A gas supply apparatus includes: a gas supply conduit for supplying a gas to a digestive tract; a pressure detecting device which detects a pressure in the digestive tract; a flow regulating device which regulates a gas amount supplied from the gas supply source to the digestive tract via the gas supply conduit; a first control device which controls the flow regulating device according to a result detected by the pressure detecting device to supply the gas into the digestive tract so that the pressure inside the digestive tract becomes a set pressure; a second control device which controls the flow regulating device to supply a fixed gas amount into the digestive tract; and a gas supply mode switching device which switches between gas supply modes including a mode for executing control by the first control device and a mode for executing control by the second control device.

A gas supply apparatus includes: a gas supply conduit for supplying a gas to a digestive tract; a pressure detecting device which detects a pressure in the digestive tract; a flow regulating device which regulates a gas amount supplied from the gas supply source to the digestive tract via the gas supply conduit; a first control device which controls the flow regulating device according to a result detected by the pressure detecting device to supply the gas into the digestive tract so that the pressure inside the digestive tract becomes a set pressure; a second control device which controls the flow regulating device to supply a fixed gas amount into the digestive tract; and a gas supply mode switching device which switches between gas supply modes including a mode for executing control by the first control device and a mode for executing control by the second control device.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to pressure sensing. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an external energy field is applied to a resonant circuit having inductive conductors separated by a compressible dielectric, for wirelessly detecting pressure. Specifically, the resonant circuit is responsive to the energy field and applied pressures by operating in respective states exhibiting different resonant frequencies that are based upon pressure-related compression of the compressible dielectric. These resonant frequencies, or a change in the resonant frequencies, can be used as an indication of the pressure.

Some embodiments of the present disclosure comprise improved systems and methods for monitoring physiological parameters such as intracranial pressure (“ICP”), intracranial temperature, and subject head position. For example, in some embodiments, an implantable apparatus for measuring ICP can be implanted into a subject skull. The apparatus can comprise an implant body having a hermetically sealed chamber housing a gas at a reference pressure, and a pressure conduction catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is configured to extend into the brain through a burr hole in the skull and includes a plurality of ports. A barrier can cover the ports of the distal end of the pressure conduction catheter, wherein the barrier and pressure conduction catheter are filled with a number of gas molecules so that the barrier is not in tension in a predefined range of ICPs.

Embodiments herein include gas sampling catheters, systems and related methods. In an embodiment, a gas sampling catheter is included. The catheter can include a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter shaft defining a lumen therein. The catheter can include a gas sampling port providing fluid communication between the exterior of the catheter shaft adjacent the distal end of the lumen of the catheter shaft. The catheter can further include a sensor element disposed in fluid communication with the lumen, the sensor element configured to detect a component of a gaseous sample. The sensor element can include a first measurement zone comprising a plurality of discrete binding detectors. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A non-invasive method of estimating intra-cranial pressure (ICP). The method including the steps of: a. non-invasively measuring pressure pulses in an upper body artery; b. determining central aortic pressure (CAP) pulses that correspond to these measured pressure pulses; c. identifying features of the ICP wave which denote cardiac ejection and wave reflection from the cranium, including Ejection Duration (ED) and Augmentation Index of Pressure (PAIx); d. non-invasively measuring flow pulses in a central artery which supplies blood to the brain within the cranium; e. identifying features of the measured cerebral flow waves which denote cardiac ejection and wave reflection from the cranium as Flow Augmentation Index (FAIx); f. calculating an ICP flow augmentation index from the measured central flow pulses; g. comparing the calculated ICP pressure augmentation index (PAIx) and flow augmentation index (FAIx) to measure (gender-specific) pressure and flow augmentation data indicative of a measured ICP to thereby estimate actual ICP; and h. noting any disparity between ED measured for pressure waves and ED measured for flow.

A method for determining a anatomical cavity pressure comprising; obtaining a pressure value comprising a pressure applied to skin of the anatomical cavity by a vessel, the vessel having a first open end and a second end, the first end arranged to contact the skin to encase a portion of the skin, and the vessel being arranged such that a pressure can be applied through the vessel to the encased portion of the skin; obtaining a skin displacement value associated with the obtained pressure value, the skin displacement value comprising a distance of the encased portion of the skin from a baseline while the pressure is being applied; determining, by the processor, a pressure of the anatomical cavity using the obtained pressure value and the obtained skin displacement value, and based on a static force balance of the vessel and the encased portion of the skin while the pressure is being applied.

A method for determining a anatomical cavity pressure comprising; obtaining a pressure value comprising a pressure applied to skin of the anatomical cavity by a vessel, the vessel having a first open end and a second end, the first end arranged to contact the skin to encase a portion of the skin, and the vessel being arranged such that a pressure can be applied through the vessel to the encased portion of the skin; obtaining a skin displacement value associated with the obtained pressure value, the skin displacement value comprising a distance of the encased portion of the skin from a baseline while the pressure is being applied; determining, by the processor, a pressure of the anatomical cavity using the obtained pressure value and the obtained skin displacement value, and based on a static force balance of the vessel and the encased portion of the skin while the pressure is being applied.

Methods and apparatus to charge biomedical devices are described. In some examples, a biometric-based information communication system comprises biomedical devices with sensing means, wherein the sensing means produces a biometric result and wherein the biomedical device is charged with a wireless charging system. In some examples, the charging system may beam energy to the biomedical device. In some examples, the charging system beams energy to the area surrounding the biomedical device.

The invention provides improved devices and apparatuses and related methods for sensing differences in pressure or other parameters in the environment of the body of a patient during passage of the device through one or more tissues. In one aspect, the devices and apparatuses of the invention are configured to sense differences in the environment of the body of the patient as the device passes through tissue adjacent to the epidural space to tissue of the epidural space. In one aspect, a dual cannula device comprising one or more sensors connected to a signaling component is provided for sensing passage into of the device into the epidural space and positioning therein. Methods of using same are also provided.