Example embodiments include devices and systems that detect apnea events of a user. The device includes a first sensor configured beside the head of the user for capturing snoring sounds of the user, a second sensor configured on one finger of the user for capturing cardiovascular parameters of the user, a third sensor configured under the trunk of the user for capturing e breathing movements of the user, a data recorder that is connected with the first sensor, the second sensor and the third sensor for receiving recordings therefrom, and a clock for synchronizing the recordings in real time. The recordings include one or more breathing events including snoring events, heart rate and SPO.sub.2 conjunction spikes, and breathing movement cessations. The time periods that apnea events are impossible can be excluded according to a combination of the breathing events, and the apnea events can be detected thereafter.

Example embodiments include devices and systems that detect apnea events of a user. The device includes a first sensor configured beside the head of the user for capturing snoring sounds of the user, a second sensor configured on one finger of the user for capturing cardiovascular parameters of the user, a third sensor configured under the trunk of the user for capturing e breathing movements of the user, a data recorder that is connected with the first sensor, the second sensor and the third sensor for receiving recordings therefrom, and a clock for synchronizing the recordings in real time. The recordings include one or more breathing events including snoring events, heart rate and SPO.sub.2 conjunction spikes, and breathing movement cessations. The time periods that apnea events are impossible can be excluded according to a combination of the breathing events, and the apnea events can be detected thereafter.

A medical device (20) includes a case (32), having a front surface that is configured to be brought into contact with a body of the living subject (24). A microphone (34) is contained in the case and configured to sense acoustic waves emitted from the body and to output an acoustic signal in response thereto. A proximity sensor (56) is configured to output a proximity signal indicative of contact between the front surface and the body. At least one speaker (49) is configured to output audible sounds. Processing circuitry (50) is coupled to detect, in response to the proximity signal, that the front surface is in contact with the body, and in response to the detected contact, to process the acoustic signal so as to generate an audio output and to convey the audio output to the at least one speaker.

A system includes a control unit configured to be worn by a subject, and having a wireless transceiver configured to receive and transmit signals and a processor coupled to a memory, at least one respiratory volume sensor mountable to the chest or abdomen of the subject and at least one secondary sensor mountable relative to the subject. The respiratory volume sensor is configured to operably generate one or more volumetric signals representative of a respiratory volume of the subject and communicate the one or more volumetric signals to the wireless transceiver of the control unit. The at least one secondary sensor is configured to operably generate one or more secondary signals and representative of at least one of a physiological, a cardiopulmonary or a metabolic condition of the subject, and communicate the one or more secondary signals to the wireless transceiver of the control unit.

A magnetic resonance imaging system connectable to a respiration monitor configured to provide an output signal whose level represents a respiration state. A prospective acquisition scheme for acquiring magnetic resonance images at each of a set of selected respiration states is provided, the triggering on the selected respiration states being based on predetermined threshold output signal levels of the respiration monitoring means, Respiration states at which magnetic resonance images were actually acquired, are compared with the selected respiration states according to the prospective acquisition scheme and predetermined ranges of tolerance of the selected respiration states, The prospective acquisition scheme is modified, if one of the actual respiration states lies outside the predetermined range of tolerance of the selected respiration state, and magnetic resonance imaging acquisition is executed pursuant to the modified prospective acquisition scheme.

A magnetic resonance imaging system connectable to a respiration monitor configured to provide an output signal whose level represents a respiration state. A prospective acquisition scheme for acquiring magnetic resonance images at each of a set of selected respiration states is provided, the triggering on the selected respiration states being based on predetermined threshold output signal levels of the respiration monitoring means, Respiration states at which magnetic resonance images were actually acquired, are compared with the selected respiration states according to the prospective acquisition scheme and predetermined ranges of tolerance of the selected respiration states, The prospective acquisition scheme is modified, if one of the actual respiration states lies outside the predetermined range of tolerance of the selected respiration state, and magnetic resonance imaging acquisition is executed pursuant to the modified prospective acquisition scheme.

A surgical instrument navigation system is provided that visually simulates a virtual volumetric scene of a body cavity of a patient from a point of view of a surgical instrument residing in the cavity of the patient, wherein the surgical instrument, as provided, may be a steerable surgical catheter with a biopsy device and/or a surgical catheter with a side-exiting medical instrument, among others. Additionally, systems, methods and devices are provided for forming a respiratory-gated point cloud of a patient's respiratory system and for placing a localization element in an organ of a patient.

A method, apparatus, and system for determining a value of one or more parameters of a respiratory effort of a subject, including obtaining a thoracic signal (T), the thoracic signal (T) being an indicator of a thoracic component of the respiratory effort, obtaining an abdomen signal (A), the abdomen signal (A) being an indicator of an abdominal component of the respiratory effort, and determining, without directly measuring, the value of the one or more parameters of the respiratory effort by using constraints and/or relationships of components of a model of a respiratory system of the subject, and fitting the components of the model of the respiratory system of the subject with data from the obtained thoracic signal (T) and data from the obtained abdomen signal (A).

A device for monitoring the electro-physiological activity of a subject, particularly for diagnosing or monitoring epilepsy, including: measurement element for measuring electrical brain activity; measurement element for measuring the electrical activity of the muscles of mastication; an acquisition module configured to acquire in synchronously the signals measured by the measurement element for measuring electrical brain activity and by the measurement element for measuring the electrical activity of the muscles of mastication;
a signal processing modules; and a transmission module for transmitting the electrical signals acquired by the acquisition module to the signal processing module.

The signal processing module is configured to detect among the signals measured by the measurement element for measuring electrical brain activity the signals measured by the measurement element for measuring the electrical activity of the muscles of mastication.

Sensing an environment by confining a monitored live subject in an enclosure, detecting an effect on a coaxial piezoelectric cable resulting from the monitored live subject, wherein the coaxial piezoelectric cable is located at least proximate to the enclosure, and deriving information about a state of the monitored live subject based on the detected effect.