Abstract: The present disclosure provides an endoscopic apparatus and associated methods. The apparatus may include a steerable tool having a first flexible tube concentrically nested within a second flexible tube. The apparatus may include an end cap disposed on the steerable tool, an image sensor disposed on the end cap, and one or more light sources disposed on the end cap. The apparatus may be configured for accessing a region within a middle ear cavity of a patient. As such, the apparatus may further include a flexible tube, through which the steerable tool may extend, as well as a pre-curved rigid tube, through which the flexible tube may extend, thus allowing the apparatus to be deployed for middle ear access.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a visual inspection apparatus. The apparatus may include a concentrically nested tube assembly having a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube. In some embodiments, the first tube includes a first deflectable section, the second tube includes a second deflectable section, and the third tube includes a third deflectable section. The first, second, and third deflectable sections may be selectively weakened portions of the first, second, and third tubes. The first and second tubes may be joined at a location distal to the first and second deflectable sections. The tube assembly may be actuable to form a first bend by relative axial translation between the first tube and the second tube, and the tube assembly may be actuable to form a second bend by relative axial transaction between the second tube and the third tube. Such bending may be co-planar or non-co-planar.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an endoscopic apparatus. The apparatus may include a sheath. The sheath may include a first tube concentrically nested within a second tube. The apparatus may further include a laser fiber disposed in the sheath and movable therein along a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The sheath may be actuable to form a first bend by relative axial translation between the first tube and the second tube. Advancing movements of the laser fiber may cause a distal tip of the laser fiber to project out of a distal end of the sheath; and retreating movements of the laser fiber may cause the distal tip of the laser fiber to retract towards the distal end of the sheath.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an endoscope apparatus. The apparatus may include endcap having a body and a side opening. The body may be configured to fit onto a distal end of an endoscope. The endoscope may include a forward-facing working port and a tool that is configured to be advanced out of the working port. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an image sensor disposed on the body of the endcap. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes an elevator pivotably coupled to the body of the endcap. The elevator may be configured to be pivoted relative to the body such that the elevator deflects the tool toward the side opening of the endcap into the lateral workspace. In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a user interface and a pull-wire. The pull-wire may be coupled to the user interface and the elevator.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for an endoscopic apparatus and methods. The apparatus may include a steerable sheath, a control wire disposed within the steerable sheath, and a basket disposed on the control wire. The steerable sheath may be actuated to form a bend, advancing movements of the control wire may cause the basket to project out of the steerable sheath and expand, and retreating movements of the control wire may cause the basket to retract into the steerable sheath and contract.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an endoscopic apparatus and associated methods. The apparatus may include a steerable tool having a first flexible tube concentrically nested within a second flexible tube. The apparatus may include an end cap disposed on the steerable tool, an image sensor disposed on the end cap, and one or more light sources disposed on the end cap. The apparatus may be configured for accessing a region within a middle ear cavity of a patient. As such, the apparatus may further include a flexible tube, through which the steerable tool may extend, as well as a pre-curved rigid tube, through which the flexible tube may extend, thus allowing the apparatus to be deployed for middle ear access.

Abstract: A system includes an endcap configured to be fitted on a distal end of an endoscope having a forward-looking camera and a forward-facing working port. The endcap includes a body configured to fit onto the distal end of the endoscope and a reflective surface supported by the body. The reflective surface is configured so that the forward-looking camera visualizes a workspace that is lateral of both the endcap and the distal end of the endoscope.

Abstract: A processor assembly including: an exposure station operable to expose a sample on a slide; a print station operable to apply a reagent to the exposed sample through a thermal inkjet process; and a robotic transfer mechanism to transfer the slide from the exposure station to the print station. Also, a reagent cartridge including: a body defining a container having a volume therein; a nonmetallic bag in the container operable to contain a reagent; and a printhead at a base of the body, the printhead coupled to an outlet of the bag. Further, a method including exposing a sample on a slide in a processor assembly; robotically transferring the slide to a printing station of the processor assembly; and applying a reagent to the exposed sample at the printing station by a thermal inkjet printing process.

Abstract: A processor assembly including a core module operable to expose a sample on a slide; a staining module operable to apply a stain to the exposed sample; and a robotic transfer mechanism to transfer the slide from the core module to the staining module. Also, an apparatus including a rectangular body having an open rear end and an opposite front end; a flange having a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the flange is coupled to the front end of the body; and a pair of legs extending from second side of the flange, wherein the pair of legs are operable to engage opposite side edges of a slide.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for an enterprise product line design and pricing solution are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a pricing solution system for product line pricing under discrete mixed multinomial logit demand are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of preserving fruit-bearing cut-limbs from cutting at an orchard to receiving by a remote consumer includes cutting a live, fruit-bearing limb off a fruit tree in an orchard; and bagging the cut limb with perforated film substantially to seal the limb therein substantially continuously from the time of cutting at the orchard to the time of receiving by the remote consumer. After the cutting and before the bagging, the method can include dipping the cut end of the limb in a solution of water substantially continuously from cutting at the orchard to receiving by the remote consumer and/or coating the cut limb including the fruit and leaves thereon using a moisture-retentive agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the growth of single phase rare earth-doped sapphire (?-Al2O3) films on substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. The invention provides for composition of matters, neodymium-doped sapphire films, and methods for making and using thin films of this material. The rare earth-doped films of the present invention are especially useful in solid state lasers.

Abstract: A method of preserving fruit-bearing cut-limbs from cutting at an orchard to receiving by a remote consumer includes cutting a live, fruit-bearing limb off a fruit tree in an orchard; and bagging the cut limb with perforated film substantially to seal the limb therein substantially continuously from the time of cutting at the orchard to the time of receiving by the remote consumer. After the cutting and before the bagging, the method can include dipping the cut end of the limb in a solution of water substantially continuously from cutting at the orchard to receiving by the remote consumer and/or coating the cut limb including the fruit and leaves thereon using a moisture-retentive agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated analysis of chromagenic and fluorescently labeled biological samples, wherein the apparatus automatically scans at a low magnification to acquire images which are analyzed to determine candidate cell objects of interest. Once candidate objects of interest are identified, further analysis can be conducted automatically to process and collect data from samples having different staining reagents.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system for and method of accurately determining the status of a protein target and a nucleic acid target in a biological sample (e.g., a tissue or cell sample). Provided are methods of quantitating a protein target and a nucleic acid target in a tissue or cell sample using image analysis to correlate the optical density of a chromogenic stain to the concentration of a target molecule in a biological sample. The use CISH in combination with IHC to accurately determine the status of two independent target molecules is provided. A computer-aided image analysis system is used to process and analyze optical images of a chromagen-stained tissue or cell sample and to determine the optical density of the stained tissue or cell sample.