Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090076398 | Continuous Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Measurement Apparatus and Methods Providing Automatic Recalibration - A blood pressure measurement system is configured to perform a calibration automatically when a calibration condition is satisfied. The calibration condition is based upon one or more parameters of pulse waves of a subject. The parameters may include pulse wave area; a time difference between systolic peak and reflected wave peak or dichrotic notch in the pulse wave and a shape of at least a portion of the pulse wave. | 03-19-2009 |
20100084557 | LIGHT INTENSITY CONTROL FOR NEAR INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY - A system for near infrared spectroscopy includes a controller that automates selection of light intensities for one or more light sources. The system may stepwise increase or decrease a current driving a light source until a signal received at a light detector is within a desired range. The system may maintain closed loop control over the intensity of a light source after the intensity has been set. The closed loop control may be based on a signal from a second light detector that senses light from the light source. Current/intensity settings may be established for each of multiple light detectors. In response to selection of a light detector, the corresponding current may be delivered to drive the light source. | 04-08-2010 |
20100127627 | LIGHT-EMITTING MEDICAL DEVICES HAVING PROTECTIONS AGAINST UNINTENDED LIGHT EXPOSURE - Apparatus and methods are provided for guarding against unintended exposure to light from a light-emitting device used to direct light to a subject for detection by a light detector. A sensor signal indicative of light detected by the light detector is sampled. An inhibition signal for inhibiting emission of light from the light-emitting device is generated, based at least in part on whether emitted light is expected from the light-emitting device and the comparison of the sampled sensor signal value to a threshold value. The light-emitting device may be monitored for continuous wave operation. A mechanical interlock may be provided having a guard moveable between closed and open positions respectively to cover and expose a port of the light-emitting device. | 05-27-2010 |
20100130880 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING BLOOD FLOW IN THE PROSTRATE GLAND - A system for detecting blood flow in the prostate comprises a blood flow sensor disposed on a catheter that can be inserted into a subject's urethra so that the blood flow sensor is located to detect blood flow in the subject's prostate gland. The sensor may be a sensor of a near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system configured to detect in the prostate one or more biocompounds indicative of blood flow. An output of the sensor may provide an input to a controller for a heater disposed to heat tissues of the prostate. Some embodiments comprise one or more additional sensors for detecting blood flow and/or temperature of a portion of the subject's rectal wall adjacent to the prostate gland. In such embodiments, outputs from the additional sensors may provide additional inputs to the controller. | 05-27-2010 |
20100145169 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING A CONDITION OF COMPARTMENT SYNDROME - Methods and systems for detecting and alerting one to a condition of Compartment Syndrome provide for determining concentration data of biochemical compounds in tissues, preferably at a shallow depth beneath the skin; analysing the concentration data to detect a condition of Compartment Syndrome; and triggering an alarm if a condition of Compartment Syndrome is detected. The concentration of biochemical compounds may be measured using Near Infrared Spectroscopy. The biochemical compounds may comprise at least one compound from the group consisting of Hemoglobin, Oxygenated Hemoglobin, Cytochromes and Myoglobin. | 06-10-2010 |
20140012147 | CONTINUOUS NON-INVASIVE BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT APPARATUS AND METHODS PROVIDING AUTOMATIC RECALIBRATION - A blood pressure measurement system is configured to perform a calibration automatically when a calibration condition is satisfied. The calibration condition is based upon one or more parameters of pulse waves of a subject. The parameters may include pulse wave area; a time difference between systolic peak and reflected wave peak or dichrotic notch in the pulse wave and a shape of at least a portion of the pulse wave. | 01-09-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100041562 | MICROFLUIDIC MICROARRAY ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING AND USING - Microarray devices fabricated using microfluidic reagent distribution techniques are provided. As described herein, the invention encompasses microfluidic microarray assemblies (MMA) and subassemblies and methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment first and second channel plates are provided which may be sealed to a test chip in consecutive steps. Each channel plate includes microfluidic channels configured in a predetermined reagent distribution pattern. For example, the first channel plate may have a radial (linear) reagent distribution pattern and the second channel plate may have a spiral (curved) reagent distribution pattern, or vice versa. In one embodiment the first channel plate is connected to the test chip and at least one first reagent is distributed on the test chip in a first predetermined reagent pattern. The first reagent is then immobilized on the test chip. Next, the first channel plate is removed, the second channel plate is connected to the test chip and at least one second reagent is distributed on the test chip in a second predetermined reagent pattern. The first and second reagent patterns intersect to define a plurality of microarray test positions on the test chip. In one embodiment, the first reagent may comprise a plurality of separate probes each distributed to selected test position(s) of the microarray and the second reagent may comprise a plurality of test samples each distributed to selected test position(s) of the microarray. Positive or negative reactions between the probes (or other first reagent) and test samples (or other second reagent) may then be detected at the microarray test positions. For example, hybridization between selected nucleic acid probes and selected nucleic acid samples may be detected at particular test positions. The invention thus provides an efficient means to fabricate high density multi-probe, multi-sample microarrays. Preferably the test chips and channel plates are circular and centrifugal force is used to achieve fluid flow through the microfluidic channels, such as by rotating the MMA in a disc spinner. | 02-18-2010 |
20100075867 | Rotating Microfluidic Array Chips - A microfluidic chip for carrying out live cell assays and showing observable color change is provided. The microfluidic chip has at least one fluid channel and a plurality of holes punched in a first side of the chip in fluid communication with the at least one fluid channel. Gelled medium containing live cells may be applied to the holes without obstructing the at least one fluid channel. A plain disk is applied to a second side of the chip to seal the fluid channels. Liquid to be distributed to the cells in the holes may be flowed through the at least one fluid channel by spinning the chip. The gelled medium may alternatively contain a reagent to be assayed by producing an observable change upon interaction with a second reagent when the chip is spun. | 03-25-2010 |
20120058504 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DIELECTROPHORETIC SHUTTLING AND MEASUREMENT OF SINGLE CELLS OR OTHER PARTICLES IN MICROFLUIDIC CHIPS - The invention relates to a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device comprises a fluid chamber comprising a particle retention region for retaining at least one particle, such as a cell. The microfluidic device also comprises a plurality of electrodes extending into the particle retention region for applying a dielectrophoretic (DEP) force to controllably move the particle within the particle retention region. The invention also relates to methods of using the microfluidic device to controllably move the particle within the microfluidic device and to monitor, observe, or measure a parameter of the particle. The particle movement may be caused by a DEP force and/or a fluidic force. | 03-08-2012 |
20120108451 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR NANOPARTICLE-ASSISTED NUCLEIC ACID HYBRIDIZATION AND MICROARRAY ANALYSIS - The invention provides nucleic acid hybridization methods for detecting target nucleic acid sequences wherein complexes comprising nanoparticles non-covalently associated with single-stranded tartlet nucleic acid molecules are incubated with immobilized probe nucleic acid molecules. Because the nanoparticles function as competitors in the hybridization reaction between the target nucleic acid molecules and the probe nucleic acid molecules. The methods provide a high degree of discrimination between a perfectly matched target sequence and a sequence having at least a single-base-pair mismatch, even when the hybridization reaction is performed at room temperature. The invention also provides microarray methods and apparatus which incorporate the nanoparticle-assisted hybridization methods. | 05-03-2012 |