Abstract: A tool introducer is configured for introduction in an elongated body including a straight tube, wherein the tube encloses a tube lumen opened at its distal end with a tube opening. The tool introducer includes locking means to selectively lock or unlock an interchangeable surgical tool to the tube from displacing axially and/or rotationally in the tube lumen, the locking means being configured such that, at the locking, a tool connector of the tool projects towards the tube opening and is distanced therefrom by at least 3 cm. A method includes positioning the surgical tool introducer such that a distal portion thereof projects in a body cavity, manipulating and/or extending the tool introducer to reach and engage an elongated shaft introduced percutaneously into the body cavity; and inserting the elongated shaft into the tube lumen via the tube opening and connecting the tool to the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An articulating surgical instrument includes a case having a trigger handle, a sheath coupled to the case, a flexible bending section coupled to the sheath, an end effector removably attachable to the bending section, a set of cables that control position of the bending section, at least two motors coupled to the cables, and a user control module configured to control position of the bending section and the end effector. The instrument further includes a pushrod disposed within the sheath and within the bending section that is configured for axial motion relative to the sheath and the bending section and rotational motion within the sheath and the bending section. The pushrod is coupled to the trigger handle and removably coupled to the end effector, so that rotational motion of the pushrod effectuates rotation of the end effector and axial motion of the pushrod is controllable by the trigger handle.

Abstract: Solid state light emitting devices include multiple LED components providing adjustable melatonin suppression effects. Multiple LED components may be operated simultaneously according to different operating modes according to which their combined output provides the same or similar chromaticity, but provides melatonin suppressing effects that differ by at least a predetermined threshold amount between the different operating modes. Switching between operating modes may be triggered by user input elements, timers/clocks, or sensors (e.g., photosensors). Chromaticity of combined output of multiple LED components may also be adjusted, together with providing adjustable melatonin suppression effects at each selected combined output chromaticity.

Abstract: Embodiments of dermatological cell treatment are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A hypotube based deliver system is used to position one or more elements in position for treatment within the body. The elements may include electrodes, sensors or injection ports or even anchors. The hypotubes may have pre-set shapes or are plastically deformed prior to positioning as they exit a positioning device. There are methods of providing therapy using the hypotubes including mixed mode therapies are also described.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates systems, methods, and devices for treating an eye of a patient. In some embodiments, a system may be provided that includes a console for generating a treatment laser and an illumination light. The system may further include a treatment probe for delivering the illumination light to an eye so as to illuminate the ciliary process of the eye. With the illuminated ciliary process, the treatment probe may be aligned to deliver the treatment laser from the console to the ciliary process of the eye for the purpose of treating a patient for glaucoma. In some embodiments, a treatment probe may be provided with an illumination fiber for delivering light to specific portions of the eye or at desired angles in order to illuminate the ciliary process. In some embodiments a treatment probe may be configured to cooperate with a removable light pen for eye illumination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bodily invasive steerable device (100) having a proximal (201) and distal (205) end comprising a steering mechanism (50) having a proximal bending part (202), a distal bending part (204), and an intermediate part (203) disposed between the proximal bending part (202) and the distal bending part (204) configured mechanically to transmit forces applied at the proximal end (201) to the distal end (205). The steering is mechanism configured such that the distal bending part (204) moves responsive to movements of the proximal bending part (202). The device also comprises a handle (206) coupled to the proximal bending part (202) to effect manual bending. The handle (206) comprises at least one grip member (210) that extends distally (205), at least over the proximal terminal end (171) of the proximal bending part (202).

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards a medical instrument. The medical instrument includes a housing and an end effector assembly operably connected to the housing. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each having a tissue contacting surface, at least one of the first and second jaw members movable between a first, spaced-apart position and a second proximate position, wherein in the second position, the jaw members cooperate to define a cavity configured to receive tissue between the jaw members. The end effector also includes at least one light-emitting element coupled to at least one of the first and second jaw members, the at least one light-emitting element adapted to deliver light energy to tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members to treat the tissue.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable phototherapy device capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength and intensity sufficient to obtain a desired phototherapeutic effect to a subject, without being in direct physical contact with said subject. The device is portable, capable of being flattened, folded, rolled, compressed, or otherwise collapsed, to a size smaller than that of its operating size. The device may be of any size or shape, and may optionally comprise a frame support. The device may be powered by a variety of sources, including one or more batteries. The device may be configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation sufficient to obtain one or more of a variety of desired phototherapeutic effects.

Abstract: A tool for a medical instrument includes a coupling member on the proximal end of the tool, for releasable mechanical coupling with a distal end of a shaft of a medical instrument, wherein the coupling member is in the form of a helical cutout of a circular cylinder barrel.

Abstract: This invention is related to refractive eye surgery and specifically regarding guiding a laser beam through free space using a set of rotatable mirrors to guide said laser beam into a hand piece module that converts the laser beam into a two dimensional random overlapping scanning parallel laser beam that is delivered to the eye for ablation of cornea tissue to reshape the cornea of the eye. The rotating mirror set module allows a hand piece having an eye stabilization and distance control unit to be positioned by the surgeon onto a patient's eye for performing the surgery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing an epithelial layer disposed over a stromal layer in a cornea irradiate a region of the epithelial layer with a pulsed beam of ablative radiation. The ablative radiation is scanned to vary the location of the beam within the region in accordance with a pulse sequence. The pulse sequence is arranged to enhance optical feedback based on a tissue fluorescence of the epithelial layer. The penetration of the epithelial layer is detected in response to the optical feedback. The use of scanning with the pulse sequence arranged to enhance optical feedback allows large areas of the epithelium to be ablated such penetration of the epithelial layer can be detected.

Abstract: A handheld surgical device includes a gripping mechanism for gripping pins or wires with a range of different sizes. The gripping mechanism includes a plurality of gripping blocks, the plurality of gripping blocks interacting to form a variable size channel. A sliding compression control element applies a compressive force to each gripping block and thereby grip a wire or pin within a range of sizes in the center of a pin/wire receiving channel.

Abstract: A method for generating cut surfaces in the cornea of an eye in order to correct ametropia using an apparatus. The method includes providing the apparatus including a laser unit, which focuses pulsed laser radiation into the cornea and moves the focused radiation in the cornea to generate cut surfaces, and a control unit, which controls the laser unit for generating cut surfaces. The method includes forming at least two mutually spaced apart cut surfaces as opening cuts by application of the pulsed laser radiation from the laser unit, each opening cut extending from an anterior corneal surface into the cornea and forming a further cut surface as a relieving cut by application of the pulsed laser radiation from the laser unit, which relieving cut extends from the anterior corneal surface into the cornea. The position and shape of the relieving cut is selected such that the relieving cut contributes to the correction of the ametropia of the eye.

Abstract: For processing eye tissue using a pulsed laser beam (L), an ophthalmological device includes a projection optical unit for the focused projection of the laser beam (L) into the eye tissue, and a scanner system upstream of the projection optical unit for the beam-deflecting scanning of the eye tissue with the laser beam (L) in a scanning movement (s?) performed over a scanning angle along a scanning line (s). The ophthalmological device includes a divergence modulator disposed upstream of the scanner system for dynamically varying the divergence of the laser beam (L), whereby the scanning line (s) is tilted in a plane running through the optical axis of the projection optical unit and the scanning line(s). The tilting of the scanning line(s) enables a displacement—dependent on the scanning angle—of the focus of the laser pulses projected into the eye tissue without vertical displacement of the projection optical unit.

Abstract: Phototherapy systems comprising a therapeutic lamp platform for radiant lamps such as LEDs disposed in an assembly including a reflective surface facing towards a patient and a plurality of light apertures substantially aligned with the LEDs for communicating lamp radiation from the lamps to a user. The lamps and associated circuitry are disposed so that the reflective surface is relatively smooth and seamless towards the patient. The walls have a malleable rigidity for flexible adjustability relative to the user, and the device is mounted to the user with a frame.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for producing SuperContinuum (SC) light for medical and biological applications is provided. Pulses are focused from a laser system into at least one of a pressurized cell and one or more fibers. A pump pulse is converted into the SC light at a specified rate of repetition. The SC light is applied at the specified rate of repetition to tissue for medical and biological applications.

Abstract: A cooperative-control robot includes a base component, a mobile platform arranged proximate the base component, a translation assembly operatively connected to the base component and the mobile platform and configured to move the mobile platform with translational degrees of freedom substantially without rotation with respect to said the component, a tool assembly connected to the mobile platform, and a control system configured to communicate with the translation assembly to control motion of the mobile platform in response to forces by a user applied to at least a portion of the cooperative-control robot. The translation assembly includes at least three independently operable actuator arms, each connected to a separate position of the mobile platform. A robotic system includes two or more the cooperative-control robots.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of apparatus, system, computer-accessible medium, procedure and method are provided which can be used for providing laser steering and focusing for, e.g., incision, excision and/or ablation of tissue in minimally-invasive surgery. For example, the exemplary apparatus can include at least one optical element which can be configured to refract and/or diffract light provided in a structure which can be configured to be inserted into a body, where at least one of the optical element(s) is structured to receive the light at a first angle and generate a refracted and/or diffracted light at a second angle which can be different from the first angle relative to an optical axis. For example, an actuating arrangement can be provided, which can be configured to control the optical element(s), can be provided and situated at least partially within the at least one structure.

Abstract: A hand-held therapeutic laser apparatus with a special opto-mechanical construction, which enables changeability of a front collimating lens to create different effective laser apertures. A smaller effective aperture has a comparatively higher radiant flux density for treatment of a small area that requires a higher energy dose, while a larger effective aperture facilitates treatment of a large area at a relatively reduced radiant intensity.