A61B5/0488

Methods and Systems for Tremor Reduction
20170274208 · 2017-09-28 ·

A tremor-reduction system is provided that delivers electric current to a body region of a subject that is associated with a tremor. A computing device stores received data associated with a tremulous movement of the body region and determines measurements associated with the stored data. If a magnitude of the most recent tremulous movement is the same as or greater than magnitudes associated with prior tremulous movements, characteristics of a subsequent electric current to be applied to the body region may be adjusted.

IMPAIRMENT DETECTION WITH BIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

A method and system for monitoring impairment indicators. The method includes, during a first time window, measuring a first movement signal related to movement of the person with a movement sensor associated with the person, and measuring a first biological signal of the person with a biological sensor attached to the person. The method further includes electronically storing at least one numerical descriptor derived from the first movement signal and at least one numerical descriptor derived from the first biological signal as reference data for the person. The method includes during a second time window, measuring a second signal related to movement of the person with the movement sensor, and measuring a second biological signal of the person with the biological sensor. The method further includes comparing at least one numerical descriptor derived from the second signal and at least one numerical descriptor derived from the second biological signal to the reference data to identify an impairment indicator.

Electromyography system

Methods for determining structural integrity of a bone within the spine of a patient, the bone having a first aspect and a second aspect, wherein the second aspect separated from the first aspect by a width and located adjacent to a spinal nerve. The methods involve (a) applying an electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (b) electrically monitoring a muscle myotome associated with the spinal nerve to detect if an onset neuro-muscular response occurs in response to the application of the electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (c) automatically increasing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus to until the onset neuro-muscular response is detected; and (d) communicating to a user via at least one of visual and audible information representing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus which caused the onset neuro-muscular response.

Digital manometry finger-mountable sensor device

A probe system includes a finger-mountable housing having a distal end and a proximal receptacle end. The proximal receptacle end defines an opening to receive a finger. The probe system also includes a probe assembly disposed on or within the finger-mountable housing and having at least a first sensor. The first sensor is positioned to measure a physical characteristic of a first tissue when the finger-mountable housing and probe assembly are inserted in a rectum of the patient.

DEPRESSION ASSESSMENT SYSTEM AND DEPRESSION ASSESSMENT METHOD BASED ON PHYSIOLOGICAL INFORMATION
20170238858 · 2017-08-24 ·

The present invention discloses a depression assessment system based on physiological information, comprising an information acquisition module, a signal processing module, a parameters calculation module, a feature selection module, a machine learning module and an output result module. The present invention further discloses a depression assessment method based on various physiological information, comprising the following steps: 1, processing electrocardiogram (ECG) signal and one or more of photoplethysmography (PPG) signal, electroencephalogram (EEG) signal, galvanic skin response (GSR)signal, electrogastrography (EGG) signal, electromyogram (EMG) signal, electrooculogram (EOG) signal, polysomnogram (PSG) signal and temperature signal, and calculating signal parameters; 2, normalizing the obtained signal parameters, and performing the feature selection on parameters set formed by the normalized signal parameters to obtain feature parameters set; and 3, performing machine learning by utilizing the obtained feature parameters set, and establishing a depression assessment mathematic model to assess the depression level by utilizing a relationship between the feature parameters set and the depression level. The present invention has the advantage that the subjectivity of the assessment by utilizing the depression rating scale can be avoided.

Illuminated Endoscopic Pedicle Probe With Dynamic Real Time Monitoring For Proximity To Nerves
20170238788 · 2017-08-24 ·

An endoscopic pedicle probe has an elongate body with a proximal end and a distal end. A tip on the distal end is pushed into the pedicle to form the hole, and an enlarged head on the proximal end enables a surgeon to manipulate the probe. The body has an inner shaft with a cylindrical sleeve telescopically engaged over it. An endoscope extends through a longitudinal bore in the shaft, with a camera at the tip end connected with a monitor to enable a surgeon to visually observe the area being treated. A light extends through another bore to illuminate the area, and a further bore conducts irrigation fluid to and from the area. The sleeve is made of electrically non-conductive material and the shaft and tip are made of electrically conductive material to enable stimulation of nerves at the treatment area.

BIO-STIMULATING AND BIO-SIGNAL MEASURING CIRCUIT
20170238865 · 2017-08-24 ·

The circuit may include bio-stimulating signal generating circuit which generates a bio-stimulating signal in a bio-stimulating mode, a bio-signal electrode which delivers the bio-stimulating signal generated in the bio-stimulating mode and receives a bio-signal in a bio-signal measuring mode, a switch block which is turned on when a voltage of the bio-stimulating signal is greater than a first reference voltage which is greater than a second reference voltage or lower than the second reference voltage, first and second resistors, and a bio-signal measuring circuit which measures voltage signals divided by the first and second resistors or measures a signal of the bio-signal electrode according to whether the switch block is turned on. The first and second resistors may be serially connected between the bio-signal electrode and the switch block, and divide a voltage of a signal of the bio-signal electrode when the switch block is turned on.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC SIGNALS OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
20170231521 · 2017-08-17 ·

Embodiments of a method for removal and replacement of artifacts in electrophysiological data from muscular activity in the a gastrointestinal tract of a patient are disclosed. The approach includes setting an artifact identification threshold based on the parameters of the data, assessing the full extent of the artifact in time, and replacing the values with ones that are neutral in the time series and minimizing the effect on a power spectrum of the data. More particularly, the method includes steps of identifying artifacts within the raw time series data, eliminating the identified artifacts, and replacing the artifacts with any of interpolated points or constant value points to create a clean time series data set representing valid gastrointestinal tract EMG signals.

Apparatus, system, and method for mapping the location of a nerve
09730634 · 2017-08-15 · ·

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for mapping the location of a nerve. The apparatus includes at least one stimulation module, a stimulation detection module, a distance module, and a mapping module. The stimulation module stimulates a nerve with an electrical stimulation current from at least one stimulation electrode. A stimulation detection module detects a muscle reaction resulting from stimulation of the nerve by the at least one stimulation electrode. The distance module uses information from the at least one stimulation electrode and from the stimulation detection module to calculate a distance between the at least one stimulation electrode and the nerve. The mapping module maps a location on the nerve using at least two distances calculated by the distance module and position information of the at least one stimulation electrode for each of the at least two distances calculated.

Pacemaker for unilateral vocal cord autoparalysis

A method for treating a human subject having unilateral vocal cord paralysis includes sensing electrical activity of a dysfunctional muscle of the subject, generating at least one stimulation parameter, using a processor, based on the sensed electrical activity, and stimulating the dysfunctional muscle, using a stimulating electrode, based on the at least one stimulation parameter. A stimulation system is also provided.