Implantable in vivo sensors used to monitor physical, chemical or electrical parameters within a body. The in vivo sensors are integral with an implantable medical device and are responsive to externally or internally applied energy. Upon application of energy, the sensors undergo a phase change in at least part of the material of the device which is then detected external to the body by conventional techniques such as radiography, ultrasound imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, radio frequency imaging or the like. The in vivo sensors of the present invention may be employed to provide volumetric measurements, flow rate measurements, pressure measurements, electrical measurements, biochemical measurements, temperature, measurements, or measure the degree and type of deposits within the lumen of an endoluminal implant, such as a stent or other type of endoluminal conduit. The in vivo sensors may also be used therapeutically to modulate mechanical and/or physical properties of the endoluminal implant in response to the sensed or monitored parameter.

A retractor has an oximeter sensor at its tip, which allows measuring of oxygen saturation of a tissue being retracted by the retractor. The tip includes one or more openings for at least one source and detector. A specific implementation is a spinal nerve root retractor with an oximeter sensor.

This method of determining an intracochlea tissue impedance comprises using at least two stimulating electrodes to apply an electrical stimulus to intracochlea tissue. A voltage caused by the stimulus is measured between two measuring electrodes distinct from the stimulating electrodes. From the voltage a stimulus-response characteristic of tissue between the two measuring electrodes is determined. This allows the tissue/electrode interface impedance and potential and the tissue impedance and potential to be uniquely determined. In turn, modiolus currents can be estimated in monopolar stimulation mode. Also provided is automated initiation of re-mapping of the device when tissue characteristics change.

A method for measuring a neural response to a stimulus. Measurement circuitry is settled prior to a stimulus, by connecting a sense electrode to the measurement circuitry to allow the measurement circuitry to settle towards a bio-electrically defined steady state. Charge is recovered on stimulus electrodes by short circuiting the stimulus electrodes to each other. An electrical stimulus is then applied from the stimulus electrodes to neural tissue, while keeping the sense electrode disconnected from the measurement circuitry. After the stimulus, a delay is imposed during which the stimulus electrodes are open circuited and the sense electrode is disconnected from the measurement circuitry and from the stimulus electrodes. After the delay, a neural response signal present at the sense electrode is measured by connecting the sense electrode to the measurement circuitry.

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.

The present invention provides a light source device configured to irradiate an object with visible light and excitation light, an imaging device including a first substrate on which a plurality of first photoelectric conversion elements configured to detect a visible light within reflected light from the object are formed, a second substrate on which a plurality of second photoelectric conversion elements configured to detect light of an infrared region within the reflected light transmitted through the first substrate are formed, and an interlayer filter configured to attenuate the light of the visible region transmitted through the first substrate, and a setting device configured to set a light emission intensity of the visible light radiated by the light source device so that first photoelectric conversion elements is able to detect the visible light and a detection value of light detected by second photoelectric conversion element become less than or equal to a predetermined value.

A Raman spectroscopy based system and method for examination and interrogation provides a method for rapid and cost effective screening of various protein-based compounds such as bacteria, virus, drugs, and tissue abnormalities. A hand-held spectroscope includes a laser and optical train for generating a Raman-shifting sample signal, signal processing and identification algorithms for signal conditioning and target detection with combinations of ultra-high resolution micro-filters and an imaging detector array to provide specific analysis of target spectral peaks within discrete spectral bands associated with a target pathogen.

A flexible, body-mountable analyte sensing device includes a flexible substrate configured for mounting to skin of a living body. The sensing device additionally includes a sensor probe attached to the flexible substrate and configured to penetrate the skin such that a sensor disposed on the sensor probe can detect an analyte in interstitial fluid. The sensor probe can include an elongate extension of the flexible substrate. The sensor can be, for example, an electrochemical sensor or an optical sensor. The sensing device is configured to wirelessly indicate detected concentrations or other information about the analyte in the interstitial fluid. The flexible substrate of the sensing device is configured to be adhered or otherwise mounted to the skin in a manner that minimally impacts activities of the living body.

This disclosure describes techniques for generation of sleep quality information based on posture state data. The techniques may include obtaining posture state data sensed by a medical device for a patient, generating sleep quality information based on lying posture state changes indicated by the posture state data, and presenting the sleep quality information to a user via a user interface.

A flexible sensor configured for use in a bladder is flexible and moveable from a first position in which it is configured to not be discharged from the bladder to a second position in which it is configured to be inserted into the bladder. A sensor insertion tool includes an over sheath, a push rod configured to be inserted into a first lumen of the over sheath. The flexible sensor is positioned in the first lumen of the over sheath, the push rod is then inserted partially into the over sheath behind the flexible sensor. The sensor insertion tool is then positioned at a location, such as the opening to the bladder, in which the sensor is to be deployed.