Abstract: An apparatus includes a base, including two motors and a mechanical coupling mechanism, and a cartridge shaped to define two stators and respective pairs of ports in fluidic communication with the stators. The cartridge is removably insertable into the base and includes two rotors disposed, respectively, within the stators. The mechanical coupling mechanism is configured to mechanically couple the rotors to the motors, respectively, such that, following insertion of the cartridge into the base, the motors rotate the rotors, thereby pumping fluid through the pairs of ports. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a cartridge having an outer surface shaped to define a ridge includes a rigid piece of material configured to lock the cartridge in place by resting against the ridge, a button, configured to move the rigid piece of material from the cartridge, thereby unlocking the cartridge, upon a pushing of the button, one or more motors, and a mechanical coupling mechanism, configured to mechanically couple the motors to the cartridge while the cartridge is locked in place. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for mechanically coupling a motor to a rotor includes an outer ring including an inner surface shaped to define multiple recesses, an inner ring disposed within the outer ring and shaped to define multiple compartments having respective outer openings, which face the outer ring, and respective inner openings opposite the outer openings, and multiple gripping elements disposed within the compartments, respectively. The inner ring is configured to receive the rotor while the compartments are aligned with the of recesses, by virtue of the gripping elements sitting at least partially within the recesses. The outer ring is configured to couple with a shaft coupled with the motor such that rotation of the shaft by the motor causes the compartments to become misaligned with the recesses, thereby causing the outer ring to push the gripping elements, through the outer openings, against the rotor, through the inner openings.

Abstract: A system for visualizing one or more bubbles formed by a catheter, the system includes a fluid container, a pulse generator, a schlieren imaging assembly, and a processor. The fluid container is configured to: (i) contain a fluid, and (ii) receive into the fluid the catheter having one or more electrodes. The pulse generator is configured to apply one or more pulses to at least one of the electrodes. The schlieren imaging assembly is configured to acquire schlieren images of the bubbles occurring in the fluid when applying the one or more pulses, and the processor is configured to visualize the bubbles using the schlieren images.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification simulation apparatus includes a trigger device, at least two sensors, and a processor. The trigger device configured to apply, to fluid at an inlet of a needle of a phacoemulsifier, a pressure profile as a function of time in response to an input waveform. The at least two sensors are configured to measure a pressure of the fluid at respective points in the phacoemulsification simulation apparatus. The processor is configured to (a) drive the trigger device with the input waveform, thereby causing the trigger device to apply the pressure profile to the inlet while the fluid is aspirated via an aspiration line, (b) receive measurements of the pressure of the fluid from the at least two sensors, and (c) analyze an aspiration performance of the phacoemulsifier in response to the measurements.

Abstract: A system includes (i) a solenoid valve, positioned between a handle of a probe, and an aspiration line coupled with the handle for aspirating fluids from the probe, the solenoid valve includes at least a solenoid coil and a plunger movable by the solenoid coil, (ii) a sensor, positioned between the handle and the aspiration line and configured to produce a signal indicative of a fluid metric in the aspiration line, and (iii) a controller, configured to identify, based on the signal, a vacuum surge in the aspiration line, and, in response to identifying the vacuum surge, to apply at least one current to the solenoid coil to selectively move the plunger between a first position and a second position, and to selectively maintain the plunger in the first position and the second position.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a fluid dynamics system includes a solenoid valve including a valve body including ports including an inlet port and an outlet port, and a valve cavity having a direction of elongation and configured to provide fluid connectivity between respective ones of the ports, a solenoid coil disposed in the valve body around valve cavity, and a plunger comprising a permanent magnet, and configured to move back-and-forth along the direction of elongation between a first position and a second position in the valve cavity selectively controlling the fluid connectivity between respective ones of the ports, and a controller configured to apply at least one current to the solenoid coil to selectively move the plunger between the first position and the second position, and to selectively maintain the plunger in the first position and the second position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a fluid dynamics system includes a solenoid valve including a valve body including ports including an inlet and outlet port, and a valve cavity having a direction of elongation and configured to provide fluid connectivity between ones of the ports, a solenoid coil disposed around valve cavity, and a plunger including a permanent magnet, and configured to move back-and-forth along the direction of elongation between a first and a second position in the valve cavity selectively controlling the fluid connectivity between respective ones of the ports, the valve body including shock absorber(s) to soften striking of the plunger against the valve body in the direction of elongation, and a controller configured to apply at least one current to the solenoid coil to selectively move the plunger between the first and second position, and to selectively maintain the plunger in the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A medical probe includes a probe body shaped to define a distal section of a fluid channel, a cartridge, which is shaped to define a proximal section of the fluid channel and comprises a valve configured to regulate flow of a fluid through the proximal section of the fluid channel, and a clip configured to reversibly couple the cartridge with the probe body by sliding over the probe body and the cartridge while the cartridge contacts the probe body such that the proximal section of the fluid channel is in fluidic communication with the distal section of the fluid channel. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system for visualizing catheter irrigation, the system includes a fluid container, a pump, a schlieren imaging assembly and a processor. The fluid container is configured to: (i) contain a first fluid, which is at least partially transparent and has a first temperature, and (ii) receive into the first fluid a catheter having one or more irrigation holes. The pump is configured to inject, through the one or more irrigation holes, a second fluid, which is at least partially transparent and has a second different temperature. The schlieren imaging assembly is configured to acquire schlieren images of turbulence occurring in the first fluid when injecting the second fluid, and the processor is configured to visualize the irrigation using the schlieren images.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a schlieren imaging assembly and a processor. The schlieren imaging assembly includes one or more two-dimensional (2D) schlieren imaging systems and is configured to acquire two-dimensional (2D) schlieren images of turbulence occurring in fluid media from a plurality of viewing angles. The processor is configured to produce, from the 2D schlieren images, a time-series of three-dimensional (3D) schlieren images corresponding to respective time instances.

Abstract: A module for controlling irrigation and aspiration of a phacoemulsification probe inserted into an eye includes an irrigation link, an aspiration link, a bypass channel, an aspiration valve, a diversion valve, a first and second sensors and a processor. The first sensor and second sensor are configured to measure fluid parameters in the irrigation link and in the aspiration link. The processor is in communication with the sensors, and is configured to identify a change in at least one of the fluid parameters by reading at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor, and, in response to the identified change in the at least one of the fluid parameters, (i) close the aspiration valve and (ii) maintain a pressure of the irrigation fluid delivered to the probe within a predefined range, by regulating the fluid flow via the bypass channel using the diversion valve.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification apparatus includes a phacoemulsification probe, an electromechanical valve, and an electromechanical mechanism. The probe having a fluid channel for exchanging fluid with a patient's eye. The electromechanical valve is coupled with the fluid channel and is configured to regulate a fluid flow through the fluid channel. The valve including a cylinder, a piston inside the cylinder, wherein the piston divides the cylinder into a first cavity that is in fluid communication with the fluid channel, and a second cavity, and one or more fluid communication links, which are formed between the first and second cavities. The piston is configured to move inside the cylinder to regulate the flow of the fluid, and the one or more fluid communication links are configured to allow the fluid to flow between the first and second cavities during motion of the piston. The electromechanical mechanism is configured to move the piston.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a schlieren imaging assembly and a processor. The schlieren imaging assembly includes one or more two-dimensional (2D) schlieren imaging systems and is configured to acquire two-dimensional (2D) schlieren images of turbulence occurring in fluid media from a plurality of viewing angles. The processor is configured to produce, from the 2D schlieren images, a time-series of three-dimensional (3D) schlieren images corresponding to respective time instances.

Abstract: A ventilator system for a patient includes: an intubation tube configured to flow oxygen-enriched humidified air (OHA) toward patient lungs and to evacuate exhaust air exhaled from the lungs, the intubation tube includes: a distal end, configured to be inserted into patient trachea, and a proximal end, configured to be connected to tubes for receiving the OHA and evacuating the exhaust air; a first microgravity sensor, coupled to the intubation tube at a first position, and configured to produce a first signal indicative of a first micro-acceleration of the intubation tube at the first position; a second microgravity sensor, coupled to the intubation tube at a second different position, and configured to produce a second signal indicative of a second micro-acceleration of the intubation tube at the second position; and a processor, configured to control the ventilation system to apply a ventilation scheme responsively to the first and second signals.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification probe, an irrigation pump, an aspiration pump, circuitry, and a processor. The probe includes a piezoelectric crystal configured to vibrate at a mechanical resonance frequency of the crystal; a needle configured for insertion into an eye and be vibrated by the crystal to emulsify a lens of the eye; an irrigation channel for receiving irrigation fluid from an irrigation line and flowing the irrigation fluid into the lens capsule; and an aspiration channel for removing material from the lens capsule and evacuating the removed material to an aspiration line. The irrigation and aspiration pumps are coupled with the irrigation and the aspiration line, respectively. The circuitry is configured to measure electrical impedance of the crystal. The processor is configured to receive the measured electrical impedance, and to control an operation of the irrigation pump and the aspiration pump according to the measured electrical impedance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a phacoemulsification system includes a phacoemulsification probe including a distal end including a needle, an irrigation channel to convey irrigation fluid to the distal end, an aspiration channel to convey eye fluid and waste matter away from the distal end, wherein the aspiration channel includes a first and second section, a valve including an inlet and outlet port, the first section of the aspiration channel being coupled with the inlet port and the distal end, the second section of the aspiration channel being coupled with the outlet port, the valve being configured to selectively control fluid connectivity in the aspiration channel between the inlet port and the outlet port, and a bypass channel coupled with the irrigation channel and the second section of the aspiration channel to allow a portion of the irrigation fluid in the irrigation channel to enter the second section of the aspiration channel.

Abstract: A system, method and software product for detecting and controlling respiratory status of a patient based on estimated respiratory status that includes ventilating a patient using a first electrode, configured to be coupled to a chest of the patient at a first position, and to produce a first electrocardiogram (ECG) signal; a second electrode, configured to be coupled to the chest at a second position different from the first position, and to produce a second ECG signal; and a processor, which is configured to: (i) produce a first filtered signal by applying a first filter to the first ECG signal, and a second filtered signal by applying a second filter to the second ECG signal, (ii) estimate, by comparing between the first and second filtered signals, an electrical impedance between the first and second electrodes, which is indicative of a respiratory status of the patient, and (iii) control the ventilation system to apply a ventilation scheme responsively to the estimated electrical impedance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a patient ventilation system, method and software product comprising a controller, which is configured, based on received signals, to control one or more valves, pressure regulators and flow regulators of the system and to set, monitor and control various parameters relating to at least one of the flow rate and the pressure of oxygen-enriched humidified air (OHA) being provided to the lungs of a patient.

Abstract: An optical switching device (20) includes a substrate (39) and first and second optical waveguides (23, 25) having respective first and second tapered ends (62, 64), which are fixed on the substrate in mutual proximity one to another. A pair of electrodes (36, 38) is disposed on the substrate with a gap therebetween. A cantilever beam (32) is disposed on the substrate within the gap and configured to deflect transversely between first and second positions within the gap in response to a potential applied between the electrodes. A third optical waveguide (21) is mounted on the cantilever beam and has a third tapered end (60) disposed between the first and second tapered ends of the first and second waveguides, so that the third tapered end is in proximity with the first tapered end when the cantilever beam is in the first position and is in proximity with the second tapered end when the cantilever beam is in the second position.