Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for determining a position of an instrument (100) includes a sheath (104) configured to fit within an instrument channel of a medical scope. An optical fiber (112) is disposed within the sheath and a plurality of sensors (106) is integrated in optical fiber. The sensors are configured to measure deflections and bending in the optical fiber. A fixing mechanism (140) is sized to fit within the instrument channel in a first state and fixes the sheath within the instrument channel in a second state such that the fixing mechanism anchors the sheath and the optical fiber so that the deflections and bending in the optical fiber are employed with a pre-procedural volumetric image to determine a position of the instrument.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a high efficiency, lightweight solar sheet. Some embodiments include a solar sheet configured for installation on a surface of a UAV or on a surface of a component of a UAV. The solar sheet includes a plurality of solar cells and a polymer layer to which the plurality of solar cells are attached. Some embodiments include a kit for supplying solar power in a battery-powered or fuel cell powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by incorporating flexible solar cells into a component of a UAV, affixing flexible solar cells to a surface of a UAV, or affixing flexible solar cells to a surface of a component of a UAV. The kit also includes a power conditioning system configured to operate the solar cells within a desired power range and configured to provide power having a voltage compatible with an electrical system of the UAV.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a controller, a data storage device (114), a user operable user interface (116) and a display apparatus (118), wherein the controller is to execute stored instructions to operate to implement a gaming process comprising a first stage operation and a second stage operation. A method of implementing a gaming process by a machine comprising a solid-state controller comprising a microprocessor (112), wherein the gaming process comprises a first stage operation and a second stage operation.

Abstract: A system and method for shape sensing assistance in a medical procedure includes a three-dimensional image (111) of a distributed pathway system (148). A shape sensing enabled elongated device (102) is included for insertion into the pathway system to measure a shape of the elongated device in the pathway system. A pathway determination module (144) is configured to compute a planned path to a target in the three-dimensional image and compute permissible movements of the elongated device at diverging pathways in the pathway system to provide feedback for deciding which of the diverging paths to take in accordance with the planned path.

Abstract: A system and method for shape sensing assistance in a medical procedure includes providing (402) a three-dimensional image of a distributed pathway system. A shape sensing enabled elongated device is introduced (406) into the pathway system. A shape of the elongated device in the pathway system is measured (410). The shape is compared (414) with the three-dimensional image to determine whether a given path has been selected relative to a target.

Abstract: A shape sensing system comprises a processor coupled to a memory storage device and a predictive model module stored in the memory storage device and configured to receive shape sensing measurements and predict next shape sensing measurements based upon current state data for a shape sensing enabled device, the predictive model module including a Kalman filter and at least one reference model employed by the Kalman filter. The Kalman filter employs the reference model(s) and the current state data to predict new shape data by weighting the reference model(s) versus the current state data to improve shape data measurements.

Abstract: A method and system for generating imaging data during a medical intervention are provided. An external optical sensor is attached on the patient's body, and includes at least one external orientation fiber core configured to measure an orientation of the external optical sensor relative to a point of reference. The external optical sensor is interrogated to generate external sensor orientation information during the medical intervention. That information is used to estimate an orientation of the external optical sensor, which is then displayed during the medical intervention.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive imaging include a shape sensing system (115, 117) coupled to an interventional device (102) to measure spatial characteristics of the interventional device in a subject. An image module (130) is configured to receive the spatial characteristics and generate one or more control signals in accordance with the spatial characteristics. An imaging device (110) is configured to image the subject in accordance with the control signals.

Abstract: A record collection device (201, 400) configured to collect records for an individual (452). The device includes: a user interface (440) configured to receive input from the user, a location module (410) configured to detect a location the device; and a processor (420) configured to: (i) automatically determine, by a processor of the record collection device, that the detected location corresponds to a location where a record may be generated or stored; (ii) receive, from the individual via the user interface, approval to request the record from the determined location; and (iii) send, in response to the individual's input, a request to the determined location for the individual's record.

Abstract: An optical shape sensing system employing an optical fiber (20) and one or more reference markers (41). Each reference marker (41) has an identifiable reference tracking position within a reference coordinate system (42). The optical fiber (20) has a reconstruction launch point (21) within the reference coordinate system (42) serving as a basis for an execution of a shape reconstruction of the optical fiber (20) within the reference coordinate system (42). The reconstruction launch point (21) of the optical fiber (20) has a known spatial relationship with each reference marker (41) to facilitate an identification of the reconstruction launch point (21) within the reference coordinate system (42).

Abstract: A training or rating system includes a shape sensing enabled device (104) and a database (140) of possible shapes and sequences of shapes for the shape sensing enabled device. The possible shapes and sequences of shapes include a collection of poses derived by appropriately performing a procedure with the shape sensing enabled device. A comparison module (154) is configured to compare real-time poses of the shape sensing enabled device with the collection of poses in the database to output comparison feedback for a user of the shape sensing enabled device.

Abstract: A method, device, and system are provided for placing a port for a surgical tool relative to real-time anatomical data. The method comprises: placing an endoscope in a standard port; determining real-time anatomical data from an image from the endoscope; using a port localization apparatus to identify an optimal location for an instrument port relative to the image from the endoscope; and creating an instrument port at the identified location.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein provide techniques for inferring the current emotional state of a user based on paralinguistic features derived from audio input from that user. If the emotional state meets triggering conditions, the system provides the user with a prompt which allows the user to connect with a support agent. If the user accepts, the system selects a support agent for the user based on the predicted emotional state and on attributes of the support agent found in an agent profile. The system can also determine a priority level for the user based on the score and based on a profile of the user and determine where to place the user in a queue for the support agent.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for adjusting a ranking of information content of a software application based on feedback from a user. One embodiment presented herein includes a method comprising receiving, at a computing device, an audio stream comprising audio of the user, the audio being indicative of feedback related to information content. The method further comprises analyzing the audio stream for paralinguistic information to determine an attribute of the user. The method further comprises adjusting a ranking of the information content based on at least one of the feedback and additional feedback and the determined attribute of the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and compositions thereof which are useful as inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase and which exhibit desirable characteristics for the same.

Abstract: Embodiments presented herein provide techniques for inferring the current emotional state of a user based on paralinguistic features derived from audio input from that user. If the emotional state meets triggering conditions, the system provides the user with a prompt which allows the user to connect with a support agent. If the user accepts, the system selects a support agent for the user based on the predicted emotional state and on attributes of the support agent found in an agent profile. The system can also determine a priority level for the user based on the score and based on a profile of the user and determine where to place the user in a queue for the support agent.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus includes a first portion (123) having a first opening (125) for alignment with a port entry point. A second portion (127) is positionable for alignment with the first opening from a plurality of different positions. An actuation mechanism (142) is coupled to at least one of the first portion and the second portion to set relative positions of the first and second portions to permit a tool axis formed between the first and second portions to be aligned through the first opening such that a tool (104) provided on the tool axis would include a known position and orientation.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for selecting a response to a self-support query. One example method generally includes receiving an audio stream query including spoken content from a user recorded by a mobile device and determining a set of paralinguistic features from the spoken content. The method further includes estimating an emotional state of the user based on the set of paralinguistic features and identifying subject matter of the spoken content in the audio stream query. The method further includes determining two or more query responses corresponding to the subject matter to present to the user and transmitting at least one query response to the mobile device.

Abstract: A medical method and system include a medical imaging system configured to generate images of an interventional procedure. An overlay generator is configured to generate an overlay image on the images of the interventional procedure.

Abstract: A volume mapping instrument (20), deployable within a partially or a completely enclosed anatomical volume, employs one or more medical tools (40) with each medical tool (40) being transitional between a deployable structural configuration to orderly position each medical tool (40) within the anatomical volume and a mapping structural configuration to anchor the medical tool (40) against the boundary of the anatomical volume. The volume mapping instrument (20) further employs an optical shape sensor (30) to generate one or more encoded optical signals indicative of a shape of the boundary of the anatomical volume in response to each medical tool (40) being transitioned from the deployable structural configuration to the mapping structural configuration within the anatomical volume. Based on the encoded optical signal(s), a volume mapping module (51) is utilized to map a portion or an entirety of the boundary of the anatomical volume.