In a method and an apparatus for rib unfolding in an MR image, a computer is provided with an input data file formed of volumetric MR data that represent a 3D image of the rib cage and the lungs of a subject. A view is selected wherein the ribs in the rib cage are in approximated as curves, such as a transverse slice through the 3D image, or an oblique view of the 3D image. The lungs in the selected view are used in order to define a first smooth curved surface representation that is inside of the rib cage. Further ellipses are selectively defined starting from the first ellipse and moving outwardly from the first smooth curved surface representation that respectively proceed through rib pairs in the rib cage in the selected image. These further smooth curved surface representations are then used to unfold the 3D image, by cutting and straightening these further smooth curved surface representations, thereby obtaining an unfolded 3D image, which is then displayed at a display.

A system, devices, and methods are described for imaging and measuring the mechanical properties of both surface and subcutaneous tissues found in living organisms, animals, and in natural and synthetic materials, and may include a first device configured to determine a modulus of a portion of bulk material or subcutaneous tissue (via measurement of vibrations), and/or determine resonant frequency of the vibrations, and a second device operably connected to the first device and configured to generate vibrations. The first device may be an optical coherence tomography device. The system may include a processor and data storage device with instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to process of the frequency data and the displacement data to determine a resonant frequency of the material under investigation and calculate the mechanical modulus of elasticity of the material from a resonance frequency spectrum of the analyzed spectral image.

A wearable device operably worn by a user for monitoring musculoskeletal loading on structure inside the body of the user includes a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to be operably worn by the user at a predetermined location and configured to detect information about a biomechanical activity of musculoskeletal tissues, a limb segment orientation, and/or a loading magnitude or location thereon; and a processing unit in communication with the plurality of sensors and configured to process the detected information by the plurality of sensors to estimate the musculoskeletal loading, and communicate the estimated musculoskeletal loading to the user and/or a party of interest.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for identifying when a subject is likely to be affected by a medical condition. For example, at least one processor may be configured to receive information reflective of an external soft tissue image of the subject. The processor may also be configured to perform an evaluation of the external soft tissue image information and to generate evaluation result information based, at least in part, on the evaluation. The processor may also be configured to predict a likelihood that the subject is affected by the medical condition based, at least in part, on the evaluation result information.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for identifying when a subject is likely to be affected by a medical condition. For example, at least one processor may be configured to receive information reflective of an external soft tissue image of the subject. The processor may also be configured to perform an evaluation of the external soft tissue image information and to generate evaluation result information based, at least in part, on the evaluation. The processor may also be configured to predict a likelihood that the subject is affected by the medical condition based, at least in part, on the evaluation result information.

Non-invasive intracranial pressure detection and/or monitoring and use of data with respect thereto. Illustratively, with respect to a method, there can be a method to digitally produce and communicate intracranial pressure data from skull deformation electric signals, the method including: receiving, from at least one sensor, detected skull deformation electric signals at electrical equipment configured to transform and process the skull deformation signals that are received; transforming and processing, by the electrical equipment, the received skull deformation electric signals to produce digital intracranial pressure data; and outputting, by the electrical equipment, the digital intracranial pressure data via an output device operably associated with the electrical equipment to render the digital intracranial pressure data.

A method for determining a mechanical axis of a tibia using a tibial digitizer is disclosed. The method includes: determining an upper reference point on a tibial plateau corresponding to an entry point of the mechanical axis; fastening an upper mounting end of the tibial digitizer to the tibial plateau at the upper reference point; and fastening a lower mounting end of the tibial digitizer to medial and lateral malleoli of the ankle, by inwardly displacing opposed caliper arms of a self-centering malleoli engaging mechanism toward each other in a common plane until the caliper arms abut the malleoli. A lower reference point located at a midpoint between the medial and lateral malleoli is then determined by identifying a corresponding midpoint between the caliper arms when they are clamped onto the medial and lateral malleoli.

The invention features soluble FGF decoy polypeptides and fusion polypeptides comprising an FGF decoy polypeptide linked to a heterologous polypeptide, such as an aggrecan binding protein. Both soluble FGF decoy polypeptides and fusion polypeptides can be used to prevent or treat skeletal disorders, such as achondroplasia.

A motor response of a muscle to neural stimulation is assessed. Electrical stimuli are applied from a first electrode to a selected neural pathway to evoke an efferent neural response. A slow neural response upon the neural pathway evoked by the electrical stimuli is observed. Based on the slow neural response, a motor response of at least one muscle to the stimuli is assessed.

It is disclosed an apparatus for restoring voluntary control of locomotion in a subject suffering from a neuromotor impairment comprising a multidirectional trunk support system and a device for epidural electrical stimulation. The robotic interface is capable of evaluating, enabling and training motor pattern generation and balance across a variety of natural walking behaviors in subjects with neuromotor impairments. Optionally, pharmacological cocktails can be administered to enhance rehabilitation results. It is also disclosed a method for the evaluation, enablement and training of a subject suffering from neuromotor impairments by combining robotically assisted evaluation tools with sophisticated neurobiomechanical and statistical analyzes. A method for the rehabilitation (by this term also comprising restoring voluntary control of locomotion) of a subject suffering from a neuromotor impairment in particular partial or total paralysis of limbs, is also disclosed.