Methods of lowering heart rate during physical activity for a user in need of an increase in their smallest concentric airway cross-sectional area include providing the person with a mandibular repositioning device having a maxillary tooth covering having a driver flange protruding laterally outward on a right and left side proximate a backmost teeth mold and a mandibular tooth covering having a protrusive flange extending cranially therefrom positioned to have a posterior side engaged with the anterior side of each driver flange. The anterior side of each driver flange has a convex curvature, and the posterior side of each protrusive flange has a concave-to-convex curvature from its base toward its most cranial point and a convex portion of the concave-to convex curvature engages the convex curvature of the driver flange in a rest position, and downward movement of the mandibular piece moves the user's mandible forward as well.

An inflatable mattress that has multiple chambers is disclosed that includes a first section with a first pressure valve, and a second section that has a plurality of collapsible airtight vertical cylindrical chambers displaced across the first section and which defines a top surface and each vertical chamber includes valves, controlled by a central controller that is programmable and controls the flow of air in and out of each chamber, thereby providing a method to alter the vertical dimension of each chamber and affect movement to a person on the top surface mattress.

A device for measuring reflected ultrasound and optical signals may include: an optical source; an optical assembly comprising at least one lens, configured to focus reflected optical illumination from a target onto a detector; and an ultrasound transducer aligned to transmit and receive ultrasound radiation co-axially with the reflected optical illumination and wherein the ultrasound transducer at least partially obstructs a path of the reflected optical illumination. An obstruction may be distant from a focal spot of the optical assembly. The device for measuring reflected ultrasound and optical signals may be particularly useful for characterizing fluid behind an ear drum to diagnose otitis media.

In some embodiments, a self-monitoring intravenous catheter system is provided. An alarm controller is provided that receives signals representing a pH value, an oxygen saturation value, and a pressure value in proximity to the distal end of the catheter. By performing a fuzzy logic analysis of the values, the alarm controller is able to detect that the catheter is about to fail or has failed, and can cause alerts to be presented. In some embodiments, an intravenous catheter is provided that has a pH sensor and an oximeter disposed at a distal end of the catheter to obtain the pH value and oxygen saturation values analyzed by the alarm controller. Embodiments of the catheter and self-monitoring intravenous catheter system may be particularly useful in treating neonates, who are sensitive to catheter failure and are not capable of detecting the signs of failure themselves.

Disclosed is a system and method for in-situ and instantaneous measurement of a pressure gradient by real-time localized pressure measurement with two or more pressure sensors, operating with respect to blood pressure gradient across the aortic valve, or other heart valves, and associated regurgitation of blood flow due to leakage resulting from insufficient valve closure. The system includes a multi-sensor catheter, with sensors arranged along the length of the distal segment of the catheter body, spaced apart to provide simultaneous pressure measurement on either side of the valves of the heart, in addition to one or more lumina in the core of the catheter that will provide a path for introduction of diagnostic fluids which flow out through a multitude of holes in the body of the distal segment of the catheter body.

The present invention relates to a medical device, in particular to an implantable medical device, comprising at least one implantable or non-implantable hemodynamic sensor configured for detecting hemodynamic cardiac signals, a controller configured for processing and analyzing the detected cardiac hemodynamic signals or signals derived from the detected cardiac hemodynamic signals by applying to said signals a Teager Energy Operator (TEO). The controller further comprises at least one algorithm configured to determine the need for a defibrillation operation by taking into account the at least one output hemodynamic signal. The present invention also provides a method and software for detecting or treating a ventricular fibrillation episode by taking into account cardiac hemodynamic signals.

A driving assistance system and a driving assistance method are provided. The driving assistance system includes a physiological information sensing system, an external physical symptom detection system, and a processing device. The physiological information sensing system is configured to sense physiological information of a driver. The external physical symptom detection system is configured to detect an external physical symptom of the driver. The processing device is coupled to the physiological information sensing system and the external physical symptom detection system. When the physiological information of the driver and the external physical symptom of the driver are abnormal, the processing device initiates an emergency procedure.

The present invention relates to a mouth guard having a new structure that protects a user's teeth more effectively, enables a user to feel food texture more effectively when masticating food, and is more firmly fixed to the teeth. The mouth guard according to the present invention comprises a plurality of fixing members 10 made of a hard material and coupled to the teeth 1 to support the teeth 1 and a connecting member 20 made of a synthetic resin material that is softer than the hard material of the fixing member 10 and provided between the fixing members 10 to interconnect the fixing members 10. Since the fixing member 10 is connected to the connection member 20 to be mutually movable by the connection member 20 in a state of being coupled to the user's teeth 1, the mouth guard can effectively protect the user's teeth 1 and can effectively deliver food texture to the teeth 1 when the user chews food. In particular, the mouth guard according to the present invention can prevent sugar and acid generated by a combination of food and saliva from contacting the teeth when eating food, and effectively prevent food debris from being caught between the teeth or between the teeth and gums, thereby preventing various dental diseases such as tooth decay.

Disclosed are one or more proximity sensors. At least one of the proximity sensors includes a first dielectric layer, an electrically conductive layer, and an electrode. The first dielectric layer includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The electrically conductive layer is positioned proximate to one of the inner surface or the outer surface of the first dielectric layer. The electrode includes an outer surface. The outer surface of the electrode is positioned proximate the inner surface of the first dielectric layer. The outer surface of the electrode and the electrically conductive layer define a gap.

Provided is an apparatus configured to estimate bio-information, the apparatus including a pulse wave sensor including a plurality of channels disposed in an isotropic shape, a force sensor configured to measure a force applied by an object to the pulse wave sensor, and a processor configured to detect a center of gravity based on pressure, applied by the object, in a space formed by the plurality of channels based on pulse wave signals measured by each of the plurality of channels included in the pulse wave sensor, provide a user with guide information with respect to contact of the object to the pulse wave sensor based on the detected center of gravity, and estimate bio-information based on the pulse wave signals and the force which are measured based on the guide information.