Abstract: A medical laser system and related methods of utilizing cooling within and around an optical fiber tip to prevent premature failure of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is surrounded by protective jacket assembly including a body tube assembly and a tip cap assembly. The body tube assembly includes an internal fiber jacket and an external body tube with a body tube channel defined therebetween. The tip cap assembly includes an inner cap member and an outer cap member defining a cap irrigation channel therebetween. Together, the cap irrigation channel and body tube channel cooperatively define an internal irrigation channel. The optical fiber can be delivered to a treatment location through a cystoscope. Saline is directed through an external irrigation channel between the cystoscope and the protective jacket assembly as well as the internal irrigation channel to cool the fiber tip and prevent overheating and failure of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method is for dynamically adjusting a circadian rhythm of an observer via a user device that includes control circuitry and an associated memory. The method includes accessing a calendar, identifying future events to precondition for and determining a preconditioning schedule for at least one of the identified future events. Determining the schedule includes identifying a circadian shift needed for the at least one identified future event, determining a magnitude of the circadian shift, determining a timeframe for preconditioning, determining a magnitude of a per-day shift based upon the timeframe, and determining if the per-day shift exceeds a maximum allowed per-day shift.

Abstract: A laser fiber has a distal end having a laser fiber face. A tip addition is attached to or formed onto the fiber face. The material of the tip addition one of fragments or melts when laser energy from a suitable laser device is passed through the laser fiber and through the tip addition.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a selectively rotatable housing, an adaptor, and a shaft including an end effector. The adaptor is coupled to the housing and is selectively movable between a first position and a second position. The shaft is coupled to one or both of the housing and the adaptor. The end effector is articulable in response to the selective rotation of the housing. The end effector is articulable toward a first direction when the adaptor is positioned in the first position and articulable toward a second direction when the adaptor is positioned in the second position. The first and second directions are different.

Abstract: Provided is a surgical handpiece for providing an electromagnetic cutting blade. The handpiece, comprises a body portion having an input end and an output end, a plurality of optical fibers for receiving laser energy having a wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range, wherein the optical fibers are received in the body portion at the input end and extend to the output end, and an optical fiber transition region within the body portion for arranging the plurality of optical fibers into a predetermine cutting shape at the output end, wherein laser energy transmitted from the arranged optical fibers at the output end interact with water molecules near the surgical target to generate micro-explosions that result in a cutting effect.

Abstract: A snare for deployment or retrieval of an implantable medical apparatus. The snare includes a shaft, and a tip distal of the shaft. The tip includes an extendable member capable of self-centering the implantable apparatus during a deployment or retrieval. The extendable member is selectively receivable in the tip, distally extendable from the tip, and rotatable relative to the tip. An activatable handle is engaged with the shaft. A wire has an end engaged with the handle and an end engaged with the tip. Upon activation, the wire is urged in a proximal direction, resulting in a flexure of the tip. An elongated mechanism has a proximal portion engaged with the handle, and a distal portion engaged with the tip extendable member. The elongated mechanism is configured for selectively controlling the receiving, deploying, and rotating of the extendable member.

Abstract: A steerable laser probe may include a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, an actuation structure of the handle, a flexible housing tube having a flexible housing tube distal end and a flexible housing tube proximal end, and an optic fiber disposed within an inner bore of the handle and the flexible housing tube. A compression of the actuation structure may cause the optic fiber to gradually curve. A decompression of the actuation structure may cause the optic fiber to gradually straighten.

Abstract: A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation structure of the handle, a housing tube, a wire having a pre-formed curve, and an optic fiber disposed within the housing tube and an inner bore of the handle. The housing tube may include a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. A compression of the actuation structure may curve or straighten the housing tube. A decompression of the actuation structure may curve or straighten the housing tube.

Abstract: A surgical instrument system for ophthalmic surgery in an eye is provided, comprising: an OCT apparatus including an interferometer; an optical fiber coupled to the OCT apparatus and extending a probe arm of the interferometer; a hand tool comprising: a hand piece, a tube extending away from the hand piece and comprising a distal end portion having a longitudinal axis, wherein a distal portion of the optical fiber is received within the tube; a beam emitter coupled to a tip end of the optical fiber and configured to emit an OCT measuring beam into an emission direction; and an actuator configured to change the emission direction of the OCT measuring beam relative to a tip end of the distal end portion.

Abstract: A method of optimizing the irradiation of a target with laser radiation includes selecting and mounting on a laser radiation delivery device either a waveguide or optical fiber type to be used; also, selecting at least the following parameters: selecting the total energy of the at least one train of pulses to be delivered to the target, and selecting the distance from the distal delivery end to the target; then, initiating irradiation of the target for the at least one train of pulses by generating a first laser pulse with sufficient energy (Ei) to form a vapor bubble in a liquid medium; allowing the vapor bubble formed to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the distal delivery end and the target; and, thereafter, after the selected time delay (Td) sufficient for the formed vapor bubble to reach its optimum extent, generating a second laser pulse (Ep), the second laser pulse being delivered to the target through the formed vapor bubble.

Abstract: In a flexible LED pad for use in phototherapy treatment of humans or animals, the PCBs in the pad are securely linked together with electrical connectors and ribbon cables to prevent the connections from being broken as the flexible pad is bent or otherwise deformed during the treatment. In one embodiment, low-profile socket connectors are mounted to the PCBs and mate with plug connectors at the ends of the ribbon cables. For similar reasons, the LED pad may be connected to an LED control unit by means of an electrical connector (e.g. a USB socket) mounted to a PCB in the LED pad. The PCBs, on which the LEDs are mounted, are fitted into a downset in the flexible pad to prevent the LEDs from becoming misaligned with openings in the flexible pad.

Abstract: A system includes a medical instrument that includes a termination fixture, an actuated element, and drive members coupled to the actuated element and extending to the termination fixture. The termination fixture provides an interface that exposes portions of the drive member to direct movement by an external system that may include a manipulator and a sterile barrier.

Abstract: A device and a method for controlling a laser system for the treatment of the eye lens by means of laser-induced disruptions. The laser system includes a femtosecond laser and a deflection unit for directing the laser beam and a detection device for detecting a value characteristic of the occurrence of disruptions being provided. The detection device is connected to the control device and the control device is adapted to determine a pulse energy for the laser system from the characteristic value and to actuate the laser accordingly.

Abstract: A fixed sequence activation handle is described that forces a predetermined activation sequence. Such handles are suitable for use in the delivery of medical devices or for other application that require a fixed sequence of activations.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a system and method can be provided for measuring a level and/or details of how engaging, effective or memorable a stimulus that may be based on information associated with one or more subjects' neuronal, physiological and/or behavioral responses to the stimulus. In addition, an exemplary embodiment of a computer-accessible medium containing executable instructions thereon can also be provided which can be executed by a processing arrangement. For example, when the processing arrangement executes the instructions, the processing arrangement can be configured to, e.g., receive neuronal, physiological and/or behavioral data one or more subjects being presented with stimuli, determine further data associated with a measure of inter-subject similarity of the neuronal, physiological and/or behavioral data, and identify particular portions of the stimuli that meet a pre-determined criteria relating to the further data associated with the measure of inter-subject similarity.

Abstract: A method for marking coagulation sites on a retina by application of a light source including projecting a serial spot sequence from a sequential, one-dimensional series of spots on the retina, wherein the individual spots indicate the coagulation sites; waiting for confirmation of the sequence of individual spots; after confirming, recalculating an automated sequence of steps having a further serial spot sequence and projecting them on the retina according to the first step; and subsequent repeating of the second and third steps. Also, a system for coagulating the retina, having an imaging diagnostic unit, a therapy beam for coagulating coagulation sites, a pilot beam for marking the coagulation sites by a spot sequence, a beam deflecting unit for generating the spot sequence and for positioning the therapy beam, an electronic control unit for controlling the above devices, a software interface, and an interactive interface.

Abstract: An imaging-based laser system can include a laser-beam system, configured to generate and scan a beam of laser pulses with an adjustable laser-power parameter to points of a scan-pattern in an eye, and an imaging-based laser-controller, configured to image a layer in the eye, to control the scanning of the beam of laser pulses to the points of the scan-pattern, and to control a laser-power parameter of the laser pulses according to the distance of the points of the scan-pattern from the imaged layer.

Abstract: A voxel tagging system (100) includes a sensing enabled device (104) having an optical fiber (126) configured to sense induced strain within the device (Bragg grating sensor). An interpretation module (112) is configured to receive signals from the optical fiber interacting with an internal organ, e.g. heart, and to interpret the signals to determine positions visited by the at least one optical fiber within the internal organ. A data source (152, 154) is configured to generate data associated with an event or status, e.g. respiration, ECG phase, time stamp, etc. A storage device (116) is configured to store a history (136) of the positions visited in the internal organ and associate the positions with the data generated by the data source (152, 154).

Abstract: A method for forming an incision in an eye, the method including performing a first pass of a first laser beam along a path within an eye, wherein after completion of the first pass there exists a residual uncut layer at an anterior surface of a cornea of the eye. The method further including performing a second pass of a second laser beam only along a portion of the path that contains the residual uncut layer, wherein after completion of the second pass, the residual uncut layer is transformed into a full complete through surface incision.

Abstract: A method of dynamically adjusting a circadian rhythm comprising the steps of determining a current circadian rhythm status of a circadian rhythm of an observer, accessing a calendar of the observer, and identifying a future event of the observer to precondition for, defined as an identified future event. A preconditioning schedule responsive to the identified future event may then be determined. Furthermore, communication with a light source may be established, and the light source may then be operated to emit light according to the preconditioning schedule.