Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses relating to a speculum. The speculum includes a handle, a first bill and a second bill, where a proximal end portion of the first bill and the second bill are coupled to an upper portion of the handle and configured to open along a first axis, a third bill and a fourth bill, where a proximal end portion of the third bill and the fourth bill are coupled to the upper portion of the handle and configured to open along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis and an actuation mechanism that causes the first bill and the second bill to move between an open position and a closed position. In some embodiments, the speculum includes a locking mechanism with a rocker mechanism, a lock strip contained in a handle of the speculum, and a pawl coupled to the handle.

Abstract: A medical device connector module, including a housing, a cable extending from the housing, and an optical fiber. The housing includes a receptacle configured to receive a first plug to establish an optical connection between a medical device and the medical device connector module. The housing further includes a plurality of sensors configured to provide sensor data for determining a reference plane for shape sensing. The plurality of sensors include a gyroscope and an accelerometer. The cable includes a second plug. The optical fiber extends from the receptacle through the cable to the second plug. The optical fiber is configured to convey input optical signals from the optical interrogator to the receptacle and reflected optical signals from the receptacle to the optical interrogator.

Abstract: A rail-and-node frame system for modular furniture includes a plurality of rails each of which including an end cap designed to couple to the rails and to join together several converging rails at a knuckle joint. The end cap may include gear elements operable to facilitate secure coupling to the rails, and may further include one or more protruding elements to secure the end cap within the knuckle joint. The rails are designed to receive and support one or more shelving units or other components of the modular furniture.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices for use with a speculum including a reusable light and a charger for charging the reusable light. A reusable light device may include a housing, the housing having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the housing defines a chamber containing: a battery, and a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a first coil configured to charge the battery; and wherein the battery provides power to a light-emitting diode (LED) disposed at the distal end of the housing; and a clip affixed to the proximal end of the housing and configured to attach the reusable light to the medical speculum.

Abstract: Optical-fiber connector modules are disclosed. In one example, an optical-fiber connector module can include a receptacle, a cable, and an optical fiber within at least the cable. The receptacle can be configured to accept insertion of a first plug for establishing a first optical connection between the optical-fiber connector module and an optical-fiber stylet of a medical device. The cable can include a second plug for establishing a second optical connection between the optical-fiber connector module and an optical interrogator. The optical fiber can extend from the receptacle through the cable to the second plug. The optical fiber can be configured to convey input optical signals from the optical interrogator to the optical-fiber stylet and reflected optical signals from the optical-fiber stylet to the optical interrogator.

Abstract: Shape-sensing systems and methods for catheters. The shape-sensing system can include a catheter, an optical interrogator, a console, and a display screen. The catheter can include an integrated optical-fiber stylet having fiber Bragg grating (“FBG”) sensors along at least a distal-end portion thereof. The optical interrogator can be configured to send input optical signals into the optical-fiber stylet and receive FBG sensor-reflected optical signals therefrom. The console can be configured to convert the reflected optical signals into plottable data for displaying plots thereof on the display screen. The plots can include a plot of curvature vs. time for each FBG sensor of a selection of the FBG sensors in the distal-end portion of the optical-fiber stylet for identifying a distinctive change in strain of the optical-fiber stylet as a tip of the catheter is advanced into a superior vena cava of a patient.

Abstract: A catheter placement system includes a location sensor configured for placement on a patient, a drape configured to cover the patient and the location sensor, and a connector tethered to a stylet. The location sensor can include an exterior channel having a channel length, an exterior alignment notch positioned above the exterior channel, the exterior alignment notch having a notch length less than the channel length, and an interior receptacle including an electrical contact. The connector can include an alignment protrusion and a piercing element having an electrical contact, the connector configured to couple to the location sensor through the drape. The alignment protrusion of the connector can be configured to move through the exterior alignment notch and into the exterior channel. The piercing element can be configured to pierce the drape and form an electrical connection with the electrical contact in the interior receptacle.

Abstract: A tether connector configured to form an electrical connection with a sensor connector through a sterile barrier disposed over the sensor connector. The tether connector can include a housing, an electrical lead extending from the housing, and a first piercing element in the housing orthogonally connected to the electrical lead, the first piercing element configured to pierce the sterile barrier to form the electrical connection with the sensor connector.

Abstract: A connection system includes a first connector and a second connector configured for establishing one or more electrical connections through a drape. The first connector can include an alignment protrusion and a first piercing element having one or more electrical contacts configured to pierce the drape. The second connector can include an alignment notch, a channel, and a first receptacle configured to receive the first piercing element when inserted therein. The alignment notch can be configured to accept the alignment protrusion when the first connector is aligned with the second connector then disposed over the second connector. The channel can be configured to allow the alignment protrusion to slide along a length of the second connector. The first receptacle can have one or more electrical contacts configured to form at least a first electrical connection of the one or more electrical connections with the first connector.

Abstract: A shape-sensing system can include a stylet, an optical interrogator, a console, and a display screen. The stylet can include an optical fiber with fiber Bragg grating (“FBG”) sensors along a length of the optical fiber. The optical interrogator can be configured to send input optical signals into the optical fiber and receive FBG sensor-reflected optical signals from the optical fiber. The console can be configured to convert the reflected optical signals with the aid of filtering algorithms of some optical signal-converter algorithms into plottable data for displaying plots thereof on the display screen. The plots can include a plot of curvature vs. time for each FBG sensor of a selection of the FBG sensors for identifying a distinctive change in strain of the optical fiber as the stylet is advanced into a superior vena cava of a patient.

Abstract: A lighting module includes a housing portion, a clip portion having a receiving space between configured to receive a speculum, an arm portion extending from the clip portion and including a lighting element, and a power source electrically connected to the lighting element. Also, a speculum assembly including a speculum and a lighting module is disclosed. Finally, a method of using a lighting module is disclosed.

Abstract: Connection systems and methods for establishing optical and electrical connections through a drape are disclosed. A connection system can include a plug and a receptacle, the plug being configured to insert into the receptacle with the drape therebetween. The plug can include an optical terminal extending from a plug housing and an electrical terminal extending from the plug housing. The electrical terminal can be configured as a piercing element for piercing the drape. The receptacle can include an optical receiver within a receptacle housing and an electrical receiver within the receptacle housing. The optical receiver can be configured to form the optical connection with the optical terminal, and the electrical receiver can be configured to form the electrical connection with the electrical terminal when the plug is inserted into the receptacle with the drape therebetween.

Abstract: Shape-sensing systems and methods for medical devices. The shape-sensing system can include a medical device, an optical interrogator, a console, and a display screen. The medical device can include an integrated optical-fiber stylet having fiber Bragg grating (“FBG”) sensors along at least a distal-end portion thereof. The optical interrogator can be configured to send input optical signals into the optical-fiber stylet and receive FBG sensor-reflected optical signals therefrom. The console can be configured to convert the reflected optical signals with the aid of filtering algorithms of some optical signal-converter algorithms into plottable data for displaying plots thereof on the display screen. The plots can include a plot of curvature vs. time for each FBG sensor of a selection of the FBG sensors for identifying a distinctive change in strain of the optical-fiber stylet as a tip of the medical device is advanced into a superior vena cava of a patient.

Abstract: Optical-fiber connector modules are disclosed. In one example, an optical-fiber connector module can include a receptacle, a cable, and an optical fiber within at least the cable. The receptacle can be configured to accept insertion of a first plug for establishing a first optical connection between the optical-fiber connector module and an optical-fiber stylet of a medical device. The cable can include a second plug for establishing a second optical connection between the optical-fiber connector module and an optical interrogator. The optical fiber can extend from the receptacle through the cable to the second plug. The optical fiber can be configured to convey input optical signals from the optical interrogator to the optical-fiber stylet and reflected optical signals from the optical-fiber stylet to the optical interrogator.

Abstract: Connection systems and methods for establishing optical and electrical connections through a drape are disclosed. A connection system can include a plug and a receptacle, the plug being configured to insert into the receptacle with the drape therebetween. The plug can include an optical terminal extending from a plug housing and an electrical terminal extending from the plug housing. The electrical terminal can be configured as a piercing element for piercing the drape. The receptacle can include an optical receiver within a receptacle housing and an electrical receiver within the receptacle housing. The optical receiver can be configured to form the optical connection with the optical terminal, and the electrical receiver can be configured to form the electrical connection with the electrical terminal when the plug is inserted into the receptacle with the drape therebetween.

Abstract: Optical-fiber connector modules are disclosed. In one example, an optical-fiber connector module can include a receptacle disposed in a housing, a cable extending from the housing, and an optical fiber within at least the cable. The receptacle can be configured to accept insertion of a first plug for establishing a first optical connection between the optical-fiber connector module and an optical-fiber stylet of a medical device. The cable can include a second plug for establishing a second optical connection between the optical-fiber connector module and an optical interrogator. The optical fiber extends from the receptacle through the cable to the second plug. The optical fiber can be configured to convey input optical signals from the optical interrogator to the optical-fiber stylet and reflected optical signals from the optical-fiber stylet to the optical interrogator. Shape-sensing systems including the optical-fiber connector modules and methods of the foregoing are also disclosed.

Abstract: Shape-sensing systems and methods for catheters. The shape-sensing system can include a catheter, an optical interrogator, a console, and a display screen. The catheter can include an integrated optical-fiber stylet having fiber Bragg grating (“FBG”) sensors along at least a distal-end portion thereof. The optical interrogator can be configured to send input optical signals into the optical-fiber stylet and receive FBG sensor-reflected optical signals therefrom. The console can be configured to convert the reflected optical signals into plottable data for displaying plots thereof on the display screen. The plots can include a plot of curvature vs. time for each FBG sensor of a selection of the FBG sensors in the distal-end portion of the optical-fiber stylet for identifying a distinctive change in strain of the optical-fiber stylet as a tip of the catheter is advanced into a superior vena cava of a patient.