Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for compensate for friction within powered automatic systems, particularly for telesurgery and other telepresence applications. Dynamic friction compensation may comprise applying a continuous load in the direction of movement of a joint, and static friction compensation may comprise applying alternating loads in positive and negative joint actuation directions whenever the joint velocity reading falls within a low velocity range.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided including a handle portion and a body portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis. The surgical instrument also includes a grasper disposed at a distal end of the body portion, the grasper including an ultraviolet (UV) light mechanism for performing UV tacking of an implant. The implant is positioned between the first and second jaw members of the grasper: (i) to be placed at a surgical site and (ii) to be exposed by a UV light emitted from the UV light mechanism such that the UV tacking of the implant to the surgical site is performed.

Abstract: A biopsy system comprises a control module, a localization assembly, a biopsy device, and a targeting cube. The biopsy device comprises a holster portion and a probe. The probe and/or other associated components are configured to selectively couple with a targeting cube, where the targeting cube is configured to selectively couple with a grid plate having apertures for receiving the targeting cube. The targeting cube comprises a body defined by faces. The targeting cube further comprises guide holes that originate and terminate at the faces and pass through the body of the targeting cube to provide passageways through the targeting cube. The targeting cube further comprises at least one hinged member positioned along the outer portion of the targeting cube and interfacing with an aperture in the grid plate. The hinged member may provide a tapered profile to the targeting cube and may further comprise an elastomeric portion.

Abstract: A cataract surgical system includes a laser source to generate a first set of laser pulses; a guiding optic to guide the first set of laser pulses to a cataract target region in an eye; a laser controller to generate an electronic representation of a target scan pattern, and to control the guiding optic to scan the first set of laser pulses according to a portion of the target scan pattern to create a first photo-disrupted region in the cataract target region; and a Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomographic (SS-OCT) imaging system to generate an image of a portion of the first photo-disrupted region. The laser controller can generate an electronic representation of a modified scan pattern in relation to the image generated by the SS-OCT imaging system, and control the guiding optic to scan a second set of laser pulses according the modified scan pattern.

Abstract: A cataract surgical system includes a laser source to generate a first set of laser pulses; a guiding optic to guide the first set of laser pulses to a cataract target region in an eye; a laser controller to generate an electronic representation of a target scan pattern, and to control the guiding optic to scan the first set of laser pulses according to a portion of the target scan pattern to create a first photo-disrupted region in the cataract target region; and a Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomographic (SD-OCT) imaging system to generate an image of a portion of the first photo-disrupted region. The laser controller can generate an electronic representation of a modified scan pattern in relation to the image generated by the SD-OCT imaging system, and control the guiding optic to scan a second set of laser pulses according the modified scan pattern.

Abstract: A support is coupled to the lens capsule to increase accommodation. The support may be adjustable, such that patient refraction and accommodation can be adjusted following surgery. The support may comprise rigidity sufficient to decrease radial movement of the intermediate portion of the lens capsule. The support can be placed on the intermediate portion to decrease radial movement of the intermediate portion of the lens capsule and increase radial stretching of an outer portion of the lens capsule extending between the zonules and the intermediate portion coupled to the support, such that the amount of accommodation of the eye is increased. The support may comprise a biocompatible material capable of stable coupling to the lens capsule following implantation, such that the far vision refraction and accommodation of the eye can be stable following surgery.

Abstract: A sequential compression and temperature therapy blanket with a plurality of air chambers is disclosed. The air chambers are filled and released by a valve assembly that may be separate from or integrated within the blanket. The temperature therapy blanket includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression.

Abstract: An instrument guide device comprises an elongated guide shaft having proximal and distal ends and including an instrument lumen for receiving therethrough a manually operated instrument having an instrument shaft. A distal bendable member is disposed at the distal end of the guide shaft and a proximal bendable member is disposed at the proximal end of the guide shaft. Actuation means extends between the distal and proximal bendable members and provides a bending of the distal bendable member controlled from the proximal bendable member. The proximal bendable member is controlled from the manually operated instrument to cause a corresponding bending of said distal bendable member.

Abstract: Systems for visualizing cardiac tissue during an ablation procedure are provided. In general, the systems include an imaging module configured to measure absorbance data at first and second wavelengths wherein the ratio of these absorbance values identifies the nature of the tissue (e.g., lesion, de novo tissue, etc.). The imaging module can also include a video system having at least two chips with corresponding bandpass filters centered at the first and second target wavelengths. The system can also include a processor and/or video monitor for combining the images produced by the various chips, determining treated and non-treated tissue based on the ratio of absorbance values at the target wavelengths, and displaying images of the treatment area. Methods of visualizing cardiac treatment areas during ablation procedures are also provided herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the success of a proposed HIFU Treatment, of an ongoing HIFU Treatment, and/or of a completed HIFU Treatment. An energy density of a given HIFU Treatment may be used as a comparison factor between the given HIFU Treatment and other HIFU Treatments and as a predictor of the success of the given HIFU Treatment. One exemplary energy density is the amount of energy deposited in the treatment region divided by the volume of the treatment region. Another exemplary energy density is the amount of energy deposited in the treatment region divided by the pre-treatment mass of the treatment region. A method and apparatus is disclosed to detect the presence of focal hyperechoic features and non-focal hyperechoic features. A method and apparatus is disclosed to detect the presence of an acoustic obstruction.

Abstract: A method of treating a lens of a patient's eye includes generating a light beam, deflecting the light beam using a scanner to form a treatment pattern of the light beam, delivering the treatment pattern to the lens of a patient's eye to create a plurality of cuts in the lens in the form of the treatment pattern to break the lens up into a plurality of pieces, and removing the lens pieces from the patient's eye. The lens pieces can then be mechanically removed. The light beam can be used to create larger segmenting cuts into the lens, as well as smaller softening cuts that soften the lens for easier removal.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for treating spinal cord injury. Techniques include using a diode laser assembly, a power source, a fiber optic cable, and a fenestrated tip. The power source can be connected to the diode laser assembly, with a fiber optic cable connected to the diode laser assembly. The fenestrated tip is connected to the fiber optic cable to emit a plurality of laser light beams produced by the diode laser assembly at a location remote from the diode laser assembly. The apparatus can be used in a method for treating a spinal cord injury. The method is carried out by providing a source of laser light having a wavelength in the range of 500-1000 nm and a power in the range of 5 to 500 milliwatts. The laser light is transmitted through an optical wire to a position adjacent a spinal cord injury site, with at least a portion of the apparatus positioned within a human body. The spinal cord injury site is then irradiated with laser light from the optical wire.

Abstract: An ophthalmic laser treatment apparatus includes an irradiation position obtaining unit arranged to obtain analysis result data based on a tomographic image of a patient's eye captured by an optical coherence tomography device before a treatment laser beam is irradiated, and obtain information of an irradiation position of the treatment laser beam with respect to the eye set by use of the obtained analysis result data, and a laser control unit arranged to irradiate the laser beam to the eye based on the irradiation position information obtained by the irradiation position obtaining unit.

Abstract: Surgical systems, devices and methods including one or more tissue stimulation elements that, in some instances, may also be used for sensing purposes. Some of the surgical devices also include a tissue coagulation element.

Abstract: A process for treating an eye to stop or delay the onset or symptoms of retinal diseases includes determining that the eye has a risk for a retinal disease before detectable retinal imaging abnormalities. A laser light beam is generated that provides preventative and protective treatment of the retinal tissue of the eye. At least a portion of the retinal tissue is exposed to the laser light beam without damaging the tissue. The retina may be retreated according to a set schedule or periodically according to the determination that the retina of the patient is to be retreated by monitored visual and/or retinal function or condition.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a reusable handle assembly and a removable and disposable transmission assembly. The handle assembly includes a trigger, a housing having a distal aperture formed in a distal end of the housing, a button disposed on a top surface of the housing, and a biasing member in communication with the button. The transmission assembly includes a proximal shaft, a rotator knob having a coupling feature, a distal shaft assembly extending distally from the proximal shaft, and an end effector at the distal end of the distal shaft assembly. The biasing member of the handle assembly is adjustably coupled to the coupling feature of the transmission assembly. Another version includes a movable yoke configured to engage an inner tube of the transmission assembly. Yet another version includes a waveguide of the transmission assembly non-threadably coupled to a transducer via a biasing force.

Abstract: A steerable guide wire including one or more electroactive polymer layers, wherein each EAP layer is disposed between a layer of a first electrode and a layer of a plurality of second electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a clamp including a base member configured to be secured to the clamp and at least one energy transmission device carried by the base member. An apparatus for use with a clamp and a probe that carries at least one energy transmission device including a base member configured to be secured to the clamp and an engagement device associated with the base member and configured to engage the probe. A clamp including first and second clamp members, at least one of which is malleable, and a movement apparatus that moves at least one of the first and second clamp members relative to the other. A surgical system including a clamp with first and second clamp members and a device that removably mounts at least one electrode on at least one of the first and second clamp members.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a handpiece having a user input feature and a user feedback feature. A shaft assembly extends distally from the handpiece. An end effector is disposed at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The end effector includes an active feature responsive to actuation of the user input feature. The active feature is operable to operate on tissue in response to actuation of the user input feature. The user feedback feature is operable to provide feedback to the user that indicates information relating to operation of the end effector. The feedback may include haptic, visual, and/or auditory feedback.

Abstract: 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.