Abstract: Methods and systems for administering directed fluidics during a medical procedure for removing an object are disclosed. A method includes inserting first and second medical instruments into a treatment site, providing irrigation and aspiration of the treatment site through the first and second medical instruments, determining a characteristic of one of the irrigation and the aspiration, and selecting a characteristic of the other of the irrigation and aspiration based on the determined characteristic.

Abstract: A device testing circuit for a LIDAR sensor system of a vehicle includes a first splitter optically coupled to a first connection and to a first device, the first device configured to generate a first output signal in response to receiving a first optical signal from the first connection through the first splitter, and a second splitter optically coupled to a second connection and to a second device, the second device configured to generate a second output signal in response to receiving a second optical signal from the second connection through the second splitter. The first splitter and the second splitter are optically coupled to each other.

Abstract: A device testing circuit for a LIDAR sensor system of a vehicle includes a first splitter optically coupled to a first connection and to a first device, the first device configured to generate a first output signal in response to receiving a first optical signal from the first connection through the first splitter, and a second splitter optically coupled to a second connection and to a second device, the second device configured to generate a second output signal in response to receiving a second optical signal from the second connection through the second splitter. The first splitter and the second splitter are optically coupled to each other.

Abstract: There is provided a mechanical avatar assembly for use in a confined space in a structure. The mechanical avatar assembly includes a rail assembly for attachment to an access opening to the confined space. The rail assembly includes two or more rail segments coupled together to form an elongated base having a rail and a gear rack extending along a length of the elongated base. The rail assembly further includes a carriage portion coupled to the rail, and movable relative to the rail, and a drive assembly coupled to the carriage portion and to the gear rack, to move the carriage portion along the rail. The mechanical avatar assembly further includes an articulating avatar arm coupled to, and movable via, the carriage portion. The mechanical avatar assembly further includes an image capturing device.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned. The surface cleaning apparatus can dock within a storage tray and charge a power supply. Electrical contacts on the surface cleaning apparatus and the storage tray can be shielded when the surface cleaning apparatus is not docked within the storage tray. Furthermore, the storage tray can include a reservoir for a self-cleaning mode.

Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to inducible and repressible polypeptides and polypeptide systems. In particular, described herein are split sequence-specific nucleases and split recombinases that are linked to drug-inducible or drug-repressible dimerization domains. In some embodiments, the polypeptides comprise sequestering domains and/or have their expression controlled by an inducible promoter. In multiple aspects described herein are polynucleotides, vectors, cells, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said polypeptides or polypeptide systems. Also described herein are methods of using said polypeptide systems to modulate the expression of a target polypeptide or to treat a subject in need of a cell therapy.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to membrane-bound compositions, in particular exophers having a diameter between 1 and 20 microns induced from human cells, and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a puncture device that is arranged for being advanced to a puncture site through the human vasculature, the puncture device comprising: a puncture means, the puncture means comprising a distal end that is arranged for creating a puncture in a patient's tissue, a sheath, the sheath being arranged so as to surround the puncture means, the puncture means being slidably arranged inside the sheath, a tissue expansion means, the tissue expansion means being arranged so that it can be selectively activated, wherein in the activated state, the tissue expansion means pushes away the patient's tissue to thereby allow a re-orientation of the puncture means.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned includes a recovery system and a fluid delivery system. The surface cleaning apparatus can have a rechargeable battery and a battery housing for the rechargeable battery. The surface cleaning apparatus has a self-cleaning mode of operation in which an unattended automatic cleanout cycle is executed.

Abstract: An articulating flexible endoscope is provided. The endoscope comprises: a proximal portion comprising a driving mechanism for applying a force to a pull wire, the pull wire for articulating a bending section of the articulating flexible endoscope upon the force; and an anchoring mechanism coupled to the driving mechanism. A terminal end of the pull wire is configured to wind around the anchoring component with a pre-determined number of windings thereby reducing a holding tension at the terminal end of the pull wire.

Abstract: Methods and systems for administering directed fluidics during a medical procedure for removing an object are disclosed. A method includes inserting first and second medical instruments into a treatment site, providing irrigation and aspiration of the treatment site through the first and second medical instruments, determining a characteristic of one of the irrigation and the aspiration, and selecting a characteristic of the other of the irrigation and aspiration based on the determined characteristic.

Abstract: Disclosed soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) proteins and nucleic acids, and therapeutic compositions comprising sPD-1 proteins and nucleic acids, for enhancing immunity of a subject against coronavirus infection. Disclosed are soluble PD-1 fusion proteins that include a soluble PD-1 protein fragment and an antigenic protein fragment, preferably where the antigenic protein fragment comprises a coronavirus protein fragment. In some forms, the coronavirus protein fragment is derived from a coronavirus receptor binding domain (RBD) or a coronavirus nucleoprotein (N). In some forms, the sPD-1 proteins, nucleic acids, and compositions are formulated as a vaccine composition. Also disclosed are methods for treating a subject at risk of or suffering a coronavirus infection.

Abstract: Methods and systems for administering directed fluidics during a medical procedure for removing an object are disclosed. A method includes inserting first and second medical instruments into a treatment site, providing irrigation and aspiration of the treatment site through the first and second medical instruments, determining a characteristic of one of the irrigation and the aspiration, and selecting a characteristic of the other of the irrigation and aspiration based on the determined characteristic.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to percutaneous sheaths for medical procedures as well as to related systems and methods. For example, a system for performing a percutaneous assisted medical procedure can include a percutaneous sheath. The percutaneous sheath can include a first conduit for providing aspiration into the kidney and a second conduit for passing a catheter into the kidney. The system can also include an aspiration catheter configured to be inserted into the kidney through the second conduit of the percutaneous sheath. A fluidics system can include an irrigation source comprising a pump and an aspiration source comprising a vacuum. The irrigation source can be connected to a fluid inlet of the percutaneous sheath that is connected to the first conduit. The aspiration source can be connected to the aspiration catheter.

Abstract: A coil spring includes an elongated body (10) formed by a plurality of continuous coils (21, 31), and the body (10) includes an upper section (20) and a lower section (30), wherein pitches (22) and coil angles (23) of the coils (21) in the upper section (20) are consistent to form an upright profile (24) for the upper section (20), and wherein pitches (32) and coil angles (33) of two or more coils (31) at a free end of the lower section (30) is differed from the pitches (22) and the coil angles (23) of the coils (21) in the upper section (20) to form a gradually curved profile (34) for the lower section (30).

Abstract: An aspiration catheter can include an elongate shaft and an instrument base coupled to the shaft and configured to control actuation of at least a distal portion of the shaft. The shaft can include a lumen configured to couple to an aspiration system to provide aspiration to a target site, such as to remove an object from a patient. The instrument base can be controlled robotically and/or manually to articulate at least the distal portion of the shaft.

Abstract: An aspiration catheter can include an elongate shaft and an instrument base coupled to the shaft and configured to control actuation of at least a distal portion of the shaft. The shaft can include a lumen configured to couple to an aspiration system to provide aspiration to a target site, such as to remove an object from a patient. At least a portion of the distal end portion of the shaft can include an inner diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the rest of shaft to prevent objects that are larger than a particular size from entering.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to compositions and method for delivery, e.g., sustained delivery of active agents, and their use for the treatment of diseases or disorders.

Abstract: The technology described herein is directed to inducible and repressible polypeptides and polypeptide systems. In particular, described herein are split sequence-specific nucleases and split recombinases that are linked to drug-inducible or drug-repressible dimerization domains. In some embodiments, the polypeptides comprise sequestering domains and/or have their expression controlled by an inducible promoter. In multiple aspects described herein are polynucleotides, vectors, cells, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said polypeptides or polypeptide systems. Also described herein are methods of using said polypeptide systems to modulate the expression of a target polypeptide or to treat a subject in need of a cell therapy.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for an endoscopic system to access, visualize, and treat pathologies in various organs via natural orifices and lumens of various organs. In one aspect, the system includes an elongate shaft configured for insertion into a urinary tract of a patient. The elongate shaft can include a proximal section, a distal section, a tip portion, and a plurality of pull wires extending along the elongate shaft and terminating at the tip portion of the elongate shaft. The plurality of pull wires may include a first and second pull wire. The first pull wire may be configured to articulate each of the proximal section and the distal section in a first direction. The second pull wire may be configured to articulate the distal section in a second direction independently of the proximal section, the second direction being transverse to the first direction.