A method for measuring the activity of one or more excitable cells, such as neurons, in a target tissue is provided. The present method may include measuring the activity of individual, selected excitable cells by projecting one or more three dimensional (3D) multi-focal laser light patterns into a target tissue containing excitable cells adapted to emit cellular electrical activitysensitive fluorescence, to generate a multiplexed 2D diffraction pattern of fluorescence emitted by the neurons, and resolving the multiplexed 2D diffraction pattern. Also provided herein is a system configured to perform the present method, the system including a microscope configured to project one or more 3D multi-focal laser light patterns into a target tissue using a spatial light modulator and a mirror galvanometer, and a microlens array and an image detector to record individual and multiplexed 2D diffraction patterns of light emitted from the target tissue.

A hair pulling apparatus includes a frame having a longitudinal axis, a first leg extending from the frame, a movable leg spaced apart from the first leg, the movable leg extending from the frame and movable, linearly, relative to the frame, a control system comprising a processor to execute a plurality of pulling profile instructions stored in memory, a linear actuator operatively coupled to the control system and constructed to move linearly along the longitudinal axis relative to the frame, a gripper coupled to the linear actuator, and a load cell coupled to the linear actuator. When one or more of the plurality of pulling profile instructions stored in memory are executed by the processor, the control system causes the linear actuator to retract along the longitudinal axis, applying a pulling force to a strand of hair gripped by the gripper in order to measure the pulling force.

An accurate real-time measurement of a displacement vector is achieved on the basis of the proper beamforming that require a short time for obtaining one echo data frame without suffering affections by a tissue motion. The displacement measurement method includes the steps of: (a) yielding ultrasound echo data frames by scanning an object laterally or elevationally using an ultrasound beam steered electrically and/or mechanically with a single steering angle over an arbitrary three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system involving existence of three axes of a depth direction, a lateral direction, and an elevational direction; and (b) calculating a displacement vector distribution by implementing a block matching on the predetermined ultrasound echo data frames yielded at more than two phases.

An electrophysiology catheter is provided. In one embodiment, the catheter includes an elongate, deformable shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a basket electrode assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The basket electrode assembly has a proximal end and a distal end and is configured to assume a compressed state and an expanded state. The electrode assembly further includes one or more tubular splines having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon and a plurality of conductors. Each of the plurality of conductors extends through the tubular spline from a corresponding one of the plurality of electrodes to the proximal end of the basket electrode assembly. The tubular splines are configured to assume a non-planar (e.g., a twisted or helical) shape in the expanded state.

A method for reconstructing displacement and strain maps of human tissue of a subject in vivo or other objects includes applying a mechanical deformation for a target area, imaging tissues while deformation is applied on the target area, measuring the axial and lateral displacements and axial, lateral, and shear strains of tissue in the target area, differentiating between tissues of different stiffness and strain responses, and labeling tissues of different stiffness and strain responses. In some embodiments, displacement and strain imaging are performed using a high-resolution, high-speed, highly-accuracy hierarchy recursive displacement tracking from conventional ultrasound brightness mode images. Particularly, this invention relates to the reconstruction of displacement and strain images from conventional ultrasound B-mode images acquired using any ultrasound machine of different manufacturers without the need to use carrier signals.

It is disclosed an apparatus for restoring voluntary control of locomotion in a subject suffering from a neuromotor impairment comprising a multidirectional trunk support system and a device for epidural electrical stimulation. The robotic interface is capable of evaluating, enabling and training motor pattern generation and balance across a variety of natural walking behaviors in subjects with neuromotor impairments. Optionally, pharmacological cocktails can be administered to enhance rehabilitation results. It is also disclosed a method for the evaluation, enablement and training of a subject suffering from neuromotor impairments by combining robotically assisted evaluation tools with sophisticated neurobiomechanical and statistical analyzes. A method for the rehabilitation (by this term also comprising restoring voluntary control of locomotion) of a subject suffering from a neuromotor impairment in particular partial or total paralysis of limbs, is also disclosed.

Apparatus is described for measuring and displaying the magnitude of traction forces applied to a patient's lower limbs during surgery, and for measuring the direction and magnitude of counter-traction forces applied to the patient's body by the perineal post located at the patient's groin to oppose traction forces applied to the patient's lower limbs.

A functional optical coherent imaging (fOCI) platform includes at least one active camera unit (ACU) having a coherent and/or a partially coherent light source, and means for spectral filtering and imaging a selected body area of interest; an image processing unit (IPU) for pre-processing data received from an ACU; at least one stimulation unit (STU) transmitting a stimulation to a subject; at least one body function reference measurement unit (BFMU); a central clock and processing unit (CCU), with interconnections to the ACU, the IPU, the STU, for collecting pre-processed data from the IPU, stimuli from the STU body function reference data from the BFMU in a synchronized manner; a post-processing unit (statistical analysis unit. SAU); and an operator interface (HOD. A process for acquiring stimuli activated subject data includes aligning a body function unit at a subject and monitoring pre-selected body function; selecting a stimulus or stimuli; imaging a body area of interest; exerting one or a series of stimuli on the subject; imaging the body area of interest synchronous with said stimuli and the preselected body functions; and transferring said synchronized image, stimuli and body function data to a statistical analysis unit (SAU) and performing calculations to generate results pertaining to body functions.

A terahertz field effect non-invasive biofeedback diagnosis system comprises a trigger sensor, a terahertz wave source field unit, and a central processing & telemetry unit. The central processing and telemetry unit (CP&T) is used to generate different types of stimulus signals to patients and system operation units. The biofeedback diagnosis system is used to form two biofeedback loops: one loop is through a CP&T-patient-trigger sensor loop and the other loop is through a CP&T-operation unit-trigger sensor loop. The trigger sensor can remotely obtain the biofeedback signal of the patient, and process the feedback signal into a digital signal and send it back to the central processing and telemetry unit. In order to improve the feedback signal of patients, the terahertz wave source field unit is placed near the patient, so as to trigger the feedback signals of biological cells, tissues, organs and brain waves of patients for diagnosis.

A skin-adorned physiological or biochemical sensing device is disclosed herein. The device preferably comprises a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate comprises an array of solid microneedles designed to penetrate a biological interface to access a physiological fluid or tissue. Each microneedle is capable of electrical interface with the physiological fluid or tissue. The second substrate comprises integrated circuitry designed to transduce at least one signal produced by an electrophysiological or electrochemical reaction. A sensing device is formed that is capable of interpreting the signal arising from the electrophysiological or electrochemical reaction to ascertain the level of some physiological or biochemical entity.