Disclosed are fiber optic devices and related methods that allow for measurement of blood flow and oxygenation in real time. These devices have particular application to the spinal cord. Such devices have applicability in, for example, the care of military members sustaining combatant and noncombatant spinal injuries, as well as to civilians. The devices also have utility in the acute and subacute management of spine trauma, enhancing the efficacy of interventions aimed at the prevention of secondary ischemic injury, and ultimately improving neurologic outcome.

Disclosed are fiber optic devices and related methods that allow for measurement of blood flow and oxygenation in real time. These devices have particular application to the spinal cord. Such devices have applicability in, for example, the care of military members sustaining combatant and noncombatant spinal injuries, as well as to civilians. The devices also have utility in the acute and subacute management of spine trauma, enhancing the efficacy of interventions aimed at the prevention of secondary ischemic injury, and ultimately improving neurologic outcome.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system and method for determining a risk, onset, or presence of hypovolemia based on one or more features of a plethysmographic waveform during a patient breathing cycle. For example, a hypovolemic patient may exhibit characteristic changes in pulse amplitude or stroke volume during inhalation and exhalation relative to a healthy patient. Further, a trend or pattern of such features may be used to assess the patient's fluid condition.

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method (10) for determining the blood volume flow (I.sub.BI) through a portion (90.sub.i, i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) of a blood vessel (88) in an operating region (36) using a fluorophore. A plurality of images (80.sub.1, 80.sub.2, 80.sub.3, 80.sub.4, . . . ) are provided, which are based on fluorescent light in the form of light having wavelengths lying within a fluorescence spectrum of the fluorophore, and which show the portion (90.sub.i) of the blood vessel (88) at different recording times (t.sub.1, t.sub.2, t.sub.3, t.sub.4, . . . ). By processing at least one of the provided images (80.sub.1, 80.sub.2, 80.sub.3, 80.sub.4, . . . ), a diameter (D) and a length (L) of the portion (90.sub.i) of the blood vessel (88) and also a time interval for a propagation of the fluorophore through the portion (90.sub.i) of the blood vessel (88) are determined, which time interval describes a characteristic transit time (τ) for the fluorophore in the portion (90.sub.i) of the blood vessel (88), in which a blood vessel model (M.sub.B.sup.Q) for the portion (90.sub.i) of the blood vessel (88) is specified, which blood vessel model describes the portion (90.sub.i) of the blood vessel (88) as a flow channel (94) having a length (L), having a wall (95) with a wall thickness (d), and having a free cross section Q. A fluid flow model M.sub.F.sup.Q for the blood vessel model (M.sub.B.sup.Q) is assumed, which fluid flow model describes a local flow velocity (122) at different positions over the free cross section Q of the flow channel (94) in the blood vessel model (M.sub.B.sup.Q), and a fluorescent light model M.sub.L.sup.Q is assumed, which describes a spatial probability density for the intensity of the remitted light at different positions over the free cross section Q of the flow channel (94) in the blood vessel model (M.sub.B.sup.Q), which light is emitted by a fluid, which is mixed with fluorophore and flows through the free cross section Q of the flow channel (94) in the blood vessel model (M.sub.B.sup.Q), when said fluid is irradiated with fluorescence excitation light. The blood volume flow (I.sub.BI) is determined as a fluid flow guided through the flow channel (94) in the blood vessel model (M.sub.B.sup.Q), which fluid flow is calculated from the length (L) and the diameter (D) of the portion (90.sub.i) of the blood vessel (88) and from the characteristic transit time (τ) for the fluorophore in t

Disclosed is an apparatus for estimating bio-information. The apparatus for estimating bio-information includes: a sensor part comprising a pulse wave sensor array configured to detect a pulse wave signal when an object contacts a contact surface of the sensor part, and a load sensor configured to detect a first contact load applied by the object to the contact surface; and a processor configured to obtain contact load distribution of the contact surface based on the pulse wave signal, and to estimate bio-information based on the contact load distribution.

An information processing apparatus includes a memory and at least one processor. In the memory, a program is stored. The processor is configured to execute the program stored in the memory, and generate prescription data for skincare of a skin based on history data of an index value representing change in blood flow before and after treatment. The index value is calculated based on a first skin image and a second skin image. The first skin image is obtained by imaging the skin before a blood flow enhancement treatment, and the second skin image is obtained by imaging the skin after the blood flow enhancement treatment.

An illustrative system includes a stimulation device configured to apply stimulation to a recipient, a sensing device configured to detect a physiological condition of the recipient, and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the stimulation device and the sensing device. The processing unit determines a stimulation strategy that is customized to the recipient and includes stimulation frames and stimulation gaps. The processing unit then directs the stimulation device to apply the stimulation to the recipient in accordance with the stimulation strategy by applying the stimulation only during time that corresponds to the stimulation frames. The processing unit also directs the sensing device to detect the physiological condition of the recipient in accordance with the stimulation strategy by detecting only during time that corresponds to the stimulation gaps. Based on the detected physiological condition, the processing unit performs an action. Corresponding systems, methods, and apparatuses are also disclosed.

Compositions and methods for assessing blood vessels and organs of the body are disclosed herein, specifically methods for assessing the vasculature of the eye.

Offset illumination using multiple emitters in a fluorescence imaging system is described. A system includes an emitter for emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation and an image sensor comprising a pixel array for sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation. The emitter comprises a first emitter and a second emitter for emitting different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. The system is such that at least a portion of the pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter comprises one or more of a hyperspectral emission, a fluorescence emission, and/or a laser mapping pattern.

An ear-worn device includes a speaker, an optical emitter, an optical detector, a processor, and a housing configured to be positioned within an ear of a subject, wherein the housing encloses the speaker, optical emitter, optical detector, and processor. The housing includes at least one window that exposes the optical emitter and optical detector to the ear of the subject, and the housing includes at least one aperture through which sound from the speaker can pass. Light transmissive material is located between the optical emitter and the at least one window and is configured to deliver light emitted from the optical emitter to an ear region of the subject at one or more predetermined locations. Light transmissive material is positioned between the optical detector and the at least one window and is configured to collect light external to the housing and deliver the collected light to the optical detector.