Abstract: A suturing system including apparatus and methods for disposing stitches in a substrate comprising a thread carrier which inserts a thread in the substrate at a first location and withdraws the thread from the substrate at a second location.

Abstract: A fabrication device includes a build surface to receive layers of material for production of a 3-dimensional solid representation of a digital model and an imaging component to bind respective portions of the build material into cross sections representative of portions of data contained in the digital model. The imaging component may be a programmable planar light source utilizing a micropixelation system and refractive pixel shifting mechanism, or other imaging system. The device may include a system for controlling the density of the printed part. The object may be a powder composite component using any of a variety of powder materials or a plastic component. The object may be further post-processed to produce a high precision metal or ceramic component.

Abstract: A fabrication device includes a platform to receive layers of build material for production of a 3-dimensional solid representation of a digital model, a component to deposit layers of build material, and an imagining component to bind respective portions of the build material into cross sections representative of portions of data contained in the digital model. The first imaging component may be a programmable planar light source or a specialized refractive rastering mechanism, or other imaging system. The platform includes an infusion system for providing photocurable resin to the component being built. The object may be a powder composite component using any of a variety of powder materials or a plastic component.

Abstract: A fabrication device includes a build surface to receive layers of material for production of a 3-dimensional solid representation of a digital model and an imaging component to bind respective portions of the build material into cross sections representative of portions of data contained in the digital model. The device can include a system to recirculate and/or homogenize material prior to use in the fabrication process. The device can include a system for controlling the density of the printed part. An exemplary object made by the fabrication device can include a powder composite component using any of a variety of powder materials. The exemplary object can be further post-processed to produce a high precision metal or ceramic component. The fabrication device can include a selective deposition unit for selectively depositing a supplemental build material at high resolution. The fabrication device can include an imaging unit with extended usage life.

Abstract: A fabrication device includes a build surface to receive layers of material for production of a 3-dimensional solid representation of a digital model and an imaging component to bind respective portions of the build material into cross sections representative of portions of data contained in the digital model. The imaging component may be a programmable planar light source utilizing a micropixelation system and refractive pixel shifting mechanism, or other imaging system. The device may include a system for controlling the density of the printed part. The object may be a powder composite component using any of a variety of powder materials or a plastic component. The object may be further post-processed to produce a high precision metal or ceramic component.

Abstract: A fabrication device includes a build surface for production of a 3-dimensional solid component, a material delivery system configured to deposit one or more build materials on the build surface, at least one of the one or more build materials being a photocurable material, a first imaging component having a first resolution, and a second imaging component having a second resolution different from the first resolution. In this configuration, the first imaging component and the second imaging component are operable individually and in combination together to selectively irradiate the photocurable material to at least partially solidify successive layers of the 3-dimensional solid component In one example, the lower resolution imaging component solidifies bulk interior regions and the higher resolution component solidifies detailed borders.

Abstract: A fabrication device includes a platform to receive layers of build material for production of a 3-dimensional solid representation of a digital model, a component to deposit layers of build material, and an imaging component to bind respective portions of the build material into cross sections representative of portions of data contained in the digital model. The first imaging component may be a programmable planar light source or a specialized refractive rastering mechanism, or other imaging system. The platform includes an infusion system for providing photocurable resin to the component being built. The object may be a powder composite component using any of a variety of powder materials or a plastic component.

Abstract: A suturing system including apparatus and methods for disposing stitches in a substrate comprising a thread carrier which inserts a thread in the substrate at a first location and withdraws the thread from the substrate at a second location.

Abstract: A catheter insertion device which employs back-and-forth longitudinal axial movement to advance the catheter by the cooperative interface of an incline ramp and a decline ramp with a split gripping mechanism is described.

Abstract: A catheter insertion device which employs back-and-forth longitudinal axial movement to advance the catheter by the cooperative interface of an incline ramp and a decline ramp with a split gripping mechanism is described.

Abstract: A surgical tool for minimally invasive surgery. The surgical tool in one embodiment includes a manipulator as a user interface, a proximal universal joint mounted to the manipulator, a hollow elongated member such as a tube mounted to the proximal universal joint, and a distal universal joint mounted to the other end of the elongated member. An end effector is mounted to the distal universal joint second end. Pivoting of the first end of the proximal universal joint causes the second end of the distal universal joint to move in a corresponding motion, and cabling operatively couples the proximal and distal universal joints. The proximal and distal universal joints may each include two yokes and a center block. Cabling may include four cables that each engage two round elements at the proximal and distal universal joints mounting locations to the center block.

Abstract: A surgical tool for minimally invasive surgery. The surgical tool in one embodiment includes a manipulator as a user interface, a proximal universal joint mounted to the manipulator, a hollow elongated member such as a tube mounted to the proximal universal joint, and a distal universal joint mounted to the other end of the elongated member. An end effector is mounted to the distal universal joint second end. Pivoting of the first end of the proximal universal joint causes the second end of the distal universal joint to move in a corresponding motion, and cabling operatively couples the proximal and distal universal joints. The proximal and distal universal joints may each include two yokes and a center block. Cabling may include four cables that each engage two round elements at the proximal and distal universal joints mounting locations to the center block.

Abstract: A surgical tool for minimally invasive surgery. In one embodiment, the surgical tool includes a proximal joint and a distal joint at opposite ends of a tube that constrain pivoting of adjacent parts to be about two perpendicular, intersecting axes. Three articulation control cable lengths engage and operatively couple the joints to control the two degrees of freedom of the distal joint. A manipulator and an end effector may be operatively coupled, with one cable controlling the opening and closing of jaws. In another embodiment, a surgical tool includes two flexible articulation elements mounted to opposite ends of a tube assembly. The tube assembly includes a proximal tube element and a distal tube element, with their ends rotatably mounted to each other. The mode of operation the tool may be changed between motion-following and motion-mirroring by rotating the distal tube element relative to the proximal tube element.

Abstract: A surgical tool for minimally invasive surgery. The surgical tool in one embodiment includes a manipulator as a user interface, a proximal universal joint mounted to the manipulator, a hollow elongated member such as a tube mounted to the proximal universal joint, and a distal universal joint mounted to the other end of the elongated member. An end effector is mounted to the distal universal joint second end. Pivoting of the first end of the proximal universal joint causes the second end of the distal universal joint to move in a corresponding motion, and cabling operatively couples the proximal and distal universal joints. The proximal and distal universal joints may each include two yokes and a center block. Cabling may include four cables that each engage two round elements at the proximal and distal universal joints mounting locations to the center block.