The present invention provides methods and devices for isolating cells from a subject by circulating the subject's body fluid over an affinity moeity coupled matrix to isolate cells from a subject either ex vivo or in vivo. One aspect of the invention is directed to connecting a subject to a system capable of circulating the subject's body fluid through an affinity moiety coupled matrix, such that the affinity moiety coupled matrix is capable of binding to and extracting target cells from the body fluid, and then eluting the target cells from the affinity moiety. Another aspect of the invention is directed to the apparatus for isolating cells from a subject, comprising a blood circulation system with an arterial side blood circuit for extracting blood and flowing the blood over an affinity moiety coupled matrix that binds to and extracts target cells and a venous side blood circuit for returning the blood to the patient. The invention is also directed to in vivo seeding of biomatrials by implanting the affinity moiety coupled matrix in a subject to attract and bind the target cells in vivo.

A patient table adapted for use in association with an MR scanner for neonatal infants is provided. The patient table has an extendable patient bed attached to and extendable from the patient table. The patient bed may be at least partially inserted into an MR scanner without requiring the patient table to enter the MR scanner. A transport mechanism is on the underside of the patient table so that it may be readily moved over the floor on which it rests. The patient table includes a latching mechanism that may operate to releasably attach the patient table to a patient table docking assembly. The docking assembly is operative to selectively move the patient table towards, into and away from the MR scanner.

A patient table adapted for use in association with an MR scanner for neonatal infants is provided. The patient table has an extendable patient bed attached to and extendable from the patient table. The patient bed may be at least partially inserted into an MR scanner without requiring the patient table to enter the MR scanner. A transport mechanism is on the underside of the patient table so that it may be readily moved over the floor on which it rests. The patient table includes a latching mechanism that may operate to releasably attach the patient table to a patient table docking assembly. The docking assembly is operative to selectively move the patient table towards, into and away from the MR scanner.

The present disclosure describes embodiments of a patient monitoring system and methods that include the measure and display of hemoglobin statistics. In an embodiment, total hemoglobin trending is displayed over a period of time. Statistics can include frequency domain analysis, which may be unique for each patient monitored. The total hemoglobin trending and/or statistics can further be used to help control the treatment of a patient, such as being used to control IV administration.

A control section as a tissue identification device includes: an absorbance ratio calculating section configured to calculate the ratio of an absorbance indicated by a transmitted portion of first inspection light transmitted through biological tissue to an absorbance indicated by a transmitted portion of second inspection light transmitted through the biological tissue; and an identification information generating section configured to generate identification information indicative of the type or state of the biological tissue by determining within which of a plurality of preset numerical ranges the ratio falls.

In a method for generating a surrogate marker based on medical image data mapping an image region, the medical image data is detected using a first interface, a first subregion of the image region is selected by segmenting a first structure included in the image region, a first property of the first subregion is extracted, the surrogate marker is determined based on the first property, and the surrogate marker is provided using a second interface.

Methods and systems for assessing pulmonary gas exchange and/or alveolar-capillary barrier status include obtaining at least one MRI image and/or image data of .sup.129Xe dissolved in the red blood cells (RBC) in the gas exchange regions of the lungs of a patient. The image is sufficiently sensitive to allow a clinician or image recognition program to assess at least one of pulmonary gas exchange, barrier thickness or barrier function based on the .sup.129Xe MRI RBC image.

Techniques and examples pertaining to evaluating a health condition of an aspect of a patient are described. A method for evaluating the health condition of the aspect of the patient may involve obtaining successive measurement readings of a vital sign concurrently from both a left arm and a right arm of the patient for a plurality of times. The method may also involve calculating a characteristic value based on the measurement readings. The method may also involve designating a health indicator based on the characteristic value and a standard value associated with the aspect of the patient, such that the health indicator serves as an indication of the health condition of the aspect of the patient. The aspect of the patient may be a body organ of the patient. The method may further involve diagnosing the patient based on the health indicator.

Stimulation of neural activity in a nerve supplying the spleen, wherein the nerve is associated with a neurovascular bundle, can modulate pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules levels, thereby reducing inflammation and providing ways of treating inflammatory disorders. The invention provides improved ways of treating inflammatory disorders which minimize off-target effects.

Methods, computer program products, and systems are described that include measuring at least one effect of a combined bioactive agent and artificial sensory experience on an individual and/or modifying at least one of the bioactive agent or the artificial sensory experience at least partially based on the at least one effect.