A device and method for treating a bone includes a bone plate including first and second portions joined to one another via a connecting portion, a rigidity of the connecting portion being less than rigidities of each of the first and second portions in combination with a first sensor mounted on the first portion measuring strain on the first portion and a second sensor mounted on the second portion measuring strain on the second portion.

A device and method for treating a bone includes a bone plate including first and second portions joined to one another via a connecting portion, a rigidity of the connecting portion being less than rigidities of each of the first and second portions in combination with a first sensor mounted on the first portion measuring strain on the first portion and a second sensor mounted on the second portion measuring strain on the second portion.

A system is disclosed herein for providing a kinetic assessment and preparation of a prosthetic joint comprising one or more prosthetic components. The system comprises a prosthetic component including sensors and circuitry configured to measure load, position of load, and joint alignment. The system further includes a remote system for receiving, processing, and displaying quantitative measurements from the sensors. The kinetic assessment measures joint alignment under loading that will be similar to that of a final joint installation. The kinetic assessment can use trial or permanent prosthetic components. Furthermore, adjustments can be made to the applied load magnitude, position of load, and joint alignment by various means to fine-tune an installation. The kinetic assessment increases both performance and reliability of the installed joint by reducing error that is introduced by elements that load or modify the joint dynamics not taken into account by prior assessment methods.

A system is disclosed herein for providing a kinetic assessment and preparation of a prosthetic joint comprising one or more prosthetic components. The system comprises a prosthetic component including sensors and circuitry configured to measure load, position of load, and joint alignment. The system further includes a remote system for receiving, processing, and displaying quantitative measurements from the sensors. The kinetic assessment measures joint alignment under loading that will be similar to that of a final joint installation. The kinetic assessment can use trial or permanent prosthetic components. Furthermore, adjustments can be made to the applied load magnitude, position of load, and joint alignment by various means to fine-tune an installation. The kinetic assessment increases both performance and reliability of the installed joint by reducing error that is introduced by elements that load or modify the joint dynamics not taken into account by prior assessment methods.

This document describes assessing cardiovascular function using an optical sensor, such as through sensing relevant hemodynamics understood by pulse transit times, blood pressures, pulse-wave velocities, and, in more breadth, ballistocardiograms and pressure-volume loops. The techniques disclosed in this document use various optical sensors to sense hemodynamics, such as skin color and skin and other organ displacement. These optical sensors require little if any risk to the patient and are simple and easy for the patient to use.

A load cell apparatus for use with a bed includes a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a load cell device held by the bottom portion of the housing. The load cell device is structured to generate a signal having a magnitude that is proportional to a first force being applied to the load cell device. The load cell apparatus also includes a button member held by the housing in a manner wherein the button member is structured to engage the load cell device and apply the first force to the load cell device in response to a second force being applied to the top portion of the housing. Also, various systems for monitoring parameters such as weight, sleep quality, fall risk, and/or pressure sore risk that may incorporate such a load cell apparatus.

Kits, diagnostic systems and methods are provided, which measure the distribution of colors of skin features by comparison to calibrated colors which are co-imaged with the skin feature. The colors on the calibration template (calibrator) are selected to represent the expected range of feature colors under various illumination and capturing conditions. The calibrator may also comprise features with different forms and size for calibrating geometric parameters of the skin features in the captured images. Measurements may be enhanced by monitoring over time changes in the distribution of colors, by measuring two and three dimensional geometrical parameters of the skin feature and by associating the data with medical diagnostic parameters. Thus, simple means for skin diagnosis and monitoring are provided which simplify and improve current dermatologic diagnostic procedures.

A directional force sensor and sensing system are described. The directional force sensor includes a leaf spring and one or more load sensors disposed about the leaf spring such that in response to a force applied to the leaf spring, the one or more load sensors provide a signal. A controller is coupled to receive signals from the one or more directional force sensors and determines characteristics of forces applied to the directional force sensors.

A shoe has a sensor system operably connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. Users can use the collected data for a variety of different uses or applications.

An esophageal device is used to recognize, diagnose, characterize, or relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. In one implementation, the esophageal device measures a UES response to esophageal fluid infusion to detect or characterize an abnormality or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality. An Upper Esophageal Sphincter compression device is used to increase intra-luminal pressure within the Upper Esophageal Sphincter of a patient in order relieve an impact of an abnormal or defective UES anatomy, physiology, or functionality.