The present disclosure describes systems, apparatus, and methods for collecting biometric data from a patient. In some cases, this biometric data can be collected during the course of an emergency encounter using a medical device. The medical device can also perform other functions, such as monitor patient vital signs, receive and record notes and textual information, communicate with other devices, and/or deliver a therapeutic treatment. The medical device can also be configured to record and/or maintain a patient record, and to embed the patient biometric data into the patient record for use in later confirming and/or determining an identity of the patient. Some embodiments can also collect biometric data relating to one or more caregivers of the patient, and to embed the caregiver biometric data into the patient record. This caregiver biometric data can be used to confirm and/or identify one or more caregivers in a patient record.

A swallowing sensor that is attached to a person's pharyngeal portion and that measures the person's swallowing ability includes: a film-shaped detector that detects vibration based on displacement and sound of the pharyngeal portion; an adhesive layer that is provided on one of two main sides of the detector and that attaches the detector to the pharyngeal portion; and a sensing film arranged on the detector to cover entirety of the other main side of the detector, wherein a main side of the sensing film that contacts the detector contains an adhesive component, the sensing film is attachable to the pharyngeal portion around the detector using the adhesive component, and the sensing film conveys vibration to the detector. Accordingly, the swallowing ability can be more accurately measured.

Each conductor of a plurality of insulated conductors of a wiring harness extends between, and electrically connects, a corresponding terminal of a first electrical connector to either a corresponding terminal of an electrical connector jack of a plurality of electrical jacks located along the wiring harness, or to a corresponding terminal of a corresponding auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor of the plurality of auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensors. The plurality of insulated conductors are organized in a plurality of distinct branches, each distinct branch originating either from the first electrical connector or from another portion of the wiring harness, and the locations of the plurality of distinct branches, in cooperation with the plurality of electrical jacks, if present, are implicitly suggestive of a corresponding location of the corresponding auscultatory sound-or-vibration sensor on a thorax of a test subject.

Described herein are methods and systems for monitoring acoustical activity from the abdominal region to guide the optimal timing of food ingestion. According to one embodiment of the method, the rate of intestinal digestion events, as well as the change in the rate across specific time periods, is analyzed to guide ingestion behavior in a way that improves health. The result of guidance may be to reduce weight in people who are obese, to improve performance in athletes seeking to balance energy availability and energy expenditure, or to increase caloric intake in people who are undernourished. The method can be applied using a smartphone application to provide contextually appropriate and specific user guidance about whether, when, and how much to eat in a manner that aligns with the physiologic patterns of intestinal activity.

Described herein are methods and systems for monitoring acoustical activity from the abdominal region to guide the optimal timing of food ingestion. According to one embodiment of the method, the rate of intestinal digestion events, as well as the change in the rate across specific time periods, is analyzed to guide ingestion behavior in a way that improves health. The result of guidance may be to reduce weight in people who are obese, to improve performance in athletes seeking to balance energy availability and energy expenditure, or to increase caloric intake in people who are undernourished. The method can be applied using a smartphone application to provide contextually appropriate and specific user guidance about whether, when, and how much to eat in a manner that aligns with the physiologic patterns of intestinal activity.

In embodiments, a Wearable Cardiac Defibrillator (WCD) system is configured to be worn by an ambulatory patient. The WCD system includes a main user interface (UI) output device that can output an image, sound or vibration as a main message about a condition of the patient or the WCD system. The patient may further carry a peripheral device that can also output an image, sound or vibration as a peripheral message about the condition. The peripheral message may mirror the main message at least in part, amplify it, and so on. The availability of the peripheral message provides the patient with the opportunity to better perceive the main message, and the flexibility to receive and react to it discreetly, learn more about the condition, and so on.

Active auscultation may be used to determine organ (e.g., lung or heart) characteristics of users. An acoustic or piezo-electric signal (e.g., a pulse, a tone, and/or a broadband pulse) may be projected into an animal (typically human) body or thorax. The signal interacts with the body, or lungs, and in some cases may induce resonance within the body/lungs. A resultant signal may be emitted from the body which may be analyzed to determine, for example, a lung's resonant frequency or frequencies and/or how the sound is otherwise absorbed, reflected, or modified by the body. This information may be indicative of lung characteristics such as lung capacity, a volume of air trapped in the lungs, and/or the presence of COPD.

Active auscultation may be used to determine organ (e.g., lung or heart) characteristics of users. An acoustic or piezo-electric signal (e.g., a pulse, a tone, and/or a broadband pulse) may be projected into an animal (typically human) body or thorax. The signal interacts with the body, or lungs, and in some cases may induce resonance within the body/lungs. A resultant signal may be emitted from the body which may be analyzed to determine, for example, a lung's resonant frequency or frequencies and/or how the sound is otherwise absorbed, reflected, or modified by the body. This information may be indicative of lung characteristics such as lung capacity, a volume of air trapped in the lungs, and/or the presence of COPD.

There is provided a wheeze detection apparatus including: a sound measurer configured to measure a pulmonary sound of a measurement subject; a respiratory sound volume deriver configured to derive a respiratory sound volume of the measurement subject based on the sound measured by the sound measurer; and a wheeze detector configured to extract a maximum point from an intensity distribution for each frequency of the sound and to detect wheeze based on information on the maximum point. The wheeze detector sets, in a case where the respiratory sound volume is outside a predetermined range, detection sensitivity of the wheeze to a higher value than the detection sensitivity in a case where the respiratory sound volume is within the range.

A system for dispensing sterile covers for a stethoscope or other medical device, including a container including elongated members positioned in the container, terminating at tips proximate one end of the container; one or more collapsed pouches positioned inside the container, each pouch having open and closed ends and retainers, each retainer adapted to receive a corresponding elongated member, the collapsed pouches being supported on the elongated members; each pouch comprising a tab positioned proximate the open end for being grasped and pulled in a direction away and downwards from the elongated members, the open end forming an open position defined by the retainers and the tab for receiving a head of the stethoscope inside the pouch while the retainers remain engaged with the elongated members; after use, the pouch is removable from the stethoscope without a user contacting a patient contacting region of the cover.