Abstract: A system for sensing interstitial glucose includes an elongated structure that defines a fluid delivery conduit having at least one fluid outlet, and a sensor formed on an external surface of the elongated structure and comprising a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and a working electrode arranged planarly in a sequence along a longitudinal axis of the elongated structure and configured to sense an interstitial glucose level of a patient.

Abstract: Fluid infusion systems such as a portable fluid infusion device includes a housing configured to accommodate a removable fluid reservoir. The housing has a largest dimension and a smallest dimension. The portable fluid infusion device includes a drive system configured to be serially coupled to the removable fluid reservoir such that a combined dimension of the drive system and the removable fluid reservoir is less than or equal to the largest dimension. The portable fluid infusion device includes a planar battery configured to supply power to the drive system. The planar battery has a plurality of faces comprising one or more faces having a largest area, and the planar battery being situated such that the one or more faces are parallel to the largest dimension and the smallest dimension.

Abstract: A wearable infusion port for infusing a fluid includes a first housing that defines an inlet port to receive the fluid, and a second housing coupled to the first housing. The second housing is to be coupled to an anatomy. The wearable infusion port includes a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the inlet port, and the valve assembly is movable from a closed state to an opened state to dispense the fluid. The wearable infusion port includes a cannula assembly extending through the first housing and the second housing, and the cannula assembly includes a cannula fluidly coupled to the valve assembly. The cannula is to be coupled to the anatomy. The wearable infusion port includes a flow sensor fluidly coupled to the inlet port and the cannula. The flow sensor is fluidly coupled upstream from the cannula to observe an amount of fluid received by the cannula.

Abstract: A pump for delivering a fluid includes a pump housing that defines at least one reservoir having a circumferentially open first end, a circumferentially closed second end and a chamber to receive the fluid. The pump includes a plunger assembly having at least one plunger arm and a cannula fluidly coupled to the plunger arm to dispense the fluid from the pump. The plunger arm is receivable within the first end of the reservoir, and the at least one plunger arm defining an internal conduit to receive the fluid from the at least one fluid reservoir. The internal conduit is fluidly coupled to the cannula. The plunger assembly is movable in a first direction relative to the pump housing to advance the plunger arm within the fluid reservoir to dispense the fluid from the fluid reservoir out of the pump via the cannula.

Abstract: A pump for delivering a fluid includes a pump housing that defines at least one reservoir having a circumferentially open first end, a circumferentially closed second end and a chamber to receive the fluid. The pump includes a plunger assembly having at least one plunger arm and a cannula fluidly coupled to the plunger arm to dispense the fluid from the pump. The plunger arm is receivable within the first end of the reservoir, and the at least one plunger arm defining an internal conduit to receive the fluid from the at least one fluid reservoir. The internal conduit is fluidly coupled to the cannula. The plunger assembly is movable in a first direction relative to the pump housing to advance the plunger arm within the fluid reservoir to dispense the fluid from the fluid reservoir out of the pump via the cannula.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a steerable and curvable drill that can be used for various applications including vertebroplasty. The drill can include an elongate, tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending therethrough; a deflectable zone on the distal end of the tubular body including one or more laser cuts, deflectable through an angular range; an insertable wire insertable into at least a portion of the central lumen of the elongate, tubular body; a handle on the proximal end of the tubular body; a deflection control on the handle; a drill control on the handle; a drive shaft within the elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end; and a boring element on the distal end of the device for creating a cavity within bone. The boring element can be operably connected to the distal end of the drive shaft via a crimping mechanism. Systems and methods involving the drill are also disclosed.

Abstract: A physiological characteristic sensor system includes a physiological characteristic sensor. The physiological characteristic sensor includes a housing having a first housing portion coupled to a second housing portion, and an antenna coupled to the first housing portion. The physiological characteristic sensor system includes a sensor inserter configured to be coupled to the physiological characteristic sensor. The sensor inserter includes a sensor retainer, and the sensor retainer is configured to couple to the second housing portion in a second state to couple the physiological characteristic sensor to the sensor inserter.

Abstract: A wearable infusion port for infusing a fluid includes a first housing that defines an inlet port to receive the fluid, and a second housing coupled to the first housing. The second housing is to be coupled to an anatomy. The wearable infusion port includes a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the inlet port, and the valve assembly is movable from a closed state to an opened state to dispense the fluid. The wearable infusion port includes a cannula assembly extending through the first housing and the second housing, and the cannula assembly includes a cannula fluidly coupled to the valve assembly. The cannula is to be coupled to the anatomy. The wearable infusion port includes a flow sensor fluidly coupled to the inlet port and the cannula. The flow sensor is fluidly coupled upstream from the cannula to observe an amount of fluid received by the cannula.

Abstract: A pump for delivering a fluid includes a pump housing that defines at least one reservoir having a circumferentially open first end, a circumferentially closed second end and a chamber to receive the fluid. The pump includes a plunger assembly having at least one plunger arm and a cannula fluidly coupled to the plunger arm to dispense the fluid from the pump. The plunger arm is receivable within the first end of the reservoir, and the at least one plunger arm defining an internal conduit to receive the fluid from the at least one fluid reservoir. The internal conduit is fluidly coupled to the cannula. The plunger assembly is movable in a first direction relative to the pump housing to advance the plunger arm within the fluid reservoir to dispense the fluid from the fluid reservoir out of the pump via the cannula.

Abstract: Fluid infusion systems such as a portable fluid infusion device includes a housing configured to accommodate a removable fluid reservoir. The housing has a largest dimension and a smallest dimension. The portable fluid infusion device includes a drive system configured to be serially coupled to the removable fluid reservoir such that a combined dimension of the drive system and the removable fluid reservoir is less than or equal to the largest dimension. The portable fluid infusion device includes a planar battery configured to supply power to the drive system. The planar battery has a plurality of faces comprising one or more faces having a largest area, and the planar battery being situated such that the one or more faces are parallel to the largest dimension and the smallest dimension.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a steerable and curvable drill that can be used for various applications including vertebroplasty. The drill can include an elongate, tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending therethrough; a deflectable zone on the distal end of the tubular body including one or more laser cuts, deflectable through an angular range; an insertable wire insertable into at least a portion of the central lumen of the elongate, tubular body; a handle on the proximal end of the tubular body; a deflection control on the handle; a drill control on the handle; a drive shaft within the elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end; and a boring element on the distal end of the device for creating a cavity within bone. The boring element can be operably connected to the distal end of the drive shaft via a crimping mechanism. Systems and methods involving the drill are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pump clip for a fluid infusion device is provided. The pump clip includes a mount. The mount includes wings defined on opposed sides of the mount, a first lock tab to couple the pump clip to the fluid infusion device and a lip. The pump clip includes a base coupled to the mount that defines a second lock tab that engages with the lip to retain the mount in a first position. The mount is pivotable about a first pivot axis into a second position in which the mount is spaced apart from the base. The pump clip includes a clip coupled to the base, the clip pivotable about a second pivot axis relative to the base between a first, clamped position and a second, released position to receive an article.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a steerable and curvable drill that can be used for various applications including vertebroplasty. The drill can include an elongate, tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending therethrough; a deflectable zone on the distal end of the tubular body including one or more laser cuts, deflectable through an angular range; an insertable wire insertable into at least a portion of the central lumen of the elongate, tubular body; a handle on the proximal end of the tubular body; a deflection control on the handle; a drill control on the handle; a drive shaft within the elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end; and a boring element on the distal end of the device for creating a cavity within bone. The boring element can be operably connected to the distal end of the drive shaft via a crimping mechanism. Systems and methods involving the drill are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pump clip for a fluid infusion device is provided. The pump clip includes a mount. The mount includes wings defined on opposed sides of the mount, a first lock tab to couple the pump clip to the fluid infusion device and a lip. The pump clip includes a base coupled to the mount that defines a second lock tab that engages with the lip to retain the mount in a first position. The mount is pivotable about a first pivot axis into a second position in which the mount is spaced apart from the base. The pump clip includes a clip coupled to the base, the clip pivotable about a second pivot axis relative to the base between a first, clamped position and a second, released position to receive an article.

Abstract: Methods and devices for augmenting bone, such as in performing vertebroplasty are disclosed. A bone cement injection needle is provided, having a laterally deflectable distal end. Systems are also disclosed, including the steerable and curvable injection needle, introducer and stylet. The system can also include various exit ports that can be configured with clog-resistant features, such as an obturator. Steerable cavity creation systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a steerable and curvable drill that can be used for various applications including vertebroplasty. The drill can include an elongate, tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending therethrough; a deflectable zone on the distal end of the tubular body including one or more laser cuts, deflectable through an angular range; an insertable wire insertable into at least a portion of the central lumen of the elongate, tubular body; a handle on the proximal end of the tubular body; a deflection control on the handle; a drill control on the handle; a drive shaft within the elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end; and a boring element on the distal end of the device for creating a cavity within bone. The boring element can be operably connected to the distal end of the drive shaft via a crimping mechanism. Systems and methods involving the drill are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a steerable and curvable drill that can be used for various applications including vertebroplasty. The drill can include an elongate, tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending therethrough; a deflectable zone on the distal end of the tubular body including one or more laser cuts, deflectable through an angular range; an insertable wire insertable into at least a portion of the central lumen of the elongate, tubular body; a handle on the proximal end of the tubular body; a deflection control on the handle; a drill control on the handle; a drive shaft within the elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end; and a boring element on the distal end of the device for creating a cavity within bone. The boring element can be operably connected to the distal end of the drive shaft via a crimping mechanism. Systems and methods involving the drill are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and devices for augmenting bone, such as in performing vertebroplasty are disclosed. A bone cement injection needle is provided, having a laterally deflectable distal end. The distal end may be provided with one or two or more cavity creation elements, such as a bevel or diamond tip or inflatable balloons. A cavity creation element may include one or more filament layers. Systems are also disclosed, including the steerable and curvable injection needle, introducer and stylet. The system can also include various exit ports that can be configured with clog-resistant features. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A high precision spindle suitable for hard disk drives, optical disk drives, such as DVDs, CD drives, and other applications includes a hub, a hybrid hydrodynamic an aerodynamic bearing system, a brushless motor, a starting/stopping assistant device and a base. The hybrid fluid film bearing system ensures that the spindle works at high precision, low acoustic noise and low power consumption. The starting/stopping assistant device lifts the rotating portion of the spindle and its load by means of magnetic force, hence, reduces the friction between the contacted surfaces of thrust air bearing. It reduces the starting/stopping time and lessens the wear of bearing, therefore, effectively suppresses the contamination caused by wear particles. Magnetic seals are also provide to prevent journal bearing fluid from leaking.