Abstract: A medical device may include a shaft extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The shaft may include a lumen therein. The medical device may include a handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft and may include a mode selector. The mode selector may be adapted to transition between a first mode and a second mode of the medical device. The medical device may further include a compressed fluid source. In the first mode, the compressed fluid source may be fluidly coupled with the shaft so as to impart a negative pressure in at least a portion of the lumen. In the second mode, the compressed fluid source may be fluidly coupled with the shaft so as to impart a positive pressure in the at least a portion of the lumen.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a time-varying information signal at an output of a variable gain amplifier (VGA), sampling, using a sampler having a vertical decision threshold associated with a target signal amplitude, the time-varying information signal asynchronously to generate a sequence of decisions from varying sampling instants in sequential signaling intervals, the sequence of decisions comprising (i) positive decisions indicating the time-varying information signal is above the target signal amplitude and (ii) negative decisions indicating the time-varying information signal is below the target signal amplitude, accumulating a ratio of positive decisions to negative decisions, and generating a gain feedback control signal to adjust a gain setting of the VGA responsive to a mismatch of the accumulated ratio with respect to a target ratio.

Abstract: A mapping method is disclosed that includes (i) memorizing at least one reference image of an environment to be mapped containing a specific arrangement of a plurality of markers organized in cells; wherein each cell is identified by a marker or by a combination of markers; the plurality of markers comprising at least a number of different types of markers equal to a type-number; (ii) detecting, by a moving video camera, a video sequence wherein the environment to be mapped is, at least in part, framed; (iii) identifying in at least one frame of the video sequence one or more cells being part of the specific arrangement of markers of the reference image; and (iv) calculating, on the basis of the data regarding the identified cells, at least one homography for the perspective transformation of the coordinates acquired in the video sequence into coordinates in the reference image and vice versa.

Abstract: An implantable soft tissue prosthesis device comprising a silicone elastomer-shell filled with silicone gel or liquid, which among the layers that constitute its shell includes a barrier layer formed of a low permeability silicone, which impedes the bleeding or diffusion of the silicone gel from the inside of the implant to its surroundings through the shell. This barrier layer is given a coloration different to the other layers of the shell, making it visible in the finished product. The coloration of the barrier layer gives the fabricator of the implant as well as to medical personnel, the possibility to identify the presence of the barrier layer and its homogeneity, improving the safety of the device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for receiving N phases of a local clock signal and M phases of a reference signal, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, generating a plurality of partial phase error signals, each partial phase error signal formed at least in part by comparing (i) a respective phase of the M phases of the reference signal to (ii) a respective phase of the N phases of the local clock signal, and generating a composite phase error signal by summing the plurality of partial phase error signals, and responsively adjusting a fixed phase of a local oscillator using the composite phase error signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for FIG. 2 treating fat cells taken from a patient and intended for a transplant. More specifically, it relates to a device and a method by suctioning which makes it possible to separate the viable fat cells from the residues and elements which are not transplantable.

Abstract: Anthropomorphic hand comprising: a palm; a metacarpus; a thumb; four aligned fingers constrained to said palm, each comprising a proximal phalanx, a middle phalanx and a distal phalanx; a motor; a plurality of differential stages which transmit motion from said motor to said aligned fingers and to said thumb: a first stage whose planet carrier is moved by said motor and whose sun gears move planet carriers of a second and a fifth stage, sun gears of the second and fifth stages being integral to the planet carriers of a third and a fourth stage, whose sun gears move four gears having axes coincident with the axes of rotation between the aligned fingers and the palm; sun gears of the fifth stage being configured to rotate said metacarpus and a gear having axis coincident with the axis of rotation between the proximal phalanx of the thumb and the metacarpus.

Abstract: Implantable transponders comprising no ferromagnetic parts for use in medical implants are disclosed herein. Such transponders may assist in preventing interference of transponders with medical imaging technologies. Such transponders may optionally be of a small size, and may assist in collecting and transmitting data and information regarding implanted medical devices. Methods of using such transponders, readers for detecting such transponders, and methods for using such readers are also described.

Abstract: Equipment for the logistics of slab-shaped articles comprising one supplying plane of at least one slab-shaped article; one robotic gripping group of the slab-shaped article; a (tangible) movement component/unit/device/machine (or the like) of the gripping group along one direction of movement; a plurality of temporary storage stations of the slab-shaped article; one supporting frame of the slab-shaped article supported as an integral part to the movement component/unit/device/machine; and one unloading station of the supporting frame; wherein the gripping group is adapted to: take the slab-shaped article from the supplying plane; place the slab-shaped article on one of the storage stations; and take the slab-shaped article from one of the storage stations to place it on the supporting frame.

Abstract: Tissue expanders and methods of their manufacture and use are disclosed herein. A tissue expander shell according to the present disclosure may include a shape and topography that facilitates uniform or substantially uniform expansion and contraction of the tissue expander. In at least one example, the shell may include a series of topographical features, such as ridges, grooves, channels, valleys, canals, protrusions, pleats, creases, or folds. In some embodiments, these features may have a curved or wavy cross sectional profile. For example, the shell may include a series of concentric curved ridges.

Abstract: Generating, during a first and second signaling interval, an aggregated data signal by forming a linear combination of wire signals received in parallel from wires of a multi-wire bus, wherein at least some of the wire signals undergo a signal level transition during the first and second signaling interval; measuring a signal skew characteristic of the aggregated data signal; and, generating wire-specific skew offset metrics, each wire-specific skew offset metric based on the signal skew characteristic.

Abstract: A method and a system for interrogating an optical fiber includes a probe signal that has a first frequency comb at a first repetition rate (?f) injected into the optical fiber. A backscattering signal that includes the probe signal convolved with an impulse response of the optical fiber in reflection which is sensitive to at least one parameter being measured from the optical fiber is gathered. The backscattering signal is beaten with a local oscillator signal to generate a beating signal, the local oscillator signal including a second frequency comb at a second repetition rate that is offset from the first repetition rate (?f+?f) and being mutually coherent with the first frequency comb. The resulting beating signal is analysed to thereby determine the at least one parameter being measured from the optical fiber.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a protective device (10, 110) for the protection of a user. The protective device (10) comprises a mesh structure (11, 111) comprising a first mesh portion (18, 118) and a second mesh portion (19, 119) and a plurality of tie elements (5), wherein said first mesh portion (18, 118) and said second mesh portion (19, 119) are opposite one another and are connected one another by the plurality of tie elements (5); wherein the first mesh portion, the second mesh portion and the tie elements define one or more inner housings of the mesh structure (11, 111). The protective device (10, 110) includes a casing body (40, 42, 43) disposed in one or more of said inner housings, wherein said casing body is configured to assume a deflated condition and an inflated condition in the one or more inner housings of the mesh structure (11, 111).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving sleep quality, comprising the steps of measuring pressure by means of sensors in locations distributed by regions of a mattress; calculating the SQI based on the prominent movements detected depending on the time of night; calculating the mean pressure measured by each sensor; calculating the difference between the mean pressure and the pressure measured by that sensor when there is no user on the mattress; calculating the mean pressure difference for each region of the mattress; calculating a weight factor for each region of the mattress; comparing the weight factor with a reference value; varying the configuration of the mattress by increasing or reducing the support level in the regions. The present invention also relates to a related system and mattress.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method to prepare a filler with a hyaluronic acid, which has improved properties of chemical-physical stability over time and optimal viscosity for cutaneous injection. In particular the method comprises a first step in which the hyaluronic acid is crosslinked, and a subsequent step for the neutralization and hydration of the crosslinked hyaluronic acid.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method to prepare a filler with a hyaluronic acid, which has improved properties of chemical-physical stability over time and optimal viscosity for cutaneous injection. In particular the method comprises a first step in which the hyaluronic acid is crosslinked, and a subsequent step for the neutralization and hydration of the crosslinked hyaluronic acid.

Abstract: Implantable transponders comprising no ferromagnetic parts for use in medical implants are disclosed herein. Such transponders may assist in preventing interference of transponders with medical imaging technologies. Such transponders may optionally be of a small size, and may assist in collecting and transmitting data and information regarding implanted medical devices. Methods of using such transponders, readers for detecting such transponders, and methods for using such readers are also described.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method to prepare a filler with a hyaluronic acid, which has improved properties of chemical-physical stability over time and optimal viscosity for cutaneous injection. In particular the method comprises a first step in which the hyaluronic acid is crosslinked, and a subsequent step for the neutralization and hydration of the crosslinked hyaluronic acid.

Abstract: An exemplary aspect relates to the field of pattern recognition, and in one exemplary embodiment to the field of image recognition. More specifically, an embodiment relates to the use of deep neural networks for image recognition and how these kinds of pattern classification structures may be augmented in order to become aware of the available computation time, and the available computational resources so as to appropriately adjust the computational complexity of their associated algorithms and consequently their need for computing resources. The methods and systems described herein at least enable more economical and flexible implementations for porting to embedded computing frameworks by respecting their computational resources.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a process-voltage-temperature (PVT)-dependent reference voltage at a reference branch circuit based on a reference current obtained via a band gap generator and a common mode voltage input, generating a PVT-dependent output voltage at an output of a static analog calibration circuit responsive to the common mode voltage input and an adjustable current, adjusting the adjustable current through the static analog calibration circuit according to a control signal generated responsive to comparisons of the PVT-dependent output voltage to the PVT-dependent reference voltage, and configuring a clocked data sampler with a PVT-calibrated current by providing the control signal to the clocked data sampler.