Abstract: An endoscopic probe extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof, and configured to be inserted in a tubular lumen to observe a sample is disclosed. The probe includes a first waveguide enclosed within an inner sheath and extending from the proximal end to the distal end along an axis of the inner sheath; and a plurality of second waveguides having at least the distal ends thereof arranged in one or more rings around the inner sheath to surround the distal end of the first waveguide. At the distal end, the axis of each of the second waveguides is tilted with respect to the axis of the first waveguide by a tilt angle which can be adjustable. This novel endoscopic probe has a resultant numerical aperture larger than the numerical aperture of each of the second waveguides, and it may be applicable to forward-viewing spectrally encoded endoscopes (SEE).

Abstract: Exemplary methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for automated registration and motion compensation of patient-mounted needle guide medical devices using fiducial markers, and processing algorithms where a re-registration step is provided. These methods, apparati, and systems adaptively compensate for the displacement of the medical device and/or target location due to the patient movement or internal organ motion.

Abstract: A system and method configured to position medical instruments. The system and method includes an orientation localizer including at least one fiducial marker and having a localized plane, wherein the orientation localizer is mountable at a skin entry point on a patient, a computer configured to receive at least one medical image on the localized plane, register a position and orientation of the orientation localizer with the at least one medical image using the at least one fiducial marker, determine at least one cross sectional image based on the at least one medical image on the localized plane, and determine an insertion plane perpendicular to the localized plane, and an image display connected to the computer, wherein the image display displays the at least one cross sectional image on the localized plane and/or on the insertion plane.

Abstract: An injection molding system includes an injection molding apparatus that performs injection molding with a die and a conveyor apparatus on one side of the injection molding apparatus that inserts the die into the injection molding apparatus, where the conveyor apparatus includes an actuator connectable to the die. The injection molding system also includes a die detection unit that detects the conveyed die, an actuator detection unit that detects a state of the actuator, and a controller that controls the conveyor apparatus to prohibit a conveying operation of the die based on detection results by the die detection unit and the actuator detection unit.

Abstract: One or more devices, systems, methods and storage mediums for optical imaging medical devices, such as, but not limited to, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), single mode OCT, and/or multi-modal OCT apparatuses and systems, and methods and storage mediums for use with same, for performing automated polarization control, polarization diversity and/or balanced detection are provided herein. One or more embodiments may achieve polarization diversity and balanced detection (or photo-detection) under any imaging circumstances. One or more embodiments, may achieve polarization control functionality regardless of whether such control is automatic or manual. Additionally, one or more embodiments may achieve automated polarization control, may achieve balanced detection (or photo-detection), and/or may address potential disturbances, such as, but not limited to, polarization drift over time, temperature and/or mechanical perturbations or variations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for concentrating a biological sample containing nucleic acids by using magnetic chitosan microparticles and subsequently performing a PCR reaction on the nucleic acids captured on the microparticles. The chitosan microparticles added to the biological sample at a PCR compatible pH are mechanically agitated to provide for cell lysis and simultaneous DNA capture, and then serve as a solid support for the nucleic acid template during the PCR reaction. As the chitosan microparticles are utilized for lysis and the nucleic acids do not need to be removed from the microparticles before PCR, the ease of the sample preparation procedure is dramatically improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods and devices that employ microfluidic technology to generate molecular melt curves. In particular, the devices and methods in accordance with the invention are useful in providing for the analysis of PCR amplification products.

Abstract: A multimodality system includes first and second modalities, a catheter, and a processor. The catheter collects fluorescent light from a plurality of locations of a sample which has been irradiated with excitation light of the second modality; a detector detects intensity of the fluorescent light received from the plurality of locations as a function of an angle ? formed between the normal to the sample surface and the optical axis of the excitation light. A processor calculates the angle ? at each of the plurality of locations based on radiation of the first modality incident on the sample, and corrects the intensity of the detected fluorescent light using a calibration factor g(?). The calibration factor g(?) is a function of the angle ? calculated at two or more of the plurality of locations. The angle ? is composed of a transversal angle ?t and an axial angle ?a.

Abstract: An access management system including a server is provided. The server receives, from a client device, a request to log into the server with first information specifying identifying a user that has logged into the client device and second information specifying the client device. The server authenticates the client device using the second information and accesses a service provided by an external apparatus and receive a token for accessing the service. The server associates, in memory, the first information with the received token to enable subsequent access to the service, by the server.

Abstract: Methods and systems for imaging a lumen, wherein imaging is manipulated to provide centered magnified version of the image, yielding precise and centered images for better efficacy in real-time treatment by practitioners and experts.

Abstract: A catheter system includes an electronic console; a catheter having a proximal end attachable to the console and a distal end configured to house therein an optical probe; an optical fiber configured to transmit from the console to the optical probe excitation radiation of a first wavelength, and configured to return to the console an optical response signal having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength; a detector configured to detect intensity of the optical response signal; and a processor configured to determine, based on the detected intensity of the optical response signal, whether the catheter is properly connected to the console. The optical response signal is generated within the optical fiber itself in response to transmitting the excitation radiation therethrough. The optical response signal is an auto-fluorescence signal and/or Raman scattering signal generated from the optical fiber itself.

Abstract: A moving system for structures includes a linking unit located between first and second structures that can move in a first direction. A drive unit is connected to the first structure, and the first and second structures are connected. The second structure moves along the first direction when the drive unit moves the first structure along the first direction. The linking unit has a first part located on the side of the first structure and a second part located on the side of the second structure. The first and second parts line up along the first direction. The first part can shift toward the second part in a second direction different from the first direction without moving along the first direction, and the second part can shift toward the first part in the second direction without moving along the first direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling a flexible manipulator including a plurality of bendable mechanisms via a control apparatus. The control apparatus includes a drive-mode selecting unit allows for the selection of a movement mode which may provide a bending movement, an angled view movement, or a remote center movement.

Abstract: Detecting a vessel region in multiple angiographic image frames and defining a direction that perpendicularly intersects a longitudinal direction of the vessel region to improve co-registration between two imaging modalities. Motion of the vessel region is then detected based on the direction that intersects the longitudinal direction of the vessel region by evaluating positions of the vessel region in the multiple angiographic image frames. The method includes defining an area based on the detected motion and the detected vessel region, detecting a marker of an imaging catheter disposed in the vessel region within the area and performing co-registration based on the detected marker.

Abstract: According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising: a first optical fiber in communication with a light source; a second optical fiber in communication with an imaging probe; and a fiber optic rotary joint (FORJ) where a distal end of the first optical fiber and a proximal end of the second optical fiber are positioned coaxially with a gap between the fibers' end faces. The FORJ is adapted to transmit light between the fibers' end faces, and to rotate at least one of first and second optical fibers relative to the other. An actuator is configured to axially translate at least one of the first and second optical fibers relative to the other in a reciprocal motion. A light intensity sensor is adapted to measure light intensity changes due to optical interference between light reflected from the fibers' end faces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for the analysis of nucleic acids present in biological samples, and more specifically, relates to clustering melt curves derived from high resolution thermal melt analysis performed on a sample of nucleic acids, the resulting clusters being usable, in one embodiment, for analyzing the sequences of nucleic acids and to classify their genotypes that are useful for determining the identity of the genotype of a nucleic acid that is present in a biological sample.

Abstract: An apparatus including a tendon-driven device such as an endoscope comprising a bendable body, a tendon attached to and extending a length of said body, and an actuator that will actuate said tendon based on a control signal from a controller. The controller is configured to send said control signal to said actuator and comprises a forward-kinematic-mapping unit that estimates an angular displacement, wherein the kinematic-mapping unit is configured for: providing a tension value of the tendon to obtain a desired angular displacement wherein the tension has a nonlinear relationship with the desired angular displacement based on information of friction where the tension is greater that would be calculated without including the effect of friction. The friction coefficient may be determined as it changes over time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of one or more amplicons as temperature calibrators. In some embodiments, the calibrators may be used to calibrate the temperature of a microfluidic channel in which amplification and/or melt analysis is performed. In some embodiments, the amplicons may be genomic, ultra conserved elements and/or synthetic. The amplicon(s) may have a known or expected melt temperature(s). The calibrators may be added to primers of study or may follow or lead the primers of study in the channel. The amplicon(s) may be amplified and melted, and the temperature(s) at which the amplicon(s) melted may be determined. The measured temperature(s) may be compared to the known temperature(s) at which the amplicon(s) was expected to melt. The difference(s) between the measured and expected temperatures may be used to calibrate/adjust one or more temperature control elements used to control and/or detect the temperature of the channel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided and includes one or more processors and a memory storing instructions. The one or more processors are controlled to receive image stream data captured by an image capturing apparatus and store, in memory, a current image frame from the received image stream data and store, in memory, a previously received image frame from the received image stream data. The previously received image frame having been received at a time earlier than the current image data frame. Using the previously received image frame data stored in memory, a compensation value representing an illumination spectrum of the previously stored image frame data is calculated and image correction is performed on the current image frame data using the calculated compensation value. The corrected current image frame for display on a display device.

Abstract: A continuum robot having at least two independently manipulatable bendable section for advancing the robot through a passage, without contacting fragile elements within the passage, wherein the robot incorporates control algorithms that enable the continuum robot to operate and advance into the passage, as well as the systems and procedures associated with the continuum robot and said functionality.