Abstract: A memory system includes a non-volatile memory having a plurality of memory cells and a controller. The controller is configured to switch a mode for controlling an access operation to the non-volatile memory from a first mode to a second mode, in response to receiving from a host, a first command for instructing the controller to switch the mode from the first mode to the second mode. The access operation controlled according to the second mode improves data retention relative to the access operation controlled according to the first mode.

Abstract: An endoscope imaging system comprises a robotic controlled steerable catheter and an imaging device removably arranged in a tool channel of the catheter. One or more sensors or markers are configured to map a positional relation of the catheter with respect to an orientation of the imaging device. A controller drives the steerable catheter to manipulate the distal end thereof, while the imaging device acquires an image of a subject or sample. While the imaging device acquires the image, a processor calculates a change in positional relation of the catheter with respect to the orientation of the imaging device based on information provided by the one or more sensors or markers. An output unit provides an indication for remapping the orientation of the steerable catheter with respect to the orientation of the imaging device.

Abstract: An endoscope can comprise a proximal section, an insertion section extending longitudinally from the proximal section and comprising an elongate tubular body disposed along an insertion section longitudinal axis and a lumen extending through the elongate tubular body, and a distal section extending from the insertion section and comprising an elevator portion comprising an elevator configured to position and orient one or more endotherapy tools extending from the lumen, and a camera module comprising an illumination unit and an imaging unit. The camera module can be positioned longitudinally spaced apart from the elevator portion in an in-line configuration, such that the insertion tube longitudinal axis passes through the elevator portion and the camera module. The camera module can be user-detachable from the elevator portion. The camera module can be cleaned and sanitized for reuse and the insertion section can be disposable.

Abstract: A trocar for insertion into an organ of a patient includes a cannula, an obturator body, and two or more interchangeable obturator heads. The cannula has a longitudinal axis. The obturator body is configured to be inserted into the cannula. The two or more interchangeable obturator heads are each configured to be detachably fitted at a distal end of the obturator body.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a diagnosis and treatment integrated soft medical robot for gastrointestinal endoscopy, including a robot body, a camera, illumination devices, a flexible dielectric elastomer actuator, air cylinders, linear motors, a controller and external hoses. The robot body is a multichannel hose, and includes a central channel and circumferential channels, the central channel is configured to accommodate conducting wires and signal wires, the circumferential channels include at least three microfluid channels. The linear motors control fluid pressures in the microfluid channels by driving piston rods of the air cylinders so that the robot body steers through being driven by fluid. The camera performs real-time image acquisition. The controller controls the flexible dielectric elastomer actuator to capture a target. The disclosure realizes the real-time image acquisition on a digestive tract, particularly a lesion, and can integrally and fast complete diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract: An endoscope control system for performing a bending operation in a disposable insertion endoscope, the endoscope control system including a control wheel connected to a wire drum for connection to a steering wire of the endoscope, whereby rotation of the control wheel controls the bending operation, and a multi-disc brake including a stack of at least three brake discs, wherein activation of the multi-disc brake changes the multi-disc brake from a released state to a braking state, a brake torque generated by the multi-disc brake in the braking state braking rotation of the control wheel, the brake torque in the released state being at least partially released.

Abstract: A medical device may comprise a sheath configured to be inserted into a body lumen of a patient. A distal end of the sheath may include an elevator for changing an orientation of a medical device. A handle may include an actuator. The actuator may be operably connected to the elevator. Activation of the actuator may cause movement of the elevator. An engaging portion may, in at least one configuration of the handle, protrude from a surface of a handle body toward the actuator. A force exerted by the user on at least one of the actuator or the engaging portion may cause the handle to transition between (a) a first configuration in which the engaging portion interacts with the actuator to inhibit movement of the actuator relative to the engaging portion and (b) a second configuration in which the actuator is movable relative to the engaging portion.

Abstract: Disclosed here are systems and methods for collecting and/or screening of a pancreatic secretion, using a capsule endoscope comprising an imaging system and a trypsin sensor, and a tether coupled to the capsule endoscope.

Abstract: In certain aspects, a memory device includes an array of memory cells, an input/output (I/O) circuit, and I/O control logic coupled to the I/O circuit. The array of memory cells includes a first-level memory unit which includes a plurality of second-level memory units. Each second-level memory unit includes N main banks and a redundant bank, where N is a positive integer. The I/O circuit is configured to direct N pieces of data to or from N working banks in a corresponding second-level memory unit. The I/O control logic is configured to determine the N working banks from the N main banks and the redundant bank in the corresponding second-level memory unit based on bank fail information indicative of a failed main bank of the N main banks and control the I/O circuit to direct the N pieces of data to or from the N working banks, respectively.

Abstract: An endoscope, especially a mediastinoscope, includes an elongated shaft and a head piece situated at a proximal end section of the shaft, wherein a heat source is arranged in the head piece. At least one heat pipe extends inside the shaft, wherein a proximal end section of the at least one heat pipe is thermally coupled to the heat source and the endoscope includes an optical system which is closed by a cover glass arranged in a distal end section of the shaft. The heat source is a light source for generating an illumination radiation. The at least one heat pipe extends in the distal direction as far as the distal end section of the shaft, and at least one distal end section of the heat pipe is thermally coupled to the distal end section of the shaft.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes multiple memory cells, a first pair of complementary data lines, a second pair of complementary data lines, multiple first word lines, and multiple second word lines. The memory cells include a first array of memory cells and a second array of memory cells. The first pair of complementary data lines are coupled to the first array of memory cells. The second pair of complementary data lines are coupled to the second array of memory cells. Lengths of the first pair of complementary data lines are shorter than lengths of the second pair of complementary data lines. The first word lines and the second word lines are arranged according to a predetermined ratio of a number of the first word lines to a number of the second word lines. The predetermined ratio is less than 1.

Abstract: Endoscope cover with cavity that accommodates a hand piece of an endoscope and a hollow cannula extending distally from the cavity that accommodates a probe of the endoscope when the hand piece is inserted into the cavity of the cover. A reusable endoscope with a hand piece and a probe is provided with a retractable shield covering at least a portion of the probe. A system includes a cover with a cavity and a hollow cannula extending distally from the cavity, a reusable endoscope with a hand piece and a probe extending distally from the hand piece, and a retractable shield covering at least a portion of the probe, where the cannula is configured to accommodate therein the probe when the hand piece is inserted into the cavity of the cover.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for memory repair using a lookup table (LUT)-free dynamic memory allocation process. An array of memory cells having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns is provided. Further, each memory cell of the array has multiple data states and a permanent state. One or more abnormal memory cells is/are identified in a row of the array and, in response to identifying an abnormal memory cell, the abnormal memory cell is set to the permanent state. The abnormal memory cells include failed memory cells and, in some embodiments, tail memory cells having marginal performance. During a read or write operation on the row, the one or more abnormal memory cells is/are identified by the permanent state and data is read from or written to a remainder of the memory cells while excluding the abnormal memory cell(s).

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing pathogens near an implant are discussed. In some cases, the methods include reducing contaminants in a portion of a patient that has an implant and that is disposed interior to a closed surface of skin of the patient. The method can further include placing a conduit in the closed surface of skin and flowing an antimicrobial fluid into that portion of the patient to contact the antimicrobial fluid with a surface of the implant and tissue adjacent to the implant. In some cases, the antimicrobial fluid is then removed from the portion of the patient having the implant. As part of this method, biofilm near the implant can be mechanically, ultrasonically, electrically, chemically, enzymatically, or otherwise disrupted. Other implementations are described.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory system comprises an integrated memory assembly in communication with a memory controller. The integrated memory assembly includes a memory die bonded to a control die. The control die includes one or more control circuits for controlling the operation of the memory die. The control circuits are configured to receive a request to copy data on the memory die, read codewords on the memory die in response to the request, decode the codewords to identify errors in the codewords, correcting the errors in the codewords, and program the codewords back into the memory die. In one embodiment, the codewords read are stored in the memory die as single bit per memory cell data and the codewords programmed back into the memory die after correcting errors are programmed as multiple bit per memory cell data.

Abstract: A memory system includes a memory module and a memory controller. The memory module includes data chips that store data and are assigned to a first sub-channel that generates a first code word or a second sub-channel that generates a second code word, where the first code word and the second code are used to fill a single cache line. The memory controller, upon detection of a hard-fail data chip among the data chips, copies data from the hard-fail data chip to the ECC chip, releases mapping between the hard-fail data chip and corresponding I/O, and defines new mapping between the ECC chip and the corresponding I/O pins.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a first group including a plurality of first latch circuits coupled in series and a second group including a plurality of second latch circuits coupled in series. Each of the first latch circuits performs a latch operation in synchronization with a rise trigger signal. Each of the second latch circuits performs a latch operation in synchronization with a fall trigger signal. The rise and fall trigger signals are alternately activated every even clock cycles or every odd clock cycles. In response to a division ratio, first one or more of the first and second latch circuits are bypassed and second one or more of the first and second latch circuits are cyclically coupled.

Abstract: A substrate for a medical device, a portion of which is brought into contact with or inserted into a subject. The substrate includes a patient circuit conductively connected to the portion that is configured to be brought into contact with or inserted into the subject, and a ground-side circuit configured to perform at least one of transmission of a signal, reception of a signal, and supply of electric power on the patient circuit. The ground-side circuit is grounded by a protective ground to ensure safety of a manipulator of the medical device. The substrate also includes an insulating layer between the patient circuit and the ground-side circuit providing insulation between the patient circuit and the ground-side circuit, and an isolated circuit provided apart from the patient circuit and the ground-side circuit on the insulating layer and having a different reference potential from the patient circuit and the ground-side circuit.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for shared error correction coding (ECC) circuitry are described. For example, a memory device configured with shared ECC circuitry may be configured to receive data at the shared circuitry from either a host device or a set of memory cells of the memory device. The shared circuitry may be configured to generate a set of multiple syndromes associated with a cyclic error correction code, based on the received data. As part of an encoding process, an encoder circuit may generate a set of parity bits based on the generated syndromes. As part of a decoding process, a decoder circuit may generate an error vector for decoding the received data, based on the generated syndromes. The decoder circuit may also correct one or more errors in the received data based on generating the error vector.

Abstract: A method for detecting a reading error of a datum in memory. A binary word which is representative of the datum and an error correcting or detecting code is read by: reading a first part of the binary word stored at a first address in a first memory circuit; and reading a second part of the binary word stored at a second address in a second memory circuit. The first and second parts read from the first and second memory circuits, respectively, are concatenated to form a read binary word. The datum is then obtained by removing the error correcting or detecting code from the read binary word. A new error correcting or detecting code is calculated from the obtained datum and compared to the removed error correcting or detecting code to detect error in the obtained datum.