Abstract: Systems and methods related to estimating the distance of a body structure from a medical device are disclosed. An example method includes illuminating the body structure with a light source of a medical device, capturing a first input image of the body structure with a digital camera positioned on the medical device, representing the first image with a first plurality of pixels, wherein the first plurality of pixels includes one or more pixels displaying a local intensity maxima, defining a first pixel group from the one or more pixels displaying a local intensity maxima, wherein the first pixel group corresponds to a plurality of surface points of the body structure and wherein the first pixel group further includes a first image intensity. The method further includes calculating a relative distance from the digital camera to a first surface point of the plurality of surface points.

Abstract: An endoscopic system includes an endoscopic imager configured to capture images of a target site within a living body and a processor configured to determine one or more image metrics for each one of a plurality of image frames captured over a time span, analyze changes in the image metrics over the time span, and determine a turbidity metric for the target site based on the analyzed changes in the image metrics.

Abstract: A fluid management and medical device system may include a fluid management system and a medical device. The fluid management system may include a pump configured to pump fluid to the medical device and a processing device configured to control the pump to maintain a target fluid flow range. The medical device may include an elongate shaft in fluid communication with the pump of the fluid management system, a pressure sensor, and a workstation in electronic communication with the pressure sensor and the processing device of the fluid management system. The processing device may be configured to adjust a fluid flow rate based on data received from the pressure sensor of the medical device and configured to verify the medical device is in a patient's body prior to adjusting the fluid flow rate based on the data received from the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for using medical devices are disclosed. An example method for performing percutaneous nephrolithotomy includes registering an optical tracking system to a global coordinate system, registering a fluoroscope to the global coordinate system, generating a first image of a treatment area of a patient using the fluoroscope, generating a second image of the treatment area of the patient using the fluoroscope, selecting a target treatment point within the treatment area on the first image, the second image or both the first image and the second image and overlaying a medical instrument proposed guidance line on the first image, the second image or both the first image and the second image, wherein the medical instrument proposed guidance line depicts a proposed insertion pathway from an insertion point on the patient's body to the target treatment point.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for treating stones in anatomical structures are disclosed. A device may include an elongate member and a tubular member extending distally from the elongate member. The elongate member may define one or more lumens with an opening at a distal end of the elongate member. The tubular member may be configured to collapse to a pre-determined shape when in a relaxed state and expand in response to receiving an object. The device may be used with a scope, such as a ureteroscope, lithotripsy devices, and/or other medical devices or systems.

Abstract: Medical systems and related methods useful to estimate the depth of a target are described. The system may include a medical device that includes a handle and a shaft, the medical device also including an imager, a processor, and at least one laser source coupled to a first laser fiber and a second laser fiber. The first and second laser fibers may be configured to transmit respective first and second collimated beams of light onto a target simultaneously without fragmenting the target. The processor may be configured to determine a depth of the target from a proximal facing surface of the target to a distal facing surface of the target based on pixel characteristics of the first and second collimated beams of light in at least one image generated by the imager.

Abstract: Medical devices and related methods are described, including a medical device that includes a handle including a housing. The housing may include a grip and an actuator. The handle may further include an imaging module including a printed circuit board, and a laser module including a first laser source configured to couple to a first laser fiber and a second laser source configured to couple to a second laser fiber. The laser module and the imaging module may be contained within the housing or the imaging module, the laser module, or both the imaging module and the laser module may be selectively attachable to and detachable from the housing.

Abstract: An endoscopic device includes a flexible shaft extending distally from a handle which, during use remains outside a living body, the shaft comprising a pull wire extending therethrough from the handle and a distal tip rotatably coupled to a distal end of the shaft, the distal tip comprising an imager directed distally from a distal face of the distal tip, the imager including a chip and a lens, a distal end of the pull wire being coupled to the distal tip in combination with an actuation mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the pull wire so that, actuation of the actuation mechanism, pulls the pull wire proximally through the shaft rotating the distal tip relative to the shaft to alter a field of view of the imager.

Abstract: Example ultrasound medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device includes a support member having a proximal end region and a distal end region and a sensing member having a proximal end region and a distal end region, the distal end region of the sensing member coupled to the distal end region of the support member. The medical device also includes one or more ultrasound sensors disposed along the sensing member and a support shaft having a first end coupled to the sensing member and a second end coupled to the support member. Additionally, the sensing member is configured to shift from a first configuration in which the sensing member is adjacent to the support member to a second configuration in which at least a portion of the sensing member extends away from the support member.

Abstract: Medical devices and related methods useful for needle access during medical procedures are described. The medical device may include a needle and a handle coupled to the needle, wherein the handle includes a body comprising a radiolucent material, a first marker proximate a proximal end of the body and a second marker proximate a distal end of the body. Each of the first marker and the second marker may include a radiopaque material, and the first marker may have a shape complementary to the second marker to align a position of the needle relative to a subject when visualized by X-ray imaging.

Abstract: Example ultrasound medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device includes a support member having a proximal end region and a distal end region and a sensing member having a proximal end region and a distal end region, the distal end region of the sensing member coupled to the distal end region of the support member. The medical device also includes one or more ultrasound sensors disposed along the sensing member and a support shaft having a first end coupled to the sensing member and a second end coupled to the support member. Additionally, the sensing member is configured to shift from a first configuration in which the sensing member is adjacent to the support member to a second configuration in which at least a portion of the sensing member extends away from the support member.

Abstract: A medical system may include: a medical device including an elongate shaft configured to access a treatment site within a patient and a handle coupled to a proximal end of the elongate shaft; a laser device including an elongate tubular member configured for insertion through a working lumen of the medical device, the elongate tubular member including a cooling channel and a laser fiber extending distally within the cooling channel; and a fluid management system including an inflow pump configured to pump fluid from a first fluid supply source through the elongate shaft to the treatment site, a cooling pump configured to pump fluid from a second fluid supply source through the cooling channel, and a controller configured to control the inflow pump and the cooling pump.

Abstract: An endoscopic device includes a flexible shaft extending distally from a handle which, during use remains outside a living body, the shaft comprising a pull wire extending therethrough from the handle and a distal tip rotatably coupled to a distal end of the shaft, the distal tip comprising an imager directed distally from a distal face of the distal tip, the imager including a chip and a lens, a distal end of the pull wire being coupled to the distal tip in combination with an actuation mechanism coupled to a proximal end of the pull wire so that, actuation of the actuation mechanism, pulls the pull wire proximally through the shaft rotating the distal tip relative to the shaft to alter a field of view of the imager.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying the luminance value of at least one image are discussed, e.g., including receiving a request to modify the luminance value of at least one image, determining a weighted frame luminance of the at least one image based on an imbalance factor, modifying the luminance value of the at least one image by changing at least one setting of the camera and/or the light source automatically or manually based on the determined weighted frame luminance, and causing to output to a graphical user interface a visualization of the at least one image with the modified luminance value.

Abstract: A scope adapter system includes an adapter body coupled to a handle of a scope device, a rigid shaft, and a mounting mechanism removably coupled to the shaft. The shaft includes a shaft lumen which is sized and shaped to slidably receive a flexible elongated member of the device. A distal end of the lumen is sized so that, when a distal end of the member is received therein, the distal end of the member is snugly held so that an aim of the shaft aims the distal end of the member. The mechanism mounts a proximal end of the shaft to the body so that, when the body is coupled to the handle, the mechanism is mounted on the body and coupled to the shaft and the member is inserted into the lumen so that movement of the handle effects corresponding movements of the distal end of the member.

Abstract: A medical system may include: a medical device including an elongate shaft configured to access a treatment site within a patient and a handle coupled to a proximal end of the elongate shaft; a laser device including an elongate tubular member configured for insertion through a working lumen of the medical device, the elongate tubular member including a cooling channel and a laser fiber extending distally within the cooling channel; and a fluid management system including an inflow pump configured to pump fluid from a first fluid supply source through the elongate shaft to the treatment site, a cooling pump configured to pump fluid from a second fluid supply source through the cooling channel, and a controller configured to control the inflow pump and the cooling pump.

Abstract: This disclosure teaches multi-classification of endoscopic imaging using a segmentation neural network. The network is trained on imaging data using a novel loss function with components of both focal and boundary loss. During a lithotripsy procedure, images are received by a deployed endoscopic probe. Based on the received imaging data and inference data from its prior learning, the segmentation neural network identifies renal calculi and surgical instruments within the imaging data. The imaging data is modified and displayed to assist the lithotripsy procedure.

Abstract: This disclosure teaches determining a renal calculus size based on calibration data generated from an endoscopic imager. During a lithotripsy procedure, images are received by a deployed endoscopic probe. Based on the received imaging data, the generated calibration data, and known properties of the endoscopic probe, one or more renal calculi in the images are identified and sized. The determined size values are displayed with the images of the renal calculi.

Abstract: An endoscopic system includes an endoscopic imager configured to capture image frames of a target site within a living body and a processor configured to apply a spatial transform to a preliminary set of image frames, the spatial transform converting the image frames into cylindrical coordinates; calculate a map image from the spatially transformed image frames, each pixel position in the map image being defined with a vector of fixed dimension; align a current image frame with the map image and apply the spatial transform to the current image frame; fuse the spatially transformed current image frame to the map image to generate a fused image; and apply an inverse spatial transform to the fused image to generate an enhanced current image frame having a greater spatial resolution than the current image frame. The system also includes a display displaying the enhanced current image frame.

Abstract: An implant includes a substrate having an outer surface, a first layer disposed on the outer surface of the substrate, and a second layer disposed on the outer surface of the substrate. The first layer includes a polymeric material.