Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for accelerated ergonomic collection of capillary blood. An apparatus and system include a blood collection module with a proximal portion including a vacuum generation chamber, a distal portion including a blood collection chamber, a concave mid portion including a pressure equalization channel configured to equalize reduced air pressure. The apparatus further includes a sealing surface to stably seal the blood collection module to the skin around a collection site and a slide latch actuated by a lengthwise sliding motion. Also included is a lancet carrier with linearly-arranged lancet strips to puncture rows of blood extraction slits in the collection site. The apparatus also includes an angled transfer port with a low-resistance non-microfluidic blood flow channel to a transfer module, then to a plasma separation module with a multilayer laminate and plasma separation membrane. Methods for accelerated ergonomic collection of capillary blood are disclosed.

Abstract: A pressure sensing retractor device and method is provided for measuring orbital compartment pressure of an eye. The device uses nested claw-like retractors where the inner claw retractor is capable of pulling an eyelid of the eye of a patient, and the outer claw retractor is capable of sensing the orbital compartment pressure of the eye. The pressure sensing retractor outputs the force sensor signal as a continuous signal of the orbital compartment pressure of the eye. Embodiments of the invention can be applied towards analysis of orbital compartment syndrome, retrobulbar hemorrhage (RBH), and canthotomy/cantholysis. Unlike applanation tonometry, retractor placement with the retractor provided herein requires no specialized training. Ease of use can help facilitate appropriate clinical decision, especially in environments without immediate access to ophthalmic consultation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a needle extraction syringe (1) for extracting fluid and/or tissue comprising: a barrel (2) having a proximal lumen (6); and a distal lumen (7) for collecting aspirated fluid/tissue; a plunger (3) having a plunger head (9) sealingly engaged inside the barrel (2); and a plunger body (10) with an internal channel (11); a valve (8) located between the plunger head (9) and a distal end of the syringe inside the barrel (2), separating the proximal lumen (6) and the distal lumen (7) such that air can only flow from the distal lumen (7) to the proximal lumen (6) in a first valve configuration; a sealing element (13) located inside the barrel (2) proximal to the plunger head (9), wherein the plunger head (9) and the sealing element (13) define a vacuum chamber (14) having a variable volume therebetween, wherein the vacuum chamber (14) and the internal channel (11) are fluidly disconnected in relation to each other in a first configuration of the syringe and fluidly connected in a sec

Abstract: A biopsy device comprises a body, a needle, a cutter, and a tissue sample holder. The tissue sample holder comprises an outer cup and a cap. A tray retains severed tissue samples from a biopsy procedure. In some versions, the tray is selectively detachable from the cap in a one-handed operation by the user. The tray may be ejected into a sample container, such as a formalin cup. The cap may include a threaded portion that is configured to engage a complementary threaded portion of a sample container to seal the sample container once the tissue samples have been transferred to the sample container from the tissue sample holder of the biopsy device. One or more ports may be provided in the cap to manage excess fluid within the outer cup of the tissue sample holder, and/or to provide integrated access for a marker delivery device.

Abstract: A surgical treatment apparatus comprises a waterjet configured to fragment tissue and provide intact cells such as stem cells with the fragmented tissue. The intact cells can be used in one or more of many ways such as for genetic or other testing, and the intact cells can be identified as stem cells. In many embodiments, the intact cells comprise stem cells. In many embodiments, a waterjet is configured to fragment tissue. The fragmented tissue can be collected with a filter having pores sized smaller than the tissue fragments. In many embodiments cavitation with a waterjet is used to fragment the tissue comprising the intact stem cells. The waterjet may comprise a waterjet immersed in a liquid comprising water so as to form a plurality of shedding pulses. The plurality of shedding pulses can be generated with a frequency sufficient to fragment the tissue. The shedding pulses can generate cavitations that fragment the tissue.

Abstract: An excisional biopsy and delivery device may comprise one or more rotating, penetrating and cutting rod elements. The rod elements may be configured to advance from a stored and confined first position and rotate about an axis, while being simultaneously revolved about a central axis. The rod elements may then assume a second released and expanded configuration that is operative to cut around and surround target tissue. In this manner, the rod elements are operative to move through the surrounding tissue to create a volume of revolution and to sever and capture the target tissue contained within the volume of revolution from the surrounding tissue. The severed and captured volume of revolution containing the target issue may then be removed.

Abstract: A hand held robotic system that remains stiff so long as it is operating within allowed limits, but which become actively controlled once the operator exceeds those limits. The system thus corrects deviations by more than a predetermined amount of the operator's hand motions, so that the tool remains in the allowed region even when the operator's hand deviates from the planned trajectory. The pose and path of the robotic operating head is ascertained by means of a navigation or tracking system, or by means of a proximity device to measure the closeness of the operating head to a damage sensitive feature. As the tool deviates from its predetermined path or pose, or comes too close to the hazardous area, the robot control acts to move the tool back to its predetermined pose or path, or away from the hazardous region, independently of user's hand movement.

Abstract: A method for automatic alignment of a position and orientation indicator with respect to a body part is provided. The method includes the acts of attaching a position and orientation indicator to a body part; moving the body part and measuring movements of the position and orientation indicator; and exploiting physical constraints to motion to determine the alignment of the position and orientation indicator with respect to the body part.

Abstract: A method or apparatus comprising monitoring a user's sleep, and turning on a microphone to record sounds, ensuring that the recording occurs in all sleep phases. The method in one embodiment further comprising making the sounds available to the user for later review.

Abstract: A tool for an endoscope comprises an elongated shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a tubular member with an interior channel extending from the distal end toward the proximal end and a one or more perforations in the tubular member that are spaced from the distal end, the one or more perforations providing fluid communication between an exterior of the elongated shaft and the interior channel.

Abstract: A controller (10) for manually controlling a guidewire (50) includes a housing (100) including a passage (112) for receiving the guidewire. A gripper (140) is actuatable to grasp the guidewire (50) in the passage (112). A cap (200) is connected to the housing (100). The cap (200) is rotatable relative to the housing (100) to actuate the gripper (140). The housing (100) includes an element (160) for maintaining the cap (200) in a receiving position. The cap (200) when in the receiving position places the controller (10) in a condition for receiving the guidewire (50).

Abstract: A guidewire includes a shaft element and a flexible distal torque transmission element. The torque transmission element can be formed of a coiled wire having one or more of the loops that are welded or otherwise fixed together to achieve desirable flexibility and torque transmission.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed of an adapter for coupling an implement to a tremor cancellation platform. The adapter includes a first section attached to the tremor cancellation platform, the first section comprising an elongated tapered key having a base and a tip, the base having a greater transverse dimension than the tip and the base being attached to the tremor cancellation platform. The adapter also includes a second section coupled to the implement, the second section including a tapered cavity sized and shaped to receive the first section, and a latch to lock the second section onto the first section.

Abstract: A physiological sensor system for removably securing a physiological sensor to a garment. The physiological sensor system generally includes a physiological sensor adapted to be removably connected to a garment. The sensor may be adapted to detect a physiological condition, such as oxygen level or pulse rate. The sensor may include a connector such as a magnetic ring or hook-and-loop fastener to removably connect the sensor to the garment. The garment may include a window through which a light beam from the sensor may pass to illuminate the underlying body and sense various conditions. A control unit may be provided for controlling the sensor and processing data received therefrom.

Abstract: A biopsy collecting device includes a needle unit comprising a biopsy specimen. Also, the biopsy collecting device includes an activator unit operatively coupled to the needle unit and including a channel at a bottom surface of the activator unit, wherein the channel is configured to detachably couple the biopsy collecting device to an attaching unit of a spectroscopy system.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method tracks a patient's position over time and ensures that proper turning or other manipulation is done within the time prescribed. Preferably, the techniques herein continuously monitor patient position and alert medical or other personnel of the need for turning or other patient manipulation. The system may be implemented within a medical or other care facility, or within a patient's home.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking a position of an interventional medical device configured to be deployed into a subject during a medical procedure. An anatomical dataset of the subject is acquired while at least one electrical sensor is disposed along the interventional medical device. A feedback signal is generated from the electrical sensor and is processed and analyzed to identify positional information of the interventional medical device. A position of the interventional medical device with respect to the anatomical dataset is identified and the position of the interventional medical device with respect to the anatomical dataset is shown on a display.

Abstract: A system for withdrawing blood from a body part that avoids formation of a drop of blood on the skin surface of the body part after blood removal. The system includes a collecting unit to withdraw blood, a lancing member configured for insertion into the body part and having a capillary to collect blood, and a pressure piece configured to apply pressure to the body part and having an actuator operably connected thereto. The pressure piece is movable relative to a support configured to exert pressure on the body part, and the actuator is configured to reduce the compressive force of the pressure piece after removing an amount of blood, whereby forming a drop of blood on the skin surface of the body part can be avoided.

Abstract: A sample holder that enables mid-infrared spectroscopy of a test sample using mid-infrared light is disclosed. The sample holder includes an inlet port and a sample chamber that comprises a sample region and a capillary channel that fluidically couples the inlet port and the sample region. The capillary channel is characterized by a higher capillary force than the sample region. As a result, when the inlet port is put in contact with a liquid containing the test sample, the liquid is drawn into the sample region without the formation of bubbles that could obscure the optical analysis. In some embodiments, the inlet port is the free end of a draw tube having an outer diameter that is smaller than the minimum spacing between pain receptors at a draw site on a patient, which mitigates pain felt by the patient due to insertion of the draw tube at the draw site.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ambulatory system for monitoring one or more physiological parameters in a body lumen, such as the esophagus. The system includes an implantable probe having a sensor for the physiological parameter and a transmitter for transmitting data to an external receiver. The probe may be used for monitoring any of various physiological parameters, including pH, temperature, and pressure, within the esophagus or other body lumens. Methods and deployment catheters are also disclosed.