Abstract: An elastic strain sensor can be incorporated into an artificial skin that can sense flexing by the underlying support structure of the skin to detect and track motion of the support structure. The unidirectional elastic strain sensor can be formed by filling two or more channels in an elastic substrate material with a conductive liquid. At the ends of the channels, a loop port connects the channels to form a serpentine channel. The channels extend along the direction of strain and the loop portions have sufficiently large cross-sectional area in the direction transverse to the direction of strain that the sensor is unidirectional. The resistance is measured at the ends of the serpentine channel and can be used to determine the strain on the sensor. Additional channels can be added to increase the sensitivity of the sensor. The sensors can be stacked on top of each other to increase the sensitivity of the sensor.

Abstract: An examination light apparatus including a touch-less control component that enables a user to control the apparatus without requiring physical contact between the user and the apparatus. The apparatus employs an LED control component that is configured to adapt its electrical interface to a variable quantity of light emitting diodes in order to interface with each of a plurality of lamp heads that each can include a unique arrangement and quantity of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes (LEDs) provide a high level of light quality, quantity and intensity (luminosity) while requiring low power consumption and low space and weight requirements and are employed without requiring a cooling fan. Uniform mechanical and electrical interfaces between the control component and other portions of the examination lamp provide for efficient and simple manufacturing of various examination light configurations.

Abstract: A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument. The light assembly includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a light source mounted to the top surface, and the bottom surface having first and second electrical terminals. The light assembly further includes a circuit board disposed inclined to the substrate, the circuit board having first and second electrical terminals, a first connector mounting and electrically connecting the first electrical terminal of the substrate to the first electrical terminal of the circuit board, a second connector mounting and electrically connecting the second electrical terminal of the substrate to the second electrical terminal of the circuit board, a heat sink, and a thermal conductor thermally connecting at least one of the first and second electrical terminals of the substrate to the heat sink.

Abstract: Provided are lectenz molecules, which are mutated carbohydrate processing enzymes that are catalytically inactive and that have had their substrate affinity increased by at least 1.2 fold. Further provided are methods for making and methods of using such lectenz. Additional mutated proteins following the lectenz approach are further provided.

Abstract: A handheld device includes an electronic instrument and a capacitive power supply for storing and delivering power to the electronic instrument. The capacitive power supply includes at least one capacitor, and an electronic circuit operable to boost a voltage from the capacitor to a higher voltage for use by the electronic instrument. The capacitive power supply can be rapidly recharged. Some configurations include an accelerometer which permits the handheld device to detect movement and perform various operations responsive to detected movement. A dual charging station is also disclosed.

Abstract: A light-intensity-based forced sensor comprises a Sarrus linkage, a biasing mechanism, a light emitter, and a light detector includes a first plate, a second plate, and at least one collapsible linkage pivotably coupled to both the first and the second plates. The biasing mechanism biases the collapsible linkage toward an extended configuration. The light emitter is coupled with and displaceable with the first plate; and the light detector is coupled with and displaceable with the second plate and configured to receive light emitted from the light emitter and generate an electrical signal in response to light received from the light emitter, wherein the generated electrical signal provides an indication of the distance between the first plate and the second plate. The sensor can be distally mounted on, e.g., an endoscope to provide haptic feedback at the distal end of the endoscope.

Abstract: An elastic strain sensor can be incorporated into an artificial skin that can sense flexing by the underlying support structure of the skin to detect and track motion of the support structure. The uni-directional elastic strain sensor can be formed by filling two or more channels in an elastic substrate material with a conductive liquid. At the ends of the channels, a loop port connects the channels to form a serpentine channel. The channels extend along the direction of strain and the loop portions have sufficiently large cross-sectional area in the direction transverse to the direction of strain that the sensor is unidirectional. The resistance is measured at the ends of the serpentine channel and can be used to determine the strain on the sensor. Additional channels can be added to increase the sensitivity of the sensor. The sensors can be stacked on top of each other to increase the sensitivity of the sensor.

Abstract: A handheld device includes an electronic instrument and a capacitive power supply for storing and delivering power to the electronic instrument. The capacitive power supply includes at least one capacitor, and an electronic circuit operable to boost a voltage from the capacitor to a higher voltage for use by the electronic instrument. The capacitive power supply can be rapidly recharged. Some configurations include an accelerometer which permits the handheld device to detect movement and perform various operations responsive to detected movement. A dual charging station is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-layer, super-planar structure can be formed from distinctly patterned layers. The layers in the structure can include at least one rigid layer and at least one flexible layer; the rigid layer includes a plurality of rigid segments, and the flexible layer can extend between the rigid segments to serve as a joint. The layers are then stacked and bonded at selected locations to form a laminate structure with inter-layer bonds, and the laminate structure is flexed at the flexible layer between rigid segments to produce an expanded three-dimensional structure, wherein the layers are joined at the selected bonding locations and separated at other locations.

Abstract: A handheld device includes an electronic instrument and a capacitive power supply for storing and delivering power to the electronic instrument. The capacitive power supply includes at least one capacitor, and an electronic circuit operable to boost a voltage from the capacitor to a higher voltage for use by the electronic instrument. The capacitive power supply can be rapidly recharged. Some configurations include an accelerometer which permits the handheld device to detect movement and perform various operations responsive to detected movement. A dual charging station is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sensor including a layer having viscoelastic properties, the layer comprising a void, the void filled with a fluid; and optionally, a more rigid sensing element embedded within the layer. When a force is applied to a surface of the sensor, the shape of the void changes, causing the electrical resistance of the fluid in the void to change. When included, the more rigid sensing element can bear upon the void to cause the electrical resistance of the fluid in the void to change. A direction and intensity of the force can be determined by measuring the change of the electrical resistance of different voids positioned about the sensing element. The layer can be an elastomer, preferably silicone rubber. The fluid can be a conductive liquid, preferably Eutectic Gallium Indium. The sensing element can be plastic and can have a “Joystick” shape. The voids can take the form of channels or microchannels having a predefined pattern and/or shape.

Abstract: A pop-up laminate structure includes rigid layers, at least one flexible layer, at least one optical component, and an actuator. At least one of the rigid layers defines gaps extending there through to form a plurality of rigid segments separated by the gaps in the rigid layer. The flexible layer is bonded to the rigid segments to form joints for folding. The optical component is mounted to a rigid layer and configured to generate, capture or alter a light beam. The actuator is mounted to at least one of the rigid layers and configured to displace at least one rigid segment that, in turn, displaces the optical component. At least some of the layers are bonded to adjacent layers only at selected locations forming islands of inter-layer bonds to allow expansion of the laminate into an expanded three-dimensional structure.

Abstract: In a method for printing an RFID tag on an object, a deposition mask is applied to the surface of an object. With the deposition mask on the surface of the object, RFID materials are deposited on at least one portion of the surface exposed by aperture(s) in the deposition mask. In particular embodiments, RFID tags can be deposited on medical instruments.

Abstract: An otoscopic instrument with an instrument head. The instrument head having a housing, an optical component disposed along an imaging axis, and an illumination system. The illumination system includes a plurality of LEDs disposed in a ring-like configuration adjacent a distal end of the housing with the illumination system disposed within the housing.

Abstract: A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument. The light assembly includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a light source mounted to the top surface, and the bottom surface having first and second electrical terminals. The light assembly further includes a circuit board disposed inclined to the substrate, the circuit board having first and second electrical terminals, a first connector mounting and electrically connecting the first electrical terminal of the substrate to the first electrical terminal of the circuit board, a second connector mounting and electrically connecting the second electrical terminal of the substrate to the second electrical terminal of the circuit board, a heat sink, and a thermal conductor thermally connecting at least one of the first and second electrical terminals of the substrate to the heat sink.

Abstract: The carbohydrate processing enzyme PNGase F was catalytically inactivated through mutation. Additional mutations yielded a catalytically inactive carbohydrate-binding protein with lectin-like properties including high affinity and specificity N-linked glycans, O-linked glycans, or both.

Abstract: In a method for printing a strain gauge on an instrument for force measurement, a deposition mask is applied to a surface of an instrument. With the deposition mask on the surface of the instrument, a strain gauge material is deposited on at least one portion of the surface exposed by aperture(s) in the deposition mask. Additionally, electrically conductive material is deposited along pathways that connect with the deposited strain gauge material. In one embodiment, the strain gauge is printed on surgical forceps.

Abstract: Methods to systematize the development of machines using inexpensive, fast, and convenient fabrication processes are disclosed. In an embodiment, a folding pattern and corresponding circuit design can provide the blueprints for fabrication. The folding pattern may be provided (e.g. laser machined) on a flat sheet of substrate material, such as a polymer. The circuit pattern may be generated by etching or applying (e.g. sputtering) a copper foil layer onto the substrate. Circuit components and actuators may then be added at specified locations. The flat substrate may then be folded along the predefined locations to form the final machine. The machine may operate autonomously to perform a task.

Abstract: An otoscopic instrument with an instrument head. The instrument head having a housing, an optical component disposed along an imaging axis, and an illumination system. The illumination system includes a plurality of LEDs disposed in a ring-like configuration adjacent a distal end of the housing with the illumination system disposed within the housing.

Abstract: A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument. The light assembly includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a light source mounted to the top surface, and the bottom surface having first and second electrical terminals. The light assembly further includes a circuit board disposed inclined to the substrate, the circuit board having first and second electrical terminals, a first connector mounting and electrically connecting the first electrical terminal of the substrate to the first electrical terminal of the circuit board, a second connector mounting and electrically connecting the second electrical terminal of the substrate to the second electrical terminal of the circuit board, a heat sink, and a thermal conductor thermally connecting at least one of the first and second electrical terminals of the substrate to the heat sink.