Abstract:
A catheter for debulking of an undesired deposit from an inner surface of at least one of a blood vessel wall and a stent located in a blood vessel, the catheter having a tip section comprising: circumferentially-directed laser optics; and a circular-action cutter, wherein said circumferentially-directed laser optics is configured to transmit laser radiation for modifying an area of the undesired deposit thereby preparing said area for penetration of said cutter, wherein said cutter is configured to cut through said modified area and thereby debulk at least a part of the undesired deposit. In addition, a catheter for pacemaker and ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) lead extraction is disclosed.
Abstract:
The invention is a method and system for the detection and warning of the presence of pre-fainting and other conditions that are hazardous to the health of a patient having one or more types of disease or disorder. A wide range of physiological and physical parameters are monitored and at least two of the monitored parameters are logically and/or mathematically combining to form a function that is used to determine the value of a new parameter called the risk parameter alpha. The parameters that appear in the function are selected according to the patient's known pathological condition. An initial threshold value for alpha based on known normal values of the monitored parameters as determined by statistical studies is determined. The current value of alpha, defined as alpha(t), is determined from the function and compared to the initial value of alpha. If the comparison shows that there exists danger of the onset of a pre-fainting and/or other medically hazardous condition a warning signal is emitted. The values of alpha and the terms and parameters that comprise the function used to determine alpha(t) are continually determined and, if relevant, updated according to the history of the patient. In preferred embodiments of the invention self learning techniques are used to update the values of alpha and the function.
Abstract:
Methods of determining gastro-intestinal conditions by performing a succession of breath tests or others tests, particularly for determining the gastic emptying or gastric accomodation condition of a subject. Methods of performing successive gastric emptying tests with different test meals are also presented, enabling the gastric accommodation to be determined. The effects of different test meals on the results is presented. Novel substrates for use in such tests are suggested, including the use of micro-encapsulation. Breath tests for the detection of bacterial overgrowth, lactose intolerance and combinations thereof are presented.
Abstract:
A device for resecting undesired tissue from an inner wall of a body cavity, the device having a tip section in a shape of a cylinder's sector, the tip section comprising: a plurality of optical fibers located along an inner surface of the tip section and configured to transmit laser radiation to the undesired tissue; and a cutter having a shape of a cylinder's sector located inwardly or outwardly to the plurality of optical fibers, wherein said cutter is configured to cut through the undesired tissue and thereby detach at least a part of the undesired tissue from the inner wall of the body cavity.
Abstract:
The disclosure relates breath test devices and methods for the evaluation of liver functional and metabolic capacity or to assess liver heath and/or degree of liver injury. Specifically, there is provided a method of evaluating a liver condition, the method includes on-line monitoring a metabolic product of methacetin, a salt or a derivative of methacetin, in a subject's breath after administering to the subject isotope labeled methacetin, a salt or a derivative thereof in water solution form. There is also provided a device for evaluating a liver condition, the device includes one or more sensors adapted to monitor on-line an isotope level of a metabolic product of labeled methacetin, or a salt or a derivative of methacetin in a subject's breath and a controller adapted to sample measurements of the one or more sensors at a continuous mode.
Abstract:
An automatic breath collecting and sampling system, which is preferably carried by the subject, or otherwise kept with him or near him, for the recommended duration of the collection period. The system collects samples in separate switchable containers, either at predetermined time intervals, or in response to an automatic stimulus, which could be related to the breath content itself, or to another physiological signal, such as the subject s pulse rate, breath rate, blood pressure, or temperature, or in response to a signal related to an environmental effect, such as the presence of a strong concentration in the air of a foreign gas, which could be detected by an electro-chemical sensor, or manually by the subject after being prompted by the system. After collection of the requisite number of separate containers, they may be detached and sent for analysis or other treatment.
Abstract:
There is provided a method of evaluating a liver condition of a subject, the method includes computing a fluctuation parameter from a liver breath test based on at least one of a percentage dose recovery (PDR) curve and a delta over baseline (DOB) curve of an isotope labeled methacetin, or a salt or a derivative thereof, and evaluating at least one liver condition of the subject, based at least on the fluctuation parameter. There is provided herein a method of evaluating a liver condition of a subject, the method includes computing a hepatic impairment score based at least on a breath test related parameter and on a demographic parameter.
Abstract:
The disclosure relates breath test devices and methods for the evaluation of liver functional and metabolic capacity or to assess liver heath and/or degree of liver injury. Specifically, there is provided a method of evaluating a liver condition, the method includes on-line monitoring a metabolic product of methacetin, a salt or a derivative of methacetin, in a subject's breath after administering to the subject isotope labeled methacetin, a salt or a derivative thereof in water solution form. There is also provided a device for evaluating a liver condition, the device includes one or more sensors adapted to monitor on-line an isotope level of a metabolic product of labeled methacetin, or a salt or a derivative of methacetin in a subject's breath and a controller adapted to sample measurements of the one or more sensors at a continuous mode.
Abstract:
An automatic breath collecting and sampling system, which is preferably carried by the subject, or otherwise kept with him or near him, for the recommended duration of the collection period. The system collects samples in separate switchable containers, either at predetermined time intervals, or in response to an automatic stimulus, which could be related to the breath content itself, or to another physiological signal, such as the subject’s pulse rate, breath rate, blood pressure, or temperature, or in response to a signal related to an environmental effect, such as the presence of a strong concentration in the air of a foreign gas, which could be detected by an electro-chemical sensor, or manually by the subject after being prompted by the system. After collection of the requisite number of separate containers, whey may be detached and sent for analysis or other treatment.