Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for using speech input to control a surgical robot are disclosed. A surgical robot is disclosed that can be controlled by a surgeon using speech input in a conversational manner. The surgical robot is provided either general commands or specific instructions, assessing whether the instructions can be completed within the capabilities of the available hardware and resources, and seeking approval from the surgeon prior to executing the instructions. Alternatively, the embodiments disclosed allow the surgeon to perform an action that cannot be safely completed by the surgical robot.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft section connected to a handle that has a rigid handle part and a movable handle part. The surgical instrument also has a release mechanism that can be actuated such that the shaft section and the handle are decoupled from each other. The release mechanism has a preferably rocker-like actuating element that can be swiveled such that the shaft section and the handle are released from each other.

Abstract: By producing the proper wave interference using superimposed waves that overlap with the proper time-phase relationship (called “Time-Correlated Standing-wave Interference”), wave energy is amplified (by “Coherent Intensity Amplification”) and teleported to precise locations. For instance, in one application, energy is teleported to one or more areas within a living body for such therapeutic applications as destroying cancer cells or plaques within arteries. A system implementing this technique creates amplified constructive interference at one or more selected disease locations, while producing destructive interference at surrounding locations. In this application example, the technique allows energy to be “teleported” to tumor cells, plaques, or other diseased cells, for instance, to destroy them, while surrounding healthy cells receive virtually no energy, obviating collateral damage from the treatment. The same method can be used to diagnose disease by detecting energy teleported to different locations.

Abstract: A portable electronic device including: a plurality of sensors configured to generate, in response to a first contact with a body of a user in a vicinity of the portable electronic device, one or more first input signals; a microprocessor; and a memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, control the microprocessor to execute, in response to an analysis of the one or more first input signals indicating that the first contact corresponds to a first gesture, and by the microprocessor, a first command corresponding to the first gesture.

Abstract: A system (20) includes a radiation source (48) and a controller (44), configured to display a live sequence of images of an eye (25) of a patient (22), while displaying the sequence of images, cause the radiation source to irradiate the eye with one or more aiming beams (84), which are visible in the images, subsequently to causing the radiation source to irradiate the eye with the aiming beams, receive a confirmation input from a user, and in response to receiving the confirmation input, treat the eye by causing the radiation source to irradiate respective target regions of the eye with a plurality of treatment beams. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light-weight wearable sensor that can capture electroencephalogram (EEG or brain signals), electromyography (EMG or muscle signal), and electrooculography (EOG or eye movement signal) using a pair of modified off-the-shelf earplugs. The present invention further provides a supervised non-negative matrix factorization learning algorithm to analyze and extract these signals from the mixed signal collected by the sensor. The present invention further provides an autonomous and whole-night sleep staging system utilizing the sensor's outputs.

Abstract: Disclosed adjustable retaining arm systems can include a multi-segmented, articulable arm that holds one or more interchangeable tools and can be made relaxed to set a desired position and made rigid to fix the desired position by adjusting tension in a cable running through the arm. The arm can quickly attach and detach from a support structure. The support structure include a cable tensioning system, sensors, control system, power system, etc. A user input device, such as a foot pedal or button on the arm, can be used by a surgeon to change the arm between relaxed and rigid states. The arm and attachable tools can be detachable, disposable and/or sterilizable, while other system components can remain mounted in a fixed location as the arm is removed and replaced. The arm can hold multiple tools in any desired orientation around subject work location.

Abstract: A system and method for prompting a patient experiencing ventilatory depression to breathe includes at least one sensor for detecting ventilatory depression by detecting inadequate breathing or lack of breathing in the patient. The system also includes one or more sensors for determining the type of breathing problem experienced by the patient. A sensor for detecting motion of the patient is used to determine whether the patient is moving. If inadequate or a lack of breathing is detected and the patient is not moving, the system provides verbal prompts or tactile stimuli to prompt the patient to breathe to improve patient ventilation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coupling interface between a laser source and a tissue (2) to be treated, characterized in that the coupling interface comprises —a ring (3) including: ?a side wall (31), ?a proximal end (311) intended to come into contact with the tissue (2) to be treated, and ?a distal end (312) intended to receive the end of the laser source; —a window (32) transparent to a laser beam generated by the laser source, said window being mounted in a sealed manner on the distal end (312) of the ring (3) in such a way as to close the distal end (312) of the ring (3).

Abstract: A foot pedal for a user interface of a robotic surgical system includes a frame, a lever, and a sensor system. The lever is coupled to the frame and is pivotable relative to the frame between an initial position and a fully actuated position. The sensor system has a first element associated with the frame and a second element that is associated with the lever. The sensor system is configured to determine the position of the lever relative to the frame.

Abstract: The patient interface may comprise an axis for alignment with an axis of the eye such as an optical axis of the eye. The interface may comprise a guide to allow the interface to move along the axis with the eye, which can inhibit increases in intraocular pressure when the patient is aligned with the laser. The interface may comprise a lock to hold the patient interface at a location along the axis, which can maintain alignment of the patient with the laser eye surgery system. The interface may comprise a plurality of transducers to measure forces to the eye during surgery. The laser eye surgery system can be configured in one or more of many ways to respond to the measured forces. For example, the system may offset the position of laser beam pulses to increase the accuracy of the placement of the beam pulses on the eye.

Abstract: A surgical instrument particular suited to endoscopic use is disclosed. Various embodiments include an end effector that is sized to be inserted through a trocar. An elongated shaft assembly is coupled to the end effector and a control handle. The elongated shaft assembly has a distal portion that is adjacent to the effector for insertion into the trocar. The elongated shaft assembly further has a proximal portion that is remote from the distal portion such that the proximal portion protrudes from the trocar when the end effector and distal portion are inserted therethrough. The control handle is articulatably coupled to the proximal portion of said elongated shaft assembly to enable the surgeon to move the handle portion to a more ergonomically comfortable position while carrying out the endoscopic procedure. Various articulation joint embodiments and locking arrangements are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining a suitable set of parameters for operating a light source within a photo-thermal targeted treatment system for targeting a chromophore embedded in a medium is disclosed. The method includes, before administration of a treatment protocol: 1) administering at least one laser pulse from the light source at a preset power level to a location to be treated, the preset power level being below a known damage threshold; 2) measuring a skin surface temperature at the location to be treated, following administration of the at least one laser pulse; 3) estimating a relationship between the parameters for operating the light source and the skin surface temperature; and 4) defining a safe operating range for the parameters for operating the light source in order to avoid thermal damage to the medium at the location to be treated while still effectively targeting the chromophore in administering the treatment protocol.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein relating to an intracardiac blood pump system comprising a pump, an elongate multi-lumen catheter, a compartment connected to the catheter, a first lumen, a conduit and a filter disposed within the conduit. At least one electronic element is located within the compartment. The conduit extends through an interface between the compartment and the catheter. The conduit is configured to allow gas to penetrate from a first end of the conduit through the first opening of the compartment to a second end of the conduit. The second end of the conduit is in fluid communication with a central lumen of the elongate multi-lumen catheter. The filter is configured to prevent egress of liquid from the multi-lumen catheter into the compartment after allowing flow of gas from the first end of the conduit through the second end of the conduit and into the multi-lumen catheter.

Abstract: A method of imaging an object includes obtaining an image data set from a raster scan. The image data set has a plurality of data points, each data point having an associated location and intensity; generating a reduced data set by selectively removing one or more data points from the image data set based upon an assigned probability of retaining the one or more data points in the data set, the assigned probability being a function of the intensity of a data point; generating a triangulation graph as a planar subdivision having faces that are triangles, the vertices of which are the data points and the edges of which are adjacent vertices; and segmenting the triangulated data set by finding a path with lowest cost between that vertex and every other vertex, wherein the cost is a function of the respective intensity of the vertices.

Abstract: The present invention is a vessel sealing and cutting system (10) comprising a surgical equipment (20) comprising a lower jaw (222) and an upper jaw (212) in a manner defining a holder tip (24) grabbing the tissues containing vessels, and a lower body (21) embodied at the continuation of said upper jaw (212), and a laser source (50) connected to said surgical equipment (20), characterized by comprising a module housing (215) embodied in a manner extending inside said lower body (21) and said upper jaw (212), and a laser module (30) which transmits a laser light to the grabbing region (61) from said holder tip (24) in a simultaneous manner with the closing of the jaws and positioned in said module housing (215) in a manner connected to said laser source (50) from one end thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a phototherapy eye device. In an example, the phototherapy eye device includes a number of radioluminescent light sources and an anchor. Each radioluminescent light source includes an interior chamber coated with phosphor material, such as zinc sulfide, and containing a radioisotope material, such as gaseous tritium. The volume, shape, phosphor material, and radioisotope material are selected for emission of light at a particular wavelength and delivering a particular irradiance on the retina (when implanted in an eyeball). The wavelength is in the range of 400 to 600 nm and the irradiance is substantially 109 to 1011 photons per second per cm2.

Abstract: A laser eye surgery system that has a patient interface between the eye and the laser system relying on suction to hold the interface to the eye, the patient interface using liquid used as a transmission medium for the laser. During a laser procedure sensors monitor the level of liquid within the patient interface and send a signal to control electronics if the level drops below a threshold value. The sensor may be mounted on the inside of the patient interface, within a fluid chamber. Alternatively, a gas flow meter may be added to a suction circuit for the patient interface that detects abnormal suction levels indicating low fluid level.

Abstract: A detector system for a medical motor system includes a multi-channel redundantly-configured detection device, which is accommodated in a hand-held control device that is adapted to control the medical motor system and which is positioned to detect the actuation of an actuation device of the hand-held control device. The multi-channel redundantly-configured detection device allows the plausibility of its output signals to be checked.

Abstract: Disclosed is an applicator device for an apparatus used in a localized cryotherapy treatment. The applicator device is configured, when positioned over a body area to be treated, to receive and to uniformly distribute across the entire area covered thereby a stream of medium, such as air, adjusted to a temperature equal to or above ?40 degrees Celsius (° C.) and directed, at a predetermined speed, via the applicator to the area to be treated, whereby a cold-induced thermal shock response is developed in skin and an underlying tissue within the area covered by the applicator. Related apparatus and a method are further provided.