A patient transport apparatus comprises support structure. The support structure comprises a base, a support frame, and a patient support deck. A headboard and a footboard are coupled to the support structure. The support frame comprises a head section and a body section, the body section coupled to the patient support deck. The patient support deck comprises a patient support surface capable of articulating relative to the support frame. The head section is movable relative to the body section to define first and second configurations of the support frame, the support frame having a first footprint in the first configuration and a second footprint, smaller than the first footprint, in the second configuration.

A mammography apparatus includes a compression control unit that, in a case in which continuous imaging that captures a radiographic image of the breast compressed by a compression plate and then captures an ultrasound image of the breast while maintaining the compressed state is performed, performs control to set a force of the compression plate compressing the breast to a first force in the capture of the radiographic image and to change the force of the compression plate compressing the breast from the first force to a second force lower than the first force in the capture of the ultrasound image.

Devices and methods for generating synthetic cardio-respiratory signals from one or more ballistocardiogram (BCG) sensors. A method for determining item specific parameters includes obtaining ballistocardiogram (BCG) data from one or more sensors, where the one or more sensors capture BCG data for one or more subjects in relation to a substrate. For each subject, the captured BCG data is pre-processed to obtain cardio-respiratory BCG data. The cardio-respiratory BCG data is sub-sampled to generate the cardio-respiratory BCG data at a cardio-respiratory sampling rate conducive to cardio-respiratory signal generation. The sub-sampled cardio-respiratory BCG data is cardio-respiratory processed to generate a cardio-respiratory parameter set. A synthetic cardio-respiratory signal is generated from at least the cardio-respiratory parameter set and a cardio-respiratory event morphology template. A condition of the subject is determined based on the synthetic cardio-respiratory signal.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to apparatus and methods for automatic fluid flow system connectors. The system generally includes a load cell interface coupled to a console and a ring connector coupled to a fluid collection system. The ring connector can be releasably engaged with the load cell using a push-button actuated locking mechanism. Embodiments of the locking mechanism can include a latch and aperture engagement, a shelf and ledge engagement, or a track and channel engagement, or combinations thereof. The ring connector and load cell can include electrical contacts configured to engage along an axis that extends perpendicular to a surface on which the electrical contacts are disposed. This is believed to reduce wear on the electrical contacts, thereby extending the usable life of the system.

A patient monitoring system, including: a bone plate configured to be secured to a bone; a plurality of sensors on the bone plate configured to: measure a parameter; transmit a data signal communicating the measured parameter value; and wherein the transmitted data signals from the plurality of sensors are time division multiplexed; and an external wireless reader including an antenna, a processor, and wireless communication radio, wherein the external wireless reader is configured to: transmit an modulated RF signal; and receive the time division multiplexed transmitted data signals from the plurality of sensors.

A device includes: housing having top surface, bottom surface, and at least one side surface connected between top surface and bottom surface; a load cell positioned within housing; flexible section positioned within at least one of bottom surface or top surface of housing; rigid section positioned within flexible section, rigid section having opening surrounded by rigid material; rigid support having first end, second end, and center section; wherein first end of rigid support is positioned within housing and coupled to load cell; and wherein center section of rigid support passes through opening in rigid section positioned within flexible section, wherein center section of rigid support contacts rigid material of rigid section surrounding opening, wherein second end of rigid support is outside of housing.

A pressure sensing balloon retractor for use in brain surgery to avoid mechanical injury to brain tissues. The balloon retractor includes an inflatable balloon that can be inserted in-between brain tissues to increase accessibility during surgery. A pressure transducer connected to a microcontroller senses the pressure of the retractor, and this retractor pressure is compared to the patient’s mean arterial pressure derived from a blood pressure monitor in order to determine whether the pressure exceeds the threshold for brain injury. A load cell can be used to calibrate the microcontroller to remove the effect of elastic pressure on the pressure transducer’s measurements.

A method and apparatus for monitoring the respiration of a patient supported on a patient support apparatus through receiving signals from load cells supporting a patient on the patient support apparatus, processing the signals to characterize movement of the patient's center of mass, using the movement of the patient's center of mass, determine respiratory characteristic of the patient, and communicating the respiratory characteristic of the patient to a caregiver.

A sensing device for sensing one or more tissue properties includes an adapter assembly, an actuation assembly, a shuttle, and a piston assembly. The adapter assembly is configured to couple to surgical handheld devices. The actuation assembly extends distally from the adapter assembly and is configured to operably couple to and be engaged by handheld devices coupled thereto. The actuation assembly includes a first drive shaft and a second drive shaft. The shuttle has a clamp and a shuttle sensor, and is coupled to the first drive shaft via a coupling. The shuttle sensor is disposed on the clamp. The piston assembly is coupled to the second drive shaft and configured to compress target tissue between the piston assembly and the clamp of the shuttle.

A patient support apparatus comprises a plurality of load cells, a frame supported on the load cells, a mattress, a plurality of air pressure sensors, and a control system. The mattress includes a plurality of inflatable zones positioned on the frame, the mattress and frame cooperating to direct any patient load through the mattress and frame to the load cells. Each of the plurality of air pressure sensors measures the pressure in a respective inflatable zone of the mattress. The control system includes a controller operable to receive a separate signal from each of the plurality of load cells and each of the plurality of air pressure sensors and process the signals to identify motion of the patient. The motion of the patient is further processed by the controller to characterize the nature of the patient motion as a high shear motion or a low shear motion, and based on the characterization of the patient motion, the controller automatically updates a patient profile in a patient record or communicates the information with a caregiver.