A method and system of predicting a muscle characteristic using ultrasound. The characteristic may include a tenderness characteristic and/or a strength characteristic. An analysis of muscle structure is performed for a sample using ultrasound data of the sample. The analysis may include determining a relative number of bundles, fascicles, sarcomeres, fibers, and/or sheath thickness from the ultrasound data. Thereafter, the muscle characteristic is predicted for the sample based on the analysis.

Since the fat content of pork is a deciding factor in grading the quality of meat, the use of a noninvasive subcutaneous probe for real-time, in situ monitoring of the fat components is of importance to vendors and other interested parties. Fortunately, in situ, in vivo monitoring of subcutaneous fat can be accomplished with spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) using a fiber-optic probe. The probe acquires Raman spectra as a function of spatial offset. These spectra are used to determine the relative composition of fat-to-skin. The Raman intensity ratio varies disproportionately depending on the fat content, with variations in slope that are correlated to the thickness of the fat layer. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression using two components indicates that depth-resolved SORS spectra reflect the relative thickness of the fat layer.

An exemplary tissue detection and location identification apparatus can include, for example, a first electrically conductive layer at least partially (e.g., circumferentially) surrounding a lumen, an insulating layer at least partially (e.g., circumferentially) surrounding the first electrically conductive layer, and a second electrically conductive layer circumferentially surrounding the insulating layer, where the insulating layer can electrically isolate the first electrically conductive layer from the second electrically conductive layer. A further insulating layer can be included which can at least partially surrounding the second electrically conductive layer. The first electrically conductive layer, the insulating layer, and the second electrically conductive layer can form a structure which has a first side and a second side disposed opposite to the first side with respect to the lumen, where the first side can be longer than the second side thereby forming a sharp pointed end via the first side at a distal-most portion. The exemplary configuration can be used for (a) determination/detection of a tissue type using impendence of the electrically conductive layers, and/or (ii) determination of a location of at least one portion of the insertion device/apparatus. Another exemplary apparatus can include, for example, a base structure comprising a lumen extending along a length thereof, and at least one optically-transmissive layer circumferentially surrounding the base structure and provided at least at a distal end of the base structure. For example, in operation, the optically-transmissive layer can be configured to transmit a particular optical radiation at the distal end thereof toward a target tissue.

A bio-signal measuring apparatus includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, a fourth electrode, and a first circuit network and a second circuit network, each of the first circuit network and the second circuit network includes one or more resistances. The bio-signal measuring apparatus further includes an impedance measurer configured to measure a first impedance of the first circuit network in a first correction mode, measure a second impedance of the second circuit network in a second correction mode, measure a third impedance of an object in a first measurement mode, using the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode, and measure a fourth impedance of the object in a second measurement mode, using the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode.

We propose an epigenetic age predictor and a method of training the same. The epigenetic age predictor is configured to receive a plurality of inputs corresponding to methylation values at CpG sites. The epigenetic age predictor is configured to receive a plurality of inputs corresponding to phenotypic values of an individual. The epigenetic age predictor predicts an epigenetic age of the individual based on the sequence of inputs.

An apparatus for non-invasive evaluations and in-vivo diagnostics includes an open magnet, an RF antenna, and an NMR analytics logical circuit communicatively coupled to the RF antenna, wherein the open magnet is shaped to generate a static magnetic field that extends unilaterally into an object or internal organ of a subject when the open magnet is positioned against or in proximity to the object or subject, the static and RF magnetic fields shaped to generate a sensitive volume within a target region. The RF antenna or antenna array is configured to transmit RF pulses into the target region of the object or internal organ and receive sets of NMR signals generated by hydrogen or other elements, and the NMR analytics logical circuit is configured to obtain and analyze sets of NMR signals.

Systems and methods for non-invasive blood pressure measurement are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system comprises a wearable member configured to generate first and second signals, and a blood pressure calculation system. The blood pressure calculation system a pre-processing module configured to filter noise from the signals, and a wave selection module configured to identify subsets of waves of the signals, a feature extraction module configured to generate sets of feature vectors form the subsets of waves, and a blood pressure processing module configured to calculate an arterial blood pressure value based on the sets of feature vectors and an empirical blood pressure calculation model, the empirical blood pressure calculation model configured to receive the sets of feature vectors as input values. The blood pressure calculation system further includes a communication module configured to provide a message including or being based on the arterial blood pressure value.

An apparatus and a method of monitoring fat burning in a subject non-invasively by measuring capacitance of the skin is described. In some embodiments, capacitance is measured at one or more skin depths for measuring acetone concentration and/or production as an indicator of fat burning or ketosis.

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the evolution of an indicator used to indicate physical state comprising the body fat of a subject and/or the muscular mass of a subject, comprising periodical steps of analysis of a biological fluid for the quantification of a biomarker representative of a metabolic activity comprising lipolysis, myolysis, lipogenesis or myogenesis, and of transmission of the result of said analysis to a remote connected apparatus.

A system and method for scanning a pig (or other food animal) to determine body composition and quality data in real time while the pig (or food animal) is suspended in mid-air by a lift apron in electronic communication with an ultrasound console and computer processor and configured to collect and process “target images” from the pig (or food animal) when a thumb switch activates the processor. The ultrasound probe is vertically displaced from and vertically adjustable relative to the framework so that the ultrasound probe is selectively positioned in relative space. With reference to target images, a processor calculates in real time a quantitative measurement indicative of backfat depth, muscle depth, and intramuscular fat for the pig (or food animal) being scanned.