Abstract: There are provided a hold portion that can be held in a hand of a subject, a cable having one end connected to the hold portion, and a rest portion on which a foot of the subject can be rested. The rest portion includes a reel portion connected to the other end of the cable for winding the cable, a first detection unit for detecting a draw-out extent to which the cable is drawn out from the reel portion, and a second detection unit for detecting an angle formed by the rest portion and the cable. Based on the detected draw-out extent and angle, the part length of a body part of the subject is calculated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method of obtaining tissue from a body portion. The method includes providing a wire matrix with a covering in a collapsed configuration, advancing the wire matrix through a body lumen to the body portion, expanding the wire matrix, passing at least a portion of the covering against the body portion so as to deposit tissue on the covering, and removing the wire matrix and the covering via the body lumen.

Abstract: Method and device for the management of lactating animals wherein the reproduction stage of an animal is correlated with the lactation stage of the animal. A state of the animal is determined by means of automatically obtained sensor data. The state of the animal is graphically illustrated.

Abstract: A biopsy device is provided. The biopsy device includes cutter and a sample tube advancable through the hollow cutter to retrieve a tissue sample severed by the cutter. A vacuum source can be provided in communication with the sample tube. The sample tube can be releasably attached to the biopsy device.