Abstract: A biopsy device comprises a body, a needle, and a needle firing assembly. The needle comprises a sharp tip and a hub. The hub comprises a distal flange and a proximal flange. The needle firing assembly is operable to drive the needle longitudinally relative to the body. The needle firing assembly comprises a fork member coupled with the hub of the needle. The fork member comprises a pair of distal ramped surfaces converging at a distal edge configured to engage the distal flange. The fork member further comprises a pair of proximal ramped surfaces converging at a proximal edge configured to engage the proximal flange.

Abstract: A stochastic Bayesian non-linear filtering system and method that improves the filtering of noisy signals by providing efficiency, power, speed, and flexibility. The filter only requires the likelihood function p(observation|state) to determine the system state and works in various measurement models. This allows for the processing of noisy signals to be used in real time, such as in a biofeedback device that senses noisy surface electromyography muscle electrical activity, filters the sensed signal using the nonlinear filtering method, and provides vibrations based on the muscular activity.

Abstract: A medical needle includes a needle body including a needle tip on a front end of the needle body; a shaft provided on a base end of the needle body; a housing pipe including a first tube, and a second tube; and a lock member that includes at least one engaging unit that is releasably engaged with the shaft, and at least one engagement release unit. The shaft is slidable from a first position at which the front end of the needle body protrudes from the housing pipe by a predetermined length, to a second position at which the front end of the needle body is located in the housing pipe. Engagement of the at least one engaging unit with the shaft is releasable by pressing the at least one engagement release unit inward.

Abstract: A reconfigurable measuring apparatus includes a first chopper configured to modulate an input signal, and an amplifier configured to amplify an output signal of the first chopper. The reconfigurable measuring apparatus further includes a second chopper configured to demodulate an output signal of the amplifier, and a controller configured to control the first chopper and the second chopper based on a measurement mode.

Abstract: A system, and a method for its use, provides for placement of a fluid delivery needle into the tail of a laboratory animal. The system includes an animal receiving portion, structure configured to receive, position and restrain a tail of the animal placed in the animal receiving portion and a hollow needle attached to a fluid transfer device. Positioning structure is provided to align the needle and fluid transfer chamber with the restrained tail for proper automated insertion of the needle into a blood vessel within the tail. A lateral actuator operatively connected to the fluid transfer device moves the hollow needle in a forward direction so that it is inserted into the blood vessel of the properly aligned tail. The system can include a computer programmed to automatically perform all of the functions and operate all the components of the system.

Abstract: A device or assortment of devices is provided for measuring temperature and/or other biological parameters, and locating cattle or other types of animals in a remote, continuous and autonomous way. This allows early detection of sickness and other biological states, especially epidemic outbursts or cattle rustling, thus facilitating the early reaction of owners and/or authorities.

Abstract: The invention includes, in part, methods and apparatus for determining the status of labor in a pregnant subject. In some embodiments of the invention, organ-level uterine function is determined as a measure of the status of labor such as non-labor (e.g. false labor), latent phase labor, active phase labor, or post-delivery.