996results about "Urological function evaluation" patented technology

Systems and methods for registering, verifying, dynamically referencing, and navigating an anatomical region of interest of a patient are provided. In one embodiment, the anatomical region of interest is imaged using an imaging device such as, for example, an x-ray device. A tracked registration device may then be removably inserted in a conduit within the anatomical region and the position of the registration device may be sampled by a tracking device as the registration device is moved within the anatomical region through the catheter. The sampled position data is registered to the image data to register the path of the conduit to the anatomical region of interest. The same or a similar device may be used to dynamically reference the movements affecting the anatomical region and modify the registration in real time. The registration may also be verified.

Apparatus (10) is provided that includes at least one sensor (30), configured to sense a physiological parameter of a subject (12) and to sense large body movement of the subject (12), an output unit (24), and a control unit (14). The control unit (14) is configured to monitor a condition of the subject (12) by analyzing 5 the physiological parameter and the sensed large body movement, and to drive the output unit (24) to generate an alert upon detecting a deterioration of the monitored condition. Other embodiments are also described.

A method and apparatus is provided for determining an effective thermal mass of a patient. The effective thermal mass is employed to determine a gain factor used in a feedback control system controlling patient temperature. The method begins by inducing hypothermia or hyperthermia in at least a selected portion of the patient with a device having a heat transfer surface. Next, power is transferred between the device and the patient. A change in temperature over time, which arises in the selected portion of the patient, is measured while performing the step of inducing hypothermia or hyperthermia. Finally, an effective thermal mass is calculated based on the measured power and the measured temperature change over time.

An integrated subject monitoring system facilitates measurement, collection and analysis of data pertaining to the health status of a subject. The system includes a network-coupled computer and subsystems monitoring subject location within a defined space and the curtilage thereof and obtaining measurements of a subject's physiological or behavioral / cognitive parameters within the defined space. Parameter data is obtained primarily passively, without the cooperation or active participation of the subject. A method of monitoring the physiological and behavioral / cognitive health status of an ambulatory subject involves monitoring in a primarily passive fashion, irrespective of the active collaboration of the subject. Subject health indicia parameters are continuously monitored, sampled and recorded. Captured values are compared to initial baseline values established for each of the measured parameters as well as to the trend for the parameter of that subject. Readings falling outside the boundaries trigger a signal to be sent to an appropriate party.

Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for telemetrically monitoring parameters within a body of an animal such as a within a urinary bladder of a human. The system includes an implantable device configured for insertion within the body and an external device for use external to the body. The implantable device senses and stores one or more bodily parameters and transmits the stored bodily parameters for receipt by the external device responsive to receipt of a parameter transfer signal. The external device communicates with the implantable device, generates the parameter transfer signal, and receives the bodily parameters transmitted by the implantable device.

Systems and methods for determining a number of interruptions in a sleep state of a patient attributable to an urge or need to void during a sleep event include monitoring an activity level of the patient. The urge or need to void may be attributable to fecal or urinary incontinence. The patient activity level may be determined with one or more sensors that detect motion and / or one or more sensors that monitor a physiological parameter of the patient that varies as a function of patient activity. In one embodiment, a clinician selects a therapy parameter set for the patient based on the severity of the patient's incontinence. In another embodiment, the number of interruptions in the sleep state is associated with a therapy parameter set that was implemented during the sleep state in order to evaluate the efficacy of the therapy parameter set. In another embodiment, a medical device automatically adjusts a therapy parameter to treat the incontinence if the number of interruptions in the sleep state exceeds a threshold.

A device for draining bodily fluids is described herein which generally may comprise an elongate body defining one or more lumens configured to receive a bodily fluid from a cavity, e.g., bladder, of a patient body. The one or more lumens are in fluid communication with a reservoir which may receive the bodily fluid. A pumping mechanism may be used to urge the bodily fluid through the one or more lumens, where the pumping mechanism is configured to maintain an open space within the one or more lumens such that outflow of the bodily fluid through the one or more lumens remains unobstructed such that a negative pressure buildup in the cavity is inhibited. The device may also include a vent or valve mechanism in communication with the elongate body to allow air to enter or exit the one or more lumens.

A medical system may include a control module and a therapy delivery module configured to generate and deliver electrical stimulation therapy to a patient. The control module may be configured to control the therapy delivery module to deliver electrical stimulation at a first stimulation intensity for a first time period, to deliver electrical stimulation at a second stimulation intensity for a second time period immediately following the first time period, and to deliver electrical stimulation at the first stimulation intensity for a third time period immediately following the second time period. The second stimulation intensity may be less than the first stimulation intensity. The electrical stimulation may elicit a first inhibitory physiological response during the first time period and a second inhibitory physiological response during the second time period. The second inhibitory physiological response may be greater than the first inhibitory physiological response.

Multi-functional urine collection devices, embodiments of which can include a self-expanding container having a receptacle for receiving urine from the tubing, a pump for moving urine through the tubing and into a receptacle, extendable tubing that may be shortened and / or lengthened, and / or one or more meters for monitoring, measuring, transmitting or storing a characteristic from the urine.

A urethral profile apparatus, assembly and appurtenant methodology is provided. The apparatus includes an elongate member having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end including a probe. The probe is selectively positionable within a urethral passageway by axial translation of the elongate member via the distal end, with the probe dimensioned so as to indicate constrictures of the urethral passageway.

The present invention is a method and apparatus for quantifying nerve and neural-muscular integrity related to pelvic organs or pelvic floor functions. In one embodiment, the invention is a method and device to measure muscle or nerve activity in the pelvis or pelvic floor. In a modification of this embodiment, the invention includes means for inducing an efferent nerve signal in the spinal cord or sacral nerves and then measuring the resulting nerve activity of the nerves of the pelvic floor region. In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes placing a probe in the anal canal or vagina, the probe having proximal recording electrodes along its outer surface. In one possible embodiment, the probe has a distensible sheath having recording electrodes located on its outside surface. In another embodiment, the probe has an inflatable balloon at its distal end with recording electrodes located on the outside surface of the inflatable balloon. In a further embodiment, the proximal recording electrodes will be located on the outside of the distal end of the probe itself. In yet another embodiment, a disk having recording electrodes is placed in the rectum in contact with the tissue above the submucous space. In yet another embodiment of the invention, an essentially “C” shaped clip is provided having a core made of a spring-like material.

An improved apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve having selectable communication positions between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. One operable protective housing may be embodied as a separate tray component. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented for communication to the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to introduce a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient's bladder where the fluid's pressure can be measured. Desirably, a double check valve is included in a fluid supply path and arranged to permit repetitive operation of a syringe to inject a bolus of fluid into the patient's bladder. Subsequent to making a pressure measurement, the urine valve is returned to the bladder draining position.

A device for measuring elastic properties, comprising a long bar-like probe base (42) and probes (50a, 50c) fitted to the probe base (42) driven as to be pressed against and withdrawn from a living body tissue. The probes are so formed that generally semi-spherical contact balls (58) having stress detection bases (56) are fitted to the ends of leaf strings (52) and stress detection sensors (60) are disposed on the stress detection bases (56). Light-receiving elements are fitted to the opposite side of the leaf displacement sensors (62a, 62b). The stress sensors (60) and displacement sensors (62a, 62b) are connected to the device body through signal lines (92, 94), respectively. The profile of the displacement of the tissue is calculated and displayed in a manner indicating correlation with stress.

A measuring device, comprising, (a) an ultrasonic acoustic transceiver unit capable of sending and receiving acoustic signals into the body of a patient; (b) frequency modulating circuitry which drives said transceiver unit with a signal whose frequency varies with time; and (c) processing circuitry which extracts an indication of a distance, from at least one signal detected by said transceiver unit, said signal being a reflection of a transmission of said transceiver unit driven by said time varying frequency signal. Optionally, the indication is a distance between walls of a bladder.

An improved test device for the testing of a fluid having a cup and a cover lid, such cover lid having a reagent test strip chamber containing a reagent test strip, a fluid receipt chamber, a fluid channel containing a fluid-passing pad and a fluid contact chamber. An actuation cover with a window defined therein is positioned over the regent test strip chamber, fluid receipt chamber, fluid contact chamber, such window positioned over the color change area of the reagent test strip. The actuation cover forms a fluid-tight seal around a first end of the reagent test strip which protrudes into the fluid contact chamber. After the cup is filled with fluid and the cover lid is positioned thereon, the cup is inverted, causing fluid to flow into the fluid receipt chamber through an aperture in said cover lid. When the test device is turned upright, the fluid drains from the bottom of the fluid receipt chamber, through the pad, down the fluid channel and into the fluid contact chamber where it comes in contact with the protruding first end of the reagent test strip, such fluid to be drawn along the reagent test strip to accomplish the desired test to cause the appropriate color change to appear on such reagent test strip visible through the window in the actuation cover. An actuation button on the actuation cover can aid in some embodiments to draw fluid into the fluid receipt chamber. In other embodiments a valve, when actuated, can open the fluid receipt chamber to receive the fluid to be tested when the cup is inverted.

A method and apparatus is provided for heating or cooling at least a selected portion of a patient's body. The method begins by inserting a catheter through the urethra and into the bladder of the patient. A heated or chilled fluid is conducted through a supply lumen of the catheter and into the bladder. The fluid is evacuated from the bladder through a return lumen of the catheter. Finally, a quantity of urine is monitored which flows out of the bladder and through the return lumen of the catheter. The rate of fluid flowing through the supply lumen of the catheter may be adjusted in a manner that is based at least in part on the monitored quantity of urine flowing out of the bladder.

Embodiment methods of treating a human or animal patient using a remotely controlled robotic catheter device inserting a handle of a catheter into a handle controller, inserting the catheter tubular portion into a resealable delivery channel forming a sterile barrier to a sled base, engaging a tip of the catheter with a sterile introducer disposed at an end of the sled base and engaged with the patient's body, positioning the catheter into the patient's body by remotely sending commands to the tele-robotic device to cause the sled member to advance toward the patient's body, and performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure on the patient using the catheter. Diagnostic or therapeutic procedures may include a mapping procedure, an ablation procedure, an angioplasty procedure, a drug delivery procedure; an electrophysiology procedure, a radiological procedure, and a medical device implantation or positioning procedure.

A disposable real-time closed catheter urine output monitoring system. The monitoring system of the invention can measure urine outputs at both high and low urine flow in real time, using a pressure chamber in the form of a hollow body having an input port for coupling to a tube connected to a catheter for collection of urine from a patient, an exit port coupled to a collection container and a vent port, such that air may flow through the vent, but urine is blocked by the vent. A sensor measures flow from the exit port of the pressure chamber into the collection container, and a pressure sensor may be included to measure pressure in the pressure chamber. The invention also provides a method of using the apparatus in a real-time monitoring system.

A hand-held 3D ultrasound instrument is disclosed which is used to non-invasively and automatically measure amniotic fluid volume in the uterus requiring a minimum of operator intervention. Using a 2D image-processing algorithm, the instrument gives automatic feedback to the user about where to acquire the 3D image set. The user acquires one or more 3D data sets covering all of the amniotic fluid in the uterus and this data is then processed using an optimized 3D algorithm to output the total amniotic fluid volume corrected for any fetal head brain volume contributions.

Ultrasound imaging systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonography method includes creating a database that is representative of a tissue, a fluid, or a cavity of a body, and transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient. Echoes are received from the region of interest, and based upon the received echoes, compiling an ultrasonic pattern of the region-of-interest is compiled. The pattern is processed by comparing the region-of-interest patterns to the pattern information stored in the database. A composition within the region-of-interest of the patient is then determined.

Provided is a biofeedback apparatus using a magnetic stimulator. In the biofeedback apparatus, a tube filled with a non-conductive fluid is disposed between a magnetic stimulator and patient's pelvic floor muscles to measure a change in pressure according to muscle exercise of the pelvic floor muscles, biofeedback is available without insertion of a tool for measurement of a pressure or an EMG (electromyogram) into vagina, urethra, or the like. In the biofeedback apparatus, since driving of the magnetic stimulator and driving of a pressure transducer do not influence each other, a controller can continuously monitor a state of change in pressure of the pelvic floor muscles by using the pressure transducer and, at the same time, can adjust a strength of a magnetic field generated from the magnetic stimulator to an optimal strength according to the monitored state, so that it is possible to maximize the effect of treatment.

A medical device for monitoring physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of an organ, such as the urinary bladder. The medical device may include an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end. The device may further include an end-effector assembly extending distally from the distal end of the elongate member. The end-effector assembly may also include a plurality of sensing elements for detecting abnormal organ function. Each of the plurality of sensing elements may include one or more of mechanical, visual, chemical, and biological sensors.

Provided according to embodiments of the present invention are methods of monitoring and treating respiratory depression that include securing a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor to a central source site of an individual; administering a central nervous system (CNS) depressant to the individual; processing PPG signals front the PPG sensor with a computer in communication with the PPG sensor; and administering a narcotic reversal agent to the individual if the PPG signals or a physiological parameter derived therefrom are outside a preset value range. Related systems are also described.

Apparatus is provided, including a sensor configured to sense motion of a subject and generate a motion signal in response thereto. The apparatus includes an output unit and a control unit. The control unit is configured to: (a) analyze the motion signal, (b) at a first time, determine that the motion signal is indicative that the subject is likely sleeping, (c) at a second time following the first time, determine that the motion signal is indicative that the subject is likely no longer sleeping, and (d) in response thereto, drive the output unit to alert a clinician if the subject is at an increased risk for falling out of a bed. Other applications are also described.

A diagnostic method and apparatus for detecting at least one change in a urinary parameter indicative of a body malfunction, the method comprising at least semi-continuously monitoring in real time at least one of a sodium level, an oxygen level, a potassium level, and combinations thereof in the urine of a catheterized patient; whereby at least one parameter is monitored so as to detect one or more changes in the at least one parameter to reflect at least one of a fluid state, an electrolyte balance, a kidney state, a kidney perfusion and an organ perfusion in the patient, indicative of the body malfunction in the patient, in which the monitoring is preferably performed through electrodes that are arranged perpendicularly to the flow of urine through a patient's catheter system.

Methods, devices, and systems for treating the support structures of the body, particularly for incontinence, take advantage of two mechanisms to enhance the support provided by the fascia, ligaments and tendons: first, the invention increases a modulus of elasticity of these tissues, and particularly of the fascial tissues. The increase in modulus can be effected by directing sufficient energy to the fascial tissue so as to promote the formation of scar tissue. The second mechanism attaches tissue planes together, often by directing energy to an interface between adjacent fascial tissues.