A method and apparatus for non-invasive analysing the structure and chemical composition of bone tissue eliminating the influence of surrounding tissues, is provided. The method consists in using a system of at least four electrodes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) placed in electrical contact with tissues surrounding the analysed bone, preferably a long bone to establish screening potential distribution using screening electrodes (7, 8). Measuring current injecting electrodes (1, 2) are used to force the measuring current flow through the internal part of the analysed bone. At the same time the screening electrodes (7, 8) reduce the measuring current flow through the tissues surrounding the analysed bone almost to zero. Then measuring current and potential at the measuring current injecting electrodes (1, 2) as well as phase difference between potential at measuring current injecting electrodes (1, 2) and measuring current are measured. On the basis of measured electrical values the structure and chemical composition of bones is evaluated.

A catheter and associated method for taking a plurality of samples from within a length of a blood vessel. The catheter includes an elongate central body arranged to be inserted into and positioned along a central region of a blood vessel. A plurality of collection areas are defined along the elongate central body for collecting samples at the central region of the blood vessel. A plurality of mixers are provided radially outwardly of the elongate central body and arranged to create a flow of blood from a boundary layer at a wall of the blood vessel to the elongate central body. This enables the collection areas to collect samples from the boundary layer.

The invention relates to an ingestible, implantable or wearable medical device comprising a microarray which comprises a bioactive agent capable of interacting with a disease marker biological analyte; a reservoir which comprises at least one therapeutic agent and is capable of releasing the therapeutic agent(s) from the medical device; and a plurality of microchips comprising a microarray scanning device capable of obtaining physical parameter data of an interaction between the disease marker biological analyte with the bioactive agent; a biometric recognition device capable of comparing the physical parameter data with an analyte interaction profile; optionally a therapeutic agent releasing device capable of controlling release of the therapeutic agent from the reservoirs; an interface device capable of facilitating communications between the microarray scanning device, biometric recognition device and the therapeutic agent releasing device; and an energy source to power the medical device. Specifically, the invention relates to a medical device capable of detecting an analyte in a bodily fluid comprising at least one microneedle capable of obtaining a sample of a bodily fluid, a first microchannel through which the sample flows and is in fluid communication with the at least one microneedle, a second microchannel in fluid communication with the first microchannel, through which a buffer flows, wherein the second channel comprises a microarray with a bioactive agent, a microarray scanning device to detect an interaction between the bioactive agent and the analyte in the bodily fluid; and an interface device.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an acquisition unit which acquires first data in which a tissue of interest has higher signal intensity than a background and second data in which the tissue of interest has lower signal intensity than the background, with regard to images of the same region of the same subject, and a generation unit which generates, on the basis of the first data and the second data, third data in which the contrast of the tissue of interest to the background is higher than those in the first and second data.

Methods of and devices for detecting a measurable characteristic of the gas sample. The methods and devices are able to detect a value of or a change of measurable characteristic (e.g., such as chemical concentrations), a change of chemical compositions and/or biological responses of a living organism that are induced by a stressor. The biological responses are able to include cellular stress, damage, and immune responses. The stressor is able to include an exposure to ionizing radiation. The effects of the stressors are able to be monitored in terms of changes in the chemical concentrations and chemical compositions in an exhaled breath. The chemicals are able to function as bio-markers. The chemicals that are to be monitored are able to include nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ethane, and other molecules related to specific disease resulting from the stressor.

Methods, devices, and systems may use a kinetic model to determine physiological parameters related to the kinetics of red blood cell glycation, elimination, and generation. Such physiological parameters can be used, for example, to determine a more reliable calculated HbA1c. In another example, a method may comprise: receiving a plurality of glucose levels over a time period; receiving a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level corresponding to an end of the time period; determining at least one physiological parameter selected from the group consisting of: a red blood cell glycation rate constant (k.sub.gly), a red blood cell generation rate constant (k.sub.gen), a red blood cell elimination constant (k.sub.age), and an apparent glycation constant (K), based on (1) the plurality of glucose levels and (2) the HbA1c level; and adjusting a glucose level target based on the at least one physiological parameter.

The present invention provides methods of calibrating a fluidic device useful for detecting an analyte of interest in a bodily fluid. The invention also provides methods for assessing the reliability of an assay for an analyte in a bodily fluid with the use of a fluidic device. Another aspect of the invention is a method for performing a trend analysis on the concentration of an analyte in a subject using a fluidic device.

Methods are disclosed for analyzing representations of one or more in situ structures in the body of a subject (e.g., a human subject or other animal subject) to glean information about the health of the subject. Methods are disclosed for diagnosing, staging, grading, and monitoring diseases. Methods also are disclosed for targeting treatments and screening, validating therapies based on the analysis of in situ patters (e.g., individual structural features or distributions), and monitoring the effectiveness of therapies.

A catheter and associated method for taking a plurality of samples from within a length of a blood vessel. The catheter includes an elongate central body arranged to be inserted into and positioned along a central region of a blood vessel. A plurality of collection areas are defined along the elongate central body for collecting samples at the central region of the blood vessel. A plurality of mixers are provided radially outwardly of the elongate central body and arranged to create a flow of blood from a boundary layer at a wall of the blood vessel to the elongate central body. This enables the collection areas to collect samples from the boundary layer.

The invention relates to a medical system including: a body; a first electrode; a second electrode; an electric generator; and a processing device suitable for determining an electrical characteristic that represents the capacitance of the tissue of an anatomical structure between first and second contact surfaces of the first and second electrodes to conduct the electric current, and for emitting a warning signal corresponding to the determined electrical characteristic, the warning signal being intermittent. In said medical system, the processing device is suitable for detecting a variation in the electrical characteristic and for varying at least one variable parameter of the warning signal after a time delay, in accordance with the variation in the electrical characteristic, has elapsed.