Apparatus and methods are provided for performing a medical procedure, such as a laparoscopic appendectomy using a stapler apparatus including a reusable handle portion including a shaft include proximal and distal ends, a disposable end effector attached to the distal end of the shaft of the reusable handle carrying one or more staples. For example, the end effector may include first and second jaws movable relative to one another between open and closed positions, the first jaw carrying a cartridge which includes the one or more staples. A Doppler sensor, a cutting element, and, optionally, a thermal element are also provided on the end effector. The end effector is introduced into a patient's body, tissue is positioned/locked between the jaws, and a plurality of staples are deployed into the tissue. The Doppler sensor is used to confirm that blood flow has discontinued in the stapled tissue, and the cutting element is actuated to sever the stapled tissue.

A method of identifying and locating tissue abnormalities in a biological tissue includes irradiating an electromagnetic signal, via a probe defining a transmitting probe, in the vicinity of a biological tissue. The irradiated electromagnetic signal is received at a probe, defining a receiving probe, after the signal is scattered/reflected by the biological tissue. Blood flow information pertaining to the biological tissue is provided. Based on the received irradiated electromagnetic signal and the blood flow information, tissue properties of the biological tissue are reconstructed. A tracking unit determines the position of at least one of the transmitting probe and the receiving probe while the step of receiving is being carried out, the at least one probe defining a tracked probe. The reconstructed tissue properties are correlated with the determined probe position so that tissue abnormalities can be identified and spatially located.

A method of identifying and locating tissue abnormalities in a biological tissue includes irradiating an electromagnetic signal, via a probe defining a transmitting probe, in the vicinity of a biological tissue. The irradiated electromagnetic signal is received at a probe, defining a receiving probe, after the signal is scattered/reflected by the biological tissue. Blood flow information pertaining to the biological tissue is provided. Based on the received irradiated electromagnetic signal and the blood flow information, tissue properties of the biological tissue are reconstructed. A tracking unit determines the position of at least one of the transmitting probe and the receiving probe while the step of receiving is being carried out, the at least one probe defining a tracked probe. The reconstructed tissue properties are correlated with the determined probe position so that tissue abnormalities can be identified and spatially located.

A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

A smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized, wherein the smartphone device is configured to actively control the configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes and one or more sensors located in either one or both of a sole or a removable inner sole insert of the footwear of the user and/or located in an apparatus worn or carried by the user, glued unto the user, or implanted in the user. The one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, or sipes, and one or more sensors are configured for computer control. A sole and/or a removable inner sole insert for footwear, including one or more bladders, compartments, chambers, internal sipes and sensors in the sole and/or in a removable insert; or on an insole; all being configured for control by a smartphone or other mobile computer device, general purpose or specialized.

Wireless, variable inductance and resonant circuit-based vascular monitoring devices, systems, methodologies, and techniques, including specifically configured anchoring structures for same, are disclosed that can be used to assist healthcare professionals in predicting, preventing, and diagnosing various heart-related and other health conditions.

Wireless, variable inductance and resonant circuit-based vascular monitoring devices, systems, methodologies, and techniques, including specifically configured anchoring structures for same, are disclosed that can be used to assist healthcare professionals in predicting, preventing, and diagnosing various heart-related and other health conditions.

An MEMS airborne ultrasonic transducer system operating on a thermoacoustic principle to determine brain haemorrhage, includes: an RF transmitter and ultrasound receiver systems to transmit RF energy and receive ultrasound wave, respectively, an RF transmitter system having an RF signal generator, an RF amplifier and a horn antenna, and an ultrasound receiver system having a lock-in amplifier, a DC supply and two ultrasonic transducer arrays wirebonded to low noise amplifier (LNA) chips. The MEMS airborne ultrasonic transducer system determines brain haemorrhage based on detecting RF-induced, blood-originating, thermoacoustic ultrasound wave at the pulse modulation frequency.

A hemodynamic parameter (Hdp) monitoring system for diagnosing a health condition of a patient and for establishing Hdp marker values or Hdp surrogate marker values for purposes of comparison with Hdp values of a patient is provided. An Hdp monitor senses, measures, and records Hdp values exhibited by the patient during a basal or non-exposure period and furthermore Hdp values exhibited by the patient during or after an exposure period during which the patient is exposed to low-energy electromagnetic output signals. An electrically-powered generator is adapted to be actuated to generate said low-energy electromagnetic carrier output signals for exposing or applying to the patient such output signals during said exposure period.

A hemodynamic parameter (Hdp) monitoring system for diagnosing a health condition of a patient and for establishing Hdp marker values or Hdp surrogate marker values for purposes of comparison with Hdp values of a patient is provided. An Hdp monitor senses, measures, and records Hdp values exhibited by the patient during a basal or non-exposure period and furthermore Hdp values exhibited by the patient during or after an exposure period during which the patient is exposed to low-energy electromagnetic output signals. An electrically-powered generator is adapted to be actuated to generate said low-energy electromagnetic carrier output signals for exposing or applying to the patient such output signals during said exposure period.