Abstract: Methods and systems for performing robotically-assisted surgery in conjunction with intra-operative imaging. A method includes moving a robotic arm with respect to a patient and an imaging device to move an end effector of the robotic arm to a pre-determined position and orientation with respect to the patient based on imaging data of the patient obtained by the imaging device. The robotic arm maintains the end effector in the pre-determined position and orientation with respect to the patient and does not collide with the imaging device or with the patient when the imaging device moves with respect to the patient.

Abstract: A saw blade for a reciprocating saw, a reciprocating saw and blade, and a method for making a slotted cut of uniform spacing along a length of the cut are disclosed. A pair of blades, each at an off set from the reciprocating axis, the saw blades can make the slotted cut in a substrate with a single pass of the reciprocating saw. In some embodiments, the saw blade includes at least one blade is mounted to an adapter at an offset from a reciprocating axis of the reciprocating saw. The offset of the blades may be adjustable to obtain a slotted cut of a uniform width.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser includes a housing, a pump, an outlet nozzle, a reservoir, a liquid passage, an air passage, and a refill container. The pump and reservoir are attached to the housing, and both the outlet nozzle and the reservoir are in fluid communication with the pump. The reservoir has at least one engagement member, and the liquid passage and the air passage are located in the engagement member. The refill container has at least one sealing member, and the refill container is configured to be releasably attached to the reservoir such that the refill container is in fluid communication with the reservoir. When the refill container is attached to the reservoir, the engagement member engages the sealing member to cause the liquid passage and the air passage to be in fluid communication with the refill container.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser includes a housing, a pump, an outlet nozzle, a reservoir, a liquid passage, an air passage, and a refill container. The pump and reservoir are attached to the housing, and both the outlet nozzle and the reservoir are in fluid communication with the pump. The reservoir has at least one engagement member, and the liquid passage and the air passage are located in the engagement member. The refill container has at least one sealing member, and the refill container is configured to be releasably attached to the reservoir such that the refill container is in fluid communication with the reservoir. When the refill container is attached to the reservoir, the engagement member engages the sealing member to cause the liquid passage and the air passage to be in fluid communication with the refill container.

Abstract: Techniques for efficient medical appointment scheduling are described. In an example, a method of facilitating access between a patient endpoint system and a healthcare provider computer system includes: receiving, at a management computer system through a network, healthcare provider information from the healthcare provider computer; storing the healthcare provider information in a database along with a collection of healthcare provider information from a plurality of other healthcare provider computer systems, the healthcare provider information including appointment availability information; providing, from the management computer to the patient endpoint system, an interface to the database to retrieving the healthcare provider information; and providing, from the patient endpoint system to the healthcare provider computer system, a request for an appointment based on the appointment availability information retrieved by the patient endpoint system from the database.

Abstract: A protective barrier includes a first end post including a first plastic outer cover, the first plastic outer cover including a first opening with a first pin-receiving socket formed therein, a second end post including a second plastic outer cover, the second plastic outer cover including a second opening with a second pin-receiving socket formed therein, a first hollow plastic rail including a first end disposed in the first opening of the first end post such that a first through hole in the first end is aligned with the first pin-receiving socket, and a second end disposed in the second opening of the second end post such that a second through hole in the second end is aligned with the second pin-receiving socket, a first pin extending through the first through hole in the first end of the hollow plastic rail, the first pin having a proximal end disposed in the first pin-receiving socket and a distal end disposed in a third pin-receiving socket, and a second pin extending through the second through hole in

Abstract: Techniques for efficient medical appointment scheduling are described. In an example, a method of facilitating access between a patient endpoint system and a healthcare provider computer system includes: receiving, at a management computer system through a network, healthcare provider information from the healthcare provider computer; storing the healthcare provider information in a database along with a collection of healthcare provider information from a plurality of other healthcare provider computer systems, the healthcare provider information including appointment availability information; providing, from the management computer to the patient endpoint system, an interface to the database to retrieving the healthcare provider information; and providing, from the patient endpoint system to the healthcare provider computer system, a request for an appointment based on the appointment availability information retrieved by the patient endpoint system from the database.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser includes a housing, a pump, an outlet nozzle, a reservoir, a liquid passage, an air passage, and a refill container. The pump and reservoir are attached to the housing, and both the outlet nozzle and the reservoir are in fluid communication with the pump. The reservoir has at least one engagement member, and the liquid passage and the air passage are located in the engagement member. The refill container has at least one sealing member, and the refill container is configured to be releasably attached to the reservoir such that the refill container is in fluid communication with the reservoir. When the refill container is attached to the reservoir, the engagement member engages the sealing member to cause the liquid passage and the air passage to be in fluid communication with the refill container.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser includes a dispenser housing, a container for holding a foamable liquid, a foam pump, an outlet in fluid communication with the foam pump, and a vacuum actuated suck-back mechanism in fluid communication with the foam pump and the outlet. The foam pump has a liquid pump portion and an air pump portion. The vacuum actuated suck-back mechanism includes a chamber and a movable member. The chamber has a vacuum port that is in fluid communication with the air pump portion of the foam pump, and a suck-back port that is in fluid communication with the outlet. The movable member of the vacuum actuated suck-back mechanism moves under vacuum pressure to reduce the volume of the chamber. The volume of the chamber increases upon removal of the vacuum pressure.

Abstract: A protective barrier includes a first end post including a first plastic outer cover, the first plastic outer cover including a first opening with a first pin-receiving socket formed therein, a second end post including a second plastic outer cover, the second plastic outer cover including a second opening with a second pin-receiving socket formed therein, a first hollow plastic rail including a first end disposed in the first opening of the first end post such that a first through hole in the first end is aligned with the first pin-receiving socket, and a second end disposed in the second opening of the second end post such that a second through hole in the second end is aligned with the second pin-receiving socket, a first pin extending through the first through hole in the first end of the hollow plastic rail, the first pin having a proximal end disposed in the first pin-receiving socket and a distal end disposed in a third pin-receiving socket, and a second pin extending through the second through hole in

Abstract: A fluid dispenser includes a dispenser housing, a container for holding a foamable liquid, a foam pump, an outlet in fluid communication with the foam pump, and a vacuum actuated suck-back mechanism in fluid communication with the foam pump and the outlet. The foam pump has a liquid pump portion and an air pump portion. The vacuum actuated suck-back mechanism includes a chamber and a movable member. The chamber has a vacuum port that is in fluid communication with the air pump portion of the foam pump, and a suck-back port that is in fluid communication with the outlet. The movable member of the vacuum actuated suck-back mechanism moves under vacuum pressure to reduce the volume of the chamber. The volume of the chamber increases upon removal of the vacuum pressure.

Abstract: A microscope or endoscope, comprising a light condenser (such as an objective lens), and an array of micro-lenses (such as supported on a transparent plate), wherein the micro-lenses are arranged spatially to correspond in enlarged form to respective sub-resolution objects or point observational fields on or within a specimen that are separated from one another by an optically resolvable distance and to receive light from the sub-resolution objects or point observational fields, and each of the micro-lenses is arranged to converge light from the respective corresponding sub-resolution object or point observational field to a diffraction limited spot at an image plane.

Abstract: A door frame protection apparatus includes a first upright bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being anchored to a surface at a first anchor point, a second upright bar having a third end and a fourth end, the third end being anchored to the surface at a second anchor point, an overhead crossbar coupled to the second end of the first upright bar and to the fourth end of the second upright bar, a first impact absorption member resting on the first anchor point and having the first upright bar extending therethrough, the first impact absorption member being rotatable about the first upright bar, and a second impact absorption member resting on the second anchor point and having the second upright bar extending therethrough, the second impact absorption member being rotatable about the second upright bar.

Abstract: A microscope or endoscope, comprising a light condenser (such as an objective lens), and an array of micro-lenses (such as supported on a transparent plate), wherein the micro-lenses are arranged spatially to correspond in enlarged form to respective sub-resolution objects or point observational fields on or within a specimen that are separated from one another by an optically resolvable distance and to receive light from the sub-resolution objects or point observational fields, and each of the micro-lenses is arranged to converge light from the respective corresponding sub-resolution object or point observational field to a diffraction limited spot at an image plane.

Abstract: A door frame protection apparatus includes a first upright bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being anchored to a surface at a first anchor point, a second upright bar having a third end and a fourth end, the third end being anchored to the surface at a second anchor point, an overhead crossbar coupled to the second end of the first upright bar and to the fourth end of the second upright bar, a first impact absorption member resting on the first anchor point and having the first upright bar extending therethrough, the first impact absorption member being rotatable about the first upright bar, and a second impact absorption member resting on the second anchor point and having the second upright bar extending therethrough, the second impact absorption member being rotatable about the second upright bar.

Abstract: A fluid transmission that employs a fluid to transmit a force, comprising a conduit for the fluid made from heat shrink polymer tubing, wherein at least a portion of the heat shrink polymer tubing is shrunken, whereby the force can be transmitted by the fluid from a first or proximal end of the conduit to a second or distal end of the conduit. Also, an actuator and methods for manufacturing the transmission and actuator.

Abstract: A fiber bundle confocal microscope or endoscope (200), comprising a light source (142) for providing a beam of light (160), a coherent fiber bundle of optical fibers (152), a scanner (202) for receiving the beam and scanning the beam over a proximal end of the bundle (162), so that the beam is launched into a plurality of the fibers sequentially, a plurality of the fibers thereby acting sequentially as an at least one delivery fiber (204), a spatial filter (172), and a photodetector (174) operatively associated with the spatial filter to receive return light from one or more of the fibers. The return light from the delivery fiber is excluded from the photodetector by the spatial filter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a confocal endoscope, microscope or endomicroscope including a light source of coherent light for illuminating a sample, a beam splitter and light receiving means, wherein an incident beam of light from the light source is directed onto the beam splitter and hence onto the sample, and light returning from the sample and incident on the beam splitter is deviated or displaced by the beam splitter by a small angle or distance relative to the incident beam, and received by the light receiving means located to receive the returning light and near the light source. The invention also a method for performing confocal endoscopy or microscopy including illuminating a sample by means of an incident or excitatory beam of coherent light, and deviating or displacing light returning from the sample by a small angle or distance relative to the incident beam.

Abstract: A microscope, endoscope or optical coherence tomograph, comprising a light source, a flexible light transmitter (18) for receiving and transmitting light from the light source, an optical element (20) with a forward end (30) for receiving the light from the light transmitter (18) and a rear wall (26) having an internal surface for reflecting the light laterally, and an external sleeve (14) enclosing the optical element (20) and transparent to the light in at least a region of the sleeve where the light is directed by the internal surface (26). The internal surface (26) has an optical figure suitable for focussing the light to an observational field (28) external to the sleeve (14). A confocal configuration may be used.