In various embodiments, a medical device comprises a trocar including an awl and a cannula; two or more electrodes disposed on a distal portion of the trocar; an impedance bridge coupled to the two or more electrodes; and a processor coupled to the impedance bridge. In various embodiments, a computer-implemented method for evaluating tissue of a patient comprises recording, at one or more frequencies, one or more impedance measurements, wherein each impedance measurement is associated with two or more electrodes disposed on a distal portion of a trocar; comparing the one or more impedance measurements to one or more characteristic impedances associated with one or more tissue types; and determining, based on the one or more impedance measurements and the one or more characteristic impedances, one or more tissue types at a location associated with the distal portion of the trocar.

Systems and method may be used for interfacing with a patient. Systems may include a plurality of electrodes in electrical communication with a processor. The processor may be configured to receive sense signals from electrodes and to determine the reliability of the received signal. A test tone signal comprising a test tone frequency may be applied, and the magnitude of the test tone frequency may be analyzed in the received signal. If it is determined that the magnitude of the test tone frequency is below a threshold, the system may take action, such as lowering the gain on an amplifier. Stimulation signals may be applied to the patient at a stimulation frequency simultaneously with one or both of receiving sense signals and providing the test tone signal.

An automatic method of categorizing the contact force of a catheter tip against a portion of a patient's heart based on motion of the catheter tip, the method comprising (a) capturing a series of 3D-coordinate data points of the catheter tip as a function of discrete times with a 3D medical imaging system, the 3D coordinates corresponding to an orthogonal 3-axis spatial coordinate system, (b) using a programmable computing system, computing a set of measures based on the series of 3D-coordinate data points, (c) categorizing each measure by a respective set of predetermined threshold values; and (d) combining the categorized measures to yield a relative quality of the contact force.

An apparatus for estimating bio-information includes an optical sensor including a light source configured to emit light of multiple wavelengths onto an object, and including a plurality of detectors configured to detect light of each wavelength which is scattered or reflected from the object. The apparatus includes a processor configured to obtain spectra based on light of each wavelength which is detected by each detector, determine valid spectra of the obtained spectra, and estimate a bio-information value based on the valid spectra.

A stimulation system includes an energy source, an electronics unit with a controller, and an actuator that is coupled with the electronics unit and/or the energy source. The actuator emits electromagnetic waves for stimulation of genetically manipulated tissue. The electronics unit is disposed in a housing. The stimulation system is configured for at least temporary implantation in a human or animal body. The controller controls the stimulation of tissue in the body by way of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the actuator. A selector of the stimulation system selects the area of the said tissue for stimulation. The selector includes a masking device for masking certain areas of the tissue, so that an intensity of the stimulation for the masked areas is reduced or equal to zero.

Indirect, oscillometric, digital blood pressure monitoring systems and methods enabling self-calibration to obtain absolute blood pressure values using algorithmic analysis of arterial pressure pulses to establish an oscillometric profile and compensate for intervening effects on digital arterial pressure. Proper algorithmic analysis is dependent upon proper positioning and maintained engagement of a digital cuff on the digit of a user and subsequent hydraulic coupling of the cuff to the arteries within the digit.

A method intended for the evaluation of the quality of ratio of ratios (RR) values computed for at least two photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals corresponding to distinct wavelengths, each PPG signal including successive heartbeat patterns. The method includes the steps of: segmenting the PPG signals into a plurality of signal segments each corresponding to one heartbeat pattern; for each given signal segment, computing a sequence of RR values; and evaluating, for each given signal segment, a quality index of the sequence of computed RR values on the basis of a computed heart rate and/or a measured peripheral temperature corresponding to the given signal segment.

An apparatus (100) comprises at least one electronic processor (101, 113) programmed to: control an associated medical imaging device (120) to acquire an image (130); compute values of textural features (132) for the acquired image; generate a signature (140) from the computed values of the textural features; and at least one of: display the signature on a display device (105); and apply an artificial intelligence (AI) component (150) to the generated signature to output image artifact metrics (152) for a set of image artifacts and display an image quality assessment based on the image artifact metrics on the display device.

Medical apparatus and methods for diagnostic and site determination of cardiac arrhythmias within a heart of a subject are provided. A computing device receives, records and processes electrocardiogram (ECG) signals in the form of bipolar and unipolar ECGs associated with respective cardiac tissue locations corresponding to catheter distal end sensors on locations. Unipolar ECGs that include signals from a plurality of successive heartbeats corresponding to locations within an area of study are analyzed to identify Fractionated Unipolar ECG Signal Complexes (FUESCs) of unipolar ECGs by defining complexes of the unipolar ECGs that correspond to respective bipolar activity windows. Identified arrhythmia sites for treatment include a predetermined number of unipolar ECGs that have a predetermined number of FUESCs. Atrial arrhythmia sites for treatment by ablation can be identified with respect to FUESCs of unipolar ECGs that include signals from at least ten successive heartbeats of an atrial tissue study area.

A system comprises processing circuitry and memory comprising program instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to: apply a first set of rules to first patient parameter data for a first determination of whether sudden cardiac arrest of a patient is detected; determine that a one or more context criteria of the first determination are satisfied; and in response to satisfaction of the context criteria, apply a second set of rules to second patient parameter data for a second determination of whether sudden cardiac arrest of the patient is detected. At least the second set of rules comprises a machine learning model, and the second patient parameter data comprises at least one patient parameter that is not included in the first patient parameter data.