Abstract: A linkage assembly for a medical device may comprise: a rotatable member configured to rotate about a rotation axis; a piston; and a connecting rod rotatably connected to the rotatable member and the piston and movable along a range. A first end of the range may correspond to an initial position of a distal member movable by the linkage assembly, and a second end of the range may correspond to a final position of a distal member. In a first configuration of the connecting rod, at the first end of the range, a proximal end of the connecting rod may be offset from a longitudinal axis by a first amount. In a second configuration of the connecting rod, at the second end of the range, the proximal end of the connecting rod may be offset from the longitudinal axis by a second amount.

Abstract: A linkage assembly for a medical device may comprise: a rotatable member configured to rotate about a rotation axis; a piston; and a connecting rod rotatably connected to the rotatable member and the piston and movable along a range. A first end of the range may correspond to an initial position of a distal member movable by the linkage assembly, and a second end of the range may correspond to a final position of a distal member. In a first configuration of the connecting rod, at the first end of the range, a proximal end of the connecting rod may be offset from a longitudinal axis by a first amount, wherein the longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis; In a second configuration of the connecting rod, at the second end of the range, the proximal end of the connecting rod may be offset from the longitudinal axis by a second amount. The second amount may be less than two-thirds of the first amount.

Abstract: A steering system for a medical device may include a first drive member having a central longitudinal axis; a central shaft extending through the first drive member; a control knob coupled to the first drive member; a braking knob coupled to the central shaft and including a first protrusion; and a brake shoe member coupled to the central shaft between the control knob and the braking knob. The first protrusion may be positioned within a first channel of the brake shoe member; the first protrusion may be configured to engage the brake shoe member to move a first arm of the brake shoe member radially outward towards a wall of the control knob when the braking knob is rotated in a first direction; and the first arm may be configured to move away from the wall when the braking knob is rotated in a second direction.

Abstract: A steering system for a medical device may include a first drive member having a central longitudinal axis; a central shaft extending through the first drive member; a control knob coupled to the first drive member; a braking knob coupled to the central shaft and including a first protrusion; and a brake shoe member coupled to the central shaft between the control knob and the braking knob. The first protrusion may be positioned within a first channel of the brake shoe member; the first protrusion may be configured to engage the brake shoe member to move a first arm of the brake shoe member radially outward towards a wall of the control knob when the braking knob is rotated in a first direction; and the first arm may be configured to move away from the wall when the braking knob is rotated in a second direction.

Abstract: A steering system for a medical device may include a first drive member having a central longitudinal axis; a central shaft extending through the first drive member; a control knob coupled to the first drive member; a braking knob coupled to the central shaft and including a first protrusion; and a brake shoe member coupled to the central shaft between the control knob and the braking knob. The first protrusion may be positioned within a first channel of the brake shoe member; the first protrusion may be configured to engage the brake shoe member to move a first arm of the brake shoe member radially outward towards a wall of the control knob when the braking knob is rotated in a first direction; and the first arm may be configured to move away from the wall when the braking knob is rotated in a second direction.

Abstract: A linkage assembly for a medical device may comprise: a rotatable member configured to rotate about a rotation axis; a piston; and a connecting rod rotatably connected to the rotatable member and the piston and movable along a range. A first end of the range may correspond to an initial position of a distal member movable by the linkage assembly, and a second end of the range may correspond to a final position of a distal member. In a first configuration of the connecting rod, at the first end of the range, a proximal end of the connecting rod may be offset from a longitudinal axis by a first amount, wherein the longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis; In a second configuration of the connecting rod, at the second end of the range, the proximal end of the connecting rod may be offset from the longitudinal axis by a second amount. The second amount may be less than two-thirds of the first amount.

Abstract: A device and method for changing a fluid from one state to another state, the states comprising a liquid and a vapour state are disclosed. The device comprises: an inlet configured to receive the fluid in a first state; an outlet configured to output the fluid in a second state; and a conduit connecting the inlet to the outlet. The conduit is configured such that a resistance to flow changes along at least a portion of a flow axis within the conduit. The device further comprises a controller configured to control a location of a region within the portion of the conduit in which the fluid changes state by controlling at least one of a temperature of the fluid and a pressure at at least one of the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A device and method for changing a fluid from one state to another state, the states comprising a liquid and a vapour state are disclosed. The device comprises: an inlet configured to receive the fluid in a first state; an outlet configured to output the fluid in a second state; and a conduit connecting the inlet to the outlet. The conduit is configured such that a resistance to flow changes along at least a portion of a flow axis within the conduit. The device further comprises a controller configured to control a location of a region within the portion of the conduit in which the fluid changes state by controlling at least one of a temperature of the fluid and a pressure at at least one of the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A device for collecting a tissue sample includes an outer sheath extending from a proximal end to a distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough. The device also includes a needle movably housed within the outer sheath. The needle extends from a proximal end to a serrated distal end and including a channel extending therethrough. The needle is longitudinally movable relative to the outer sheath between an insertion configuration, in which the distal end of the needle is proximal of the distal end of the outer sheath, and a tissue collecting configuration, in which the distal end of the needle extends distally past the distal end of the outer sheath to penetrate tissue and collect a tissue sample in the channel. In addition, the device includes a drive mechanism rotating a distal portion of the needle about a longitudinal axis thereof as the needle is moved between the insertion and tissue collecting configurations.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to techniques for distinguishing and resolving all or some subset of the chemical compounds in a mixed sample. The individual chemical components may all be known, unknown or combinations thereof. In particular, the invention relates to “n-Dimensional MAP Chromatography” (NDMC) as a technique for performing chromatographic analysis on a sample containing multiple components. Other aspects of the invention relate to techniques for peak and component matching across different experiments that complement and form part of NDMC in one specific embodiment.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention relates to a method of characterizing the suitability of chromatographic methods for use with a given compound of interest. This method typically includes providing structure information about the compound of interest. A structure similarity search based upon the structure information provided can also be performed. The structure similarity search is generally conducted within an application database. Evaluating chromatographic method parameters in response to structure similarities between the compound of interest and compounds present in the application database is also a component of this method. Relating the compound of interest to a suitable chromatographic method is yet another step in this method in various embodiments.