A multi-portal method for treating a subject's spine includes distracting adjacent vertebrae using a distraction instrument positioned at a first entrance along the subject to enlarge an intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae. An interbody fusion implant can be delivered into the enlarged intervertebral space. The interbody fusion implant can be positioned directly between vertebral bodies of the adjacent vertebrae while endoscopically viewing the interbody fusion implant using an endoscopic instrument. The patient's spine can be visualized using endoscopic techniques to view, for example, the spine, tissue, instruments, and implants before, during, and after implantation, or the like. The visualization can help a physician throughout the surgical procedure to improve patient outcome.

The technology involves scaffold structures used for in-ear sensor systems. Such systems that can perform biometric signal detection or act as a human-computer interface. Scaffolding arrangements minimize the amount of material placed in the ear while providing a secure fitting device that can be worn for hours, days or longer in order to provide maximal benefit to the wearer. The scaffolding includes a “C”-shaped arcuate curvature for at least part of the housing. This configuration can act as a natural leaf spring to help maintain the housing in contact with different points along the ear. Sensors are located along various points of the scaffolding for use in different diagnostic situations. Different components of an on-board sensor input and processing system can be distributed along different parts of the scaffolding. Such structures beneficially minimize ambient sound occlusion and avoid the need of an exterior strap or clip worn around the ear.

A device includes an angiography module, a phototherapy module, a carrier including an optical filter and accommodating the angiography module and the phototherapy module, and a control unit controlling operation of the angiography module and the phototherapy module. The angiography module includes infrared LEDs emitting infrared light through the optical filter to irradiate a limb of a subject, and an infrared sensor sensing a part of the infrared light reflected off the limb to generate a result, based on which the control unit generates an angiogram. The phototherapy module emits infrared light through the optical filter to irradiate the limb for phototherapy.

Enzymatic and non-enzymatic detectors and associated membrane apparatus, and methods of use, such as within a fully implantable sensor apparatus. In one embodiment, detector performance is controlled through selective use of membrane configurations and enzyme region shapes, which enable accurate detection of blood glucose level within the solid tissue of the living host for extended periods of time. Isolation between the host's tissue and the underlying enzymes and reaction byproducts used in the detectors is also advantageously maintained in one embodiment via use of a non-enzyme containing permeable membrane formed of e.g., a biocompatible crosslinked protein-based material. Control of response range and/or rate in some embodiments also permits customization of sensor elements. In one variant, heterogeneous detector elements are used to, e.g., accommodate a wider range of blood glucose concentration within the host. Methods of manufacturing the membranes and detectors, including methods to increase reliability, are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus (10) for analyzing a material (12) comprising at least one analyte, said apparatus (10) comprising a measurement body (16) having a contact surface (14) suitable to be brought in thermal contact or pressure-transmitting contact with said material (12), an excitation radiation source configured for irradiating excitation radiation into the material (12) to be absorbed therein, and a detection light source for generating a detection light beam (22) travelling through at least a portion of said measurement body (16) or a component included in said measurement body, wherein said detection light beam is directed to be totally or partially reflected at said contact surface (14), wherein said contact surface (14) of the measurement body is curved in at least one principal direction in the area where the detection light beam (22) is reflected.

An electronic apparatus includes an array of microphones for detecting audible sounds generated by a patient and for generating audio information representing the detected audible sounds, a first beamformer having a first adaptability speed and configured to generate first audio information and first noise information from the audio information, a second beamformer having a second adaptability speed which is slower than the first adaptability speed, the second adaptive beamformer configured to generate second audio information and second noise information from the audio information, an audio classification unit for generating audio classification information based on the first audio information, a head movement detection unit for generating head movement information based on at least one of the second audio information, the first noise information, and the second noise information, and a diagnosis unit for determining a sleep apnea diagnosis based on the audio classification information and the head movement information.

A pumpless wearable sphygmomanometer includes a wearable element, a first fluid strip, a second fluid strip and a control module. A first side of the wearable element is for contacting with a wearer. The first and second fluid strips are arranged in parallel on the first side and spaced apart for a predetermined distance. The control module is disposed on the wearable element and includes a first pressure sensing element, a second pressure sensing element and a processing unit. The first and second pressure sensing elements communicate with the first and second fluid strips, respectively, and are configured to sense a first fluid pressure and a second fluid pressure in the first and second fluid strips, respectively. The processing unit is electrically connected to the first and second pressure sensing elements and configured to analyze a difference between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure.

A magnetic field measurement system includes a wearable device having a plurality of wearable sensor units. Each wearable sensor unit includes a plurality of magnetometers and a magnetic field generator configured to generate a compensation magnetic field configured to actively shield the plurality magnetometers from ambient background magnetic fields. A strength of a fringe magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator of each of the wearable sensor units is less than a predetermined value at the plurality of magnetometers of each wearable sensor unit included in the plurality of wearable sensor units.

A patient monitor can noninvasively measure a physiological parameter using sensor data from different measurement sites on a patient. The patient monitor can combine all sensor data from different measurement sites into a raw or minimally processed data form to generate a single, robust measurement of the physiological parameter. An optical sensor of a patient monitor can include multiple photodetectors each configured to generate a signal when detecting light attenuated by the patient’s tissue. A measurement of a physiological parameter can be determined based on at least in part on the multiple signals from the multiple photodetectors.

An ECG monitoring method and apparatus are presented in which contact impedances including capacitive components are utilized to, for example, reduce false alarms for lead-off conditions. In one aspect of the disclosure a method includes monitoring a plurality of Electrocardiogram (“ECG”) electrodes ostensibly electrically connected to a human body; determining the respective contact impedance for each of the ECG electrodes as a plurality of electrical currents is driven through the ECG electrodes in a predetermined pattern, each respective contact impedance including a resistive component and a capacitive component; ascertaining whether any of the determined respective contact impedances exceeds a predetermined threshold; if any of the determined respective contact impedances exceeds the predetermined threshold, issuing an alarm.