The present disclosure relates to methods of collecting and testing bacteria containing samples from within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject. The methods may include disposing an ingestible device in the GI tract, collecting a bacteria-containing sample from the GI tract, selectively lysing eukaryotic cells in the sample by combining the sample with a dried reagent, exposing bacteria in the sample to resazurin in the ingestible device to produce resorufin, emitting light from the ingestible device, the emitted light being filtered through an optical filter to control for scatter so that the light interacts with the resorufin to produce fluorescence, and measuring a total fluorescence from the resorufin; or a rate of change of fluorescence from the resorufin as a function of time within the GI tract of the subject; and correlating the measured parameter to a number of viable bacterial cells in the sample.

A flush device including: a first housing provided with a first flow path; a second housing provided with a second flow path, the second housing being coupled to the first housing; a flow control device including a protrusion and a through hole connecting the first flow path to the second flow path in fluid communication; and an elastic member provided around the base of the flow control device to seal off a space between the first and the second flow paths. The elastic member is deformed to further connect the first and second flow paths in fluid communication. The first housing has an inner periphery provided with fitting receiving portions each being fitted to each of the fitting projections of the protrusion. According to this structure, the flush device can discharge a chemical liquid at a flow rate close to a defined amount.

Monitors for evaluating airway procedures, particularly in a pre-hospital environment, are described herein. In an example method, an airway parameter of an individual receiving assisted ventilation is detected by an airway sensor. A monitor determines a metric based on the airway sensor. Further, the monitor performs an action based on the metric.

Described is a catheter for being retained inside the body for extended periods, and a catheter mating device that can connect to the catheter to move the catheter inside of the body or remove it from the body. The catheter mating device has a stem with an apparatus at its distal end. The apparatus is moveable between a first position and a second position. When in its first position, the distal end is configured to fit in the proximal end of the catheter. When in its second position, the distal end engages the proximal end of the catheter and connects the catheter mating device to the catheter.

Disclosed is an implant and method of making an implant. The implant having a housing that defines a cavity. The housing includes a sensor comprising a base attached to a diaphragm wherein said base may be positioned within said cavity. The sensor may be a capacitive pressure sensor. The diaphragm may be connected to the housing to hermetically seal said housing. The sensor may include electrical contacts positioned on the diaphragm. The attachment between the base and the diaphragm may define a capacitive gap and at least one discontinuity configured to enhance at least one performance parameter of said implant.

The present disclosure provides a urodynamic measurement apparatus that includes a urethral catheter that may be inserted inside a patient's bladder, a first sensor that may be spaced apart from the patient, and connected to the urethral catheter to measure an inner pressure of the bladder, a rectal catheter that may be inserted inside the patient's rectum, a second sensor that may be spaced apart from the patient, but adjacent to the first sensor, and connected to the rectal catheter to measure an abdominal pressure, and a first position adjuster that adjusts the height of the first sensor and the second sensor according to the patient's posture.

In some examples, a medical device includes an elongated body defining an inner lumen. The medical device further includes an anchoring member and a first sensor at a proximal portion of the elongated body, and a second sensor at a distal portion of the elongated body or distal to a distal end of the elongated body. The second sensor is configured to sense a substance of interest and the elongated body comprises a material that is a substantially non-permeable to the substance of interest.

Described herein are systems, devices, and methods to assess and correct for instability of baseline pressure of pressure sensors applied for measuring pressures inside a human body or body cavity, such as intracranial pressure (ICP) and arterial blood pressure (ABP). The present disclosure includes systems for assessing instability of baseline pressure by computing differences in single pressure wave parameters between single pressure waves, calculating pressure stability levels, determining differences between pressure stability levels and creating baseline pressure indicator plots. The baseline pressure indicator plots define instability of baseline pressure as a function of defined thresholds applied to parameters of the pressure stability levels. The disclosure also provides means for correcting mean pressure caused by baseline pressure instability.

A microfluidic pressure sensor may include a bioinert shell having a cavity disposed therein. The cavity may include a reservoir and hydrophobic channel fluidly connected to the reservoir. Changes in pressure outside of the microfluidic pressure sensor may cause at least a portion of the shell to inflect into the reservoir thereby the fluid to move into the channel. The microfluidic pressure sensor may be bodily injected and the fluid level in the cavity may be detected using an ultrasound. The fluid level may be translated into a pressure measurement. The microfluid pressure sensor and uses thereof are suitable for bodily pressure measurements, including intra-abdominal pressure.

A method performed by a computer correlates vesicoelastic pressure data (10, 12, 14) with volume data and calculates vesicoelastic work performed by the bladder (20), wherein the amount of vesicoelastic work performed by the bladder (20) is determined by calculating an area under said vesicoelastic pressure data (10, 12, 14) when said vesicoelastic pressure data (10, 12, 14) is correlated against the volume data.