Abstract: A modified nerve cuff electrode is designed to enhance the stability of neural recording and/or nerve stimulation. Any nerve cuff electrode includes a nerve cuff and a plurality of electrodes within the nerve cuff. While traditional nerve cuff electrodes have every one of the plurality of electrode contacts on the inner surface of the nerve cuff, in the modified nerve cuff electrode each of an inner surface and an outer surface of the nerve cuff has at least one electrode contact. The at least one electrode contact on the outer surface can be electrically isolated from the peripheral nerve to provide a stable reference or ground during recording or a stable pathway for a return current during stimulation to enhance the stability of the recording or the stimulation.

Abstract: A surgical instrument with improved end-effector gripping force. The instrument comprises a shaft, which may be inserted into a body of a patient. The articulated end-effector is mounted on the distal extremity of the instrument shaft and comprises a plurality of links interconnected by a plurality of joints, whose movements are remotely actuated by the surgeon's hands. This remote actuation is accomplished through mechanical transmission, mainly along flexible elements, which are able to deliver motion from a set of actuation elements, placed at a proximal extremity of the shaft, to the instrument's articulated end-effector. The articulated end-effector further comprises one or more cam-and-follower mechanisms that are able to amplify the force transmitted by the flexible elements so that the actuation force at the instrument jaws is maximized and the tension on the transmission elements minimized, thus increasing the fatigue resistance and life of the instrument.

Abstract: A method for altering an eye color of a patient with a color alteration procedure is disclosed that may include imaging the iris with an image sensor prior to the color alteration procedure to generate an image of the iris. A mapping of the iris may be generated from the image. The mapping may include a number of regions corresponding to varying absorption coefficients of a treatment wavelength in the stromal pigment of the iris. A laser system may be set, based on the mapping, to deliver laser light at a laser power sufficient to cause elimination of at least a portion of stromal pigment in the iris. The laser light may then be delivered with the laser system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an implantable nerve stimulation device, which includes: a body part which is formed of a metal that ultrasonic waves can be transmitted, and includes a stimulation surface and a charging surface facing each other; a header part which is made of a non-metal and is located at one end of the body part; a cover which includes a stimulation electrode, a hinge part rotatably coupled to one side of the stimulation surface, and a coupling part detachably coupled to the other side of the stimulation surface, is positioned above the stimulation surface to interpose a nerve between the electrode and the stimulation surface; and power generation elements which are located inside the body part and are electrically connected to the electrode.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for determining hemodynamic stability in a subject. In one example method, an optical signal is transmitted via at least one optical fiber in a set of one or more optical fibers partially disposed in a heart of the subject, wherein the at least one optical fiber in the set is configured to bend with the mechanical movement of the heart. A reflected portion of the optical signal is received via the at least one optical fiber, wherein changes in at least one parameter of the received reflected portion of the optical signal are indicative of the mechanical movement of the heart. A hemodynamic stability of the heart is determined based on the received reflected portion. Hemodynamic stability of the subject may further be determined based on thermal, ultrasound, and/or impedance signals measured in or near the heart.

Abstract: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) can be used to treat tumors (and/or prevent metastases) in or near a person's neck by affixing a first transducer array (i.e., a set of electrode elements) to the person's head and affixing a second transducer array to the person's chest. Subsequently, an AC voltage at a desired frequency (e.g., 100-300 kHz) is applied between the first transducer array and the second transducer array. This induces an electric field that is strong enough to be effective (e.g., greater than 1 V/cm) in most of the person's neck. In some embodiments, the center of the first transducer array is positioned on the vertex of the head or on an upper surface of the person's head. In some embodiments, the second set of electrode elements is positioned immediately below the base of the neck.

Abstract: Tumor treating fields (TTFields) can be delivered to a subject's body at higher field strengths by switching off one or more electrode elements in a transducer array that are overheating. This may be accomplished by using thermistors that sense the temperature of each electrode element. Portions of the wiring of each transducer array is shared between the electrode elements and the thermistors by using a plurality of conductors, each of which electrically connects (a) a pin of a connector, (b) a respective electrode element, and (c) a respective thermistor. In some embodiments, all of the thermistors are wired in series. In other embodiments, all the thermistors share a common connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stimulation apparatus for applying electrical stimulation to a subject for stimulation application. Specifically, a stimulation apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a stimulation part comprising a first conductive member and a first surface which comes into contact with a subject for stimulation application and to which an alternating electric field transmitted from the subject for stimulation application upon contact is input; a conductive part comprising a second conductive member and positioned away from the stimulation part; and a connecting member for electrically connecting the stimulation part and conductive part.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a memory device and a processor coupled to a display device, an image capture device, and the memory device. The processor is configured to: cause images captured by the image capture device to be displayed in a viewing area on the display device; determine a position of a tool in a reference frame of the image capture device; determine a position to display a non-depictive symbol for the tool in a boundary area circumscribing the viewing area to indicate a direction of the determined position of the tool relative to a field of view of the image capture device, by determining a trajectory of the tool; and cause the non-depictive symbol to be displayed at the determined position in the boundary area while images that were captured by the image capture device are restricted to being displayed in the viewing area.

Abstract: Embodiments of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) system include a support structure for wearing by an ambulatory patient and at least one processor. When worn, the support structure maintains electrodes on the patient's body, and using the patient's ECG received via the electrodes, the processor determines widths of the QRS complexes, consistency of the QRS complexes, and/or heart rate and uses these determinations to make no-shock, delay-shock, and shock decisions. Shock decisions can be made for heart rates lower than a VF threshold.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a thermally robust laser probe assembly comprising a cannula, wherein one or more optical fibers extend at least partially through the cannula for transmitting laser light from a laser source to a target location. The probe assembly further comprises a lens housed in the cannula and a protective component press-fitted to the distal end of the cannula, wherein the lens is positioned between the one or more optical fibers and the protective component.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed to adjust programming of an implantable electrical neurostimulation device for treating chronic pain of a human subject, through the use of a dynamic model adapted to identify pain treatment parameters for a human patient and determine a best device operational program to implement the pain treatment parameters to address the chronic pain condition. In an example, the system to adjust programming of the neurostimulation device performs operations that: obtain data related to a state of pain of the human subject; identify pain treatment parameters using a dynamic model adapted to evaluate the pain treatment parameters in the human subject over a time period, based on the data related to the state of pain; and select a neurostimulation program for the neurostimulation device, corresponding to at least a portion of the identified pain treatment parameters.

Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to an improved system and method for treatment of soft tissue, e.g., for treatment of a snoring condition. The system can include a laser source; a hand piece; and a device for directing radiation emitted by the laser source to a treatment area (e.g., an oral treatment area). In some cases, the handpiece can include an optical element (e.g., a lens) mounted within a replaceable cartridge and adapted to modulate a laser beam such that it is non-ablative, prior to its delivery to a treatment region. In various embodiments, the system includes a CO2 laser capable of performing treatment in a more efficient manner than conventional techniques.

Abstract: The invention relates to an implantable electric multi-pole connection between an electric implant and an electric feed and discharge structure. The invention is characterised in that a flexible, film-like, electrically non-conductive, strip-shaped surface element is arranged between the implant and the feed and discharge structure. The surface element comprises at least one first surface, on which a number of electrodes n greater than of equal to two is arranged, which are respectively connected to the electric implant by means of electric connection conductors extending at least in parts inside the surface element. The electric feed and discharge structure comprises at least n lines which are electrically insulated from each other and which are electrically connected to one of the n electrodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable media for collecting, storing, assessing, and managing human readable diagnostic test results (e.g., results from Point-of-Care testing and self-testing). The present disclosure provides methods, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable media for collecting, storing, assessing, and managing images and image results. The systems and methods facilitate unbiased verification and notification of test and image results.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes an instrument shaft with exit holes near a distal end of the shaft, a tool coupled to the distal end of the shaft, and a backend. The backend may include a mechanism that manipulates a drive element that extends through the shaft and couples to the tool, a fluid inlet, and a fluid channel assembly providing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the proximal end of the shaft. Cleaning fluid is directed into the fluid inlet, through the fluid channel assembly, and into the shaft. A chassis or other structural piece of the backend may form part of the fluid channel assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus, systems and methods for stimulating tissue in the urinary tract to initiate or facilitate urination. One embodiment provides an external urinary sphincter stimulation (EUSS) catheter for stimulating the external urinary sphincter (EUS), where the EUSS catheter includes nerve stimulation electrodes (NSES) for delivering current to nerves within or around the EUS in order to relax the EUS prior to urination. Other embodiments provide a system for stimulating the EUS including the EUSS catheter and a controller operatively coupled to the EUSS catheter, where the controller includes a pulse generator for delivering current to the NSES. Other embodiments provide methods for positioning the EUSS catheter in the patient's body including in the EUS using a urethral approach. Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful for initiating and/or controlling urination for patients who have lost the ability to voluntarily urinate due to neurogenic bladder dysfunction.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical apparatus for performing a surgical procedure through a single incision in a patient's body includes a gross positioning arm supported on a moveable platform, the gross positioner including a head; at least one articulated tool positioning apparatus coupled via a tool controller to an underside of the head, the articulated tool positioning apparatus being configured to receive a tool for performing surgical operations, the tool controller being actuated by the head to cause movements of the articulated tool positioning apparatus for performing surgical operations; and wherein the gross positioner is configured to permit the head to be positioned to facilitate insertion of the articulated tool positioning apparatus through the incision into the patient's body.

Abstract: A middleware device or software may be placed in communication with one or more testing instruments and a lab information system. As samples are collected from patients and tested with the testing instruments, test results pass through the middleware and are analyzed in context with other data, such as patient history, testing instrument history, and test results from other tests of the sample, in order to determine whether a particular result is acceptable, whether retesting is needed, whether additional sample collection or testing is needed, and whether currently ordered testing is still necessary. When the middleware determines a need for additional testing or retesting it may automatically create orders for such testing in order to reduce delays in manual review of testing results.

Abstract: Intraluminal medical devices, systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an intraluminal medical system includes a handheld interface device in communication with an intraluminal device to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient. The intraluminal device includes a sensor configured to obtain physiology data associated with the body lumen. The handheld interface device includes a housing sized and shaped for handheld use, a controller core disposed within the housing and configured to control a plurality of sensor types respectively associated with a plurality of intraluminal devices, a computing core disposed within the housing, and a first display integrated in the housing. The controller core is operable to identify the sensor of the intraluminal device, and control the sensor to obtain the physiology data associated with the body lumen.