A method of controlling a biometric parameter, such as heart rate and/or breathing rate, of a subject engaged in an activity includes sensing the biometric parameter via a monitoring device worn by the subject, determining frequency characteristics of the biometric parameter, and presenting to the subject musical audio having a tempo correlated to the frequency characteristics of the biometric parameter. The tempo of the musical audio presented to the subject may be changed in order to cause a change in the biometric parameter. A method of modulating heart rate of a subject engaged in an activity includes sensing a breathing rate of the subject via a monitoring device worn by the subject, and then presenting to the subject musical audio having a tempo selected to change the breathing rate by an amount sufficient to cause a change in the heart rate.

A magnetometer-based metal detection device and methods of use are described. The device includes a proximal portion, a central body and a distal portion, and at least one magnetometer positioned within or on the distal portion. The at least one magnetometer includes at least one sensor capable of sensing a magnetic field in three orthogonal axes. Also described is a method of calibrating the device to achieve rotational invariance, and a method of determining a directionality or directional line along which a target metal object lies.

The present invention provides a method for enhanced medical diagnostic data pattern recognition in an individual or in a population of individuals. The method comprises compiling a dataset consisting of at least seven essential vital signs of an individual or population of individuals, wherein the dataset is compiled and mapped in at least three ways: (1) as a mathematical tensor; (2) as a visual graph; or (3) as a musical composition. Essential vital signs can include systolic pressure values of 60-140; diastolic pressure values of 40-85; time of day values of 1-24; oximeter data values of 92-99; date data values translated to adjusted circadian process; pulse data values of 40-90; and weight values.

Disclosed is an apparatus for battery-free measuring vital signs of a user from a single position near the user influenced by an alternating electric field provided by an electronic device. The apparatus includes a first electronic circuitry, a second electronic circuitry stacked to the first electronic circuitry, an instrumentation amplifier for amplifying the signals, an analog/digital converting logic circuit for generating digitized information, and a communication unit for communicating the digitized information. The first electronic circuitry includes a first electrode for receiving vital signals (acoustic, mechanical, electrical signals) from the user's body, a first shield unit for shielding the first electrode from electrical influences and influenced by the alternating electric field provided by the electronic device, a first rectifier for harvesting and rectifying the received alternating electric field from the first shield unit, further the first rectifier provides DC energy, a first buffer stores the DC energy and provides differential voltages, a first programmable operational amplifier amplifies the amplitude of the received vital signs powered by the received differential voltage from the first buffer.

Presented are systems and methods that analyze an individual's state based on selected criteria, and then adaptively provide stimuli to affect the individual's performance compared to established benchmarks and pre-set plans. The methods or systems can provide audio and/or tactile inputs to a human subject to obtain a specific performance state. A music or sound selection engine considers the sensory and environmental inputs and selects the appropriate music or auditory stimulus, with the intent to reach a desired state of flow. The methods and systems can employ multiple measurements of personal data that can correlate to the emotional state of a subject. By manipulating stimuli delivered to an individual, ultimate performance can be improved over various planning horizons.

An auditory guidance system and method for medical systems and procedures are disclosed. A method for providing auditory guidance during a medical procedure includes selecting a song for playing during the medical procedure. At least a portion of the song is assigned to the medical procedure. Parameter information for at least one parameter associated with the medical procedure is obtained during the medical procedure. The obtained parameter information is compared against predetermined thresholds for each parameter. The portion of the song associated with the parameter information is modified in accordance with the comparison and the modified portion of the song is played to provide auditory guidance during the medical procedure.

A device to set and retrieve a reference point during a surgical procedure. The device (12) has an endoscope (312) which captures several images successively as an image sequence and generates image data corresponding to the image sequence, which data are then processed and output on at least one display unit (44). A control unit (40) determines the first position of a first point at a first point in time, a second position of a second point at a second point in time, and a first distance vector between the first position and the second position. The positions are determined via the kinematic chain of a manipulator arm (16a,16b).

Method and system for monitoring the autonomic nervous system (ANS) of a subject, comprising acquiring at least one physiological signal having W heartbeats, generating data which is a function of the variability of the heart rate on the W heartbeats, with the HRV having W1 RR intervals separating two consecutive heartbeats detected respectively at the moments tk1 and tk, each RR interval having a duration of value a=tt1 with k=(XW+2) . . . X; calculating at least one parameter taken from the parameter TAS(tx) representing the level of activity of the sympathetic system and/or the parameter TAP(tx) representing the level of activity of the parasympathetic system; and/or other parameters such as the parameter SL(tx) representing stress level of the subject at the moment tx and calculated using the equation such that SL(tx)=100+TAS(tx)TAP(tx); and supplying data representative of at least one parameter.

The present application describes the addition of various feedback mechanisms including visual and audio feedback mechanisms to an ophthalmic diagnostic device to assist a subject to self-align to the device. The device may use the visual and non-visual feedback mechanisms independently or in combination with one another. The device may provide a means for a subject to provide feedback to the device to confirm that an alignment condition has been met. Alternatively, the device may have a means for sensing when acceptable alignment has been achieved. The device may capture diagnostic information during the alignment process or may capture after the alignment condition has been met.

Systems and methods for sonifying electrical signals obtained from a living subject, particularly EEG signals, are disclosed. A time-domain signal representing the activity of an organ is obtained. A voltage of the time-domain signal over a time block is determined. An acoustic signal based on the time-domain signal over the time block is produced. The acoustic signal comprises one or more audibly discernible variations representative of the activity of the organ. If the determined voltage is over a threshold voltage, the time-domain signal is squelched over at least a portion of the time-block as the acoustic signal is produced. The time-domain signal can be squelched by ramping down the signal as an input to produce the acoustic signal. The frequency spectrum of the acoustic signal can also be adjusted as it is produced, such as by flattening the signal and/or attenuating high frequencies along the frequency spectrum of the signal.