452 results about "Chest region" patented technology

Methods and systems for transvenously accessing the pericardial space via the vascular system and atrial wall, particularly through the superior vena cava and right atrial wall, to deliver treatment in the pericardial space are disclosed. A steerable instrument is advanced transvenously into the right atrium of the heart, and a distal segment is deflected into the right atrial appendage. A fixation catheter is advanced employing the steerable instrument to affix a distal fixation mechanism to the atrial wall. A distal segment of an elongated medical device, e.g., a therapeutic catheter or an electrical medical lead, is advanced through the fixation catheter lumen, through the atrial wall, and into the pericardial space. The steerable guide catheter is removed, and the elongated medical device is coupled to an implantable medical device subcutaneously implanted in the thoracic region. The fixation catheter may be left in place.

The invention provides a disposable sensor patch for the non-invasive detection and indication of a heart condition during a medical emergency. The patch is placed on the chest area for sensing and analyzing a surface electrocardiogram (ECG). The heart condition is rapidly indicated via an indicator integrated in the patch. The disposable smart patch is inexpensive and simple to use by a layperson assisting or living with the person experiencing the medical crisis. The patch is activated automatically upon its removal from the package and placement on the chest. The detection and indication occurs rapidly and within 90 seconds of placement on the chest. In another embodiment of the invention, a vibration sensor element is incorporated for detecting cardiovascular vibrations and for ruling out pulseless electrical activity.

A physiological monitoring system for noninvasively monitoring physiological parameters of a subject, comprising a fitness monitoring system for monitoring physiological parameters of a subject engaged in a physical activity, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, includes (i) a monitoring garment adapted to cover at least a portion of a subject's torso, (ii) a magnetometer subsystem including a first magnetometer and a second magnetometer, wherein the first and second magnetometers are responsive to changes in distance therebetween, wherein the magnetometer subsystem is configured to generate and transmit a signal representative of a change in the distance between the first and second magnetometers, wherein the first and second magnetometers are incorporated into the monitoring garment, and wherein the first and second magnetometers are proximate to the subject's chest region when the monitoring garment is worn by the subject.

An apparatus and method of detecting COPD and in particular, emphysema utilizes a change in acoustic transmission characteristics of a lung due to e.g. the appearance of fenestrae (perforations) in the alveoli of the lung. The use of acoustic signals may provide good sensitivity to the existence of alveolar fenestrae, even for microscopic emphysema, and the appearance and increase in fenestrae may be determined by monitoring acoustic transmission characteristics such as, for example, an increase in acoustic signal velocity and velocity dispersion, and/or a change in attenuation. A transmitter may be located in e.g. the supra-clavicular space and receivers may be mounted on the chest. Measurements may be correlated between pairs of receivers to determine acoustic transmission profiles.

Methods and apparatus for a surgical retractor include a ring, a plurality of flexible straps connected to the ring, a patch of hook or loop material connected to each strap, a coordinating patch of hook or loop material connectable to the patient's skin or the surgical drape. The flexible straps of the surgical retractor may be frangibly connected together. LEDs molded into the distal end create a light source to illuminate the surgical site. The ring may take several forms including a flexible or adjustable ring and an inflatable bladder. The ring of the surgical retractor is inserted into the surgical incision, a patch of loop fastener is attached to the patient, a set of straps connected to the ring are pulled outward and the hook portion is applied to the loop portion to hold the incision open. The retractor is useable for thoracic and other types of surgery.

A swaddling blanket serves to tightly wrap and enclose a young baby in a sheet of fabric to calm and soothe it. A swaddling blanket is a three-sided blanket that contains a pouch in the middle in which to contain the infant. The second portion of the blanket crosses over the front of the infant's torso, then is placed through a slit in the first portion of the blanket, and secured to the back of the blanket by cooperating hook and loop fasteners. The third portion of the blanket then crosses over the front of the infant's torso and chest, wraps around the entire body of the infant and is secured in the front by additional hook and loop fasteners.

A traction device comprises a frame, a first bladder portion, a second bladder portion, a spacer, and a pump. The first bladder expands in an outward direction a distance greater than in a transverse direction. The second bladder expands in an angular direction. The second bladder is positioned generally below and to the side of the first bladder. Upon expanding in the outward direction, the first bladder bears against the back of the user's neck. Upon expanding in the transverse direction, the first bladder applies an angular traction to the cervical spine. Upon expanding in the angular direction, the second bladder bears angularly against the back of the user's upper thoracic region.

In (α, β) coordinates defined by a back angle α and a knee angle β, a pattern that connects between a coordinate point (0, 0) at which each of a back bottom and a knee bottom is horizontal and a coordinate point (α₀, β₀) which is a final reaching point for a back lift-up operation and at which the back bottom is lifted up by a plurality of points is set, an optimal pattern which provides less slipperiness and less oppressive feeling is acquired beforehand, and a control section moves the back bottom and the knee bottom along the optimal pattern. This reliably prevents a carereceiver from slipping, regardless of subjective judgment by an operator or a carer, at the time of performing a back lift-up operation and back lift-down operation of an electric bed. It is therefore possible to prevent pressure from being applied onto the abdominal region and chest region of the carereceiver, thus relieving the carereceiver and carer of the burden.

There is provided herein a system and method for performing a balance evaluation that utilizes a hand held accelerometer that measures upper body compensatory and correctional movement. Instead of testing movement in the waist or lower extremity as is commonly done, the instant invention measures thoracic trunk sway to estimate an individual's balance via positional change algorithms. By holding the measuring device to the chest and performing one or a variety of balance tests, the instant invention can determine the amount of sway in the trunk without attached or fixed monitors, which presents a novel approach to assessing postural sway above the center of mass.

The bib of the present invention has a collar and a chest-covering fabric extending from and attached to the collar. The collar is a resilient, generally C-shaped, flat plastic ring that is disposed within a sleeve. The fabric is attached to the lower end of the sleeve and it covers a user's chest to protect the user's clothes from food stains and spills. Consequently, the bib covers the user's chest while being retained about the neck by the resilient collar, eliminating the need for reaching behind the neck to fasten and unfasten the bib. The bib is suitable for user's of any age, and is particularly well adapted for use by the elderly, the disabled, and small toddlers. The chest cover may have any desired shape or color, and may have indicia thereon.

A swimwear garment made of ultra-violet resistant material encloses the body of a child when fastened-up, and has a back zip (3), sleeves (2A), leg openings and a neck opening (4). The garment incorporates buoyant panels (8) at its back and a front panel (11) which are formed with crease lines (9, 10, 14, 16) enabling them to conform closely to the child's chest without obstructing its movement during swimming. A flexible soft neck roll (6) of closed-cell, buoyant, foamed plastics material encircles the child's neck and holds the chin above water.

A neck protector comprising a collar sized and shaped to provide a continuous closure around a neck of a wearer. The collar has a first pair of opposed ends, with one end having a first tongue and the other a first groove. The first tongue fits into the first groove to form a first tongue and groove interlock, which is maintained with a closure. Also, an upper body protector which may be used in combination with the neck protector. The upper body protector comprises a body portion and a spine protector shield system, and/or a chest protector shield system attached to the body portion. Both shield systems comprise at least two overlapping shield sections sized, shaped and positioned to cover at least a portion of the wearer's spine or sternum, while permitting flex, freedom of movement, and venting.

An adaptable medical gown may include a neck opening, a right sleeve, a left sleeve, and a front opening. The front opening can transition between an open position and a closed position. The front opening may be configured to expose one or more of a patient's upper chest and abdominal region while leaving a groin region covered. The medical gown may also include a back opening that is also configured to transition between an open position and a closed position. The medical gown may further include one or more front fasteners and one or more back fasteners to detachably secure the front opening and the back opening in a closed position, respectively. The front fastener and the back fastener may include a fabric-based, hook-and-loop fastener, a button, a zipper, a lace, a buckle, and a snap.

A fashionable machine-knitted garment of a hosiery-type material for the upper body having at least arm portions, shoulder portions, an upper chest portion, an upper back portion, is seamless in at least the shoulder portions, if not also in the arms and/or an upper bodice including the upper chest and upper back portions. The garment is constructed in a manner to provide an inconspicuous appearance when worn while providing comfortable support to at least the arms of the user and also the shoulders and the upper bodice. As such, the garment is well suited to be worn under sleeveless clothing or even strapless clothing, to provide the appearance or perception of smooth, blemish-free and taut skin in the exposed areas of the upper body. Methods of making the garment include circular, warp and/or flat knitting forming a single open-ended tube, separate open-ended tubes having portions that are joined, a branched open-ended tube and a flat pattern configured to be folded in half and joined along selected edges.

A method is disclosed for the treatment of a thoracic region of a patient's body. Embodiments of the method comprise positioning an energy delivery portion of an electrosurgical device to face a segment of a thoracic vertebra at a distance from the segment; and cooling the energy delivery portion and delivering energy through the energy delivery portion.

A medical apparatus for assisting a person in skin-to-skin holding of an infant on the person's chest or stomach. The medical apparatus includes a garment having a chest portion with a midline opening extending from a neck opening. The garment is adapted to fit a wide range of different-sized persons by having adjustable-sized sides. Loop material for a hook-and-loop fastener is attached to outside surfaces of the garment. The loop material includes chest portions, stomach portions, shoulder portions, or combinations thereof. One or more straps are provided. Each strap includes hook material to form the hook-and-loop fastener(s) so that each strap may be removably attached to the loop material using the hook material to secure medical equipment to the garment while holding the infant within the garment and against the person. This medical equipment may include IV tubing, ventilator tubing, nasogastric tubing, or combinations thereof, extending from the infant.

A breast-supportive and breast-positioning brassiere designed to be used postoperatively by patients including obese patients and fuller-sized women who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery that requires a mid-sternal incision (sternotomy). The brassiere is also for other interventions in the thoracic region, when a comfortable and efficient individual positioning and support of the breast(s) would be desirable; an example being to prevent symmastia after breast augmentation surgery. The brassiere prevents gravitation of the breast tissue to the lateral sides, keeps the breast tissue away from the mid center, and supports the weight of the breasts. The brassiere is designed to promote less pain, less wound complications, esthetically improved wound healing, less heat generation, improved wound inspection and access for wound care, while maintaining support and dignity.