Abstract: A brewing unit includes a seat capable of a rotation movement, in which a piston is slidably received. A counter-piston co-operates with the seat and the piston to define a brewing chamber. Moreover, cam members are provided to control movements of the seat, the piston, and the counter-piston. The seat, the piston and the counter-piston can assume with respect to one another at least one position of charging of a product for preparation of the beverage, at least two distinct brewing positions which correspond two different volumes of the brewing chamber, and a position for discharging the spent product.

Abstract: A modular beverage brewing apparatus comprising a removable hot water producing module, a removable pressurized hot water producing module, and a removable steam producing module all connected to a remote dispensing liquid beverage dispensing unit.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards regulating flow rate in an espresso machine, during a multi-phase brewing process which includes a pre-brew and an extraction phase. During the pre-brew phase, coffee grounds are slowly pre-wetted and/or out-gassed with a first volume of water delivered at a first flow rate. During the extraction phase, a second volume of water is delivered, at a second flow rate, to extract espresso, where the second volume is delivered at a generally greater pressure than the first volume. The second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate. The flow rates, volumes, and pressures are regulated by the espresso machine, which includes a flow rate regulation assembly that includes first and second flow paths and first and second valves. Baristas may vary the flow rate, volume, and pressure of water throughout the brewing process by opening, closing, or otherwise adjusting at least one of the valves.

Abstract: The sifter of the present disclosure uses a pull cord in communication to assist with the sifting of a powdered substance (e.g., flour, sugar). A user places the substance to be sifted into the open end of a top container and actuates the pull cord, which in turn rotates a blade to agitate the powder and help it pass through a screen into a lower container. This design allows a user to keep their hands from touching the powdered product, and for simple cleanup.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an absorbent pad having an active agent to preserve food products or other perishable merchandise, that has a pad architecture, including the specific arrangement of the absorbent layers and active agents in the absorbent pad, that affects the availability and timing of release of the active agents to preserve the freshness of food products that are stored at home by a consumer in the consumer's own food storage containers.

Abstract: A bathing enclosure includes a base, one or more wall panels, and a compliant member. The base includes a first flange extending outward from an upper end thereof to define an upper surface. The wall panels include a second flange extending outward from a lower end thereof to define a lower surface. The compliant member has a length and a width, the length being greater than the width. The base and the one or more wall panels at least in part define a forward entrance into an interior of the enclosure. A generally horizontal interface is formed between the first flange and the second flange. The compliant member is coupled to a first of the one or more wall panels proximate the entrance. The compliant member forms a seal with the first flange, the length of the compliant member extending outward relative to the interior of the enclosure.

Abstract: A fully frameless sliding shower door assembly includes a sliding panel of sufficient strength to be fully self-supporting and includes a stationary panel. The need for an upper horizontal header member is eliminated by using an upper guide assembly having a guide which is fixed to the sliding panel and configured to slide about a top edge of the stationary panel. A self-centering roller assembly is attachable to the sliding panel without the need for a rail member. The roller assembly and a track therefore feature matching inverted and non-inverted generally U-shaped profiles. The shower door assembly further features inboard and outboard roller finger guards, as well as a track leveling feature which improves ease of installation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a towel in which a pouch is not provided and the decoupling of a towel body is possible, so that the towel can sufficiently washed and freely used in various fields. The towel is coupled to a portable terminal, a bag, a purse, a key holder, a diary, or a handbag. The towel includes a towel body, a pocket part provided on one surface of the towel body to receive the towel body, a connection member coupled to the pocket part, and a coupling member mounted in the connection member. As the towel is used, the pouch is not provided different from a conventional towel, so that the size of the towel is reduced and the fabrication cost is saved.

Abstract: A disposable portable toilet comprised of a toilet packaged within a resealable container having a zip lock so that the toilet can be placed back into container after use for disposal. The disposable portable toilet has a lightweight rigid housing with a zippered cover with a plurality of toilet accessories attached to the underside of the seat and containing anti-bacterial agent used to neutralize any pathogen contamination leaking from said disposable portable toilet after use.

Abstract: An environmentally-friendly portable toilet that is waterless, odorless and cost efficient, that uses specially-lined bags that kill pathogens and are sealed and released into a base section, which is connected to a hard plastic sitting unit, forming an integral, closed system for waterless sanitation.

Abstract: A backpack power apparatus is comprised of a back carrier frame for being piggybacked by a user, a blower unit including a fan driven by a drive motor for sucking in or blowing out air through an airflow duct, and an airflow tube fluidically communicating with the airflow duct of the blower unit for sucking in or blowing out air through the airflow tube. The blower unit is mounted on the back carrier frame via a vibration isolating means, and the airflow tube is supported on the back carrier frame and adapted for being held and operated by the user when in use. The airflow tube is floatingly coupled to the airflow duct of the blower unit.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a cyclone bin assembly lock that releasably secures the cyclone bin assembly to the body of the surface cleaning apparatus. The cyclone bin assembly lock comprises first and second locking members provided internal of the surface cleaning apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed are a robot cleaner and a method for controlling the same. The robot cleaner is capable of recognizing a position thereof by extracting one or more feature points having 2D coordinates information with respect to each of a plurality of images, by matching the feature points with each other, and then by creating a matching point having 3D coordinates information. Matching points having 3D coordinates information are created to recognize a position of the robot cleaner, and the recognized position is verified based on a moving distance measured by using a sensor. This may allow a position of the robot cleaner to be precisely recognized, and allow the robot cleaner to perform a cleaning operation or a running operation by interworking the precisely recognized position with a map.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system (1) for driving an automatic cleaning unit, comprising: —a carrier unit (7, 10); —a drive motor (2), which is fastened on the carrier unit (7, 10); —a driveshaft (4), which is arranged in a rotatable manner on the carrier unit (7, 10) and can be driven by the drive motor (2); —an advancement device (15), which is arranged on the driveshaft (4) and can be rotated about the driveshaft, wherein the advancement device (15) is coupled to the driveshaft (4) in order to generate advancement transversely to the extent of the driveshaft (4) and in order, when advancement is stopped, to cause the advancement device (15) to rotate in relation to the carrier unit.

Abstract: A dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, includes at least one wash compartment and a rack guide rail for support in the wash compartment of a rack which holds items to be washed and/or dried. The rack guide rail has a running surface to allow movement of the rack in and out of the wash compartment for loading and unloading purposes along a travel path supported on the running surface. The rack guide rail is hereby supported at a support point for pivoting about a pivot axis.

Abstract: A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a washing chamber, a liquid spraying system for spraying liquid into the washing chamber, a liquid recirculation system defining a recirculation flow path from the washing chamber to the spraying system, and a liquid filtering system. The liquid filtering system includes a rotating filter disposed in the recirculation flow path to filter the liquid.

Abstract: A balanced hinge device with a brake has a first connector (3) adapted to be fixed to a structure or frame and connected via at least a kinematic element (8) to a second connector (5) adapted to be fixed to a door or a shutter. The device (1) has at least one friction part (9) fixed to at least one among the first connector (3), the second connector (5) and the kinematic element (8). Each friction part (9) slidably contacts, at least at a predetermined rotation arc of one connector (3, 5) with respect to the other connector, a portion of at least one among the first connector (3), the second connector (5) and the kinematic element (8) and with at least a contact (11).

Abstract: A washing method for a dishwasher is provided, wherein the dishwasher has a wash container that delimits a wash compartment. The washing method includes buffering wash liquid that is no longer required during or after execution of a wash operation in a storage container that is thermally coupled to the wash container; condensing, in a drying step of the wash operation, moisture-laden air or water vapor in the wash compartment of the wash container on at least one side wall of the wash container; and, before or during the drying step, filling the storage container with fresh water to provide a condensation surface.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a cabinet; a washing tub provided at an inside of the cabinet; a sump provided at a lower side of the washing tub to store wash water; a heater to heat the wash water; a spray nozzle configured to spray the heated wash water that is pumped from the sump toward inside of the washing tub; and a door configured to open and close a front of the washing tub, the door including a drying device configured to cool high-temperature/high-humidity air from the washing tub and then to discharge the cooled air outside of the dishwasher. The drying device includes a condensation duct to condense the high-temperature/high-humidity air from the washing tub; a first fan to draw in air from the washing tub to the condensation duct; and a second fan to draw in external air to the condensation duct.

Abstract: A cleaning wand and cloth system includes a wand having a first end and a second end. The first end of the wand has a handle, and the second end of the wand has a tip including an opening. The tip may be coiled shaped. A cloth, such as a washing cloth, a drying cloth, and the like, may be removably attached to the tip of the wand one at a time. The washing cloth and the drying cloth may each have an attachable loop that may removably attach to the tip of the wand. The tip of the wand and the removably attached cloth may be placed within a narrow hollow object to clean the interior surfaces.

Abstract: A pole cleaning apparatus comprises an elongate handle portion engaged with a cleaning head. In certain embodiments, the cleaning head has a width shaped as a partial-tubular member and an opening extending along the longitudinal axis through which a pole is passed to engage the cleaning head with the pole to be cleaned. The cleaning head may include an inner arcuate surface configured to at least partially surround the pole. The apparatus also includes a mounting assembly designed to pivotably engage the cleaning head to the handle portion such that the handle portion is pivotable with respect to the cleaning head in at least one plane containing the longitudinal axis. Optionally, the apparatus may include a cleaning pad selectively engageable with the cleaning head.

Abstract: Positioning precision between an image-acquisition device and an objective lens is enhanced by suppressing manufacturing errors. Provided is an endoscope image-acquisition unit equipped with an objective-lens-unit frame that holds an objective lens and an image-acquisition-device holding frame that is fitted to the objective-lens-unit frame and that holds an image-acquisition device, wherein the objective-lens-unit frame and the image-acquisition-device holding frame are attached and secured to each other by means of thermosetting resin that is applied to fitting portions therebetween and in which polar-molecule materials are mixed, and one of the objective-lens-unit frame and the image-acquisition-device holding frame, whichever one is positioned outside at the fitting portions, is formed of a material that allows microwaves to pass therethrough.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a minimally-invasive medical instrument with a rotatable inner shaft mounting a medical tool. The medical tool may be, for example, a forceps, a grasper, a cutter or other medical tool useful for therapeutic or diagnostic procedures. The medical tool is desirably used in endoscopic, laparoscopic or other minimally-invasive procedures. The jaws or other end-effectors of the tool are operated by a first control wire, which will act to open or close the jaws or other end-effectors of the tool. A second control wire is used with a camming mechanism to transform linear movement of the second control wire into rotary motion of the inner shaft, thus also rotating the medical tool. The medical tool may thus be oriented at the surgical sit as desired by the surgeon, by rotating the tool without having to remove and re-place the tool within the patient.

Abstract: A system and method for detection of calorimetric abnormalities within a body lumen includes an image receiver for receiving images from within the body lumen. Also included are a transmitter for transmitting the images to a receiver, and a processor for generating a probability indication of presence of colorimetric abnormalities on comparison of color content of the images and at least one reference value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a video laryngoscope having a body, an insertion section extending from the body generally parallel to a median plane of the laryngoscope extending through the body, and a display screen assembly extending from the body generally perpendicular to the median plane, the body comprising a grip portion intermediate the display screen assembly and the insertion section. The display screen assembly, comprising a display screen, extends laterally from the body and the inner edge of the display screen falls within the lateral extent of the body. The grip portion is also of a minimum size to allow an adult to grip the laryngoscope, the hand abutting the screen assembly.

Abstract: A device for stabilizing the constant accommodation of an eye comprises a target object, an optical unit, and an additional optical unit. The target object is set up to be fixated by a patient along an optical axis. The optical unit is set up along the optical axis to compensate for a spherical ametropia of the eye. The additional optical unit is set up along the optical axis to compensate for an astigmatic ametropia of the eye. The additional optical unit comprises at least two cylindrical lenses and at least four deflection prisms. At least one cylindrical lens is rotatably arranged about the optical axis. At least one deflection prism can be adjusted to change the optical path length of the light path from the target object to the eye.

Abstract: There is provided a simulation device including: first blur component generating unit configured to generate a first blur component based on distance data included in observation scene data in which the distance data is added to a computer graphics image, and a parameter regarding the non-progressive component included in the trial lens; second blur component generating unit configured to generate a second blur component based on distance data included in the observation scene data and a parameter regarding a progressive component included in the progressive addition lens; a display blur component generating unit configured to generate display blur component, based on first blur component and second blur component; a display blur component adding unit configured to add display blur component to the observation scene data; and display unit configured to display an observation image obtained by display blur component adding unit, to a wearer wearing the trial lens.

Abstract: Exemplary apparatus, arrangement and method can be provided for obtaining information associated with an anatomical structure or sample using optical microscopy. A radiation can include first electromagnetic radiation(s) directed to an anatomical sample and at least one second electromagnetic radiation directed to a reference. A wavelength of the radiation can vary over time, and the wavelength can be shorter than approximately 1150 nm. An interference can be detected between third and forth radiations associated with the first, second and fourth radiation, respectively. At least one image corresponding to portion(s) of the sample can be generated using data associated with the interference. Source arrangement(s) can be provided which is configured to provide an electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength that varies over time. A period of a variation of the wavelength of the first electromagnetic radiation(s) can be shorter than 1 millisecond, and the wavelength can be shorter than approximately 1150 nm.

Abstract: The eye is illuminated by a variable laser light source with a measurement range corresponding to the eye length, wherein the focus of the laser beam in the eye can be shifted laterally and/or axially by an adjustment mechanism, and the light fractions back-scattered from the sample are captured via an interferometer by a data acquisition unit and forwarded to a data processing unit. In the data processing unit, an OCT whole-eye scan is combined with at least one or several further overlapping tomographic part-eye or whole-eye scans. Reference information is used to register the first whole-eye scan with the further part-eye or whole-eye scans, and the combined whole-eye scan is evaluated and/or displayed on a user surface.

Abstract: A slit lamp microscope capable of appropriately and easily carrying out the setting of the optical system is provided. In storage 102 of a slit lamp microscope 1, correspondence information 110 is stored in which standard setting conditions of an illumination system 8 and/or an observation system 6 are associated with each of multiple sites of an eye E. A searching part 121 searches the standard setting conditions corresponding to a site designated by an operation part 104 from the correspondence information 110. A setting-state acquiring part 122 acquires current setting states of the illumination system 8 and/or the observation system 6. A setting-state specifying part specifies, from among the current setting states acquired by the setting-state acquiring part 122, those differing from the standard setting conditions searched by the searching part 121. A controller displays information based on this specified result on the display 103.

Abstract: A system for an automatic noninvasive screening for diabetes and pre-diabetes using a device to take at least one image of a patient's eye, executing non-transitory instructions executable on a processor for analyzing the image and displaying an indication if the patient has diabetes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to apparatus and methods for measuring a deformation characteristic of a deformable target surface. The measurement principles of the invention may be applied to a large variety of organic (e.g., human, animal or plant tissue) and inorganic materials having a surface that can be deformed by an applied non-contact force. The surface may be light diffusing and non-transparent or non-diffusing and transparent. An illustrative embodiment of the invention is directed to a device for measuring a deformation characteristic of a cornea. The device comprises a corneal topographer and a non-contact tonometer that is operationally integrated with the corneal topographer. In an aspect, the corneal topographer is a rasterstereography-based topographer. Use of the inventive device enables a method for measuring a deformation characteristic of the cornea.

Abstract: Method and system for providing analyte sensor alignment and retention mechanism for improved connectivity with a transmitter unit for electrical connection, and further including transmitter unit contact pins with metal components to improve electrical conductivity with the analyte sensor in an analyte monitoring and management system is provided.

Abstract: A system for wireless generation of at least one standard ECG lead comprises a plurality of electrodes for application to a subject at separate points thereof and a remote receiver station for generating at least one standard ECG lead from signals detected by a first group of said plurality of electrodes. The system further comprises a wireless sensing unit for generating at least two non-standard ECG signals from bipolar signals detected by a second group of the plurality of electrodes, a processor in the remote receiver station for calculation of a transform synthesizing each generated standard ECG lead from at least two of the non-standard ECG signals, a disconnection unit for disconnection of the first group of electrodes from the subject following the calculation, and a transfer unit for wireless transferring of the non-standard ECG signals to the remote receiver station following the disconnection of the first group of electrodes.

Abstract: A method substantially as shown and described in the detailed description and/or drawings and/or elsewhere herein. A device substantially as shown and described in the detailed description and/or drawings and/or elsewhere herein.

Abstract: There is used an object information acquiring apparatus including a probe for electrically scanning an object in first direction and mechanically scanning in second direction intersecting with the first direction, a first delay-and-sum unit for operating a delay-and-sum on a received signal, a memory for storing a first delay-and-sum signal for each plane in the second direction, a selecting unit for selecting signals corresponding to M sectional planes from among the stored signals, a second delay-and-sum unit for operating a delay-and-sum on the selected signals in the second direction, and a unit for acquiring image in the object from the second delay-and-sum signal, the second delay-and-sum unit switching, according to the mechanical scanning, a first case in which M signals are fixed and a delay pattern is varied and a second case in which a set of the M signals is varied and the delay pattern is fixed.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating treatment options are disclosed. The methods can include obtaining pressure measurements from first and second instruments positioned within a vessel of a patient while the second instrument is moved longitudinally through the vessel from a first position to a second position and the first instrument remains stationary within the vessel; and outputting a visual representation of the pressure measurements obtained by the first and second instruments on a display, the output visual representation including a graphical display of a pressure ratio of the obtained pressure measurements and at least a portion of a pressure waveform of the obtained pressure measurements identifying a diagnostic period utilized in calculating the pressure ratio.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system comprising a sensor signal processor configured to receive a plurality of electrical sensor signals produced by a plurality of sensors and at least one sensor signal produced by an implantable sensor, a memory that includes information indicating a co-morbidity of a subject, a sensor signal selection circuit that selects a sensor signal to monitor from among the plurality of sensor signals, according to an indicated co-morbidity, a threshold adjustment circuit that adjusts a detection threshold of the selected sensor signal according to the indicated co-morbidity, and a decision circuit that applies the adjusted detection threshold to the selected sensor signal to determine whether an event associated with worsening heart failure (HF) occurred in the subject and outputs an indication of whether the event associated with worsening HF occurred to a user or process.

Abstract: Physiological monitoring can be provided through a wearable monitor that includes two components, a flexible extended wear electrode patch and a removable reusable monitor recorder. The wearable monitor sits centrally (in the midline) on the patient's chest along the sternum oriented top-to-bottom. The placement of the wearable monitor in a location at the sternal midline (or immediately to either side of the sternum) benefits extended wear by removing the requirement that ECG electrodes be continually placed in the same spots on the skin throughout the monitoring period. Instead, the patient can place an electrode patch anywhere within the general region of the sternum. Power is provided through a battery provided on the electrode patch, which avoids having to open the monitor recorder's housing for battery replacement. The monitor further includes sensors for monitoring patient's air flow and respiratory measures contemporaneously with the ECG monitoring.

Abstract: A blood pressure measurement device includes a cuff, inflation/deflation unit, pressure detection unit, volume detection unit, and control unit. The control unit determines values of an arterial volume signal detected by the volume detection unit, changes a prescribed control target value from the determined value at a time of diastolic blood pressure to a vicinity of the value at the time of systolic blood pressure during a rise time, changes the prescribed control target value from the determined value at the time of systolic blood pressure to a vicinity of the value at the time of diastolic pressure during a fall time, and adjusts the pressure of the cuff by controlling the inflation/deflation unit such that the volume indicated by the arterial volume signal detected by the volume detection unit matches the prescribed control target value. Thus, by applying a control target value, blood pressure can be measured.

Abstract: An apparatus and method based on image for detecting heart rate activity is provided. The method includes: obtaining a plurality of color images; based on a complexion target condition, defining a target region; performing color composition analysis on the target region to obtain red channel signal, green channel signal and blue channel signal, respectively; performing independent component analysis on separate red, green and blue channel signals to obtain separate first independent component signal, second independent component signal and third independent component signal; performing frequency domain transform, signal energy computation and signal optimization processes on separate first, second and third independent component signals to obtain a filter signal, comparing filter signal based on a pre-set condition to determine if target region belonging to a human, and performing a physiological information analysis.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for measuring stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and cardiac power (CP) from a patient that features: 1) an impedance sensor connected to at least two body-worn electrodes and including an impedance circuit that processes analog signals from the electrodes to measure an impedance signal (e.g. a TBEV waveform); 2) an ECG sensor connected to at least two chest-worn electrodes and including an ECG circuit that processes analog signals from the electrodes to measure and ECG signal; 3) an optical sensor connected to a body-worn optical probe and including an optical circuit that processes signals from the probe to measure at least one optical signal (e.g. a PPG waveform) from the patient; 4) a processing system, typically worn on the patient's wrist and connected through a wired interface to the optical sensor, and through either a wired or wireless interface to the TBEV and ECG sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a material for the detection of biological electro-magnetic signals made of a epidermis of a living organism and a diagnostic device using the same, and more particularly, to a material for the detection of biological electro-magnetic signals made of a epidermis of a living organism, through drying is one stage, also selecting is another stage of production, and a diagnostic device using the same. The material of the invention has an effect of detecting biological electro-magnetic signals. Accordingly, the material for the detection of biological electro-magnetic signals of the invention can be used for manufacturing a diagnostic device for detecting biological electro-magnetic signals non-invasively as well as effectively used in diagnosis in cases where biological electro-magnetic signals are changed by cancer, inflammations due to immunodeficiency and so on.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus and device for processing an ECG signal to remove or reduce noise from the ECG signal attributable to EMG and/or motion artifacts. The novel algorithm common to all aspects of the device can include wavelet decomposing an ECG signal to produce a set of approximation coefficients and a plurality of sets of detail coefficients, locally fitting subsets of the set of approximation coefficients to second order polynomials, adjusting the set of approximation coefficients by the locally fitted second order polynomials, setting some of the detail coefficients to zero, and reconstructing an ECG signal with reduced noise based on the modified set of approximation coefficients and the modified plurality of sets of detail coefficients.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure is directed to signal processing based methods to reject oversensing due to electromagnetic interference or other noise without compromising tachyarrhythmia detection sensitivity. A method comprises sensing a signal indicative of cardiac activity, detecting a cardiac event based on the signal, determining a count of fluctuations of the signal within a window between the detected cardiac event and a next cardiac event, and determining whether noise is present in the signal based on the count.

Abstract: Methods of analysis to extract and assess brain data collected from subject animals, including humans, to detect intentional and unintentional brain activity and other unexpected signals are disclosed. These signals are correlated to higher cognitive brain functions or unintended, potentially adverse events, such as a stroke or seizure, and to translation of those signals into defined trigger events or tasks.

Abstract: Non-invasive device for locating a structure (N2), such as a nerve, in a region of a body having an external surface (Se), the device comprising: a focused ultrasonic transducer (1), advantageously of the HIFU type, designed to produce an ultrasound beam (Fu) through the external surface (Se) in the region, the beam (Fu) having a focal point that can be positioned on the structure (N2); monitoring means (3) for detecting a response of the structure when this is subjected to a stimulation; and stimulation means (1; 4) for stimulating the structure (N2), which delivers a response detected by the monitoring means (3), the stimulation means comprising the ultrasonic transducer (1) capable of delivering an ultrasound beam (Fu) to said structure (N2), so as to disturb it, characterized in that the device includes: an imager (2, 21, 22) mechanically coupled to the ultrasonic transducer (1) so that the imager follows the focal point of the transducer so as to display, on an image, the position of the focal point of t

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for moving a target element which comprises a magnetic material and an active agent, through an object, placing the target element at a predetermined position within the object and activating the active agent.

Abstract: In order to make it possible to set the optimal breath-holding imaging conditions according to the subject without extension of an imaging time or the sacrifice of image quality, one scan is divided into one or more breath-holding measurements and free-breathing measurements on the basis of the imaging conditions of a breath-holding measurement, which are input and set according to the subject, and a region of the k space measured in the breath-holding measurement is controlled. Preferably, in the breath-holding measurement, low-frequency data of the k space is measured. Moreover, preferably, imaging conditions of the breath-holding measurement include the number of times of breath holding or a breath-holding time, and the operator can set any of these values.

Abstract: Navigational imaging system and method for use in branched luminal structure. Flexible, spatially steerable probe is equipped with forward- and side-imaging mutually complementing means to enable sub-surface imaging, quantitative determination of probe's positioning with respect to anatomical identifiers of structure, forming 3D image of structure in a volume defined by the imaging means, and positioning of probe in registration with a 3D coordinate system that is independent from the structure. Method includes determining anatomical identifiers of luminal structure branches based on 3D and sub-surface images, assigning such identifiers as fiducial points, and correlating the determined identifiers with those obtained from anatomical model to select target branch for further steering the probe.