Abstract: A supramolecular polymer blend includes a thermoplastic elastomer functionalized with at least one bis-urea moiety and a functional component which is functionalized with at least one bis-urea moiety which is present in an amount of 0.5-40 wt % based on the total mass of the polymer blend. The functional component is selected from polyalkylene glycol, betaine, polysaccharide, zwitterion, polyol or taurine and derivatives thereof. Implants including the polymer blend and a process to manufacture the implants are also provided.

Abstract: A surgical robot for performing minimally invasive surgery (e.g. in the eye) is provided. A cannula connection is positioned at a fixed surgical arm part and aligned with a movable surgical arm part movable with respect to the fixed surgical arm part. A surgical instrument can be mounted at the movable part. The surgical instrument can pass through the cannula connection. Reference arm(s) and manipulation arm(s) connect a base element with the fixed surgical arm part. The base element could have a surgical operating table attachment part to movably attach to a surgical operating table and rotating parts movably attached to the surgical operating table attachment part.

Abstract: An ostomy pouching device is configured to allow two-way flow of gas between the device and a stoma bag (100). A check valve (104) is configured to allow ambient air into a channel of the device, and thereby into the stoma bag, when a pressure of the gas in the channel is less than a pressure of the ambient air; another check valve (105) is configured to allow gas to flow into a deodorizing reactor (110) when a pressure of the gas in the channel is greater than a pressure of the ambient air. The deodorizing reactor includes a plasma reactor configured to generate plasma in the channel for deodorizing the gas in the channel before being expelled from the device into the ambient air. The plasma reactor is preferably a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor. It may also include a secondary active carbon filter.

Abstract: A fully integrated Òsample-in-signal-out Ó microfluidic paper-based analytical devices are provided relying on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) switches for target analyte recognition and colorimetric signal generation. Simultaneous colorimetric detection and quantification of multiple antibodies in a single drop of whole blood is shown. The devices make use of BRET-based antibody sensing proteins integrated into vertically assembled layers of functionalized porous layer(s) of material. The device enables sample volume independent, eliminates addition of reagents to the sample, and has on-device blood plasma separation. User operation is a single drop of a sample and the acquisition of a photograph after sample introduction, with no requirement for precise pipetting, liquid handling or analytical equipment except for a camera. Using different antibodies as targets, simultaneous detection in whole blood was achieved.

Abstract: A stent composed by a bioabsorbable network of polymer fibers that can be rearranged upon expansion, accommodating for diameter enlargement without the need of a strut or strut pattern and providing temporary support to a biological duct, is provided. Additionally, a stent is provided where the rearranged fibrous network of its expanded state can act as a scaffold for cell infiltration and promote autologous tissue formation.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a method of estimating a velocity of a contrast agent. The method includes receiving a plurality of video frames that were produced using a dynamic contrast enhanced imaging process, each video frame including a plurality of pixels/voxels. Information from the video frames is used to estimate velocity vectors indicating the velocity and direction of the agent with the vascular networks. The estimated velocity can be used to diagnose cancer, such as prostate cancer. Instead of velocity vectors, agent trajectories can be determined also used for the same purpose.

Abstract: Pressure sensing having 2-D resolution is provided by an array of optical waveguides having wave-guide intersections (e.g., intersecting rows and columns). Pressure induced cross-coupling between intersecting wave-guides is enhanced by including mechanical structures at each intersection that enhance local waveguide bending. For example, such structures can be rigid rings around the wave-guide intersections.

Abstract: An artificial cartilage is provided whereby a fixed negative charged hydrogel has been infused within a restrictive swelling network, which limits and restricts the thickness of the artificial cartilage. At least 60% of the volume of the artificial cartilage is composed of the restricted and swollen hydrogel. The restrictive swelling network restricts the hydrogel to swell not more than 10% with respect to its maximum swelling capacity, i.e. a swelling capacity to swell 10-fold more is retained. The hydrogel within the restrictive swelling network has an equilibrium stiffness between 0.5 and 2 MPa to resist external loads applied to the top surface layer or the bottom surface layer of the artificial cartilage. The hydrogel has a fixed negative charge density of ?0.17 to ?0.23 mEg/ml and is capable of swelling between 2-15 times compared to the volume of the hydrogel without being restricted.

Abstract: A double membrane microspectrometer is provided that includes a first membrane having a first and second doped semiconductor layers, and a first intrinsic layer is disposed between the first and second layers, where the first intrinsic layer includes an optically absorbing material, a first pattern of through holes are disposed perpendicular through the first membrane having lateral support arms, a second membrane having a third doped layer and a fourth layer is an intrinsic layer or a doped layer, where the second membrane includes a second pattern of through holes, where the first membrane is separated from the second membrane by an insulating bridge layer and is supported above the second membrane by lateral support arms, where an absorption spectrum of the absorbing material is dependent on the separation distance of the membranes, electrodes are disposed on the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer operate the separation.

Abstract: A method of object recognition trains a convolutional neural network (CNN) with a set of training images, then classifies an image of an object using the trained CNN. A first layer of the CNN is trained by generating a set of first convolutional filters from eigenvectors produced from linear principal component analysis of patches of the training images. The training of each of multiple hidden layers CNN includes generating a set of convolutional filters from a selected subset of eigenvectors produced from linear principal component analysis of patches of an affinity matrix constructed using a set of prior convolutional filters from a prior layer of the CNN, where the affinity matrix represents correlations of feature vectors associated with the prior layer. The last layer of the CNN is trained with a regular classifier by error back-propagation using the training images and labels associated with the training images.

Abstract: The disclosure lies in the field of regenerative medicine and relates to an implant having a matrix material, and a method for manufacturing an implant having matrix material. The disclosure further relates to a crimped implant.

Abstract: A system is provided for wirelessly locating objects. The system has a transceiver unit with an antenna array of two partially overlapping coils, which is used in combination with a passive electromagnetic reflector to track or locate the objects. The system is tuned to reflect and receive higher order harmonics of a transmitted signal frequency. The system is reliable in a highly reflective environment with no placement error detection due to reflections. A relatively large distance can be bridged with a minimum power and a small sensitive area to detect the coils, which increase the accuracy to determine the location of the electromagnetic reflector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical robot for performing surgery of the minimally invasive type, comprising an instrument manipulator having a manipulator front end, which is provided with an instrument receiver for receiving therein a surgical instrument, and manipulating means for, at least in use, manipulating the manipulator front end with respect to a patient body. The manipulator front end further comprises a container for receiving therein the surgical instrument. The invention further relates to an instrument manipulator, a combination of an operating table and a surgical robot, and a master-slave operating system.

Abstract: An analyte in a matrix is sensed using a sensing device having a detection probe conjugated to a mediator-receptor that is not a binder for the analyte. The sensor device is provided with mediators conjugated to analyte-receptors, where the mediators are selected to bind to the mediator-receptors, and where the analyte-receptors are selected to bind to the analyte. In some embodiments, the mediators are bound to the detection probe by a tether molecule, or tether molecule fragment, or tether domain. In other embodiments, the mediators are not bound to the detection probe. The presence of the analyte is detected by optically or electrically detecting changes of distance between the mediators and the mediator-receptor, indicative of association and/or dissociation events between mediators and mediator-receptor, the characteristics of which are affected by whether the analyte is bound to the analyte-receptor.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of generating an electron beam in a transmission electron microscopy device. The method includes: generating an electron pulse [306] by a pulsed electron source [300], accelerating the electron pulse in a first resonant microwave cavity [302], passing the accelerated electron pulse through a drift space [314], and correcting the energy spread of the accelerated electron pulse in a second resonant microwave cavity [304] by operating it out of phase by 90 degrees from the first resonant cavity [302].

Abstract: A method for sensing an analyte uses tethered particle motion. A functionalized particle [500] has a first state [504] in which the functionalized particle is bound to the surface and a second state [502] in which the functionalized particle is not bound to the surface, where the functionalized particle switches between the first and second states depending on the presence and absence of the analyte, thereby changing motion characteristics of the functionalized particle depending on the presence of the analyte. A spatial coordinate parameter of the functionalized particle is measured by a detector [516], and a processor [518] determines the presence/concentration of the analyte from changes in the measured spatial coordinate parameter.

Abstract: A hybrid organic-inorganic solar cell is provided that includes a substrate, a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer deposited on the substrate, an n-type electron transport material (ETM) layer, a p-type hole transport material (HTM) layer, an i-type perovskite layer, and an electrode layer, where the substrate layers are arranged in an n-i-p stack, or a p-i-n stack, where the passivating barrier layer is disposed between the layers of the (i) perovskite and HTM, (ii) perovskite and ETM, (iii) perovskite and HTM, and perovskite and ETM, or (iv) TCO and ETM, and ETM and perovskite, and perovskite and HTM, or (v) substrate and TCO, and TCO and ETM, and ETM and perovskite, and perovskite layer and HTM, or (vi) a pair of ETM layers, or (vii) a pair of HTM layers.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a surgical robotic system for use in a surgical procedure, including a surgical arm having a movable arm part for mounting of a surgical instrument having at least one degree-of-freedom to enable longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument towards a surgical target. Some other embodiments are directed to a human machine interface for receiving positioning commands from a human operator for controlling the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and an actuator configured for actuating the movable arm part to effect the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument, and controlled by a processor in accordance with the positioning commands and a virtual bound. The virtual bound establishes a transition in the control of the longitudinal movement of the surgical instrument in a direction towards the surgical target. The virtual bound is determined, during use of the surgical robotic system, based on the positioning commands.

Abstract: A target analyte in a matrix is sensed using a sensor device having protrusions [500] such as e.g. nanorods, containing free charge carriers. Conformational molecules [504, 506] are bound at a first end to the protrusions, and bound at a second end to a label [502] e.g. a nanoparticle, that is free to move relative to the protrusions. The conformational molecule changes its conformation when bound to the analyte, thereby changing the distance and/or the relative orientation of the label to the protrusion. Energy [510] is used to excite free electrons in the protrusion near a plasmon resonance and resulting optical radiation [514] at wavelengths near the plasmon resonance wavelength is detected [516] and analyzed [518] to determined the presence/concentration of the analyte.

Abstract: Improved passive optical coupling to photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chips is provided. An interposer unit (108) having one or more flexible optical waveguide members (112, 114, 116) is employed. The flexible optical waveguide members are coupled to the PIC chip (118) via their tips. The PIC chip includes alignment features to facilitate lateral, vertical and longitudinal passive alignment of the flexible optical waveguide members to on-chip optical waveguides of the PIC.