Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, and a visualization assembly. The body includes first and second actuators. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and includes a rigid proximal portion and a steerable distal portion. The steerable distal portion is positioned distally relative to the rigid proximal portion. The first actuator is operable to drive the steerable distal portion to deflect laterally relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the rigid proximal portion. The steerable distal portion is configured to fit within a nasal cavity of a patient. The visualization assembly is disposed within the shaft assembly. The visualization assembly includes a camera. The second actuator is operable to drive longitudinal translation of the visualization assembly relative to the shaft assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a patient ventilation system, method and software product comprising a controller, which is configured, based on received signals, to control one or more valves, pressure regulators and flow regulators of the system and to set, monitor and control various parameters relating to at least one of the flow rate and the pressure of oxygen-enriched humidified air (OHA) being provided to the lungs of a patient.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification probe configured to be inserted into an eye, an ophthalmic curette, including a handle, a tube having a proximal end connected to a distal end of the handle, and having a distal tip configured to be inserted into the eye, an irrigation channel extending from the proximal end to the distal tip of the tube, and a pressure sensor disposed at the distal tip of the tube, and configured to be inserted into the eye and provide a signal responsively to intraocular pressure inside the eye, and comprising a sensing surface, and an irrigation-aspiration sub-system coupled with the irrigation channel and configured to convey irrigation fluid along the irrigation channel, and wherein the irrigation channel is shaped, and positioned with respect to the pressure sensor, to direct a flow of the irrigation fluid over the sensing surface of the pressure sensor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a calibration apparatus includes a jig body, a camera, an elongated strip which is deflectable and resilient, a lower groove which is disposed in the jig body, and is configured to receive and grasp the camera therein, an upper groove, which is disposed in the jig body above the lower groove, and is configured to receive and grasp the elongated strip therein so as to position the elongated strip above, and in a fixed relation to, the camera, the upper groove being wider than the lower groove, and an alignment element, which is disposed in the jig body, and is configured to align an end of the camera with an end of the elongated strip.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft assembly and an electrode assembly at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The electrode assembly includes a first conductive segment extending along a first angular range at the distal end of the shaft assembly. The first conductive segment is operable to apply RF energy to tissue at a first polarity. The electrode assembly further includes a second conductive segment angularly spaced apart from the first conductive segment. The second conductive segment extends along a second angular range at the distal end of the shaft assembly. The second conductive segment is operable to apply RF energy to tissue at a second polarity such that the first and second conductive segments are operable to apply bipolar RF energy to tissue.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an ophthalmic curette device includes a handle having a distal end, a tube having a proximal end connected to the distal end of the handle, and having a distal end, and configured to be inserted through a cataract incision into a chamber of an eye of a living subject, and a pressure sensor disposed inside the tube at the distal end of the tube, and configured to provide a signal responsively to pressure inside the chamber of the eye.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification probe and a processor. The phacoemulsification probe includes (a) a needle configured for insertion into a lens capsule of an eye, and to be vibrated to emulsify a lens of the eye, (b) an irrigation channel for flowing irrigation fluid into the lens capsule, (c) an aspiration channel for removing material from the lens capsule, (d) a bypass channel fluidly coupled with the irrigation channel and with the aspiration channel, (e) a processor-controlled valve configured to control a level of fluid communication between the irrigation channel and the aspiration channel via the bypass channel, and (f) one or more sensors configured to measure fluid pressure at a distal portion of one or both of the irrigation channel and the aspiration channel. The processor is configured to adaptively adjust the valve based on the fluid pressure measured by the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A medical probe includes a shaft for insertion into a cavity of a patient body, and a distal-end assembly. The distal-end assembly is coupled to a distal end of the shaft and includes a hollow tube having (i) a first opening, located at a first section along a longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and having a first size that limits bending of the first section by a first local radius of curvature (LROC), and (ii) a second opening, located at a second different section along the longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and having a second different size that limits bending of the second section by a second different LROC.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body, a shaft assembly, and a shaft actuation assembly. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body and defines a longitudinal axis. A portion of the shaft assembly is configured to be inserted into an anatomical passageway associated with an ear, nose, or throat of a patient. The shaft assembly further defines a working passageway that is dimensioned to receive an instrument. An actuator of the body is operable to drive the instrument longitudinally relative to the shaft assembly. The shaft actuation assembly is operatively coupled with a proximal portion of the shaft assembly. Further, the shaft actuation assembly is translatable in a distal direction to extend the shaft assembly distally along the longitudinal axis and is translatable in a proximal direction to retract the shaft assembly proximally along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A manipulator, including an elongated chassis containing a U-shaped channel defining a distal direction and a proximal direction. The manipulator also includes an adjuster that is configured to slide in the U-shaped channel. The adjuster includes a first wheel which on rotation translates a guidewire positioned in the adjuster along an axis of the guidewire, and a second wheel which on rotation rotates the guidewire positioned in the adjuster about the axis of the guidewire. The adjuster also includes a port, distal to the first and the second wheel, that is configured to accept a tubular balloon and the guidewire.

Abstract: A method for producing a guidewire, the method includes producing a position sensor by providing a shaft-section having a solid profile, which is sized and shaped to move in an anatomical material transportation system. A wire is wound around an axis of the shaft-section and first and second ends of the wire are coupled to respective first and second locations on an outer surface of the shaft-section. A guidewire-shaft is provided, and the position sensor is coupled to a distal end of the guidewire-shaft.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a breast implant includes producing an elastic filler material including foam, by applying a source of gas bubbles to a silicone monomer to create a mixture. The mixture is inserted into a sealed chamber. After inserting the mixture, a pressure inside the sealed chamber is set to a first pressure, and a temperature of the mixture inside the sealed chamber is set to a first temperature. Then, following a preset time duration, the pressure is lowered to a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, and after a given time, the temperature is lowered to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. A flexible shell, configured for implantation within a breast of a human subject, is filled with the elastic filler material.

Abstract: A jig includes a base and one or more movable blocks. The base has an upper surface, which is configured to receive a substrate shaped as a flattened polyhedron having multiple facets. The one or more movable blocks are configured to move on the base so as to fold respective ones of the multiple facets, and to hold the substrate in a folded three-dimensional configuration.

Abstract: A method for producing an implant, the method includes providing a hollow biocompatible shell to be implanted in an organ of a patient. At least two filling materials are injected at one or more locations in the shell, such that a mixture of at least two of the filling materials is configured to produce gas bubbles within a bulk of the mixture. The gas bubbles are formed in the injected filling materials by heating the shell containing the mixture of the injected filling materials.

Abstract: A trocar for insertion into an organ of a patient includes a cannula, a channel inside the cannula, and a camera. The cannula has a longitudinal axis, and the channel inside the cannula is fitted parallel to the longitudinal axis. The camera is disposed at a distal end of the channel and is configured to provide images in a direction of a distal opening of the cannula.

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: A medical apparatus includes, a trocar, a control handle, at least a first electrical wire, and at least a second electrical wire. The trocar is used for insertion into an organ of a patient, the trocar includes (i) a cannula having a longitudinal axis, (ii) a position sensor that is fitted inside the cannula, and (iii) a camera that is coupled to a movable element, which is fitted inside the cannula and configured to be moved along the longitudinal axis for moving the camera along the cannula. The control handle is coupled to a proximal end of the movable element and is configured to move the movable element and the camera. The at least first electrical wire is coupled between the control handle and the camera. The at least second electrical wire is coupled between the control handle and the position sensor, and has a slack configured to compensate for a motion of the camera.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus includes a spiral electrode and an interface circuit. The spiral electrode is disposed on a distal end of a probe for insertion into a body of a patient. The interface circuit is configured to (a) transfer a radiofrequency (RF) ablation signal to the electrode for ablating tissue in the body, (b) output a voltage that develops across the electrode in response to an external magnetic field, for measuring a position of the distal end in the body, and (c) transfer electrical current through the electrode for measuring a resistivity that is indicative of tissue temperature in a vicinity of the electrode.

Abstract: A trocar for insertion into an organ of a patient includes a cannula having a distal opening, a channel inside the cannula, and an optical assembly including a camera. The optical assembly is disposed at a distal end of the channel and is configured to provide camera images of the distal opening with a field-of-view (FOV) that is tilted relative to a longitudinal axis of the cannula.

Abstract: A medical tool includes a rotatable hollow tube and one or more electrical wires. The rotatable hollow tube is defining a working channel therein for insertion of a medical instrument into a cavity of a patient body. The one or more electrical wires traverse the working channel for exchanging electrical signals with one or more electronic devices located at a distal end of the rotatable hollow tube. The working channel has a non-circular cross section for passing both the medical instrument and the one or more electrical wires, and for allowing rotation of the rotatable hollow tube relative to the medical instrument located inside the working channel in the presence of the one or more electrical wires.