Abstract: The invention relates to a device (22) for changing the pH of a solvent in which a substance is dissolved. The device includes a housing (24) in contact with the solvent through a housing wall (26) that is permissive to the solvent and the substance. The housing contains enzymes adapted for converting the substance in order to provide hydrogen or hydroxyle ions; the housing wall being non-permissive to the enzymes.

Abstract: A biofuel cell intended to be immersed into a liquid medium containing a sugar and oxygen, wherein the anode includes an enzyme capable of catalyzing the oxidation of the sugar and a redox mediator of low redox potential capable of exchanging electrons with the anode enzyme and the cathode includes an enzyme capable of catalyzing the reduction of oxygen and a redox mediator of high redox potential capable of exchanging electrons with the cathode enzyme. Each of the anode and cathode electrodes is formed of a solid agglomerate of a conductive material mixed with the appropriate enzyme and redox mediator and is solid with an electrode wire.

Abstract: The invention concerns an imaging system to monitor at least one surgical instrument in an operative site inside a volume of the body of an animal, comprising: at least one endoscopic camera to obtain endoscopic data on the operative site, at least one ultrasound imaging device to obtain ultrasound data on the operative site, and a processing device to process the endoscopic and ultrasound data. The imaging system further comprising at least three markers intended to be positioned in the operative site, said markers being mobile relative to the instrument, each marker being adapted to be detected both by the endoscopic camera and by the ultrasound imaging device, so as to permit cross-mapping of the endoscopic and ultrasound data by the processing means.

Abstract: A novel cell including first and second chambers containing a solvent and separated by a wall permeable to the solvent and impermeable to hydronium and/or hydroxyl ions; a first electrode in the first chamber; a second electrode in the second chamber; a first redox couple in the first chamber comprising a first oxidizer and a first reducer taking part in first oxidation-reduction reactions resulting in an electron exchange with the first electrode; a second redox couple in the second chamber comprising a second oxidizer and a second reducer taking part in second oxidation-reduction reactions resulting in an electron exchange with the second electrode, the wall being impermeable to the first and second redox couples; and first enzymes or first microorganisms placed in the first or second chamber and promoting a third oxidation-reduction reaction resulting transforming a first substance to a second substance comprising acid or alkaline species.

Abstract: An actuator that includes an enclosure having a wall impermeable to a first solute and permeable to a solvent and containing, at least temporarily, a catalyst capable of promoting the transformation of at least one second solute into the first solute to vary the osmotic pressure in the enclosure; and a deformable chamber connected to the enclosure, the chamber being capable of increasing in volume under the action of the solvent moving from the enclosure into the chamber by osmosis or the enclosure being designed to be arranged in contact with the solvent, the chamber being capable of increasing in volume under the action of the solvent penetrating into the enclosure by osmosis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for positioning with respect to a patient's body an observation and/or intervention device having a portion penetrating into the patient's body comprising a base disposed over the patient's body; a means for supporting the device formed of a first portion movably assembled on the base according to a connection with one degree of freedom, and of a second portion movably assembled on the first portion according to a connection with one degree of freedom and connected to the device; and means for actuating the first portion with respect to the base, and the second portion with respect to the first portion, in which the base surrounds at a distance at least partially the device, said device being detachably connected to the second portion to enable removal of the positioning system while leaving in place the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for positioning with respect to a patient's body an observation and/or intervention device having a portion penetrating into the patient's body comprising a base laid on the patient's body; a means for supporting the device formed of a first portion movably assembled on the base according to a connection with one degree of freedom, and of a second portion movably assembled on the first portion according to a connection with one degree of freedom and connected to the device; and means for actuating the first portion with respect to the base, and the second portion with respect to the first portion, in which the base surrounds at a distance at least partially the device, said device being detachably connected to the second portion to enable removal of the positioning system while leaving in place the device.

Abstract: A device for detecting a surgical tool in an image, the surgical tool going through an incision made in a patient's skin or one of his organs, the device including: means for storing shape parameters of the surgical tool. means for determining the position of the projection of the incision in the image plane and means for determining points and/or straight lines characteristic of the projection of the surgical tool on the image based on the shape parameters and on the position of the projection of the incision.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for positioning with respect to a patient's body an observation and/or intervention device having a portion penetrating into the patient's body comprising a base laid on the patient's body; a means for supporting the device formed of a first portion movably assembled on the base according to a connection with one degree of freedom, and of a second portion movably assembled on the first portion according to a connection with one degree of freedom and connected to the device; and means for actuating the first portion with respect to the base, and the second portion with respect to the first portion, in which the base surrounds at a distance at least partially the device, said device being detachably connected to the second portion to enable removal of the positioning system while leaving in place the device.

Abstract: A biofuel cell intended to be immersed into a liquid medium containing a sugar and oxygen, wherein the anode includes an enzyme capable of catalyzing the oxidation of the sugar and a redox mediator of low redox potential capable of exchanging electrons with the anode enzyme and the cathode includes an enzyme capable of catalyzing the reduction of oxygen and a redox mediator of high redox potential capable of exchanging electrons with the cathode enzyme. Each of the anode and cathode electrodes is formed of a solid agglomerate of a conductive material mixed with the appropriate enzyme and redox mediator and is solid with an electrode wire.

Abstract: A novel cell including first and second chambers containing a solvent and separated by a wall permeable to the solvent and impermeable to hydronium and/or hydroxyl ions; a first electrode in the first chamber; a second electrode in the second chamber; a first redox couple in the first chamber comprising a first oxidizer and a first reducer taking part in first oxidation-reduction reactions resulting in an electron exchange with the first electrode; a second redox couple in the second chamber comprising a second oxidizer and a second reducer taking part in second oxidation-reduction reactions resulting in an electron exchange with the second electrode, the wall being impermeable to the first and second redox couples; and first enzymes or first microorganisms placed in the first or second chamber and promoting a third oxidation-reduction reaction resulting transforming a first substance to a second substance comprising acid or alkaline species.

Abstract: The invention concerns an imaging system to monitor at least one surgical instrument in an operative site inside a volume of the body of an animal, comprising: at least one endoscopic camera to obtain endoscopic data on the operative site, at least one ultrasound imaging device to obtain ultrasound data on the operative site, a processing device to process the endoscopic and ultrasound data, characterized in that it further comprises at least three markers intended to be positioned in the operative site, said markers being mobile relative to the instrument, each marker being adapted to be detected both by the endoscopic camera and by the ultrasound imaging device, so as to permit cross-mapping of the endoscopic and ultrasound data by the processing means.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for positioning and/or orienting, in the body of a patient, a surgical tool carried by a tool-holder, including a platform capable of being placed on the body of the patient, an orientable carrier, at least one part of which is rigidly connected to the tool-holder, means for guiding the orientable carrier rotationally relative to the platform in two directions of a plane parallel to the platform, at least 2 pneumatic actuators which engage with the orientable carrier such that a variation in pressure of at least one of the pneumatic actuators causes the orientable carrier to rotate in the first direction and/or the second direction, in which the pneumatic actuators are volumes that can deform in a predetermined direction as a function of the internal pressure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a minimally invasive surgical procedure device including a set for forming a modular surgical tool, the set including a carrier shaft and a plurality of functional modules, in which the each functional module has means for rigid connection to the carrier shaft and/or to another functional module and has dimensions suitable for insertion into the body of a patient through a trocar, wherein the device is characterized in that: —each functional module has at least one degree of rotational or translational freedom and/or a functional end-piece such as a forceps, hook or a scalpel, —the carrier shaft and/or the functional modules include means for actuating the functional modules according to the respective degree of freedom thereof and/or the respective function thereof, and in that the device includes an electromechanical interface capable of controlling the actuating of the assembled functional modules forming the tool.

Abstract: The invention relates to an endoscopic imaging system for observation of an operative site (2) inside a volume (1) located inside the body of an animal, comprising: Image capture means (3) intended to provide data on the operative site (2), Processing means (4) to process data derived from the image capture means, Display means (5) displaying data processed by the processing means (4), characterized in that: The image capture means (3) comprise at least two image capture devices that are independent and mobile relative to one another, the image capture devices being intended to be positioned inside the volume (1), and in that: The processing means (4) comprise computing means to obtain three-dimensional data on the observed operative site (2) from data provided by the image capture devices, and means to reconstruct a three-dimensional image of a region of interest of the operative site from the three-dimensional data obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analysing a surgical operation by endoscopy in an operation field in a space inside the body of an animal, characterised in that it comprises the steps of: detecting at least one tool (1, 2, 3) present in the operation field; detecting at least one portion of an organ (4) in the vicinity of the detected tool (1, 2, 3); determining the position of the detected tool (1, 2, 3) relative to the detected organ (4) so that the detected tool (1, 2, 3), the detected portion of the organ (4) and their relative positioning form parameters defining a detected operation field; selecting, in a database, a conceptual field of operation corresponding to the detected operation field based on the detected tool (1, 2, 3), the detected portion of the organ (4), and their relative positioning; comparing the parameters of the detected field of operation with the parameters defining the selected conceptual field of operation in order to determine the deviations between said parameters; providin

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for assisting cartilage diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and includes the steps of acquiring 3D osteocartilaginous parameters by using multimodal 3D tracked devices; incorporating these parameters into a volumic anatomic osteocartilaginous model from which a bone tracking virtual real-time environment is built; three-dimensionally computing an osteocartilaginous quality score from this multiparametric 3D osteocartilaginous model; providing real-time navigation in this 3D virtual environment in order to make ongoing therapeutic assessments and adjustments; and updating steps 1 to 3 according to the performed therapy. It will be appreciated that the above steps are compatible with arthroscopic procedures involving cartilage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising a casing and a biomimetic artificial membrane arranged within the casing to form two distinct chambers, wherein each chamber is provided for enclosing a liquid of a given composition, and wherein the biomimetic artificial membrane comprises a semi-permeable membrane for supporting a lipid membrane, the lipid membrane comprising a plurality of lipid molecules arranged in a layer and including at least a transport protein, the transport protein being adapted for transport of ions and/or molecules of the liquids between the two chambers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (22) for changing the pH of a solvent in which a substance is dissolved. The device includes a housing (24) in contact with the solvent through a housing wall (26) that is permissive to the solvent and the substance. The housing contains enzymes adapted for converting the substance in order to provide hydrogen or hydroxyle ions; the housing wall being non-permissive to the enzymes.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a lower plate, at least one upper plate opposite the lower plate, a spacer means which is disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate. The spacer means is used to permanently hold the upper plate in a substantially parallel position in relation to the lower plate and to move the upper plate away from the lower plate. The spacer means is fully contained between the upper and the lower plate. The minimal spacing between the outer surfaces of the upper plate and the lower plate is less than ten (10) millimeters. A flexible control means is connected to the spacing means.