Sensors capable of sensing shear and normal forces and suitable for measuring reaction forces on a body region of an individual, and systems and methods. Such a sensor includes a first plate and multiple second plates that are separated from the first plate by a dielectric material to define multiple capacitor units that are each responsive to normal and shear forces applied to the sensor. Each capacitor unit comprises an individual second plate of the second plates and a portion of the first plate that is superimposed by the individual second plate. The second plates are superimposed on the first plate so that a shear force applied to the sensor causes a first portion of at least one of the second plates to not be superimposed on the first plate while a remaining portion of the second plate remains superimposed on the first plate to define a superimposed area therebetween.

Apparatus and methods related to an underbody support for supporting a body of a being, such as during surgery to prevent contact pressure injuries. In certain embodiments, the underbody support may include one or more inflatable chambers enclosing a volume. At least one of the inflatable chambers may include one or more compression sensitive switches for monitoring the volume of the inflatable chamber, and the one or more compression sensitive switches may be located within the inflatable chamber. In some embodiments the one or more compression sensitive switches are sized to close when the said inflatable chamber is deflated to a desired residual volume.

In part, the disclosure relates to computer-based methods, devices, and systems suitable for performing intravascular data analysis and measurement of various types of data such as pressure and flow data. The disclosure relates to probes and methods suitable for determining an event in a cardiac cycle such as flow threshold such as a peak flow, a fraction thereof, other intravascular parameters or a point in time during which peak flow or a change in one of the parameters occurs. An exemplary probe includes one or more of a pressure sensor, a resistor, a flow sensor and can be used to generate diagnostic data based upon measured intravascular and other parameters. In part, the disclosure relates to methods and systems suitable for determining a coronary flow reserve value in response to one or more of intravascular pressure and flow data or data otherwise correlated therewith.

Disclosed is a glucose measuring apparatus including a pressure measurer having an elastic part or a pressure sensor, that measures a pressure applied to an object, a film that comprises a first optical waveguide configured to be close to the object, a near infrared ray (NIR) irradiator that irradiates an NIR to the first optical waveguide if the measured pressure is greater than or equal to a preset value, an NIR receiver that receives an attenuated total reflection NIR (ATR-NIR) from the first optical waveguide, and an analyzer that measures a blood glucose level based on the ATR-NIR, wherein the film is an independent module that can be combined with and separated from the glucose measuring apparatus.

A protective dressing includes an outer dressing and an adhesive layer. The outer dressing includes an opening and a cavity sized to receive a phase-change material (PCM) insert inserted through the opening. The adhesive layer is configured to adhere to a patient's skin surrounding an anatomic site. When adhered to the patient's skin, the PCM insert modifies the patient's skin at the anatomic site. The PCM insert may be removed and replaced with another PCM insert. For example, a warm PCM insert may be replaced with a refrigerated PCM insert. The opening of the outer dressing may be self-sealing. The opening of the outer dressing may be sealed with an upper layer dressing coupled to the PCM cooling insert.

Pressure sensing guidewires and methods for making and using pressure sensing guidewires are disclosed. An example pressure sensing guidewire may include a tubular member having a proximal region and a housing region. An optical fiber may be disposed within the tubular member and extend to the housing region. The optical fiber may have a distal end region with a cavity formed therein. A polymeric member disposed within the cavity. A reflective surface disposed along the polymeric member.

The invention comprises a device and method to estimate the elasticity of soft elastic solids from surface wave measurements. The method is non-destructive, reliable and repeatable. The final device is low-cost and portable. It is based in audio-frequency shear wave propagation in elastic soft solids. Within this frequency range, shear wavelength is centimeter sized. Thus, the experimental data is usually collected in the near-field of the source. Therefore, an inversion algorithm taking into account near-field effects was developed for use with the device. Example applications are shown in beef samples, tissue mimicking materials and in vivo skeletal muscle of healthy volunteers.

Methods, computer-readable media, systems, and/or apparatuses are provided for providing offer and insight generation functions. User input requesting an offer or insight may be received and an image of a photographic identification of a user may be requested. The image of the photographic identification may be captured and stored. A self-captured image of the user may be captured (e.g., via an image capture device of the computing device) and compared to an image of a user from the photographic identification. Responsive to determining that the images match, displaying an instruction to capture a vehicle identification number. The vehicle identification number may be captured. Data, including location data, may be extracted and an archive including the extracted data may be generated and the data may be transmitted to an entity computing system for processing. The entity computing system may evaluate the data and generate one or more insights and/or outputs.

A physical area network for detecting head injuries described herein enables significantly improved cranial health monitoring and treatment by utilizing internal (in-body) mechanisms and information and external mechanisms and information.

A measurement device for a vehicle seat includes a memory; a processor coupled to the memory; a headrest body of a headrest; a first side section of the headrest that is swingable toward a seat front side so as to support the neck of the vehicle occupant; a second side section of the headrest that is swingable toward the seat front side so as to support the neck of the vehicle occupant; a first electrode provided at the first side section and contacting the neck in a state in which the first side section is supporting the neck; and a second electrode provided at the second side section and contacting the neck in a state in which the second side section is supporting the neck. The processor is configured to acquire a waveform of a potential difference based on the potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode over time.