Abstract: Provided are devices and methods suitable for immobilizing tissue and for use in non-invasive methods of assessing lower urinary tract symptoms as well as in surgical application.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for measuring and displaying the magnitude of traction forces applied to a patient's lower limbs during surgery, and for measuring the direction and magnitude of counter-traction forces applied to the patient's body by the perineal post located at the patient's groin to oppose traction forces applied to the patient's lower limbs.

Abstract: Devices and methods for visually confirming the positioning of a distal end portion of an illuminating device placed within a patient include inserting a distal end portion of an illuminating device internally into a patient, emitting light from the distal end portion of the illuminating device, observing transillumination resulting from the light emitted from the distal end portion of the illuminating device that occurs on an external surface of the patient, and correlating the location of the observed transillumination on the external surface of the patient with an internal location of the patient that underlies the location of observed transillumination, to confirm positioning of the distal end portion of the illuminating device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for relating additional spatial information associated with one volume data set of an anatomical structure with another volume data set of the anatomical structure where the spatial information is not available. A unique spatial characteristic of the volume data set is identified, such as an image moment of inertia, and an arbitrary reference frame is assigned to the volume data set and correlated with the unique spatial characteristic. The additional spatial information is also correlated with the arbitrary reference frame. The additional spatial information is then correlated to a second volume data set of the anatomical structure by registering the first and second volume data sets based on the unique spatial characteristic. The methods and systems allow registration of different volume data sets of the same anatomical structure and transfer of the additional spatial information without establishing a local reference frame based on predefined landmarks.

Abstract: A device may operate a guide wire and be operable by a single operator digit. The device may include an insertion control device for advancing the guide wire in a forward and in a reverse direction and along a longitudinal axis of the guide wire; and a rotary device for rolling a guide wire about the longitudinal axis. A robotic instrument driver may be operatively coupled to the device and configured to control axial movement of the guide wire along the longitudinal axis according to input received from the insertion control device and to control rotational movement of the guide wire according to input received from the rotary device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and system for obtaining baseline patient information. In some examples, a method may include acquiring first patient data, wherein the first patient data comprises at least one of first posture state data indicative of a plurality of posture states of a patient during a first time period or first therapy adjustment data indicative of a plurality of patient therapy adjustments made during the first time period; generating baseline patient information based at least in part on the first patient data; and comparing the baseline patient information to patient information generated based on second patient data. Therapy is not delivered to the patient according to a detected posture state of the patient during the first time period, and therapy is delivered to the patient according to the detected posture state of the patient during the second time period.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device useful for preserving tissue samples after extraction from human or animal patients. The device includes a circular blade for taking a tissue sample, the blade being coupled to a sealing cap which mates to one end of a container. A retrieval port is also disclosed for extracting fluids from the container. Methods are also disclosed by which tissue samples may be taken and prepared for storage, processing, culture, or other analysis.

Abstract: A biopsy device comprises a probe assembly, a holster assembly, a tissue sample holder, and a manually operated rotation mechanism configured to rotate the tissue sample holder. The probe assembly comprises a cutter configured to sever a tissue sample. The tissue sample holder includes a plurality of tissue chambers configured to receive discrete severed tissue samples. The holster assembly comprises the non-motorized, manually operated rotation mechanism configured to allow a user to align consecutive chambers to successively collect discrete severed tissue samples. The tissue sample holder rotation mechanism may comprise a first button, a first lever, a first pawl, a first ratchet, an indexing shaft, and a first gear, which are all configured to, ultimately, rotate a tissue sample holder. The tissue sample holder rotation mechanism may alternately include thumbwheels, a worm gear, or a ratcheting lever, among other things.

Abstract: A system for traversing an arterial occlusion in an artery includes a housing sized to fit in a palm of a user, an elongate drive tube configured to be rotated by the housing, the drive tube including an axially extending passage, a cylindrical member, configured to be rotationally coupled to the drive tube, such that a distal tip of the cylindrical member may be delivered to a location adjacent the arterial occlusion when the cylindrical member is coupled to the drive tube, and wherein grasping and activating the housing such that the drive tube is rotated, thereby causes the distal tip of the cylindrical member to be rotated, the rotation of the distal tip including at least a component of linear oscillation.

Abstract: A cooling system for preserving tissue is disclosed. The cooling system comprises a base member, a temperature control sleeve constructed of a thermally conductive material, and a selectively removable lid member. The base member defines a reservoir and receives the temperature control sleeve. The temperature control sleeve at least partially defines a tissue collector chamber that is configured to receive a tissue collector. The temperature control sleeve is in communication with the reservoir. The reservoir is configured to receive a cooling medium. A slit formed within the tissue collection chamber that is sized to receive a tubing connected to the tissue collector therethrough. The lid member is configured to be selectively attached to the base member, and permit access to a tube mount for the tissue collector when the lid is attached to the base member.

Abstract: In an automated method for in vivo multiple cell patch clamping, cell patch clamping devices are automatically moved into position and targeted to multiple corresponding cells. Cell contact is determined by analyzing the temporal series of measured resistance levels at the clamping devices as they are moved. The difference between successive resistance levels is computed and compared to a threshold, which must be exceeded for a minimum number of computations before neuron contact is assumed. Pneumatic control methods are used to achieve cell-attached or gigaseal formation and subsequent cell break-in, leading to whole-cell patch clamp formation. An automated robotic system automatically performs patch clamping in vivo, automatically detecting cells according to the methodology by analyzing the temporal sequence of electrode impedance changes.

Abstract: A pelvic floor treatment apparatus (100) includes a head portion (A) and a body portion (B) connected to the head portion (A) at a first end. The body portion (B) comprises: one or more pressure transducers (D1) located along a length of the body portion (B) and configured to determine pressure at one or more locations within an organ, wherein at least one of the one or more pressure transducers (D1) is selectively movable along the length of the body portion (B); and one or more electrodes (D2) configured to selectively electrically stimulate a location within the organ.

Abstract: A distal end portion 2B of the core has a structure of a combined truncated cone 26 formed by connecting truncated cones satisfying a predetermined relational expression. An outer diameter ratio between the maximum outer diameter and the minimum outer diameter of the combined truncated cone 26 is greater than the outer diameter ratio between a large diameter proximal portion and a small diameter distal portion of an inner coil 4, and is greater than the outer diameter ratio between a large diameter proximal portion and a small diameter distal portion of the outer coil. Because of this, the rotation angle of the proximal side is reduced when rotation operation is performed and the torsional moment toward the distal end side is increased. Thus, the perforation performance at the completely occluded lesion can be improved.

Abstract: A system and a method of positioning a wire guide are provided. The method includes inserting a wire guide in a first configuration into a lumen of a catheter, distally advancing the wire guide to a distal portion of the lumen so that a distal end of the wire guide is distal to an opening in a wall of the catheter and advancing a distal portion of the wire guide through the opening by distally advancing the distal portion relative to the catheter so that the distal end remains in the lumen as the distal portion of the wire guide extends out of the opening. The method includes advancing the distal portion of the wire guide further out of the opening so that the distal end exits through the opening so that the distal portion is distal to the distal end of the wire guide in a second configuration.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes an orientation sensor that detects an actual orientation of a surgical tool. The apparatus also includes a tactile orientation feedback device that selectively provides a tactile orientation feedback signal. Moreover, the apparatus includes a controller that causes the tactile orientation feedback device to provide the tactile orientation feedback signal when the actual orientation of the surgical tool detected by the orientation sensor is substantially equal to a predetermined target orientation of the surgical tool.

Abstract: A method may include collecting at least one analyte from within a body, ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body. A system may include a means for collecting at least one analyte from within a body, a means for ejecting the collected at least one analyte from the body through at least one dermal layer of the body, and a means for receiving the ejected at least one analyte outside the body.

Abstract: Impedance devices and methods of using the same to obtain luminal organ measurements. In at least one embodiment of an impedance device of the present disclosure, the impedance device comprises an elongated body having a distal body end, and a first electrode located along the elongated body at or near the distal body end, the first electrode configured to obtain one or more conductance values within a mammalian luminal organ within an electric field, wherein a measured parameter of the mammalian luminal organ can be calculated based in part upon the one or more conductance values obtained by the first electrode.

Abstract: A method for scoring one or more functional abilities of a patient that comprises exercising a patient according to an exercising pattern, using at least one sensor for sensing one or more manipulations of the patient during the exercising, and scoring the one or more functional abilities according to the sensed manipulations. The scoring is performed according to a visual rehabilitation evaluation scale for scoring the one or more functional abilities.

Abstract: An automatically locking safety device, e.g., for use in a blood collection procedure, can include a housing, first and second needle covers that are at least partly received in the housing, and a needle that is at least partly received in at least one of the first and second needle covers. The needle can include a proximal tip configured for placement into a patient and a distal tip configured for placement into a blood collection vial. In some embodiments, the first and second needle covers are biased by a biasing member. In some cases, one or both of the first and second needle covers can be locked to prevent axial movement thereof after the blood collection procedure. In certain embodiments, a distal end of the device is configured to connect with a medical connector, such as a needleless IV access device.

Abstract: Bodily fluid sample collection systems, devices, and method are provided. The device may comprise a first portion comprising at least a sample collection channel configured to draw the fluid sample into the sample collection channel via a first type of motive force. The sample collection device may include a second portion comprising a sample container for receiving the bodily fluid sample collected in the sample collection channel, the sample container operably engagable to be in fluid communication with the collection channel, whereupon when fluid communication is established, the container provides a second motive force different from the first motive force to move a majority of the bodily fluid sample from the channel into the container.