Abstract: A method transmits by a watch an information message relating to an assessment of the sleep quality of a user of the watch. The method includes the following steps: recording by the processing unit of data describing at least one event-driven episode of at least one type of environmental event recorded during a sleep period of the user; identifying at least one type of environmental event that disturbs the user's sleep by processing the descriptive data; estimating a sleep quality assessment index for the user as a function of a sleep disturbance indicator for each identified type of sleep disturbing environmental event, and devising an information message including the estimated assessment index for the purpose of diffusion to the user.

Abstract: An ophthalmological device for intracapsular fragmentation of a lens nucleus of an eye comprises a laser source, a focusing optical module, and a scanner system for moving a focus to target locations in the lens nucleus. For the fragmentation of the lens nucleus, an electronic circuit controls the scanner system to move the focus to intracapsular target locations on cutting planes which extend from a posterior surface to an anterior surface of the lens nucleus. The cutting planes form a maximum of two intracapsular intersecting lines on any of the cutting planes. Two of the cutting planes are arranged at a mutual distance larger than a diameter of a phaco handpiece tip and divide the lens nucleus into three fragments.

Abstract: An input device of a surgical manipulator includes an arm unit, a wrist unit including a follower link having a base end rotatably connected to a distal end of the arm unit around a follower rotation axis, a first gimbal link rotatably connected to the follower link, a second gimbal link rotatably connected to the first gimbal link, and an operation unit as a third gimbal link rotatably connected to the second gimbal link, a motor that rotates the base end of the follower link around the follower rotation axis, and a controller configured to perform feedback control of a rotation position of the follower link using a rotation position deviation of a rotation position of the second gimbal link with respect to a second reference rotation position as a rotation position deviation of the follower link by controlling an operation of the motor.

Abstract: A point-of-use analysis with biosensors for peripheral body fluids (e.g., saliva, urine and sweat) and interstitial fluid provides measurements that gain insights to the stress response and inflammation. These measurements may be used in a closed-loop approach in which they are analyzed, and a subject's progress is measured and therapy controlled according to that progress. The point-of-use biosensors provide an opportunity to better understand the effects of stress in real-time and during normal life activities. The digital point-of-use biosensor device enable personalized medicine for many disease conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing minimally invasive surgical procedures, especially for removal of tumors, and especially for brain tumors, using a robotically inserted therapeutic probe, which first detects tumorous tissue on a pre-planned path through the patient's tissue, before performing therapeutic procedures on the tissue, such as ablation. This pre-treatment detection procedure is thus able to avoid the destruction of healthy tissue. This also ensures that the therapeutic process indicated in a preoperative surgical plan is only performed on tumorous tissue, without sole reliance on preoperative image indications. This is important for neurosurgical operations performed on the brain, since preoperative images may not be accurate due to brain shift occurring during the procedure. Detection can be performed optically or ultrasonically, and treatment by laser or RF ablation. The probe insertion can be performed at 90° to the insertion axis of the device, thus minimizing passage through healthy tissue.

Abstract: A device, for vision training and therapy, comprises a spectacle frame including a left rim, a right rim, and a bridge connecting the left rim and the right rim, wherein the left rim and the right rim include a plurality of therapeutic light sources located along the left rim and the right rim, for providing light therapy to the eyes of a user, a longitudinal member connected with the spectacle frame, and extending away from the spectacle frame, along the line of sight of the user, wherein the longitudinal member includes a plurality of colored light sources connected by a white stripe arranged to be viewable by both eyes of the user and a controller connected with the plurality of therapeutic light sources and the plurality of colored light sources. Further, the longitudinal member is extendible through an extension mechanism attached to the spectacle frame.

Abstract: A handle assembly includes an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end. A side passage extends through the body transverse to the longitudinal axis and intersects the through-passage. A locking mechanism is located in the side passage and is configured to releasably retain a medical tool onto the assembly.

Abstract: A system and method of repositioning input control devices includes an operator workstation for controlling a computer-assisted device includes an input control device for use by an operator, one or more sensors, and a controller coupled to the one or more sensors and the input control device. The controller is configured to determine whether the operator is interacting with the input control device using the one or more sensors and in response to determining a lack of operator interaction with the input control device, determine a trajectory for moving the input control device from a current position or orientation toward a desired position or orientation, and move the input control device along the trajectory. In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to stop movement of the input control device along the trajectory in response to detecting a stopping condition.

Abstract: New waveforms for use in an implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator are disclosed which mimic actively-driven biphasic pulses, and which are particularly useful for providing sub-perception Spinal Cord Stimulation therapy using low frequency pulses. The waveforms comprise anodic and cathodic pulses which are effectively monophasic in nature, although low-level, non-therapeutic charge recovery can also be used.

Abstract: Capstan slip-stop shoulders limit relative rotation of capstans: a drive is shaft rotatably inserted within first and second axially aligned annular capstans, the first capstan including a first tooth extending parallel to the drive shaft in a first direction, the second capstan including a second tooth extending parallel to the drive shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first tooth including first and second circumferentially spaced first tooth slip-stop shoulders, the second tooth including first and second circumferentially spaced second tooth slip-stop shoulders, the first and second capstans arranged such that abutting contact between the first and second slip-stop shoulders can halt capstan rotation about the drive shaft in one direction, and abutting contact between the second first and second slip-stop shoulders can halt capstan rotation about the drive shaft in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A method and external device for providing sub-perception stimulation to a patient via an implantable stimulator device is disclosed. Stimulation parameters for the patient are determined that provide sub-perception stimulation to address a symptom of the patient. A schedule is determined to provide scheduled boluses of stimulation, where each bolus comprises a duration during which stimulation is applied to the patient in accordance with the stimulation parameters, and where the scheduled boluses are separated by off times when no stimulation is provided to the patient. Preferably, the duration of each of the scheduled boluses is 3 minutes or longer, and the duration of each of the off times is 30 minutes or greater. Additional boluses can be provided on demand in addition to the scheduled boluses by selecting an option on the external device, although the provision of such additional boluses may be constrained by a lockout period.

Abstract: A phototherapy device for delivering light emitted by a light source to an infant. The phototherapy device includes two or more light pads configured to be optically connected to a light source via a connector. Light emitted by the light source is received by the connector and propagated through the connector to the light pads. The phototherapy device also includes a flexible garment configured to maintain the position of the pads on a front and back of an infant.

Abstract: For the purpose of efficiently converting a beam profile of laser light with a simple configuration, provided is a beam profile converter including: a first optical fiber that outputs guided light from a first end surface; and a second optical fiber being a multi-mode optical fiber to which the light is input to a second end surface and configured to guide the light, in which a core diameter of the second optical fiber is larger than a core diameter of the first optical fiber at the first end surface, and the light output from the first end surface is input to a core portion of the second end surface at a position separated from an optical axis of the second optical fiber in a direction inclined with respect to the second end surface.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a laser fiber may include an optical fiber. The optical fiber may include a proximal portion. The optical fiber also may include a distal portion having a distal end. The optical fiber may be configured to transmit laser energy from the proximal portion to the distal portion for emission of the laser energy from the distal end. The optical fiber also may include a distal tip surrounding the distal portion to protect the distal portion. The distal tip may include a sheet glass material having a laser energy emitting surface. The laser energy emitting surface may be defined by a chemically-strengthened surface layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling an eye surgical laser for the separation of a volume body with a predefined posterior interface and a predefined anterior interface from a cornea, comprising controlling the laser by means of a control device such that it emits pulsed laser pulses in a shot sequence in a predefined pattern into the cornea, wherein the interfaces of the volume body to be separated are defined by the predefined pattern and the interfaces are generated by means of an interaction of the individual laser pulses with the cornea by the generation of a plurality of cavitation bubbles generated by photodisruption, wherein the predefined pattern is generated by means of a mesh-like guidance of the emitted laser pulses and the control device controls the shot sequence of the laser such that a common overlap area of the cavitation bubbles is generated between adjacent cavitation bubbles.

Abstract: An optically stimulating module to be integrated into a probe is implantable into a living being with a view to locally illuminating a region of said living being. The module includes a casing that is at least partially transparent, and a hermetic electronic unit placed in the casing. The hermetic electronic unit includes an internal volume housing two light sources, a control and processing unit, and a first photodetector. The module also includes a connecting device for connecting the module to a central control and power unit.

Abstract: In laser-assisted corneal lenticule extraction procedures, the lenticule incision profile includes anterior and posterior lenticule incisions, with one or more of the following features: plano transition zone outside the optical zone, to improve mating of anterior and posterior incision surfaces after lenticule extraction; shallow arcuate incisions above the anterior incision and near the lenticule edge, to improve surface mating; separate ring cut intersecting the anterior and posterior incisions in the transition zone, to reduce tissue bridges and minimize tear at the lenticule edges and facilitate easy lenticule extraction; larger posterior incision, which includes a pocket zone outside the lenticule edge, for better surface mating and bubble management during cutting; and a separate ring shaped pocket cut intersecting the pocket zone of the posterior incision, for bubble management.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of tightening skin and/or reducing scar tissue is described herein. The method comprises performing a fractional laser ablation in a treatment area of the skin, thereby removing a column of the skin and forming a columnar vacancy in the skin, the columnar vacancy having a perimeter defined by a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side and the second side each comprising an epidermal layer, a dermal layer, and a subcutaneous layer of skin. The first side of the columnar vacancy is contacted to the second side of the columnar vacancy, thereby closing the columnar vacancy.

Abstract: A physiological information transmission method includes: by an information processing apparatus: acquiring sensor identification information of a physiological information detection sensor which is adapted to be attached to a living body, and living body identification information of the living body; and transmitting first association information associating the acquired sensor identification information and the acquired living body identification information, with each other; and by the physiological information detection sensor: receiving the first association information; determining whether or not the received first association information contains sensor identification information of the own sensor; and when the received first association information contains the sensor identification information of the own sensor, transmitting second association information associating the living body identification information in the received first association information, and physiological information which is detect

Abstract: Methods and systems for assisting a patient to reprogram parameters of an implantable medical device, such as a spinal cord stimulator, are disclosed. A patient may use an external controller, which may be either a dedicated device or a personal computing device, to interact with their implantable medical device and evaluate the efficacy of their therapy. If the efficacy diminishes, the patient may use their external controller to adjust either the neural dosage (i.e., frequency, pulse width, and/or amplitude) and/or the location at which stimulation is provided. A reprogramming assistant is provided, which guides the patient in adjusting their stimulation using their external controller. The patient may use supra-perception or sub-perception stimulation for the adjustment. The implantable medical device may include pre-programmed “rescue programs” to assist the patient in recovering the efficacy of their therapy.