consisting of two or more needle-shaped electrodes for monitoring of molecules such as glucose in the subcutaneous tissue are provided. The two electrodes are parallel to each other, and are fixed perpendicularly to the planar side of a sensor base which provides skin fixation and electric connection. The needle electrodes are made of rigid conducting materials, capable of inserting into the skin without the need of catheters. One electrode is the sensing electrode and the other, the reference electrode. A compound sensing membrane is attached onto the sensing electrode surface to detect analyzed molecules. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144467 | FLEXIBLE 3D MICROPROBE STRUCTURE - The present invention discloses a flexible 3D microprobe structure, which comprises at least one probe, a base and a hinge portion. The probe is connected to the base via the hinge portion. The probe forms a bend angle with respect to a normal of the base by attracting the probe through an electrostatic force to make the hinge portion bend with respect to the base, and thus to form a 3D structure having the bend angle. The probe, the base and the hinge portion are made of a flexible polymeric material to reduce the inflammation response of creatures. Further, a fixing element is used to enhance the structural strength of the flexible 3D microprobe structure. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144469 | Bacterial/Cellular Recognition Impedance Algorithm - A method for characterising cells or cell structures in a sample comprising: obtaining at least one normalized impedance response of the sample over at least one frequency range; and characterising at least one cell using at least one characteristic of the normalized impedance response. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144470 | BODY ADHERENT PATCH WITH ELECTRONICS FOR PHYSIOLOGIC MONITORING - In one configuration, an adherent device to adhere to a skin of a subject includes a stretchable base layer having an upper side and a lower side and an adhesive coating on the lower side to adhere the base layer to the skin of the subject. The base layer has at least two openings extending therethrough, each of the at least two openings having a size. The adherent device also includes a stretchable covering layer positioned above and adhered to the base layer with an adhesive to define at least two pockets. The adherent device also includes at least two gels, each gel having a size larger than the size of openings to retain the gel substantially within the pocket, and a circuit carrier supported with the stretchable base layer to measure at least one physiologic signal of the subject. Other configurations and methods are also claimed. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144471 | FLEXIBLE PROBE STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE SAME - The present invention discloses a flexible probe structure comprises at least one electrode using a CNT layer as the electrode interface. The CNT layer disposed on the electrode surface is processed with an UV-ozone treatment to form a great number of carbon-oxygen functional groups on the surface of CNT. The carbon-oxygen functional groups can greatly reduce the interface impedance of the electrode and the biological tissue fluid. Thereby, the measurement can achieve better quality. The present invention also discloses a method for fabricating a flexible probe structure, which comprises steps: preparing a flexible substrate; forming a conductive layer on the flexible substrate, and defining an electrode, a wire and a metal pad on the conductive layer; forming a CNT layer on the electrode; forming an insulating layer on the conductive layer to insulate the wire from the environment; and processing the CNT layer with an UV-ozone treatment. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144472 | METHODS OF GRAVITY AND/OR MAGNETIC HOLOGRAPHIC IMAGING USING VECTOR AND/OR TENSOR DATA - A method for holographic imaging an object having density and/or magnetization is described, the object being located in an examined medium using potential field data including but not limited to gravity and/or magnetic total field and/or vector and/or tensor data. The potential field sensors may measure the gravity and/or magnetic total field and/or vector and/or tensor data at least one receiving position with respect to the examined medium. At least one component of the measured potential field in at least one receiver location (potential field data) may be used as at least one artificial source of the potential field data. Artificial sources may produce a back-propagating (migration) field. An integrated sensitivity of the potential field data to density and/or magnetization perturbation may be calculated. A spatial weighting of at least one of the back-scattering (migration) fields may form a potential field holographic image. At least one desired property of the medium, such as density and/or magnetization, may be derived from this holographic image. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144474 | ADIABATIC MULTI-BAND RF PULSES FOR SELECTIVE SIGNAL SUPPRESSION IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging scanner comprising: a main magnet providing a substantially uniform main magnetic field B0 for a subject under observation; and a radio frequency (RF) coil configured to irradiate a radio frequency (RF) pulse into a region of interest of the subject under observation, wherein the RF pulse comprises a base pulse comprising an adiabatic pulse having a first bandwidth time product (BWTP), wherein the RF pulse selectively suppresses magnetic resonance signals from more than one chemical component or more than one spatial region within the region of interest of the subject under observation, and wherein the adiabatic pulse is characterized by an amplitude modulation function and a frequency modulation function. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144475 | METHOD FOR A REGULATION OF A VASCULAR INTERVENTION, AND DEVICE TO REGULATE A VASCULAR INTERVENTION - In a method and apparatus to regulate a vessel intervention conducted with a vessel intervention unit, wherein an intervention region of the vessel intervention is at least partially imaged by means of an imaging monitoring unit, and a monitoring region to monitor the vessel intervention is selected, and the vessel intervention is at least partially automatically regulated in the intervention region dependent on at least one characteristic variable identified in the monitoring region. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144476 | Integrated Surgical Sampling Probe - The present invention is directed to devices for collecting tissue samples from patients. The devices create tissue fragments which are then collected by aspiration. The devices include signal emitters that allow the exact position where a biopsy sample was obtained to be determined. In addition the invention includes methods for obtaining tissue samples using these devices. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144477 | Method for Acquiring Electromagnetic Signals and Contrast Product Therefor - The invention concerns a system capable of generating a magnetic indication B.sub.o comprising gradients (G | 2011-06-16 |
20110144478 | MAGNETIC MICROSTRUCTURES FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A magnetic resonance contrast agent has a medium, and a contrast structure dispersed in the medium. The contrast structure comprises a magnetic material arranged to create a local region of a local magnetic field such that nuclear magnetic moments of a material when arranged within said local region precess at a characteristic Larmor frequency about a total magnetic field in the local region while in use, the characteristic Larmor frequency being identifiable with the contrast structure, and the total magnetic field in the local region being a substantially spatially uniform magnetic field. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144479 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION AND ORIENTATION OF MEDICAL DEVICES INSERTED INTO A PATIENT - A medical device system includes an elongated body with a distal end that is configured and arranged for insertion into a patient. A housing is disposed in the distal end of the body. A rotatable magnet is disposed in the housing. At least one magnetic field winding is configured and arranged to generate a magnetic field at the location of the magnet. The magnetic field causes rotation of the magnet at a target frequency. An array of magnetic field sensors is disposed external to the patient. The magnetic field sensors are configured and arranged to sense the location and orientation of the magnet in relation to the array of magnetic field sensors. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144480 | STENT MARKER DETECTION USING A LEARNING BASED CLASSIFIER IN MEDICAL IMAGING - Stent marker detection is automatically performed. Stent markers in fluoroscopic images or other markers in other types of imaging are detected using a machine-learnt classifier. Hierarchal classification may be used, such as detecting individual markers with one classifier and then detecting groups of markers (e.g., a pair) with a joint classifier. The detection may be performed in a single image and without user indication of a location. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144481 | A DEVICE, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNALS BY WAY OF A FEEDING TUBE - A neonatal feeding tube ( | 2011-06-16 |
20110144482 | IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD, AS WELL AS PROGRAM - A medical image of a subject and detection information including positions of abnormal shadow candidates and degrees of malignancy of abnormal shadows detected from the medical image are acquired. The medical image is divided into a plurality of regions of interest, and images of the regions of interest are sequentially displayed with displaying images of the regions of interest containing the abnormal shadow candidates in descending order of the degree of malignancy based on the detection information prior to images of the regions of interest containing no abnormal shadow candidate. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144483 | IMAGING AGENTS - The present invention provides novel amino acid compounds useful in detecting and evaluating brain and body tumors. These compounds have the advantageous properties of rapid uptake and prolonged retention in tumors and can be labeled with halogen isotopes such as fluorine-18, iodine-123, iodine-124, iodine-125, iodine-131, bromine-75, bromine-76, bromine-77, bromine-82, astatine-210, astatine-211, and other astatine isotopes. These compounds can also be labeled with technetium and rhenium isotopes using known chelation complexes. The compounds disclosed herein bind tumor tissues in vivo with high specificity and selectivity when administered to a subject. Preferred compounds show a target to non-target ratio of at least 2:1, are stable in vivo and substantially localized to target within 1 hour after administration. Preferred compounds include 1-amino-2-[ | 2011-06-16 |
20110144484 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING A MEDICAL PROCEDURE SUCH AS A VASCULAR SURGERY OPERATION - In a monitoring method and device for monitoring a medical procedure, in particular a vascular surgery operation, at least one monitoring measurement in a monitoring region is acquired by a medical imaging device, and the at least one monitoring measurement takes place essentially simultaneously with the medical procedure. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144485 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MARKING BODY CAVITIES - A surgical method, including inserting an internal viewing device via a ureter into a first calyx of a kidney, inspecting the first calyx with the internal viewing device, and determining whether the first calyx contains one or more stones. If the first calyx does contain one or more stones, it is marked with a first marking material, but if the first calyx does not contain one or more stones, it is marked with a second marking material different from the first marking material. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144486 | Power Injector with Syringe Communication Logic - A power injector ( | 2011-06-16 |
20110144487 | Power Injector with Syringe Communication Logic - A power injector ( | 2011-06-16 |
20110144488 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM - An ultrasound diagnostic system is disclosed. The ultrasound diagnostic system allows an examiner and an examinee to view a diagnosis result on different screens through a single display unit by adjusting viewing angles depending on positions of the examiner and the examinee, thereby providing a screen for the current diagnosis status to the examinee without a separate monitor for the examinee and providing an optimized screen for diagnosis to the examiner. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144489 | ADAPTIVE CLUTTER FILTERING METHOD AND ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FOR THE SAME - There is disclosed an embodiment for adaptive clutter filtering. A signal acquisition unit transmits and receives ultrasound signals to and from a target object to output baseband IQ signals. A memory stores an error condition, a filter decision condition and information on at least two of filters for filtering the baseband IQ signals. A user interface receives a filter selection condition for selecting at least two filters among a plurality of filters stored in the memory. A processor extracts at least two of filters from the memory according to the filter selection condition and the error condition, decides a filter among the extracted at least two of filters and filters the baseband IQ signals by using filter coefficients of the decided filter. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144490 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ADIPOSE TISSUE REDUCTION AND SKIN CONTOUR IRREGULARITY SMOOTHING - In one embodiment, an ultrasound device disposed in a housing is provided. The ultrasound device comprises a first transducer for imaging a region of interest, and a second transducer that generates one or more ultrasound frequencies for cavitating fat cells in the region of interest, and one or more frequencies for thermally treating connective tissues in the region of interest. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144491 | SELF-AIMING DIRECTABLE ACOUSTIC TRANSDUCER ASSEMBLY FOR INVASIVE MEDICAL DEVICE APPLICATIONS - A directable acoustic transducer assembly is presented for use in a medical insertion device (MID). In an embodiment, the assembly aims an acoustic signal in response to a sensed or detected force or load imposed on the MID. The directable acoustic transducer assembly includes a switch array and a plurality of directional acoustic transducer elements. The switch array responds to the force or load and activates the directional acoustic transducer elements closest to the source of the force or load. The switch array may include a plurality of switches, at least one of which responses to a force or load and may activate directional acoustic transducer elements having a target tissue in the field of view. The assembly includes embodiments that are responsive to various loads. A directable acoustic transducer assembly may be part of a diagnostic and/or therapeutic system, such as an RF ablation system. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144492 | Targeted Treatment Delivery System - This invention relates generally to the targeting and biopsy of tissue for medical purposes, and more particularly to a targeted biopsy system which allows planning of tissue to be sampled, targeting of specific areas of tissue in reference to the plan, capturing the tissue sample and recording the source location of the tissue sample, particularly for use in collecting tissue samples from the prostate gland. A further purpose of this invention is to provide a targeted treatment system which allows planning of tissue to be treated, targeting of specific areas of tissue in reference to the plan, and delivering the treatment to the targeted tissue. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144493 | ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC DEVICES - An ultrasound diagnostic and therapeutic device includes a catheter equipped with an intracorporeal ultrasound transducer at its tip, an extracorporeal ultrasound transmitter, an imaging electronic unit and a time-reversal electronic unit. The intracorporeal transducer may be used to record an image of surrounding tissues so as to identify a treatment site. The same transducer is then used as a beacon to receive an ultrasound impulse from the extracorporeal transmitter. The impulse response signal from the intracorporeal transducer is then time-reversed so that high-intensity focused ultrasound can be generated at the location of the intracorporeal transducer. The device is capable of shaping the area of focused ultrasound to correspond to that of the treatment site. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144494 | METHODS FOR ACQUISITION AND DISPLAY IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING - In general, the invention provides methods for use in the acquisition and display of ultrasound images. In particular, the invention provides methods for displaying ultrasound images using a persistence algorithm, gating ultrasound acquisition based on subject respiration, triggering ultrasound acquisition based on subject ECG, and destroying bubble contrast agents during imaging. The methods may be employed with any suitable ultrasound system. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144495 | Perfusion Imaging of a Volume in Medical Diagnostic Ultrasound - A volume is scanned with ultrasound for determining perfusion. A volume is scanned with a more rapid technique for tracking a sub-volume, and the tracked sub-volume is scanned for contrast agent detection with a less rapid technique. For example, a single pulse technique or B-mode scanning is used to track a region over one or more cycles, the location of the tracked region is predicted, and multiple pulse contrast agent detection is performed for the sub-volume at the predicted location. The combinations of scanning provide for real-time or higher temporal resolution reperfusion information at the appropriate tissue. Using a separate scan for motion tracking may provide a more robust prediction of the sub-volume location and a better visualization of the results (e.g., orientation within the organ). In other embodiments, tracking is based on a B mode image derived from the multi-pulse data. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144496 | IMAGING METHOD FOR MICROCALCIFICATION IN TISSUE AND IMAGING METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING BREAST CANCER - An imaging method for microcalcification displays microcalcification distribution by acquiring and overlapping a photoacoustic image of microcalcification and an ultrasonic image of tissue. The image acquired by the present invention, in comparison to images acquired by ultrasonic and X-ray mammography, has advantages in no speckle noises, higher optical contrast, higher ultrasonic resolution, and so on. The present invention also has advantage in safety by adopting a light source having no ionizing radiation. An imaging method for diagnosing breast cancer is also herein disclosed. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144497 | ULTRASONIC 3-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION METHOD AND ULTRASONIC WAVE SYSTEM THEREOF - Disclosed are systems and methods for reconstructing a three-dimensional ultrasound image. The method may include generating a two-dimensional image having various directivities in a frequency space based on plane wave data; manipulating the generated two-dimensional image to generate three-dimensional image data; and reconstructing a three-dimensional ultrasound image by performing an inverse fast Fourier transformation on the three-dimensional image data. The method may further include using a fast Fourier transformation, a lookup table, back-projection, filtering, de-noising, compressed sensing, and/or the projection-slice theorem. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144498 | IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, a medical image display apparatus includes a storage unit storing data of a three-dimensional image, a slice image generating unit generating three slice images associated with three slices from the three-dimensional image, a display unit displaying the three slice images respectively in three display areas, an ROI marker generating unit generating three ROI markers to be respectively superimposed on the displayed three slice images, the three ROI markers corresponding to a single ROI, an operation unit performing operation of changing relative positions between the three slice images and the three ROI markers, and a display control unit controlling move the three slice images in the three display areas in accordance with the operation of changing the relative positions and fix the three ROI markers at center positions of the three display areas. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144499 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SELECTING SLICE IMAGE FROM THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASOUND IMAGE - Various embodiments of ultrasound system and method of selecting a 2D slice image from a 3D ultrasound image are provided. One embodiment of the ultrasound system comprises: a 3D ultrasound image acquisition unit configured to acquire a 3D ultrasound image of a target object; a 2D slice image selection unit including a control volume unit, the 2D slice image selection unit being configured to be rotated and/or moved by an operator; and a processor coupled to the 3D ultrasound image acquisition unit and the 2D slice image selection unit. At least one selection plane is formed by the control volume unit as a reference plane to select at least one 2D slice image from the 3D ultrasound image. The processor is configured to extract at least one 2D slice image corresponding to the at least one selection plane from the 3D ultrasound image. The 3D ultrasound image or the at least one selection plane are rotated and/or moved together with the control volume unit. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144500 | ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING COORDINATES OF SCANNED SURFACE THEREOF - An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store information about the contour of an object to be examined and information about the position of a specified region of the ultrasonic image of the object both corresponded to a body contour model coordinate system and a coordinate calculating unit configured to correspond the object coordinate system to the body contour model coordinate system according to the information about the position of the specified region of the object, associating with each other the object coordinate system and the body contour model coordinate system used when comparing an ultrasonic tomographic image based on ultrasonic tomographic data stored in an image storage unit with a real-time ultrasonic tomographic image scanned by an ultrasonic probe, and thereby calculating the coordinates of the scanned plane of the real-time ultrasonic tomographic image in association with the object coordinate system. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144501 | ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DEVICE - When a tomographic image is displayed, the operator of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus is allowed to know the timing to optimize the image quality and decide by him- or herself whether optimization needs to be done now or not. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144502 | IMAGING GUIDEWIRE - An imaging guidewire that, in one embodiment, includes: (1) a hypotube forming an elongated main body having a distal end, (2) at least one multimode optical fiber integral with the hypotube and configured to carry laser light for ultrasonic excitation, (3) a single-mode optical fiber integral with the hypotube, having a reflective coating located on a distal end thereof and at the distal end of the elongated main body and configured to carry laser light for ultrasonic detection and (4) an imaging cap coupled to the elongated main body at the distal end and including a photoacoustic layer configured to receive the laser light from the at least one multimode optical fiber. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144503 | Optical methods for monitoring of birefringent tissues - The present invention comprises methods and systems/devices for non-invasively measuring birefringent tissues (e.g. collagen) and changes during treatment of tissue, e.g., denaturation by the application of RF energy, through linear dichroism, circular dichroism, or birefringence. The invention optionally uses polarization sensitive optical measurements to discriminate between denaturation of unidirectionally oriented strands of collagen, such as a ligament or tendon, and denaturation of planar collagen surfaces, such as the dermal layer of the skin or collagen in joint capsules. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144504 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTICAL IMAGING VIA SPECTRAL ENCODING - Method, apparatus and arrangement according an exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be provided for generating an image of at least one portion of an anatomical structure. For example, the portion can have an area greater than about 1 mm2, and the image can have a resolution a transverse resolution that is below about 10 μm. For example, light can be scanned over such portion so as to generate first information which is related to the portion, where the light may be provided through a diffraction arrangement to generate a spectrally dispersed line. Method, apparatus and arrangement according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be provided for positioning a radiation or optical beam within an anatomical structure based on signals generated by scanning a portion of the structure using the same or a different beam. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144505 | OPTICAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SHAPE AND GRADIENT DETECTION AND/OR MEASUREMENT AND ASSOCIATED DEVICE - Provided are: an optical device for shape and gradient detection and/or measurement which has a simple structure, is robust to external disturbance, and enables accurate measurement of the gradient angle of an object surface, including a human body; a method for optical shape and gradient detection and/or measurement; and a circularly polarized light illumination device. The optical device for shape and gradient detection and/or measurement uses the optical reflection characteristics of the surface of an object to detect and/or measure the surface shape or gradient of an observed object, and is provided with an illumination device and a polarized light image detection device. The illumination device makes the incident light, which surrounds the periphery of the object and is essentially a known perfect polarized light, fall uniformly. The polarized light image detection device detects a polarized light ellipse of the perfectly polarized light component of a light beam group, which is specularly reflected by the object surface and radiated at a particular azimuth angle. The optical device measures the gradient angle with respect to the radiated light beam of the reflection surface in a step 1 in which the orientation of the incident plane is detected from the observed azimuth angle value of the polarized light ellipse for the reflecting surface of the object which forms an incident point for each reflected and radiated light beam, and a step 2 in which the incident angle is detected from the ellipticity logic value of the polarized light ellipse. The method for optical shape and gradient detection and/or measurement is carried out using the same operation. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144506 | BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A blood pressure measurement device is mounted with a radio-controlled clock function in a main body without lowering reception performance of the standard radio wave of the radio-controlled clock. A substrate including a sensor mounting surface and a sensor non-mounting surface is mounted with a pressure sensor. An antenna for receiving the standard radio wave including time information of the radio-controlled clock is mounted. The antenna includes a bar-shaped magnetic body core and a coil wound around the magnetic body core. A pump is arranged such that an axis line direction of the motor and an extending direction of the magnetic body core are substantially orthogonal. The substrate and the substrate are arranged so that the sensor non-mounting surface of the substrate and the antenna mounting surface of the sensor face each other. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144507 | CUFF FOR BLOOD PRESSURE INFORMATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE AND BLOOD PRESSURE INFORMATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A cuff includes a cuff main body portion and a gripping portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cuff main body portion. The cuff main body portion includes an air bladder, a tightening belt wrapped around an outer side of the air bladder, and a wrapping length adjustment mechanism for variably adjusting a wrapping length of the tightening belt. The wrapping length adjustment mechanism has a bias spring for pulling and biasing the tightening belt in a direction in which the wrapping length of the tightening belt is shortened, a first restriction portion for restricting extension of the wrapping length, and a second restriction portion for restricting shortening of the wrapping length. The gripping portion includes a push button for switching actions of the two restriction portions. In this configuration, the cuff may be easily attached to a measurement site regardless of the circumferential length of the site. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144508 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING ACUTE DECOMPENSATED HEART FAILURE - An implantable medical device has an impedance determiner for determining a cardiogenic impedance signal based on electric signals sensed by connected electrodes. A parameter calculator processes the impedance signal to calculate an impedance parameter representative of the cardiogenic impedance in connection with the diastolic phase of a heart cycle. This parameter is then employed by the device for monitoring acute decompensated heart failure status of a subject. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144509 | SENSING APPARATUS FOR SENSING AN OBJECT - The present invention relates to a sensing apparatus for sensing an object, wherein the sensing apparatus ( | 2011-06-16 |
20110144510 | METHODS TO IDENTIFY DAMAGED OR SCARRED TISSUE BASED ON POSITION INFORMATION AND PHYSIOLOGICAL INFORMATION - An exemplary system includes one or more processors; memory; and control logic, of one or more modules operable in conjunction with the one or more processors and the memory, to acquire myocardial potential data associated with position information, acquire myocardial electrical activation data associated with position information, acquire myocardial position data with respect to time, generate isopotential contours based on the potential data, generate isochronal contours based on the electrical activation data, generate isomotion contours based on the position data with respect to time, and overlay the generated isopotential contours, isochronal contours and isomotion contours on a display to indicate a region of myocardial damage or myocardial scarring with respect to a map that comprises anatomical markers. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144511 | Cardiac Activation Sequence Monitoring and Tracking - Cardiac monitoring and/or stimulation methods and systems provide monitoring, diagnosis, and defibrillation and/or pacing therapies. A signal processor receives a plurality of composite signals associated with a plurality of sources, performs a source separation, and produces one or more cardiac signal vectors associated with all or a portion of one or more cardiac activation sequences based on the source separation. A method of signal separation involves detecting a change in a characteristic of the cardiac signal vector relative to a baseline. One or more vectors and/or activation sequences may be selected, and information associated with the vectors and/or activation sequences may be stored and tracked. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144512 | THERAPY-SELECTION METHODS FOR IMPLANTABLE HEART MONITORS - An implantable heart-monitoring device comprising one or more leads for sensing electrical signals of a patient's heart a therapy circuit for delivering pharmaceuticals to the patient; and a monitoring circuit coupled to the one or more leads and to the therapy circuit, the monitoring circuit for monitoring heart activity of the patient through one or more of the leads, the monitoring circuit operable to: determine a minimum interval from a set of two or more intervals based on sensed heart activity, determine a range parameter based on a difference between a first subset and second subset of the intervals, determine a dispersion parameter quantifying dispersion of a subset of the intervals, and to determine an assessment value for the set of intervals, based on the minimum interval, the range parameter, the dispersion index. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144513 | METHODS FOR IMPROVED ANALYSIS OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY - Methods for analysis of heart rate variability can be used in gaming and other software applications as disclosed herein; wherein improvements include a faster analysis of heart rate variability, prediction of future values, and assessment of value deviations, among others. The described methods interpolate variations in heart rate variability using one or more of the factors: LF amplitude factor (kALF), HF amplitude factor (kAHF), and deviation factor (kdev). Other features of the improved methods are described in detail herein. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144514 | Tracheal Tube with Pressure Monitoring Lumen and Method for Using the Same - According to various embodiments, methods and systems for determining pressure in the lungs may employ tracheal pressure measurements. The tracheal pressure measurements may be obtained through a pressure monitoring lumen associated with a tracheal tube. Such systems may include a purging or flushing mechanism to keep the pressure monitoring lumen free of any obstructions. The flushing mechanism may utilize respiratory gases diverted from the airway stream and regulated to flush the lumen at relatively low pressures. The resulting pressure measurements may be used to determine a more accurate estimate of lung pressure, which in turn may be used to control a ventilator and provide breathing assistance to a patient. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144515 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING ENVIRONMENT MONITORING - The present invention describes systems and methods for providing portable environment monitoring systems. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a portable environment monitoring system comprising a sensor enabled to sense an airborne analyte. The portable environment monitoring system also includes a microprocessor in communication with the sensor and enabled to process information received from the sensor. Additionally, the portable environment monitoring system includes a memory device in communication with the microprocessor and enabled to store information received from the microprocessor. Furthermore, a user is enabled to ambulate with the portable environment monitoring system. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144516 | RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION OF THORACIC MUSCLES TO BREATHING - A method and apparatus for evaluating the relative contribution of the diaphragm versus other thoracic muscles to breathing by obtaining measurements of parameters that correlate with changes in thoracic cavity and intra-abdominal cavity pressures over identical time increments and organizing the measurement data in manner that reveals whether the pressures changes are characteristic of the pattern of contemporaneous pressure changes in those cavities that accompany contraction and/or relaxation of the diaphragm muscles or whether the pressure changes are characteristic of the pattern of contemporaneous pressure changes in those cavities that accompany contraction and/or relaxation of the intercostal muscles. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144517 | Video Based Automated Detection of Respiratory Events - A computer implemented method for automated sleep monitoring, including recording live images of a subject sleeping, transmitting the recorded images to a computing device, receiving the transmitted images at the computing device, performing motion analysis of the subject based on the received images, computing an air flow signal that represents the amount of air flowing into the lungs of the subject over time from the results of said motion analysis, automatically detecting respiratory events based on said airflow signal, wherein a respiratory event is a breathing disturbance, and displaying the respiratory events experienced by the subject on a monitor. An apparatus is also described. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144518 | System and Methods for Management of Disease Over Time - A system for delivering health information is provided. The system comprises at least one apparatus configured to receive information related to a condition of a patient. The analysis system further comprises a reception system configured to receive data related to the patient's condition and a processor configured to assess a condition of a patient and to identify a data set including information related to the patient's condition. The system also comprises a communication system configured to communicate the data set to a user. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144519 | System and Methods for Neurologic Monitoring and Improving Classification and Treatment of Neurologic States - Methods and systems for assessing brain activity and collecting information related to a patient's condition and brain electrical activity are provided. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144520 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR POINT-OF-CARE NEURO-ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT GUIDANCE - A method and apparatus for providing an objective assessment of the neurological state of a patient using a field-portable neuro-assessment device is described. The method includes placing an electrode set on the patient's head, acquiring spontaneous brain electrical signals and evoked potential signals from the patient through the electrode set, processing the signals using a handheld base unit, and displaying a result indicating the probability of the patient's neurological signal being normal or abnormal. The neuro-assessment device allows for a rapid, on-site neurological evaluation by an emergency medical technician, triage nurse, or any other medical personnel to identify patients with neurological disorders who may require immediate medical attention. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144521 | STIMULATION ELECTRODE SELECTION - Bioelectrical signals may be sensed within a brain of a patient with a plurality of sense electrode combinations. A stimulation electrode combination for delivering stimulation to the patient to manage a patient condition can be selected based on a frequency domain characteristic of the sensed bioelectrical signals. In some examples, a stimulation electrode combination is selected based on a determination of which of the sense electrodes are located closest to a target tissue site, as indicated by the one or more sense electrodes that sensed a bioelectrical brain signal with a relatively highest value of the frequency domain characteristic. In some examples, determining which of the sense electrodes are located closest to the target tissue site may include executing an algorithm using relative values of the frequency domain characteristic. | 2011-06-16 |
20110144522 | Single Trial Detection in Encephalography - An EEG cap ( | 2011-06-16 |
20110144523 | Method and apparatus for monitoring the autonomous nervous system of a sedated patient - A method and an apparatus for monitoring the autonomous nervous system of a sedated patient. The method comprises steps of providing a skin conductance signal measured at an area of the patient's skin through a measurement interval, calculating a characteristic of said skin conductance signal, establishing a first output signal indicating the state of pain or discomfort in the patient, and a second output signal indicating the state of awakening in the patient, based on said characteristic of said skin conductance signal. The calculating of the signal characteristic comprises calculating a value representative of a statistical dispersion, e.g., the standard deviation, of the values of the skin conductance signal through the measurement interval. | 2011-06-16 |