Abstract: An apparatus for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye comprises a body, a cannula, a hollow needle, and an actuation assembly. The cannula extends distally from the body and is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient's eye. The actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis that is obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. The cannula may be inserted through a sclerotomy incision to position a distal end of the cannula at a posterior region of the eye, between the choroid and sclera. The needle may be advanced through the choroid to deliver the therapeutic agent adjacent to the potential space between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium layer, adjacent to the area of geographic atrophy.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye includes a body, a cannula, a hollow needle, and an actuation assembly. The cannula extends distally from the body and is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient's eye. The actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis that is obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. The cannula may be inserted through a sclerotomy incision to position a distal end of the cannula at a posterior region of the eye, between the choroid and sclera. The needle may be advanced through the choroid to deliver the therapeutic agent adjacent to the potential space between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium layer, adjacent to the area of geographic atrophy.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye comprises a body, a cannula, a hollow needle, and an automated actuation assembly. The cannula extends distally from the body and is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient's eye. The actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis that is obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. The cannula may be inserted through a sclerotomy to position a distal end of the cannula at a posterior region of the eye, between the choroid and sclera. The needle may be advanced through the choroid to deliver the therapeutic agent adjacent to the potential space between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium layer, adjacent to the area of geographic atrophy.

Abstract: A system for controlling the position of an articulated robotic arm includes a robotic catheter procedure system having the articulated robotic arm and a controller coupled to the articulated robotic arm. The system further includes a patient table positioned proximate to and separate from the articulated robotic arm and a tracking system coupled to the controller and configured to measure a change in a position of the patient table. The controller is configured to adjust the position of the articulated robotic arm based on the measured change in position of the patient table.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, and an end effector. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The body comprises a pivotal trigger. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue. Pivotal movement of the trigger causes movement of the clamp arm. The shaft is operable to be selectively coupled and decoupled from the ultrasonic transducer. The apparatus comprises electro-mechanical means for coupling and decoupling the shaft from the ultrasonic transducer, and may further comprise means for preventing movement of the shaft as it is coupled to the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: A robotic end effector for collecting frozen aliquots from an array of frozen samples in a plurality of containers has a coring bit for taking frozen sample cores from the frozen samples and a frozen sample core extraction system adapted to extract frozen sample cores from the frozen samples. A fill level detection system is adapted to detect the positions of the surfaces of the frozen samples. A processor is adapted to receive signals from the fill level detection system and use the signals and information concerning operation of the frozen sample core extraction system to determine at least one of the following: (a) the amount of material contained in a frozen sample core obtained by the coring bit; and (b) the number of frozen sample cores needed from a particular frozen sample to obtain a predetermined amount of material from that frozen sample.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a transponder for determining a characteristic of a dose delivery device. The transponder may include a first sensor configured to detect a first parameter of the dose delivery device based on movement of at least one of the dose delivery device or a medicament contained within the dose delivery device, wherein the first sensor is configured to generate a first signal indicative of the first parameter. The transponder may include a processor operably coupled to the first sensor and configured to process the first signal. The transponder may include an indicator unit operably coupled to the processor and configured to generate an output based on the first signal, wherein the output is perceivable by a user. The transponder may also include a battery configured to provide power to at least one of the first sensor, the processor, and the indicator unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye comprises a body, a cannula, a hollow needle, and an automated actuation assembly. The cannula extends distally from the body and is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient's eye. The actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis that is obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. The cannula may be inserted through a sclerotomy to position a distal end of the cannula at a posterior region of the eye, between the choroid and sclera. The needle may be advanced through the choroid to deliver the therapeutic agent adjacent to the potential space between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium layer, adjacent to the area of geographic atrophy.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye comprises a body, a cannula, a hollow needle, an actuation assembly, and a detection/visualization system. The cannula extends distally from the body and is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient's eye. The actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis. The cannula may be inserted through a sclerotomy incision and advanced through the choroid to deliver the therapeutic agent adjacent to the potential space between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium layer. The detection/visualization system is operable to detect or visualize penetration of the choroid of a patient's eye and provide feedback to the operator and/or automatic control of the apparatus based on penetration of the choroid.

Abstract: A robotic end effector for collecting frozen aliquots from an array of frozen samples in a plurality of containers has a coring bit for taking frozen sample cores from the frozen samples and a frozen sample core extraction system adapted to extract frozen sample cores from the frozen samples. A fill level detection system is adapted to detect the positions of the surfaces of the frozen samples. A processor is adapted to receive signals from the fill level detection system and use the signals and information concerning operation of the frozen sample core extraction system to determine at least one of the following: (a) the amount of material contained in a frozen sample core obtained by the coring bit; and (b) the number of frozen sample cores needed from a particular frozen sample to obtain a predetermined amount of material from that frozen sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a device and method for detecting distributed pressures along a medical device. The device includes an optical fiber that is helically wound around the flexible shaft of the medical device. Responsive to microbends caused by the application of a pressure to the optical fiber, attenuation occurs as light propagates down the optical fiber. The device detects the light attenuation and calculates the pressure exerted on the device. Accordingly, a physician can ensure pressure induced by the medical device does not surpass clinically safe levels.

Abstract: A robotic end effector for collecting frozen aliquots from an array of frozen samples in a plurality of containers has a coring bit for taking frozen sample cores from the frozen samples and a frozen sample core extraction system adapted to extract frozen sample cores from the frozen samples. A fill level detection system is adapted to detect the positions of the surfaces of the frozen samples. A processor is adapted to receive signals from the fill level detection system and use the signals and information concerning operation of the frozen sample core extraction system to determine at least one of the following: (a) the amount of material contained in a frozen sample core obtained by the coring bit; and (b) the number of frozen sample cores needed from a particular frozen sample to obtain a predetermined amount of material from that frozen sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye comprises a body, a cannula, a hollow needle, and an actuation assembly. The cannula extends distally from the body and is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient's eye. The actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis that is obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. The cannula may be inserted through a sclerotomy incision to position a distal end of the cannula at a posterior region of the eye, between the choroid and sclera. The needle may be advanced through the choroid to deliver the therapeutic agent adjacent to the potential space between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium layer, adjacent to the area of geographic atrophy.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus comprises a body, an ultrasonic transducer, a shaft, and an end effector. The ultrasonic transducer is operable to convert electrical power into ultrasonic vibrations. The body comprises a pivotal trigger. The shaft couples the end effector and the body together. The end effector comprises a clamp arm and an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic blade is operable to deliver ultrasonic vibrations to tissue. Pivotal movement of the trigger causes movement of the clamp arm. The shaft is operable to be selectively coupled and decoupled from the ultrasonic transducer. The apparatus comprises electro-mechanical means for coupling and decoupling the shaft from the ultrasonic transducer, and may further comprise means for preventing movement of the shaft as it is coupled to the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: A sensing element for sensing the softness of an object by abutting the sensing element against the object and biasing the sensing element toward the object with a biasing force. The sensing element includes a deformable section, the deformable section being deformable between an undeformed configuration and a deformed configuration, the deformed configuration being achievable when the deformable section is abutted against and biased toward the object; a deformation sensor operatively coupled to the deformable section for sensing a deformation of the deformable section between the deformed and undeformed configurations; and a force sensor operatively coupled to the deformable section for sensing the biasing force exerted onto the deformable section by the object when the deformable section is biased toward the object with the biasing force.

Abstract: A machine vision system for use with a system that takes frozen sample cores from samples that are in containers includes a camera. A processor is configured to receive image data from the camera and to determine locations where frozen sample cores have already been taken. A method of determining one or more locations where a frozen sample core have already been taken from frozen samples includes operating a robotic system to position one of the containers on a platform at a station for receiving the container while a frozen sample core is extracted from the frozen sample contained in the container. The camera is used to capture an image of the frozen sample. Contrast in the captured image is evaluated to identify one or more bore candidates. The processor uses the image to determine whether or not the bore candidates are real bores or artifacts.

Abstract: A robotic end effector for collecting frozen aliquots from an array of frozen samples in a plurality of containers has a coring bit for taking frozen sample cores from the frozen samples and a frozen sample core extraction system adapted to extract frozen sample cores from the frozen samples. A fill level detection system is adapted to detect the positions of the surfaces of the frozen samples. A processor is adapted to receive signals from the fill level detection system and use the signals and information concerning operation of the frozen sample core extraction system to determine at least one of the following: (a) the amount of material contained in a frozen sample core obtained by the coring bit; and (b) the number of frozen sample cores needed from a particular frozen sample to obtain a predetermined amount of material from that frozen sample.

Abstract: A sensing element for sensing the softness of an object by abutting the sensing element against the object and biasing the sensing element toward the object with a biasing force. The sensing element includes a deformable section, the deformable section being deformable between an undeformed configuration and a deformed configuration, the deformed configuration being achievable when the deformable section is abutted against and biased toward the object; a deformation sensor operatively coupled to the deformable section for sensing a deformation of the deformable section between the deformed and undeformed configurations; and a force sensor operatively coupled to the deformable section for sensing the biasing force exerted onto the deformable section by the object when the deformable section is biased toward the object with the biasing force.