Abstract: Unified vision testing and/or training kiosk may utilize display devices and input devices to administer a number of visual testing and/or training tasks to an individual. One or more display devices may provide desired resolution, geometry, and/or touch sensitivity. One or more input devices may receive inputs of different types from different positions relative to a display device. Methods of visual testing and/or training may utilize the one or more display devices, one or more input devices, and/or other types of equipment to evaluate and/or improve the visual abilities of an individual.

Abstract: A guidewire includes a core shaft including a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, an outer coil disposed so as to cover the distal end portion, and an inner coil disposed inside of the outer coil. The outer coil includes a first bent portion that is bent at a first angle in a first direction. The inner coil includes a second bent portion that is bent at a second angle in the first direction. The second angle is larger than the first angle.

Abstract: A handheld biopsy device comprises a needle, cutter, and body. The cutter is movable relative to the needle to sever tissue protruding into a transverse aperture of the needle. The body includes a cutter actuation mechanism, at least two trigger buttons, and a control module. The biopsy device is configured such that the at least two trigger buttons are selectively enabled and disabled. A selectively enabled trigger button is operable to activate the cutter actuation mechanism. A selectively disabled trigger button is not operable to activate the cutter activation mechanism. The enabled trigger button may be selected electronically, such that the control module receives a user's button selection input and enables or disables the trigger buttons accordingly. Alternatively, the body may include movable covers to selectively cover or expose trigger buttons in accordance with the user's preference. The biopsy device may thus accommodate different operators having different gripping styles.

Abstract: An organism paracentesis device comprises a first tube member and a second tube member. The first tube member comprises an injection tube filled with a medicament, a piston and a first syringe needle. The second tube member comprises a sampling tube and a second syringe needle. Both ends of the second syringe needle are in the form of syringe needle. Using one end of the second syringe needle to penetrate a cover of the sampling tube which is vacuumed, such that the second syringe needle's the other end which is penetrating into an organism will extract a sample from the organism because of the vacuumed sampling tube. The medicament filled in the injection tube is ejected both when the first and second syringe needles are penetrating into and pulled out of the organism, so as to avoid the cells of sampled organism being spread to other places.

Abstract: Provided is a posture estimation device with which it is possible to estimate the posture of an object having joints with a high degree of precision. A posture estimation device (100) carries out an estimation of a posture of an object on the basis of image data. An object having a plurality of sites which are connected by joints is photographed. The posture estimation device includes a reference model storage unit (140) which stores a reference model, which defines the locations of the sites, for each posture. A weighting computation unit (150) carries out weighting on the sites for each posture such that the weighting of concentrated parts is reduced. A posture estimation unit (160) estimates the posture of the object by applying the weighting and comparing the reference model with the object.

Abstract: A lancing device having a drive mechanism whereby unidirectional motion of the drive mechanism drives a lancet along an advancing portion and a retraction portion of a lancing stroke. A rotationally mounted crank member or a translationally mounted shuttle of the drive mechanism operate upon an associated linkage and/or a cam path portion of the lancet carrier to drive the carrier along the lancing stroke. Spring biased members optionally drive the mechanism and/or limit its extent of travel.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes coaxially disposed inner and outer needles in which the outer needle tip is configured for obtaining a tissue sample. The inner surface of the outer needle includes a tissue retention feature which may include a countersink and/or a feature formed in the inner surface. The device may be introduced to a biopsy site through an introducer in which the introducer is vented and/or a certain ratio of introducer inner diameter and biopsy device outer diameter is maintained. The full core devices also permit a tighter tolerance between the I.D. and O.D. of the outer cannula and stylet, respectively, which further permits the use of a smaller gage introducer. Full devices also include a sample trap assembly operable to enlarge the sample cavity after the full core sample has been obtained.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an implant having an energy converter, wherein the converter is designed to convert applied energy to heat. In embodiments of the invention, the energy converter is situated in such a way that heat generated from the energy conversion is active at an outer surface of the implant.

Abstract: A biopsy probe mechanism includes an elongate sample receiving member having a longitudinal axis and having a sample receiving notch. The elongate sample receiving member and a cutting cannula are movable relative to one another along a longitudinal axis. A first echogenic feature is established on the elongate sample receiving member and a second echogenic feature is established on the cutting cannula. The elongate sample receiving member and the cutting cannula are configured to have a first position in which the first echogenic feature is in longitudinal alignment with the second echogenic feature, and configured such that when the elongate sample receiving member and the cutting cannula are moved relative to one another from the first position, the first echogenic feature and the second echogenic feature are out of longitudinal alignment.

Abstract: A method for operating a biopsy device to acquire at least one tissue sample from a body of a living being, including retracting a sample-receiving device through a hollow needle to a sample removal position, a tissue sample being simultaneously transported to the sample removal position by the sample-receiving device; operatively connecting a liquid supply unit to a cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is at the sample removal position; and delivering a lateral flow of a flushing liquid from the liquid supply unit to the cavity of the sample-receiving device to facilitate a lateral tissue sample ejection from the cavity.

Abstract: An excisional device for either handheld or stereotactic table use may comprise an outer sheath that may comprise a distal trough shape configured to penetrate and/or cut tissue independently or in concert with work element(s). The articulable work element(s) may comprise articulable beak(s) and may be configured to translate and/or rotate at a first rate and to cut tissue in a direction implied by placement of the trough shaped outer sheath. A first helical element or equivalent assembly may be configured to transport tissue cut by the work element(s) and/or trough, may be co-axially disposed relative to the work element(s) and may be operative to rotate at a second rotation rate that is different than the first rate. A proximal sheath may be co-axially disposed relative to the work element(s) and the first helical element, and may be configured to rotate and actuate the work element(s).

Abstract: A measurement tool for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The measurement tool includes a sensored head that comprises a first support structure, a second support structure, and a plurality of sensors for measuring load and position of load. The housing for the measurement tool includes a first housing component and a second housing component. The first housing component comprises a handle portion, a shaft portion, and a first support structure. Similarly, the second housing component comprises a handle portion, a shaft portion, and a second support structure. The sensored head includes an interconnect, a sensor guide, sensors, and a load plate. The interconnect and the sensor guide are aligned and retained in the first support structure by a sidewall.

Abstract: An improved flexible endoscopic instrument to precisely and efficiently obtains samples of flat polyps and multiple polyps from a patient by debriding one or more polyps and retrieving the debrided polyps without having to alternate between using a separate cutting tool and a separate sample retrieving tool and may be used with an endoscope. In one aspect, the cutting tool is coupled to a flexible torque coil or torque rope that is configured to transfer rotational energy from a powered actuator through the length of the endoscope onto the cutting tool.

Abstract: There is provided an input device including a plurality of electrodes that are arranged on a surface of a body in a direction crossing a muscular fiber group of the body at a right angle, and detect electromyogram signals generated from the muscular fiber group according to a motion performed by the body; a switch unit that switches an electrode acquiring an electromyogram signal between the plurality of electrodes; and a control unit that selects an electrode detecting an electromyogram signal for identifying the motion from among the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: The current invention presents a tissue sampling apparatus and methods to reliably obtain solid and liquid bone marrow samples in sequence in a single insertion of the apparatus to a target area. The apparatus comprises a proximal handle assembly, a distal cutting assembly and a shaft assembly connecting both assemblies. The handle assembly comprises an upper handle connected to an inner cutting tube and a lower handle connected to an outer cannula. The lower handle transmits axial rotation of the upper handle to longitudinal movement of the inner cutting tube. Axial rotation of an engaged upper handle longitudinally pulls out from the outer cannula the inner cutting tube that spirally holds fast a solid marrow sample inside a distal end of said inner cutting tube. Following acquisition of the solid marrow sample, a liquid marrow sample is aspirated through the outer cannula.

Abstract: A safety blood lancet device includes an outer sleeve. A fixing tube fixed in the outer sleeve has a cantilever hook. A carrier is elastically inserted into the fixing tube, and in which a lancet is separably installed at a front end thereof, a rear tip which is at a rear end of the outer sleeve and connected with a rear end of the carrier so as to load the carrier by pulling the carrier toward a rear side. A female nut is separably coupled to the outer sleeve. A front tip is rotatably installed at a front end of the female nut and in which a needle of the lancet protrudes through a front end thereof when the carrier is shot. A rear end of the fixing tube is selectively inserted into a safety cap and is elastically installed toward a front side of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for determining a fertile phase of a woman by ascertaining a CO2 partial pressure in a respiratory gas of the woman in several consecutive breaths, comprising an inlet for receiving the respiratory gas, and an outlet, a sample chamber (2), into which the respiratory gas can be conducted, a measuring module (3) with a measuring element (4) with which a CO2 concentration in the respiratory gas in the sample chamber (2) can be measured, optionally a pressure sensor (5) for measuring an air pressure, a processor (7) for processing measured data obtained by means of the measuring module (3) and the pressure sensor (5), and at least one output unit (9) for outputting a result of the measured data.

Abstract: There is provided a system for fall prevention for a user, comprising one or more sensors for attachment to respective portions of the body, each sensor being adapted to measure movement of the respective portion of the body and to translate the movement into a signal; and a controller adapted to receive the signal or signals and to determine a risk of falling by estimating a trajectory of the center of mass of the user relative to a trajectory of a lower portion of the body from the signal or signals.

Abstract: An integrated analyte measurement system includes a housing and a disposable configured to be positioned in the housing. A plurality of penetrating members are positioned in the disposable. A penetrating member driver is configured to be coupled to each of a penetrating member. A plurality of analyte sensors are positioned in the disposable. The disposable houses both used and unused penetrating members and analyte sensors.

Abstract: Tissue splitting biopsy devices and methods use a needle portion and a sheath portion that are configured such as to allow simultaneous sectioning of a tissue to produce two tissue samples with corresponding surfaces using motion of the needle portion relative to the sheath portion. Most preferably, the needle portion has a chisel blade tip and at least two cavities opposite to each other and at the same distance from the tip, while the sheath portion has a sharpened front edge.