Abstract: A method for qualifying a specimen prepared on one or more hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides by assessing an expected yield of nucleic acids for tumor cells and providing associated unstained slides for subsequent nucleic acid analysis is provided.

Abstract: A method for forming a thermal and electrical path in a PCB may include forming a first removable layer over a top surface of a PCB and a second removable layer over a bottom surface of the PCB. The method may also include milling or laser drilling the PCB from the top surface to form a first cavity extending into the PCB, plating the first side panel plating the first side with a second metal to partially fill the first cavity; and milling or laser drilling from the bottom surface to form a second cavity extending into the PCB, the first cavity in a thermal communication and/or an electrical communication with the second cavity. The method may also include panel plating the first side with a second metal to fill the first cavity and the second side with the second metal to fill the second cavity, and removing the first and second removable layers from the PCB to form the PCB with a thermal and/or an electrical path comprising the first cavity and the second cavity filled with the second metal.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of monitoring a well that includes a production tubing installed in the well and supported by a wellhead with an annulus between the production tubing and a well casing. While the production tubing remains installed in the well, a valve of the wellhead is opened to provide access to the annulus through a side port of the wellhead. A cable guide is inserted through the valve, the cable guide including a conduit for inserting a sensing cable through the cable guide. A sensing cable is inserted through the conduit of the cable guide and into the annulus through the side port. One or more parameters of the well are measured using the sensing cable and signals representative of the parameters are transmitted along the sensing cable. The signals from the sensing cable are obtained and processed using a computing system to determine the parameters.

Abstract: A handheld, steerable catheter robotic system includes a catheter having a flexible outer sheath, at least one flexible multi-lumen assembly and a robotic instrument for performing a surgical procedure. The catheter is removably insertable into an instrument channel of an endoscope. The flexible multi-lumen assembly extends through the outer sheath. The robotic instrument is operatively and removably attachable to a distal end of the multi-lumen assembly such that the robotic instrument is teleoperable. The catheter robotic system also includes a handle operatively and removably attachable to a proximal end of the catheter. The handle is configured for hand-held operation and includes a joystick for steering the robotic instrument.

Abstract: A multicatheter subsystem is provided for a steerable catheter robotic system. The subsystem includes a flexible output sheath, a plurality of flexible multi-lumen assemblies and a plurality of robotic instruments for performing a surgical procedure. The plurality of flexible multi-lumen assemblies extends through the outer sheath. Each of the multi-lumen assemblies has a proximal end and a distal end. Each of the robotic instruments is operatively and removably attachable to the distal end of one of the multi-lumen assemblies such that each instrument is teleoperable independently of every other robotic instrument. At least a first of the robotic instruments includes a plurality of interconnected articulating segments. Each of the articulating segments is operatively and removably attachable to a different one of the multi-lumen assemblies.

Abstract: A method for tracking a surgical robotic tool being viewed by an endoscopic camera, images of the surgical tool are received from the endoscopic camera and surgical tool joint angle measurements are received from the surgical tool. Predetermined features of the surgical tool on the images of the surgical tool are detected to define an observation model to be employed by a Bayesian Filter. A lumped error transform and observable joint angle measurement errors are estimated using the Bayesian Filter. The lumped error transform compensates for errors in a base-to-camera transform and non-observable joint angle measurement errors. Pose information over time of the surgical tool is determined with respect to the endoscopic camera using kinematic information of the robotic tool, the surgical tool joint angle measurements, the lumped error transform and the observable joint angle measurement errors. The pose information is provided to a surgical application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the presently disclosed technology enable skilled surgeons and novices to share the same virtual space. Expert surgeons in remote sites can use Virtual Reality to access a 3D reconstruction of a patient's body and can instruct novice surgeons on complex procedures as if they were together in the operating room. Novice surgeons in the field can focus on saving the patient's life while being guided through an intuitive Augmented Reality interface.

Abstract: A multicatheter subsystem is provided for a steerable catheter robotic system. The subsystem includes a flexible output sheath, a plurality of flexible multi-lumen assemblies and a plurality of robotic instruments for performing a surgical procedure. The plurality of flexible multi-lumen assemblies extends through the outer sheath. Each of the multi-lumen assemblies has a proximal end and a distal end. Each of the robotic instruments is operatively and removably attachable to the distal end of one of the multi-lumen assemblies such that each instrument is teleoperable independently of every other robotic instrument. At least a first of the robotic instruments includes a plurality of interconnected articulating segments. Each of the articulating segments is operatively and removably attachable to a different one of the multi-lumen assemblies.

Abstract: A multicatheter subsystem is provided for a steerable catheter robotic system. The subsystem includes a flexible output sheath, a plurality of flexible multi-lumen assemblies and a plurality of robotic instruments for performing a surgical procedure. The plurality of flexible multi-lumen assemblies extends through the outer sheath. Each of the multi-lumen assemblies has a proximal end and a distal end. Each of the robotic instruments is operatively and removably attachable to the distal end of one of the multi-lumen assemblies such that each instrument is teleoperable independently of every other robotic instrument. At least a first of the robotic instruments includes a plurality of interconnected articulating segments. Each of the articulating segments is operatively and removably attachable to a different one of the multi-lumen assemblies.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed providing a flexible articulable device for accessing deep within tight and arbitrarily shaped channels of a body. The flexible or articulable device may employ two, independent locomotion strategies. These strategies can be combined or independently used. However, both strategies use a segmented approach that employs one or multiple embedded actuation units along the body of the device. The multiple embedded actuation units may be individually controlled, are generally connected serially, and generally uses one of the locomotion strategies. One strategy relates to propulsion while the other strategy relates to shape control.

Abstract: A surgical robotic platform operates within a constrained space of an imaging scanner in which a patient resides. The platform includes a gross positioning stage configured to be located outside of the constrained space An end-effector having a rotatable shaft is extendable from the gross positioning stage and into the constrained space of the imaging scanner. The shaft has a proximal end operatively coupled to the positioning stage outside of the constrained space and a distal end configured to be located in the constrained space. The distal end has a medical instrument gripper for holding a medical instrument used in a percutaneous procedure. The end-effector further includes a joint arrangement operatively coupling the shaft to the medical gripper for providing motion to the medical instrument gripper for enabling position and/or orientation control of the medical instrument. A drive module controls the joint arrangement.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to present principles provide for three axis force sensing in a convenient and manufacturable way. In one implementation, a vibrating motor is attached at the fixed end of an anisotropic structure, such as a rod, which then vibrates in a circular motion. A monitor such as a 3-axis accelerometer is also attached to the anisotropic structure. The resulting motion is then mapped electronically for analysis. With no force applied, a circular motion is achieved. When a net force is applied to the free, vibrating end of the rod, the circular pattern which is traced out becomes distorted, e.g., progressively flattened into an ellipse, in a repeatable way which is directly proportional to the applied force. The axis of the applied force can be ascertained according to the direction in which the ellipse forms. Systems and methods according to present principles may be used in any application in which force sensing is needed, e.g., robotics, including robotic surgery.

Abstract: A linear to rotary motion converter includes a rigid body having first and second opposing end plates interconnected by at least one rigid crossmember. Each of the end plates is adapted to receive a rolling diaphragm linear actuator to thereby cause linear displacement of the rigid body in an axial direction upon actuation of the rolling diaphragm linear actuators. The linear to rotary motion converter also includes a capstan operably coupled to and located between the end plates such that linear motion of the rigid body caused by actuation of the rolling diaphragm linear actuators is translated to rotational motion of the capstan.

Abstract: A hypertonicity measuring device comprises at least one wearable item. The hypertonicity measuring device comprises at least one communication pathway. The at least one communication pathway is configured to communicate with a processing device. The hypertonicity measuring device comprises a sensor array. The sensor array is disposed to the at least one wearable item. The sensor array comprises a plurality of capacitive pressure sensors. The sensor array is configured to communicate capacitive pressure sensor data to the processing device employing the at least one communication pathway. The plurality of capacitive pressure sensors comprises at least one structured dielectric. The hypertonicity measuring device comprises an inertial measurement unit. The inertial measurement unit is disposed to the at least one wearable item. The inertial measurement unit is configured to communicate motion data to the processing device employing the at least one communication pathway.

Abstract: A handheld, steerable catheter robotic system includes a catheter having a flexible outer sheath, at least one flexible multi-lumen assembly and a robotic instrument for performing a surgical procedure. The catheter is removably insertable into an instrument channel of an endoscope. The flexible multi-lumen assembly extends through the outer sheath. The robotic instrument is operatively and removably attachable to a distal end of the multi-lumen assembly such that the robotic instrument is teleoperable. The catheter robotic system also includes a handle operatively and removably attachable to a proximal end of the catheter. The handle is configured for hand-held operation and includes a joystick for steering the robotic instrument.

Abstract: A hypertonicity measuring device comprises at least one wearable item. The hypertonicity measuring device comprises at least one communication pathway. The at least one communication pathway is configured to communicate with a processing device. The hypertonicity measuring device comprises a sensor array. The sensor array is disposed to the at least one wearable item. The sensor array comprises a plurality of capacitive pressure sensors. The sensor array is configured to communicate capacitive pressure sensor data to the processing device employing the at least one communication pathway. The plurality of capacitive pressure sensors comprises at least one structured dielectric. The hypertonicity measuring device comprises an inertial measurement unit. The inertial measurement unit is disposed to the at least one wearable item. The inertial measurement unit is configured to communicate motion data to the processing device employing the at least one communication pathway.

Abstract: A multicatheter subsystem is provided for a steerable catheter robotic system. The subsystem includes a flexible output sheath, a plurality of flexible multi-lumen assemblies and a plurality of robotic instruments for performing a surgical procedure. The plurality of flexible multi-lumen assemblies extends through the outer sheath. Each of the multi-lumen assemblies has a proximal end and a distal end. Each of the robotic instruments is operatively and removably attachable to the distal end of one of the multi-lumen assemblies such that each instrument is teleoperable independently of every other robotic instrument. At least a first of the robotic instruments includes a plurality of interconnected articulating segments. Each of the articulating segments is operatively and removably attachable to a different one of the multi-lumen assemblies.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed providing a flexible articulable device for accessing deep within tight and arbitrarily shaped channels of a body. The flexible or articulable device may employ two, independent locomotion strategies. These strategies can be combined or independently used. However, both strategies use a segmented approach that employs one or multiple embedded actuation units along the body of the device. The multiple embedded actuation units may be individually controlled, are generally connected serially, and generally uses one of the locomotion strategies. One strategy relates to propulsion while the other strategy relates to shape control.

Abstract: A linear to rotary motion converter includes a rigid body having first and second opposing end plates interconnected by at least one rigid crossmember. Each of the end plates is adapted to receive a rolling diaphragm linear actuator to thereby cause linear displacement of the rigid body in an axial direction upon actuation of the rolling diaphragm linear actuators. The linear to rotary motion converter also includes a capstan operably coupled to and located between the end plates such that linear motion of the rigid body caused by actuation of the rolling diaphragm linear actuators is translated to rotational motion of the capstan.

Abstract: A surgical arrangement includes an endoscope having an insertion tube with an imaging system disposed on its distal end and at least one instrument channel extending therethrough. A catheter subsystem of a steerable catheter robotic system is removably insertable into the instrument channel. The catheter subsystem includes a flexible outer sheath having a proximal end and a distal end. At least one flexible multi-lumen assembly extends through the outer sheath. The multi-lumen assembly has a proximal end and a distal end.