Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for compensating for compression in elongated shafts of medical instruments. Medical instruments can include elongated shafts that may experience compression when articulated. The medical instruments can be attached to instrument positioning devices that are configured to move the medical instruments to compensate for this compression. For example, an instrument positioning device can advance a medical instrument to compensate for compression in an elongated shaft of the medical instrument. In some instances, the amount of compression is determined using a compression compensation parameter. The compression compensation parameter can be determined during a calibration process of the medical instrument.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for compensating for compression in elongated shafts of medical instruments. Medical instruments can include elongated shafts that may experience compression when articulated. The medical instruments can be attached to instrument positioning devices that are configured to move the medical instruments to compensate for this compression. For example, an instrument positioning device can advance a medical instrument to compensate for compression in an elongated shaft of the medical instrument. In some instances, the amount of compression is determined using a compression compensation parameter. The compression compensation parameter can be determined during a calibration process of the medical instrument.

Abstract: A machine is configured to access force data generated by a force sensor, where the force data quantifies variation in magnitude of a force encountered by a distal portion of an elongate device during a time period in which the distal portion traveled a distance within an environment during a procedure, and where the force data includes a current value of the magnitude of the force. Based on the force data, the machine generates a graphical representation that indicates the force encountered by the distal portion at a point in the procedure relative to an entirety of the procedure, and then causes a display screen to present the graphical representation. Other apparatus and methods are also described.

Abstract: A method of detecting a tool being received in a medical system, the method including receiving, in a tool recognition assembly having a first reader with a first detection zone, the tool having a first target. The method also includes acquiring first sensor data from the first reader for the first detection zone and detecting an indication of an absence of the first target when the first sensor data is within a first pre-determined threshold range and logging the absence indication. The method also includes creating an insertion signature associated with the tool being received in the tool recognition assembly by combining, in a chronological sequence, the absence and presence indications from the first reader. The method further includes comparing the insertion signature to a predetermined set of model insertion signatures and determining a characteristic of the tool being received in the tool recognition assembly based on the comparing.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma diagnosis system using multiple-path Thomson scattering, including: a laser which supplies laser pulse; an optical system which is configuring to focus alternately a vertical polarization of the laser pulse and a horizontal polarization of the laser pulse on first and second focal points in a plasma; a collection optic which collects lights scattered from the first and second focal points in plasma; a polychromator which filters the lights collected by the collection optics according to spectral characteristics; and a computer which measures spectral characteristics by using the filtered lights. Thomson scattered light which is contaminated with noise due to stray lights is produced in the first collected scattering while the noise due to stray lights is produced in the second collected scattering.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma diagnosis system using multiple-reciprocating-pass Thompson scattering.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for compensating for compression in elongated shafts of medical instruments. Medical instruments can include elongated shafts that may experience compression when articulated. The medical instruments can be attached to instrument positioning devices that are configured to move the medical instruments to compensate for this compression. For example, an instrument positioning device can advance a medical instrument to compensate for compression in an elongated shaft of the medical instrument. In some instances, the amount of compression is determined using a compression compensation parameter. The compression compensation parameter can be determined during a calibration process of the medical instrument.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma diagnosis system using multiple-reciprocating-pass Thompson scattering. The plasma diagnosis system includes: a laser which supplies laser pulses; an optical system configured to make the laser pulse multiple roundtrips, focus the laser pulse to a predetermined position, rotate the plane of polarization by 90 degrees in every completion of the roundtrip; a collection optics which collects lights scattered from the focused region in plasma, which the collected light by the vertical polarization of the laser pulse is referred to as ‘first collected scattering’ and the collected light by the horizontal polarization of the laser pulse is referred to as ‘second collected scattering’; and a polychromator which measures spectral characteristics of the first and second collected scatterings and outputs Thomson scattering signal with the background noise and the background noise without Thomson scattering signal.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma diagnosis system using multiple-path Thomson scattering, including: a laser which supplies laser pulse; an optical system which is configuring to focus alternately a vertical polarization of the laser pulse and a horizontal polarization of the laser pulse on first and second focal points in a plasma; a collection optic which measures a first collection signal obtained by collecting light scattered from plasma and a second collection signal obtained by collecting light scattered from plasma; a polychromator which measures and outputs spectral characteristics of the first and second collection signals. The first and second collection signals are configured with one of a noise and a mixed signal of a Thomson scattering signal and the noise. The system measures a Thomson scattering signal without the noise by using the first and second collection signals.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for compensating for compression in elongated shafts of medical instruments. Medical instruments can include elongated shafts that may experience compression when articulated. The medical instruments can be attached to instrument positioning devices that are configured to move the medical instruments to compensate for this compression. For example, an instrument positioning device can advance a medical instrument to compensate for compression in an elongated shaft of the medical instrument. In some instances, the amount of compression is determined using a compression compensation parameter. The compression compensation parameter can be determined during a calibration process of the medical instrument.

Abstract: For position sensors, e.g., a fiber-based system, that build a shape of an elongated member, such as a catheter, using a sequence of small orientation measurements, a small error in orientation at the proximal end of the sensor will cause large error in position at distal points on the fiber. Exemplary methods and systems are disclosed, which may provide full or partial registration along the length of the sensor to reduce the influence of the measurement error. Additional examples are directed to applying selective filtering at a proximal end of the elongated member to provide a more stable base for distal measurements and thereby reducing the influence of measurement errors.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for tracking an elongate instrument or other medical instrument in an image.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma diagnosis system using multiple-reciprocating-path Thompson scattering. The plasma diagnosis system includes: alight source which supplies pulsed laser beams; an optical system which sequentially supplies a pulsed laser beam in a vertical polarization state and a pulsed laser beam in a horizontal polarization state; a collection optic system which measures a first collection signal scattered from the plasma when the pulsed laser beam in the vertical polarization state is focused and measures a second collection signal scattered from the plasma when the pulsed laser beam in the horizontal polarization state is focused; and a controller which measures a Thomson scattering signal for the plasma by using the first and second collection signals measured by the collection optic system, and the second collection signal is a background scattering noise signal.

Abstract: Provided is a plasma diagnosis system using multiple-path Thomson scattering, including: a light source which supplies pulsed laser beams; an optical system which includes first and second beam focusing units and supplies a pulsed laser beam in a vertical polarization state and a pulsed laser beam in a horizontal polarization state to the first and second beam focusing units; a collection optic system which measures a first collection signal obtained by collecting signals scattered from the plasma and a second collection signal obtained by collecting signals scattered from the plasma and measures the first and second collection signals; and a controller which measures a Thomson scattering signal for the plasma by using the first and second collection signals. The first and second collection signals are configured with one of a background scattering noise signal and a mixed signal of a Thomson scattering signal and the background scattering noise signal.

Abstract: Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for compensating for compression in elongated shafts of medical instruments. Medical instruments can include elongated shafts that may experience compression when articulated. The medical instruments can be attached to instrument positioning devices that are configured to move the medical instruments to compensate for this compression. For example, an instrument positioning device can advance a medical instrument to compensate for compression in an elongated shaft of the medical instrument. In some instances, the amount of compression is determined using a compression compensation parameter. The compression compensation parameter can be determined during a calibration process of the medical instrument.

Abstract: For position sensors, e.g., a fiber-based system, that build a shape of an elongated member, such as a catheter, using a sequence of small orientation measurements, a small error in orientation at the proximal end of the sensor will cause large error in position at distal points on the fiber. Exemplary methods and systems are disclosed, which may provide full or partial registration along the length of the sensor to reduce the influence of the measurement error. Additional examples are directed to applying selective filtering at a proximal end of the elongated member to provide a more stable base for distal measurements and thereby reducing the influence of measurement errors.

Abstract: For position sensors, e.g., a fiber-based system, that build a shape of an elongated member, such as a catheter, using a sequence of small orientation measurements, a small error in orientation at the proximal end of the sensor will cause large error in position at distal points on the fiber. Exemplary methods and systems are disclosed, which may provide full or partial registration along the length of the sensor to reduce the influence of the measurement error. Additional examples are directed to applying selective filtering at a proximal end of the elongated member to provide a more stable base for distal measurements and thereby reducing the influence of measurement errors.