Abstract: A physiological status monitoring apparatus is provided. The physiological status monitoring apparatus comprises a motion sensor, an event detector, and an estimator. The motion sensor senses movement of an object to generate a sensing signal. The event detector detects abnormal events occurring on the object according to the sensing signal. The estimator outputs an index according to at least one abnormal event which occurs during a predetermined time period to indicate a possibility of pauses in breathing.

Abstract: A method of treating a subject having glaucoma comprises performing excimer laser trabeculostomy (ELT) on a subject having glaucoma and having previously undergone a failed treatment or a treatment that has been rendered ineffective by progression of the disease. In some examples, the failed treatment is a non-surgical treatment comprising administering medicated eye drops. In some examples, the failed treatment is a laser treatment or surgical treatment, such as a trabeculoplasty, iridotomy, iridectomy, trabeculectomy, trabeculotomy, goniotomy, surgical insertion of a shunt or implant, deep sclerectomy, viscocanalostomy, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for developing and applying photosynthetic cellular substances to a human or animal for medical, therapeutic or cosmetic uses are provided. Photosynthetic cells, such as algal cells, can be used in these substances to provide the ability to continuously generate oxygen when exposed to a light source or other oxygen-generating trigger. The substances can be developed as a standalone liquid, gel or cream, or embedded within a bandage, mesh, scaffold or other structure with a light source to promote oxygen production. The substances can be applied topically for medical, therapeutic or cosmetic treatments, or injected internally for generation of oxygen within one or more parts of the body.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise a fiber optic guidewire having a hypotube with a plurality of openings that provide variable stiffness and tracking characteristics between at least one proximal segment and one distal segment of the guidewire. In some embodiments, the guidewire further comprises a mandrel disposed within the hypotube, the mandrel cooperating with the optical fibers to permit the distal end of the hypotube to be shaped as desired by a user. Methods of manufacturing and using the guidewire are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and method for the removal of diseased cells during surgery.

Abstract: Described is a method and device for dilating a tubular anatomical structure. The device and method can be useful for extracting a blood clot in an artery of a mammal by concentrically irradiating an inner wall of the occluded artery using an ultraviolet (UV) laser beam delivered by an optical fiber having an external or inverted conical tip. Dilation results from photophysical production and release of nitric oxide from the cells lining the arterial wall when UV laser light is projected as a ring beam onto the inner arterial wall. This “minimal contact persistent dilation system” prepares the artery for safer mechanical extraction by thrombectomy, owing to decrease in friction and dissolution of chemical bonding.

Abstract: The device serves for the controlled conveying of a cable. The device has a housing, having a cover plate, on which are externally mounted a drive wheel and contact wheel which can be radially pressed onto the drive wheel, between which the cable can be clamped. The cable can be conveyed by means of the drive wheel being driven by a drive unit in the interior of the housing. The rotational motion of the drive wheel is guided through a stationary light barrier by means of a counting disc, running synchronously therewith and having radial slots or holes in the circumferential area, for determining the motion and rotational speed of the drive wheel. The cover plate and the housing can be sterilized. The drive unit in the interior of the housing is not sterilizable, yet is completely enclosed by the sterilized housing and cover plate.

Abstract: Robotic and/or surgical devices, systems, and methods include a robotic device. The robotic device includes a manipulator, a drive unit coupled to the manipulator, and a processor coupled with the drive unit. The processor is configured determine that a cannula is mounted to the manipulator and inhibit, using the drive unit, manual articulation of the manipulator in response to determining that the cannula is mounted to the manipulator. In some embodiments, the robotic device further includes a linkage. The processor is further configured to determine a manual effort against the manipulator; inhibit, using the drive unit, the manual articulation of the linkage in response to the manual effort being below an articulation threshold; and facilitate, using the drive unit and in response to not determining that the cannula is mounted to the manipulator, the manual articulation of the linkage in response to the manual effort exceeding the articulation threshold.

Abstract: A method of enhancing penetration of a topical composition of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) into tissue for photodynamic therapy includes topically applying ALA to a treatment area to be treated with photodynamic therapy. The method further includes, after the ALA is applied to the treatment area, covering the treatment area with a low density polyethylene barrier. The treatment area is covered with the low density polyethylene barrier prior to light treatment to minimize transepidermal water loss from the treatment area.

Abstract: A system and method for ultraviolet light-mediated hand sanitization and hands-free selection of content presented by a hand sanitizer station. The method includes detecting, using a sensor, an initiation event; responsive to the detection of the initiation event, activating an ultraviolet light source and sanitizing a surface of an object within a compartment adjacent to the ultraviolet light source; and visually presenting a graphic element associated with content on a display for presentation to a user, the display communicatively coupled to the ultraviolet light source.

Abstract: A method for increasing the blood flow and metabolic rate of the eye fundus by (1) irradiating the eye fundus through the pupil by using red light or near-infrared light in a certain wavelength range, a certain energy density range and a certain irradiation time range; (2) once irradiation is complete, repeating the irradiating at intervals of a certain time range, using red light or near-infrared light in the same wavelength range and the same energy density range to irradiate the eye fundus through the pupil.

Abstract: A laser eye surgery system includes a laser to generate a laser beam. A spatial measurement system generates a measurement beam and measure a spatial disposition of an eye. A processor is coupled to the laser and the spatial measurement system, the processor comprising a tangible medium embodying instructions to determine a spatial model of the eye in an eye coordinate reference system based on the measurement beam. The spatial model is mapped from the eye coordinate reference system to a machine coordinate reference system. A laser fragmentation pattern is determined based on a plurality of laser fragmentation parameters. The laser fragmentation pattern and the spatial model is rotated by a first rotation angle such that the spatial model is aligned with the reference axis of the machine coordinate reference system and the rotated laser fragmentation pattern is aligned with the corneal incision.

Abstract: A system and computerized method for detection of engagement of a surgical tool to a tool drive of a robotic arm of a surgical robotic system. The method may include activating an actuator of the tool drive to rotate a drive disk to be mechanically engaged with a tool disk in the surgical tool. One or more motor operating parameters of the actuator that is causing the rotation of the drive disk are monitored while activating the actuator. The method detects when the drive disk becomes mechanically engaged with the tool disk, based on the one or more monitored motor operating parameters. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Aspects provide a system including a wearable audio device. The system is configured to determine one or more states of a subject using electrodes positioned on the wearable audio device and in contact with the subject's body. Three electrodes on the wearable audio device are configured to collect any combination of EMG, EOG, ECG/EKG. The system is configured to determine if the subject is fatigued, attentive, anxious, or stressed. The system determines the subject's state without use of a camera. In addition to determining one or more states of the subject, the subject can control the audio device based on a pattern of pupil movements. According to aspects, eye location determined using collected signals are used to adjust and enhance an output of an augmented reality application.

Abstract: A wearable health monitoring fabric is provided. The wearable fabric includes a set of textrodes. The set of textrodes is configured to measure thoracic electrical bioimpedance (TEB) of a user's body. The set of textrodes include at least two first textrodes. The set of textrodes also include at least two second textrodes. The set of textrodes is fabricated on an upper part of the wearable fabric. Further, the wearable health monitoring fabric is more compatible and user friendly as the textrodes are non-invasive in nature.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for maintaining the position of a suction cone on an eye during laser ophthalmic surgery that includes determining a distance and direction the suction cone or a support must be adjusted to maintain the position of the suction cone within an optimal working range, based on a detected position of the suction cone. The disclosure further provides a method for maintaining the position of a suction cone by determining a distance and direction the suction cone or a support must be adjusted to maintain the position of the suction cone within an optimal working range, based on a detected position of the suction cone. In the system and the method, a control signal is generated to adjust the position of the suction cone and/or the support to maintain the suction cone within the optimal working range.

Abstract: A system for ophthalmic surgery on an eye includes: a pulsed laser which produces a treatment beam; an OCT imaging assembly capable of creating a continuous depth profile of the eye; an optical scanning system configured to position a focal zone of the treatment beam to a targeted location in three dimensions in one or more floaters in the posterior pole. The system also includes one or more controllers programmed to automatically scan tissues of the patient's eye with the imaging assembly; identify one or more boundaries of the one or more floaters based at least in part on the image data; iii. identify one or more treatment regions based upon the boundaries; and operate the optical scanning system with the pulsed laser to produce a treatment beam directed in a pattern based on the one or more treatment regions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for saturated robotic movement are provided. In one aspect, there is provided a robotic system, including a robotic arm configured to control movement of a medical instrument, and a processor configured to: receive a first user input from a user for moving the medical instrument with the robotic arm, determine that moving the robotic arm according to the first user input would cause a contact point of the robotic arm to contact or cross a collision boundary surrounding an object, and guide the movement of the robotic arm such that the contact point of the robotic arm continuously moves along the collision boundary based in part on the first user input, in response to the determination that moving the robotic arm according to the first user input would cause the contact point to contact or cross the collision boundary.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a splash shield incorporating a clear viewing area, a vacuum manifold, the vacuum manifold adapted to releasebly engage the splash shield, and a link emanating from the vacuum manifold, the link configured to attach to a vacuum system wherein application of a vacuum creates a laminar flow to draw vapor away from the splash shield.

Abstract: Prostate treatment using fluid stream to resect prostate tissue, thereby relieving symptoms of conditions such as BPH, prostatitis, and prostatic carcinoma. A device having a fluid delivery element is positioned within a lumen of the urethra within the prostate. A fluid stream is directed outwardly from the fluid delivery element toward a wall of the urethral lumen. The fluid delivery element is moved to scan the fluid stream over the wall to remove a volume of tissue surrounding the lumen. The fluid may be combined with therapeutically active substances or with substances that increase resection efficiency. Fluid force may be adjusted to provide selective tissue resection such that soft tissue is removed while harder tissue is left undamaged. In order to gain a working space within the urethra, another fluid may be introduced to insufflate the urethra in the region of treatment.