144 results about "Emergency rooms" patented technology

The present invention relates to an apparatus for conducting a variety of assays for the determination of analytes in liquid samples, and relates to the methods for such assays. In particular, the invention relates to a single-use cartridge designed to be adaptable to a variety of real-time assay protocols, preferably assays for the determination of analytes in biological samples using immunosensors or other ligand / ligand receptor-based biosensor embodiments. The cartridge provides novel features for processing a metered portion of a sample, for precise and flexible control of the movement of a sample or second fluid within the cartridge, for the amending of solutions with additional compounds during an assay, and for the construction of immunosensors capable of adaptation to diverse analyte measurements. The disclosed device and methods of use enjoy substantial benefits over the prior art, including simplicity of use by an operator, rapid in situ determinations of one or more analytes, and single-use methodology that minimizes the risk of contamination of both operator and patient. The disclosed invention is adaptable to the point-of-care clinical diagnostic field, including use in accident sites, emergency rooms, surgery, nursing homes, intensive care units, and non-medical environments.

Systems and methods for medical diagnosis or risk assessment for a patient are provided. These systems and methods are designed to be employed at the point of care, such as in emergency rooms and operating rooms, or in any situation in which a rapid and accurate result is desired. The systems and methods process patient data, particularly data from point of care diagnostic tests or assays, including immunoassays, electrocardiograms, X-rays and other such tests, and provide an indication of a medical condition or risk or absence thereof. The systems include an instrument for reading or evaluating the test data and software for converting the data into diagnostic or risk assessment information.

An ECG electrode chest pad particularly adapted for use in emergency room situations having upper fit portions with upper limb electrodes, and elongated central or medial base fit portion with a plurality of precordal unipolar electrodes and lower fit portions with lower limb electrodes, said electrodes being attached to leads which are internal to the base chest pad and terminate into at least one lead branch adapted to plug into an ECG monitor and having a perforation in the base pad material such that one group of electrodes may be separated from a second group of electrodes to facilitate ease of patient monitoring and complimentary medical procedures.

A system and method for managing tasks and workflow in a complex environment such as a healthcare unit are described. The architecture of the inventive system includes core components and peripheral components that interact with each primarily through an interfacing event framework application within the core system. In addition to the event framework, the core system comprises a collaborative task platform and an intelligence application. The peripheral components include input devices for users, a system applications server, an integration server, person and asset tracking tags, a database server, and a knowledge base. The system manages workflow through a task-based orientation, and making use of task-based process mapping. Tasks may be created, including unstructured tasks, tasks may further be monitored, shared, transferred, and completed. The process may be envisioned as circular feedback loop including task management, metrics tracking, and real time process feedback. The task is a unit of transaction and central to system-based calculations which can measure return on investment that may, for example, include shorter length of stay in an emergency room, a decrease in medical errors, and an increase in revenue.

An electrocardiographic device for recording the rhythm of the human heart using a home personal computer and printer. This device consists of three silver-plated leads, a 1000× amplifier, an analog to digital computer, an oscillating timing clock, a microcontroller unit, a USB input bus, a data output bus, and computer software for displaying the rhythm graphically. The advantages of this device include convenience, low cost, and repeatability. A patient can record their cardiac rhythm themselves at any time whenever a sudden cardiac arrhythmia occurs without traveling to the doctor's office or emergency room. Based on the low cost of this inexpensive device a patient can own his own rhythm recording device instead of paying for expensive Holter monitors or event recorders from a doctor's office. Lastly, this device can be used repeatedly without the expense of disposable electrodes or limitations of monitoring device memory restricting the number of electrocardiographic recordings.

A method is disclosed for providing early detection, classification, and reporting of health-related events in a population. The method includes capturing sets of specific emergency room patient information from a subset of the population as the patient information is first electronically entered into, for example, an electronic medical record (EMR). The patient information is pre-processed, transmitted to and stored in a central database in a central computer facility. The patient information is sorted and analyzed by the central computer facility to detect any health-related events in the population and to generate corresponding alerts. The alerts are electronically reported to designated authorities such as health officials and other government authorities such as the CDC.

Systems and methods for medical diagnosis or risk assessment for a patient are provided. These systems and methods are designed to be employed at the point of care, such as in emergency rooms and operating rooms, or in any situation in which a rapid and accurate result is desired. The systems and methods process patient data, particularly data from point of care diagnostic tests or assays, including immunoassays, electrocardiograms, X-rays and other such tests, and provide an indication of a medical condition or risk or absence thereof. The systems include an instrument for reading or evaluating the test data and software for converting the data into diagnostic or risk assessment information.

Cardiac stimulation device and wireless communication system, without magnetic detection or magnetic control of the heart pacemaker parameters, having leads for carrying stimulating pulses to and or from one or more electrodes located in a heart and a pulse generator configured to generate stimulation pulses. In certain embodiments and environments the heart pacemaker could operate in an emergency room, even during Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) diagnostic studies. A processor for connection of the stimulating pulses to and / or from one or more spread spectrum transmitter-receiver (T / R) circuits and / or from a signal processing network for receiving said stimulation pulses and for providing cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase baseband signals. One or more modulators and demodulators for transmission and / or reception of one or more spread spectrum and / or cross-correlated signals.

The present invention describes a method that is operative within a clinical environment in which real-time locations of personnel and resources are tracked. The method begins in association with entry of a patient into the clinical environment, such as when a patient is in transit, or has been admitted, to an emergency room or to a hospital. In response, a given care guideline is identified. Using the care guideline, a set of one or more process rules, and information associated with at least one “encounter,” the system generates a patient-specific care protocol; the protocol includes a set of steps through which the patient is expected to proceed while in the clinical environment. An encounter occurs when two or more of objects (e.g., the patient, clinical personnel, and a clinical resource) are in a given physical proximity for a given time period at determined by the at least one process rule. According to the method, at least one event that occurs during at least a first step of the patient-specific care protocol is then monitored. Using information generated by the monitoring step and at least one process rule, the system then determines whether the patient moves to a next step in the patient-specific care protocol.

What is disclosed is a video-based system and method for estimating heart rate variability from time-series signals generated from video images captured of a subject of interest being monitored for cardiac function. In a manner more fully disclosed herein, low frequency and high frequency components are extracted from a time-series signal obtained by processing a video of the subject being monitored. A ratio of the low and high frequency of the integrated power spectrum within these components is computed. Analysis of the dynamics of this ratio over time is used to estimate heart rate variability. The teachings hereof can be used in a continuous monitoring mode with a relatively high degree of measurement accuracy and find their uses in a variety of diverse applications such as, for instance, emergency rooms, cardiac intensive care units, neonatal intensive care units, and various telemedicine applications.

A seamless and compatible system comprised of various hardware and software components for storing and carrying digital medical records on bodily worn devices, accessing said medical records from bodily worn devices via wireless interface wands, displaying said medical records on portable hand held devices and screens, transmitting said medical records to either base unit computers or patient monitoring modules in emergency rooms, Also disclosed are unique methods for organizing and prioritizing said medical records via a unique weighted average risk factoring based on pre-existing conditions, access to medical records and prognosis during treatment. Also disclosed is a unique means of interfacing the system to the Internet to access said medical records from remote locations and for convenient updating of said records via remote locations.

What is disclosed is a video-based system and method for estimating heart rate variability from time-series signals generated from video images captured of a subject of interest being monitored for cardiac function. In a manner more fully disclosed herein, low frequency and high frequency components are extracted from a time-series signal obtained by processing a video of the subject being monitored. A ratio of the low and high frequency of the integrated power spectrum within these components is computed. Analysis of the dynamics of this ratio over time is used to estimate heart rate variability. The teachings hereof can be used in a continuous monitoring mode with a relatively high degree of measurement accuracy and find their uses in a variety of diverse applications such as, for instance, emergency rooms, cardiac intensive care units, neonatal intensive care units, and various telemedicine applications.

A method and apparatus of detecting a bio-emergency, including receiving patient health information at a plurality of health care facilities. The patient health information, preferably triage data, is transmitted simultaneously with the receiving step to a bio-surveillance network for pooling and further analysis. In particular, the patient health information is then compiled to create, for example, volumetric health data. The information preferably is transmitted over a multi-level network including a number of local health care facilities such as hospital emergency rooms, a number of regional repositories such as regional health departments, and a centralized recipient such as the CDC. The local health care facilities communicate vertically with the regional repositories that, in turn, communicate vertically with the centralized recipient and possibly horizontally with other regional repositories. The centralized recipient can then transmit related information such as a health warning to the other members of the network and / or to other authorities.

A methods, kits and compositions for diagnosing a central nervous system disorder, particularly transient ischemic attack or stroke, comprising measuring the level of NR2A and / or NR2B NMDA receptor or fragment thereof, in a biological sample from a human subject, and optionally measuring other biomarkers such as homocysteine and glutamate. The method is particularly useful for identifying individuals that are at risk for stroke, and for diagnosing stroke in an emergency room setting.

A device and method for achieving hemostasis and leakage control in vascular structures and other body ducts or vessels in an emergency room or trauma situation. The device has at least one shunt that contains an obturator on an end of the shunt. The shunt is inserted into a damaged vessel or lumen for sealing the leak or hemorrhage. Two shunts that both contain obturators on one of their ends can be inserted into two different vessels or lumens when the vessel or lumen has been severed. The obturators allow for the improved ease of insertion into the vessel or lumen. The two shunts are then releasably attached to restore fluid communication through the vessel or lumen. The shunt is placed temporarily within the patient and then removed when definitive repair can be achieved by a qualified physician.

The present invention relates to a method and equipment for controlling the temperature of the brain or brain hemisphere. More specifically the present invention refers to a method and equipment for quick and efficient control of the temperature of the brain and for maintaining a low temperature in the brain. The inventive concept can be divided into three phases. Firstly, an emergency whole body temperature control phase providing a quick temperature control at for example a scene of accident. Secondly, a brain-selective temperature control phase providing a more efficient temperature control at for example an emergency room and thirdly, a maintained temperature control phase providing an even more efficient temperature control for a selected period of time.

This invention aids a physician and patient during a visit to an office or emergency room by providing the physician with a previously prepared medical history of the patient, which may further preferably include a list of advertisements for medical products compatible with the medical history. The previously prepared medical history is a product of an interview process having significant potential as a statistical indicator of epidemics and early warning indicator of the impact of weapons of bio-terrorism.

An Internet based method for assisting in the rapid delivery of medical information direct to the site at which emergency assistance is being performed uses a global database for warehousing patient history information, which is fetched over the Internet on demand. In one embodiment, medical providers use an access code carried by the injured party and without which access is denied. The access code may be carried as a barcode and as an imprinted number on a bracelet or on a card carried by the individual. Patient information is transmitted over a network, either wireline or wireless, the Internet or wide area network, to a computer or personal digital assistant available to emergency personnel. In one embodiment, patient history information access is determined through the use of an access code reader, by entering the patient access code manually or by entering the patient's name as a last resort. Additionally insurance information can be made available to shorten emergency room admission procedures. Lastly, the patient's card or bracelet can allow for patient history to be downloaded and saved. Thus in emergency situations, the information can be uploaded from the card or bracelet to the healthcare providers' viewing screens.

Disclosed are door assemblies particularly well suited for opening and closing wide entries such as emergency room entries. The assemblies have multiple doors that can be overlapped at a side of the entry. If further access room is needed the doors can then be pivoted so that essentially the entire entry is open. There is an automatic latching system that activates as the doors are being pivoted to prevent some sliding motion during the pivoting.

Methods are provided for detecting chemical, biological and / or nuclear attacks in large areas such as cities, states and nations. The system protects the public before significant exposure occurs, utilizing a preventive approach rather than a purely reactive approach. Modeling is conducted to selectively position sensors for the on-going collection of real-time detection data, such as contaminant types and concentrations, weather conditions, terrain data, dispersion data and the like. The detection data is compared to background data and modeled data to detect unsafe contaminant levels and immediately activate a response system. The integrated modeling and simulation component may function to interface with real-time data from the sensors providing integrated real-time plume depiction, prediction, and verification, as well as real-time response and mitigation. This is testable and serves as an advanced redundant scientific control. The response system may implement a variety of protective measures, including, but not limited to, medical response procedures for emergency rooms and hospitals, warning alarms, instructions for personal protection, sealing of buildings, introduction of positive pressure in buildings, and introduction of clean air in confined spaces. An IT infrastructure may connect the modeling, detection and response components.

The invention discloses a full-automatic immunofluorescence detection device, which comprises a main frame. The main frame is provided with a test operation area, a sample adding area and a detection area. The detection area consists of a reagent card tray transmission mechanism, a scanning mechanism and a temperature controlled incubation mechanism. The sample adding area consists of a sample loading mechanism, a Tip head mechanism and a sample adding mechanism. The detection area consists of an optical detection mechanism and detection software. The scanning mechanism and the temperature controlled incubation mechanism are connected to the detection software, the scanning mechanism is disposed at the upper end of the reagent card tray transmission mechanism, the rear end of the reagent card tray transmission mechanism is equipped with a sample adding platform, reagent cards are sent into the temperature controlled incubation mechanism through a push-card-into-incubation mechanism and an incubation card push mechanism, and the temperature controlled incubation mechanism is provided with a laser scanning mechanism. By adopting the full-automatic immunofluorescence detection device provided by the invention, the detection process is automatically completed mechanically, the efficiency is improved, tedious manual operation is saved, automatic detection is realized, and the detection time is saved. Therefore, the full-automatic immunofluorescence detection device is convenient for application to emergency rooms, laboratory departments and other public places, community hospitals and other occasions, has high cost performance and strong market competitiveness, and fills the domestic blank.

A system is provided for responding to chemical, biological and / or nuclear attacks in large areas such as cities, states and nations. The system protects the public before significant exposure occurs, utilizing a preventive approach rather than a purely reactive approach. Modeling may be conducted to selectively position sensors for the on-going collection of real-time detection data, such as contaminant types and concentrations, weather conditions, terrain data, dispersion data and the like. The detection data is compared to background data and modeled data to detect unsafe contaminant levels and immediately activate a response system. The integrated modeling and simulation component may function to interface with real-time data from the sensors providing integrated real-time plume depiction, prediction, and verification, as well as real-time response and mitigation. This is testable and serves as an advanced redundant scientific control. The response system may implement a variety of measures, including, but not limited to, medical response procedures for emergency rooms and hospitals, warning alarms, instructions for personal protection, sealing of buildings, introduction of positive pressure in buildings, and introduction of clean air in confined spaces. During the response period, actual affects of the contaminant release may be determined, such as symptoms developed by people, animals and plants, treatments given to patients, medication consumption, assessments of environmental damage and remediation thereof, etc. The response to the contaminant release may then be modified based on the determined actual affects of the contaminant release.

Methods for characterizing the near term risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event in a patient presenting with chest pain are provided. In one embodiment the method comprises determining the level of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in a bodily sample obtained from the patient. In another embodiment, the method comprises determining the level of MPO mass in a bodily sample obtained from the patient. In another embodiment, the method comprises determining the level of one or more select MPO-generated oxidation products in a bodily sample obtained from the patient. The select MPO-generated oxidation products are dityrosine, nitrotyrosine, chlorotyrosine, methionine sulphoxide or an MPO-generated lipid peroxidation product. Levels of MPO activity, MPO mass, or the select MPO-generated oxidation product in bodily samples from the test subject are then compared to a control value that is derived from measurements of MPO activity, MPO mass, or the select MPO-generated oxidation product in comparable bodily samples obtained from control population. Such comparison can also be used to determine treatment of the patient immediately at presentation in the emergency room.

A methods, kits and compositions for diagnosing a central nervous system disorder, particularly transient ischemic attack or stroke, comprising measuring the level of NR2A and / or NR2B NMDA receptor or fragment thereof, in a biological sample from a human subject, and optionally measuring other biomarkers such as homocysteine and glutamate. The method is particularly useful for identifying individuals that are at risk for stroke, and for diagnosing stroke in an emergency room setting.

The invention relates to an instrument-free nucleic acid extraction device and a trace nucleic acid extraction method. The trace nucleic acid extraction device comprises a tubular main body 1, wherein one end of the tubular main body is provided with a joint 2 connected with a suction device and the other end of the tubular main body is provided with a plug 3; and a filter element device 4 for combining nucleic acid is arranged inside the tubular main body or the plug. The trace nucleic acid extraction device replaces a high-rotating speed centrifugal machine, can achieve good separation effect in a heterogeneous liquid phase system, is low in cost, easy to operate and short in operating time, and can be widely applied to rapid nucleic acid diagnosis in primary hospitals and emergency rooms under relatively bad experiment conditions. A nucleic acid detection method is a simple means of extracting a biological sample of nucleic acid, the purity of the extracted sample meets the requirement on nucleic acid amplification, other instruments are not needed, the device is used at one time, and the method can be widely applied to extracting pathogen or host nucleic acid, and is used for clinical detection and diagnosis.