Abstract: An automated skin lesion assessment system may automatically assess a suspect skin lesion. An electronic image library may contain diagnosed skin lesion image data representative of images of a plurality of diagnosed skin lesions and, for each, a diagnosis of the skin lesion. An image capture system may capture an image of the suspect skin lesion. A computer processing system may compare the image of the suspect skin lesion with the diagnosed skin lesion image data and, based on this comparison, identify one or more diagnosed skin lesions which match the suspect skin lesion. A user interface may report the diagnoses of the diagnosed skin lesions that match the image of the suspect skin lesion.

Abstract: An automated skin lesion assessment system may automatically assess a suspect skin lesion. An electronic image library may contain diagnosed skin lesion image data representative of images of a plurality of diagnosed skin lesions and, for each, a diagnosis of the skin lesion. An image capture system may capture an image of the suspect skin lesion. A computer processing system may compare the image of the suspect skin lesion with the diagnosed skin lesion image data and, based on this comparison, identify one or more diagnosed skin lesions which match the suspect skin lesion. A user interface may report the diagnoses of the diagnosed skin lesions that match the image of the suspect skin lesion.

Abstract: An automated skin lesion assessment system may automatically assess a suspect skin lesion. An electronic image library may contain diagnosed skin lesion image data representative of images of a plurality of diagnosed skin lesions and, for each, a diagnosis of the skin lesion. An image capture system may capture an image of the suspect skin lesion. A computer processing system may compare the image of the suspect skin lesion with the diagnosed skin lesion image data and, based on this comparison, identify one or more diagnosed skin lesions which match the suspect skin lesion. A user interface may report the diagnoses of the diagnosed skin lesions that match the image of the suspect skin lesion.

Abstract: An automated skin lesion assessment system may automatically assess a suspect skin lesion. An electronic image library may contain diagnosed skin lesion image data representative of images of a plurality of diagnosed skin lesions and, for each, a diagnosis of the skin lesion. An image capture system may capture an image of the suspect skin lesion. A computer processing system may compare the image of the suspect skin lesion with the diagnosed skin lesion image data and, based on this comparison, identify one or more diagnosed skin lesions which match the suspect skin lesion. A user interface may report the diagnoses of the diagnosed skin lesions that match the image of the suspect skin lesion.

Abstract: An automated skin biopsy apparatus for taking a biopsy of a lesion on skin may include a suture applicator configured to controllably suture skin surrounding the lesion before the lesion is resected from the skin, a lesion resector configured to controllably resect the lesion from the skin, a user-operated control, and a controller. The controller may be configured, in response to actuation of the user-operated control by a user, to automatically cause the suture applicator to suture skin surrounding the lesion and the lesion resector to resect the lesion from the skin while the sutures from the suture applicator are in place. Related processes are disclosed.

Abstract: An automated skin biopsy apparatus for taking a biopsy of a lesion on skin. The apparatus may include a lesion stabilizer configure to controllably stabilize the lesion while on the skin, a lesion resector configured to controllably resect the lesion from the skin, a user-operated control, and a controller. The controller may be configured to automatically cause, in response to actuation of the user-operated control by a user, the lesion stabilizer to stabilize the lesion while attached to the skin and the lesion resector to resect the lesion from the skin while the lesion is being stabilized by the lesion stabilizer. Related processes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for relieving pain caused by a tumor within a body may include an injection system having an injector configured to inject an anesthetic within the body to relieve the pain caused by the tumor, and a robotic system configured to position the injector at a plurality of specified, spaced-apart injection locations within the body. A method of relieving pain caused by a tumor within a body may include: generating an image of the tumor within the body; identifying, based on the image, a plurality of locations within the body at which an injection of an anesthetic that relieves the pain caused by the tumor should be made; and making injections of the anesthetic at the locations, under the control of a robotic system that is programmed to make the injections at the identified locations without human intervention between the injections.

Abstract: A tumor treatment system for treating a tumor within a body may include an injection system having an injector configured to inject an injection within the body that treats the tumor, and a robotic system configured to position the injector at a plurality of specified, spaced-apart treatment locations within the body. A tumor treatment process for treating a tumor within a body may include generating an image of the tumor within the body, identifying a plurality of locations within the body at which an injection that treats the tumor should be made based on the image, and making the injections at the locations under the control of a robotic system that is programmed to make the injections at the identified locations without human intervention.

Abstract: A system for delivering an immunosuppressive drug to a transplanted organ within a body may include an injection system having an injector configured to inject an immunosuppressive drug into the transplanted organ, and a robotic system configured to position the injector at one or more injection locations within the body. A method of delivering an immunosuppressive drug to a transplanted organ within a body may include injecting the immunosuppressive drug into one or more locations within the transplanted organ so as to suppress white cell infiltration into the transplanted organ without affecting white cell activity at locations outside of the transplanted organ.

Abstract: A system for delivering a prenatal medication to an unborn fetus within a body may include an injection system having an injector configured to inject the prenatal medication into or in the vicinity of the fetus, and a robotic system configured to position the injector at one or more injection locations within the body. A method of delivering a prenatal medication to an unborn fetus within a body may include generating an image of the fetus within the body; identifying, based on the image, one or more locations within the body at which an injection of the prenatal medication should be made; and making injections into the fetus of the prenatal medication at the locations, under the control of a robotic system that is programmed to make the injections at the identified locations without human intervention between the injections.

Abstract: The invention relates to the preparation of porcine cardiac valve leaflets for implantation into patients.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for obtaining heart valves from a donor animal that have a reduced tendency to cause inflammation when implanted into a human patient. The valves produced by this method should be less likely to undergo post-surgical degeneration.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for obtaining heart valves from a donor animal that have a reduced tendency to cause inflammation when implanted into a human patient. The valves produced by this method should be less likely to undergo post-surgical degeneration.