Abstract: A marker system includes a biopsy apparatus having a cannula and a stylet. The cannula has a distal end, the stylet has a distal stylet tip, and the stylet is received in the cannula. A tissue marker is coupled to the distal stylet tip. The tissue marker is configured to be contacted by the distal end of the cannula. The tissue marker is detached from the stylet distal tip by either of a proximal movement of the stylet relative to the cannula or a distal movement of the cannula relative to the stylet.

Abstract: A catheter system including a housing and a drive mechanism supported by the housing is provided. The drive mechanism includes an engagement structure configured to engage and to impart movement to a guide wire. The engagement structure defines a path for the guide wire, and the engagement structure is moveable between an engaged position in which the engagement structure engages the guide wire and a disengaged position in which the engagement structure does not engage the guide wire. The catheter system includes a biasing element configured to bias the engagement structure toward the engaged position, and the biasing element is aligned generally parallel to the path defined by the engagement structure.

Abstract: A catheter system including a housing and a drive mechanism supported by the housing is provided. The drive mechanism includes an engagement structure configured to engage and to impart movement to a guide wire. The engagement structure defines a path for the guide wire, and the engagement structure is moveable between an engaged position in which the engagement structure engages the guide wire and a disengaged position in which the engagement structure does not engage the guide wire. The catheter system includes a biasing element configured to bias the engagement structure toward the engaged position, and the biasing element is aligned generally parallel to the path defined by the engagement structure.

Abstract: A single-insertion, multiple sampling biopsy device for insertion into a host includes an outer cutting cannula that has an inner lumen, a cutting distal end, and a proximal sample receiving port. The device includes a stylet extending at least partially within the inner lumen of the outer cutting cannula and along a longitudinal axis of the outer cutting cannula. A sheath extends at least partially within the inner lumen of the outer cutting cannula. A stylet tip is attached to a stylet rail. Each of the sheath and the stylet rail extends along the longitudinal axis. The stylet tip extends in the distal direction beyond the distal end of the outer cutting cannula. A drive unit is configured to translate each of the cutting cannula, the sheath, and the stylet relative to the stylet tip in proximal and distal directions. The stylet rail remains stationary relative to the drive unit.

Abstract: A single-insertion biopsy device includes a cannula having an extraction position at a distal end and a recovery opening at a proximal end. A first elongate element has a first distal end and a second elongate element has a second distal end. The first elongate element and the second elongate element are configured to move between the extraction position and the recovery opening, and to move with respect to each other to define an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the first and second distal ends are mutually radially opposite such that the first elongate element and the second elongate element surround a volume. A drive unit is configured to move the first elongate element and the second elongate element between the open and closed configurations, and to move the first and second distal ends in unison from the extraction position to the recovery opening.

Abstract: A robotic catheter system includes a cassette including a housing, a first pair of engagement surfaces, and a second pair of engagement surfaces. The housing includes a front end, a rear end, a sidewall, a first channel, and a second channel. The first pair of engagement surfaces are arranged to contact a guide wire with sufficient pressure such that when the engagement surfaces are driven, axial movement is imparted to the guide wire. The guide wire extends along the first channel, through the rear end of the housing, and through the front end of the housing. The second pair of engagement surfaces are arranged to contact a catheter with sufficient pressure such that when the engagement surfaces are driven, axial movement is imparted to the catheter. The catheter device extends along the second channel, the second channel arranged at an angle with respect to the first channel.

Abstract: A member of a rigid flexible elastic material, the member including a body portion and an aperture portion with the member adapted for delivery through an axial longitudinal channel of a percutaneous delivery subsystem, the aperture portion including an expanded mode having a lateral dimension greater than an inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion extends outside the channel and a collapsed mode wherein the lateral dimension is not greater than the inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion is within the channel, the channel including a first axial opening and a second axial opening with the aperture portion transitioning from the expanded mode to the collapsed mode when inserted into the openings and the aperture transitioning from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode when exiting from the openings.

Abstract: A robotic catheter system includes a cassette including a housing, a first pair of engagement surfaces, and a second pair of engagement surfaces. The housing includes a front end, a rear end, a sidewall, a first channel, and a second channel. The first pair of engagement surfaces are arranged to contact a guide wire with sufficient pressure such that when the engagement surfaces are driven, axial movement is imparted to the guide wire. The guide wire extends along the first channel, through the rear end of the housing, and through the front end of the housing. The second pair of engagement surfaces are arranged to contact a catheter with sufficient pressure such that when the engagement surfaces are driven, axial movement is imparted to the catheter. The catheter device extends along the second channel, the second channel arranged at an angle with respect to the first channel.

Abstract: A catheter system including a housing and a drive mechanism supported by the housing is provided. The drive mechanism includes an engagement structure configured to engage and to impart movement to a guide wire. The engagement structure defines a path for the guide wire, and the engagement structure is moveable between an engaged position in which the engagement structure engages the guide wire and a disengaged position in which the engagement structure does not engage the guide wire. The catheter system includes a biasing element configured to bias the engagement structure toward the engaged position, and the biasing element is aligned generally parallel to the path defined by the engagement structure.

Abstract: An automatic faucet includes a housing forming partially an internal barrel and a faucet head and being constructed to include at least one water inlet conduit extending into said barrel and a water outlet for delivering water from a spout. The automatic faucet also includes a faucet head having a removable faucet crown and the spout, wherein the faucet crown is removably mounted to the faucet head. The automatic faucet also includes a valve module, a sensor module, a battery module, a turbine module, and a control module. The valve module includes a valve controlled by an electromagnetic actuator for controlling the water flow from the spout. The sensor module is constructed to provide sensor data influenced by a user. The control module is constructed to control opening and closing of the valve by providing signals to the electromagnetic actuator. The control module is also constructed to receive sensor data from the sensor module and execute a sensing algorithm.

Abstract: A marker system includes a biopsy apparatus having a cannula and a stylet. The cannula has a distal end, the stylet has a distal stylet tip, and the stylet is received in the cannula. A tissue marker is coupled to the distal stylet tip. The tissue marker is configured to be contacted by the distal end of the cannula. The tissue marker is detached from the stylet distal tip by either of a proximal movement of the stylet relative to the cannula or a distal movement of the cannula relative to the stylet.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a biopsy sample extraction needle having a sample extraction end, a recovery end, and a transport channel linking the extraction and recovery ends. In a first configuration, a valve has a first position wherein the valve directly connects a pump to an ambient vent and the pump can reduce the pressure in at least the sample extraction end. In a second configuration, the valve has a second position wherein the valve directly connects the pump to a fluid reservoir and the pump can draw fluid from the fluid reservoir. In a third configuration, the valve has a third position wherein the valve directly connects the pump to the extraction end and the pump can supply fluid to the extraction end to flush fluid along the transport channel from the extraction end to the recovery end to transport a sample along the transport channel.

Abstract: A catheter system including a housing and a drive mechanism supported by the housing is provided. The drive mechanism includes an engagement structure configured to engage and to impart movement to a guide wire. The engagement structure defines a path for the guide wire, and the engagement structure is moveable between an engaged position in which the engagement structure engages the guide wire and a disengaged position in which the engagement structure does not engage the guide wire. The catheter system includes a biasing element configured to bias the engagement structure toward the engaged position, and the biasing element is aligned generally parallel to the path defined by the engagement structure.

Abstract: A single-insertion biopsy device includes a cannula having an extraction position at a distal end and a recovery opening at a proximal end. A first elongate element has a first distal end and a second elongate element has a second distal end. The first elongate element and the second elongate element are configured to move between the extraction position and the recovery opening, and to move with respect to each other to define an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the first and second distal ends are mutually radially opposite such that the first elongate element and the second elongate element surround a volume. A drive unit is configured to move the first elongate element and the second elongate element between the open and closed configurations, and to move the first and second distal ends in unison from the extraction position to the recovery opening.

Abstract: A member of a rigid flexible elastic material, the member including a body portion and an aperture portion with the member adapted for delivery through an axial longitudinal channel of a percutaneous delivery subsystem, the aperture portion including an expanded mode having a lateral dimension greater than an inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion extends outside the channel and a collapsed mode wherein the lateral dimension is not greater than the inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion is within the channel, the channel including a first axial opening and a second axial opening with the aperture portion transitioning from the expanded mode to the collapsed mode when inserted into the openings and the aperture transitioning from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode when exiting from the openings.

Abstract: The present invention provides for exemplary embodiments of a single-insertion, multiple sampling biopsy device. Exemplary embodiments of a single-insertion, multiple sampling device with integrated marker release.

Abstract: A member of a rigid flexible elastic material, the member including a body portion and an aperture portion with the member adapted for delivery through an axial longitudinal channel of a percutaneous delivery subsystem, the aperture portion including an expanded mode having a lateral dimension greater than an inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion extends outside the channel and a collapsed mode wherein the lateral dimension is not greater than the inner diameter of the channel when the aperture portion is within the channel, the channel including a first axial opening and a second axial opening with the aperture portion transitioning from the expanded mode to the collapsed mode when inserted into the openings and the aperture transitioning from the collapsed mode to the expanded mode when exiting from the openings.

Abstract: A robotic catheter system including a housing and a drive mechanism configured to engage and to impart motion to a catheter device is provided. The drive mechanism is supported by the housing. The robotic catheter system includes a guide catheter support coupled to the housing. The guide catheter support is located in front of the drive mechanism, and the guide catheter support has a longitudinal axis. The guide catheter support includes a first surface configured to engage a guide catheter and a rotation joint allowing the first surface to be rotated about the longitudinal axis such that the surface is able to engage the guide catheter at a plurality of angular positions relative to a patient.

Abstract: A catheter system including a housing and a drive mechanism supported by the housing is provided. The drive mechanism includes an engagement structure configured to engage and to impart movement to a guide wire. The engagement structure defines a path for the guide wire, and the engagement structure is moveable between an engaged position in which the engagement structure engages the guide wire and a disengaged position in which the engagement structure does not engage the guide wire. The catheter system includes a biasing element configured to bias the engagement structure toward the engaged position, and the biasing element is aligned generally parallel to the path defined by the engagement structure.

Abstract: An automatic faucet includes a housing constructed to receive at least one water inlet conduit and having a spout for delivering water. The automatic faucet includes a valve module, a sensor module, a battery module, a turbine module, and a control module. The valve module includes a valve controlled by an electromagnetic actuator for controlling the water flow from the spout. The sensor module is constructed to provide sensor data influenced by a user. The control module is constructed to control opening and closing of the valve by providing signals to the electromagnetic actuator. The control module is also constructed to receive sensor data from the sensor module and execute a sensing algorithm. The control module is also constructed to execute a power management algorithm for managing electrical power generated by the water turbine and provided to and from the battery.