Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus comprises having a primary dirty air inlet and a drive handle drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head and comprising an above floor cleaning wand, a flexible hose and an auxiliary dirty air inlet, wherein the all in the head surface cleaning apparatus is useable in a floor cleaning mode in which the drive handle is drivingly connected to the surface cleaning head and air enters the all in the head surface cleaning apparatus via the primary dirty air inlet of the surface cleaning head and an above floor cleaning mode wherein the above floor cleaning wand is extended from a stored position and air enters the all in the head surface cleaning apparatus via the auxiliary dirty air inlet.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner filtration system having a primary separation system and a filter downstream of the primary separation system. The filter has an upstream side to receive an airflow exiting the primary separation system, and a downstream side fluidly opposite the upstream side. The system has a vacuum fan, a primary suction path between the filter's downstream side and the vacuum fan, a valve in the primary suction path and configured to selectively position to block the primary suction path and create a closed passage at the filter's downstream side, and a secondary suction path between the filter's upstream side and the vacuum fan. A secondary filtration system is in the secondary suction path to separate dirt from an airflow passing therethrough, to thereby clean dirt from the filter's upstream side. A nozzle may be provided to concentrate the air flow as it enters the secondary suction path.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus has a foot and a handle, and a cleaning pad, adjacent to a lower surface of the foot, positioned to contact the surface to be cleaned. The cleaning pad can include a melamine formaldehyde foam with abrasive particles interspersed therein and configured to agitate the surface to be cleaned in conjunction with steam.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a slide system for sliding movement of a dish rack in and out of a wash chamber, and a pivot system to enable cooperative pivoting of the dish rack and an access door when the dish rack at least partially overlies the door and the door is pivoted from an opened to a closed position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pump plate (60) for conditioning the flow of a fluid before the fluid enters an inlet (51) of a circulation pump (50) of a dishwasher. The pump plate (60) may have a plate portion with a number of holes (62) dispersed across its surface such that fluid may flow through the holes (62). The pump plate (60) may also include one or more upper guide vanes (63) extending outwardly from the plate portion and configured to reduce the turbulence in the fluid flow. A dishwasher (10) including a pump plate (60) and a method for manufacturing such a dishwasher are also provided. A dishwasher (10) that includes a pump plate (60) to condition the fluid flow within the dishwasher may be configured to function efficiently while requiring less water to complete a rinse or wash cycle than a dishwasher that does not include a pump plate.

Abstract: Various apparatus for cleaning footwear are described. One footwear cleaning apparatus includes a box having an open top surface for receiving a piece of footwear; and a plurality of brushes arrayed within the box and positioned substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the box, wherein the plurality of brushes includes at least one first brush configured to contact a first side surface of the piece of footwear, at least one second brush configured to contact a different, second side surface of the piece of footwear, and at least one third brush configured to contact a bottom surface of the piece of footwear, and wherein the at least one first brush and the at least one second brush are configured to, when actuated, rotate towards a center of the box about an axis that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the box.

Abstract: This invention relates to a main optical system for an endoscope, in particular, to a main optical system for an endoscope that is focally imaging in the visible and near-infrared lights, which belongs to the technical field of minimally invasive surgery. The used approach is: the objective lens set has a positive off-focus and positive field curvature. The steering set has the negative off-focus and negative field curvature. Moreover, a field lens set is added between the objective lens set and the steering set. The field lens set is located near the focus of the objective lens set. After the field lens is combined with the objective lens set, it will have the positive off-focus and positive field curvature that match to the steering set so that the 850 m defocus amount is less than 0.05 mm and the edge field curvature is less than 0.1 mm in the main endoscope optical system. The system is good in imaging.

Abstract: The present invention discloses reliable image storage for a capsule camera device comprising a light source, an image sensor, an archival memory and a processing module within a housing. The processing module is configured to store the image frames in the archival memory so that any N consecutive image frames are stored in non-contiguous memory areas of the archival memory or to transmit any N consecutive image frames in separate wireless channels. In one embodiment, the processing module is configured to generate a first sequence and a second sequence from the image frames, and to store the first sequence in a first memory area of the archival memory or transmit in a first wireless channel, and to store the second sequence in a second memory area of the archival memory or to transmit in a second wireless channel.

Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosure, an imaging medical device may include an elongated member having a proximal end, and distal end having an imaging component configured to transmit an analog imaging signal. The assembly also may include a proximal member having a distal end connected to the proximal end of the elongated member. The proximal end may be configured to receive a degraded analog imaging signal based on the analog signal and transmit an amplified analog imaging signal based on the degraded analog imaging signal. The analog imaging signal transmitted by the imaging component may be degraded during transmission to the proximal member to become the degraded analog imaging signal. The assembly also may include a signal processor in electronic communication with the proximal member and configured to receive and process the amplified analog imaging signal and generate a digital signal based on the amplified analog signal.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: first and second image sensors; a first communication controller configured to be connected to the first image sensor; a first clock generator that generates a first clock signal that is a reference for operation of the first communication controller; a second communication controller configured to be connected to the second image sensor; a second clock generator that generates a second clock signal that is a reference for operation of the second communication controller; a reference synchronization signal generator that generates a reference synchronization signal; and an imaging synchronization signal generator that generates an imaging synchronization signal which is a trigger for determining timings of imaging by the first and second image sensors, and outputs the imaging synchronization signal to the first and second communication controllers at a timing when a predetermined period of time has elapsed from a reference timing based on the reference synchronization signal.

Abstract: A method of making an optical surgical probe includes providing and heating a substrate; melting a piece of glass on the heated substrate; immersing a ball lens into the molten piece of glass; heating a molding pin having a concave prism end; wetting the concave prism end of the molding pin with a molten glass drop; inserting the molding pin into the molten glass aligned with the ball lens; sliding a cannula along an axis of the molding pin toward the substrate to create a cannula/glass-optical-element/ball lens probe-assembly; cooling the probe-assembly; and extracting the probe-assembly.

Abstract: An endoscope including: an endoscope tip arranged at the distal end of the endoscope. The endoscope tip including: an outer wall having an opening; and a window hermetically joined into the opening, the window being at least partially optically transparent; wherein the outer wall has a ceramic material.

Abstract: Multiple tasks may be performed in a lumen of a living creature accessible via a path. One or more guides are optionally supplied. Optionally the guides communicate with a working channel of an endoscope. A tool may be conveyed along a guide through the working channel of the endoscope. For example a first tool may be conveyed to the lumen unblocking the working channel for a second tool. Optionally the second tool may subsequently be conveyed along a second guide. In some embodiments the guides may include thin channels in communication with the working channel via a longitudinal slit. Optionally the working channel may include a slit. For example large objects may be conveyed along the working channel partially protruding from the longitudinal slit.

Abstract: An introduction device includes an operation section including a first surface and a second surface; a bending section capable of bending in a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction; a first rotary body configured to be operated at a time of bending the bending section in the first direction; and a second rotary body configured to be rotatable about a second shaft portion extending in a direction along the first shaft portion at a position which is closer to the thumb than the first shaft portion, to be provided on the second surface side within an operation range of the thumb, and to be operated at a time of bending the bending section in the second direction.

Abstract: A highly articulated robotic probe (HARP) is comprised of a first mechanism and a second mechanism, one or both of which can be steered in desired directions. Each mechanism can alternate between being rigid and limp. In limp mode the mechanism is highly flexible. When one mechanism is limp, the other is rigid. The limp mechanism is then pushed or pulled along the rigid mechanism. The limp mechanism is made rigid, thereby assuming the shape of the rigid mechanism. The rigid mechanism is made limp and the process repeats. These innovations allow the device to drive anywhere in three dimensions. The device can “remember” its previous configurations, and can go anywhere in a body or other structure (e.g. jet engine). When used in medical applications, once the device arrives at a desired location, the inner core mechanism can be removed and another functional device such as a scalpel, clamp or other tool slid through the rigid sleeve to perform.

Abstract: Surgical controlling systems and methods. A surgical controlling system includes: at least one surgical tool adapted to be inserted into a surgical environment of a human body for assisting a surgical procedure; at least one location estimating unit to real-time locate the 3D spatial position of at least one surgical tool at any given time t; and at least one movement detection unit in communication with a movement's database and with the location estimating means. The system also includes a controller having a processing unit in communication with a controller's database. The controller controls the spatial position of at least one surgical tool.

Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosure, a medical device may include an elongated member extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and an imaging component configured to receive image data in the body. The medical device also may include one or more memory components positioned in the medical device and configured to store image calibration data extracted from the image data received from the imaging component. In addition, the medical device may include a connector configured to connect the medical device to a control unit external to the medical device, wherein the control unit is configured to process the image calibration data stored on the one or more memory components and generate an image based on the processed image calibration data.

Abstract: Installments and methods are described for performing endoscopically guided operative procedures. According to some embodiments, a re-usable portion of the instrument includes a handle, electronics and an integrated display screen while a fluid hub and a cannula which includes a CMOS imaging module and LED lighting, form a single use portion of the instrument. The cannula includes a working channel configured to accept an operative device for performing the operative procedures.

Abstract: Provided is an endoscopic surgical device and an overtube with which a surgeon can easily obtain a desired image and operability is high. The overtube includes a slider inside the overtube body that guides an endoscope and a treatment tool into a body cavity, the first valve member provided in the endoscope insertion passage, and the second valve member provided in the treatment tool insertion passage. F1>F3 and F2>F3 are satisfied when a fixing force for fixing the slider to the endoscope is defined as F1, a fixing force for fixing the slider to the treatment tool is defined as F2, and a frictional force that receives from the first valve member when the endoscope moves forward and backward is defined as F3.

Abstract: A disposable protective sleeve for an equine endoscope made from thin, flexible plastic used to cover the endoscope during examination of an equine patient in order to prevent cross contamination between equine patients. The distal end may optionally have a small pocket for collection of samples, such as mucous, for submission to a laboratory for testing.

Abstract: Multiple-sensor motion synchronization in a multi-viewing element endoscope system is achieved by rotating CMOS image sensors, relative to each other, and programming each CMOS image sensor to scan in specific directions. Frames collected from scans at different times are stored, processed, and displayed to form a complete image.

Abstract: An image signal output apparatus includes: a stereoscopic image generation unit that is provided with a first image signal that represents a first image and a second image signal that represents a second image with a parallax relative to the first image and that generates a stereoscopic image signal, wherein the first image is provided from a first image acquisition unit that picks up an image of a subject, and the second image is provided from a second image acquisition unit; a two-dimensional image signal generation unit that generates a two-dimensional image signal based on the first image signal or the second image signal; and a switching unit that can switch, for each of a plurality of output units, which image signal of the stereoscopic image signal and the two-dimensional image signal is supplied to which of the plurality of output units.

Abstract: An endoscope including an operation part having a forceps entrance, a distal end part having a flat end surface, an observation window base part formed on the flat end surface of the distal end part so as to protrude distally from the flat end surface, an observation window disposed on the observation window base part, and a forceps exit disposed on the distal end part, a forceps being inserted through a forceps entrance protruding from the forceps exit. The observation window base part has a flat surface, and an outer peripheral shape of the observation window base part is inclined and connects the flat end surface of the distal end part with the flat surface of the observation window base part.

Abstract: The overtube includes a slider within an overtube body, which guides an endoscope and a treatment tool. An endoscope-coupled part and a treatment tool-coupled part are provided inside the slider, and the slider has a dead zone where the forward and backward movement of either the endoscope or the treatment tool does not interlock with the movement of the other and a sensing zone where the forward and backward movement of either the endoscope or the treatment tool interlocks with the movement of the other. The overtube body includes a distal-end-side stopper and a base-end-side stopper that restrict the movable range of the slider. A length L from a coupling position of the endoscope to a distal end position of the overtube body and a length Ls from the coupling position of the endoscope to a distal end position of the endoscope are set to satisfy Ls?L.

Abstract: The overtube includes a slider within an overtube body, which guides an endoscope and a treatment tool into a body cavity. An endoscope-coupled part and a treatment tool-coupled part are provided in the slider, and the slider has a dead zone where the forward and backward movement of either the endoscope or the treatment tool does not interlock with the movement of the other and a sensing zone where the forward and backward movement of either the endoscope or the treatment tool interlocks with the movement of the other. A side hole for sending a fluid into a body cavity is formed in a side wall of the overtube body, and a side wall is configured to be openable and closable by the forward and backward movement of the slider.

Abstract: An endoscope video processing system applies a blooming control feature to image frames of video data signals generated by viewing elements in the endoscope tip. A reduced digital gain is applied to a luminance (Y) component of the video data signal to generate an attenuated signal. An average luminance value of pixels neighboring a pixel of the attenuated signal is calculated and a function of the average luminance value is determined to generate a smoothly transitioning digital gain. The smoothly transitioning digital gain is conditioned using weights to generate a customizable digital gain, and the customizable digital gain is applied to the attenuated signal. This Local Blooming Control (LBC) facilitates a higher luminance digital gain in darker portions while maintaining a low or no luminance digital gain in brighter portions, within the same image frame.

Abstract: A view optimizing assembly, method and kit for use in combination with a laparoscope having a lens located on the shaft tip of the laparoscope, and a source of insufflation CO2. The invention includes a multi-lumen sheath assembly, a deflector assembly in fluid communication with the lumens of the sheath assembly, wherein the flow of CO2 through the lumens forms a vortex when coming into contact with the deflector assembly, thereby preventing fogging of the laparoscope lens.

Abstract: Provided is a balloon access device having a cap coupleable to an endoscope and a balloon for sealing with the cap when expanded. The balloon access device allows a physician to both separate collapsed tissue and visualize the path of the endoscope without administering insufflation gas to the collapsed area of a patient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for analyzing retinal image data obtained using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The image data comprise a cross-section of the retina and an en face image of the retina of a subject having AMD (age-related macular degeneration). The image data are processed to obtain an accurate structure showing locations, shape, size, and other data on drusen (deposits under the retina). This structural information is processed to extract quantitative drusen features that are indicative of a risk of progression of AMD from the dry form to the wet form of the disease in a given subject and defined time period, including short time intervals (one year or less). Relevant drusen features used include number, en face area and volume of drusen detected; shape of drusen detected; density of drusen; and reflectivity of drusen.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus includes an image acquiring unit configured to acquire an eye fundus image of an eye to be examined, a candidate acquiring unit configured to acquire a plurality of candidate points for a photoreceptor cell in the eye fundus image based on brightness values of the eye fundus image, a first acquiring unit configured to acquire a first feature value of a first candidate point included in the plurality of candidate points based on a distance between the first candidate point and a second candidate point included in the plurality of candidate points, and a determining unit configured to determine whether the first candidate point is a point representing the photoreceptor cell or not based on the first feature value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fixation measurement includes projecting, by a projection apparatus, a target image onto one or more eyes of a patient and capturing, by one or more image sensing devices disposed conjugate to the one or more eyes, a reflected image reflected from the one or more eyes in response to the target image, wherein the reflected image includes information indicating the fixation of the one or more eyes.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to an examining system for eye gland function. The system includes a thermography unit used to capture an ocular thermographic image. The temperature distribution over multiple positions of eye can be found. A computation unit is used to compute mean temperatures for the areas of multiple positions. The temperatures are such as a reference temperature for a reference position and temperatures for multiple tested positions. The temperature values are temporarily stored in a memory of the system. The system further includes a comparison unit used to calculate the differences or ratios among the temperature values. The comparison results are output. According to one embodiment, the reference temperature may be a mean temperature within an area of an upper palpebral; and the temperatures for the multiple tested positions may be the mean temperatures of multiples positions along a line from left to right over the eyelid.

Abstract: A system and method for optical coherence elastography of tissue of an eye. The method includes introducing a probe into the eye, the probe including a vibration element, generating time resolved images of the tissue of the eye located posterior the vibration element of the probe by optical coherence tomography, exciting the vibration element to ultrasonic vibrations making the tissue vibrate or oscillate, measuring a displacement of the tissue in the time resolved images, and calculating elasticity values of the tissue from the displacement.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for obtaining ophthalmic measurements whereby the inventive device is configured to be head mountable, automatically axially length aligned with a selected target, and laterally aligned so that light from an OCT source enters through the pupil of the eye under test. The frame of the head mountable OCT is customizable, capable of analyzing both the left and right eye of a subject. The inventive device can be operated by the person undergoing test. Embodiments include mechanisms for eye fixation, lateral, angular and depth scanning of target regions. A variety of embodiments are taught, including the scanning of both eyes of a subject at substantially the same time, and a configuration of a photonic module coupleable with a plurality of frames. Embodiments include a variety of OCT sources, such as MRO, swept source, time domain, and spectral domain.

Abstract: Systems for imaging a sample are provided. The system includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging portion having an associated OCT path defined by one set of optical elements between an OCT signal delivery optical fiber and the sample; an image capture portion having an associated image capture path defined by a second set of optical elements between an image capture device and the sample, different from the OCT path; and an illuminator portion having an associated illumination path defined by a third set of optical elements between an illumination source and the sample. The OCT path, the image capture path, and the illuminator path have at least one optical element in common, and the respective paths differ from each other by at least one optical element. The OCT path and the image capture path share a common intermediate conjugate image plane.

Abstract: A method for measuring two pupils includes a number of steps. A first visible light beam and a first invisible light beam are emitted toward a right eye. A second visible light beam and a second invisible light beam are emitted toward a left eye. The light beams reflected from the right eye and the left eye are received by an optical unit, and the first invisible light beam and the second invisible light beam are guided to an imaging unit by the optical unit. Images of the right eye and the left eye are respectively recorded through the first invisible light and the second invisible light beam propagated from the optical unit.

Abstract: An optometric instrument includes an alignment device that includes light sources for sending out light beams through one or more light channels from the instrument onto the retina of an eye of a patient. The light channels are directed parallel with the visual axis of the eye at correct alignment, whereat the light beams are visible for the patient in an intended way. A method for aligning an optometric instrument includes sending out light beams from the light sources through one or more light channels onto the retina of the eye of a patient, and positioning the instrument to have the light channels parallel with the visual axis of the eye of the patient as a result of finding a position, wherein the light can be correctly viewed by the patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ophthalmic apparatus and to a treatment site measuring method for the apparatus. The ophthalmic apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a first image unit for capturing the lower region of a retina so as to generate an image of the captured retina; a second image unit for capturing the local region of the retina indicated by a surgical operator so as to generate an image of the captured local region of the retina; and a control unit for mapping the image of the local region of the retina generated by the second image unit to the image of the retina generated by the first image unit based on the image of the retina generated by the first image unit.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for monitoring the physiological parameters of a subject. The physiological monitoring device comprising (i) a physiological board assembled and enclosed in a material that conforms to a subject, (ii) a set of sensors disposed in the physiological board, (iii) a microcontroller unit, securely adapted to communicate to a network or cloud system. The network or cloud system includes a plethora of information associated with health conditions from multiple users, research studies, statistics and monitoring devices. The network or cloud system is operable to learn, analyze, store, display or provide useful feedback information to users to improve health conditions and experiences.

Abstract: A detection device is in communication with a user monitoring device. The detection device includes at least one motion/movement gesture sensing device configured to detect at least one of a person's motion, movement and gesture. A user monitoring device includes at least one element selected from: a proximity sensor; a temperature sensor; a humidity sensor; a particulate sensor; a light sensor; a microphone; one or more RF transmitters (BLE/ANT+WIFI); a memory; and one or more LED's. The detection device and user monitoring device detect or monitor one or more infant characteristics.

Abstract: An epidermal electronics device, including a barrier layer configured to attach the epidermal electronics device to the skin of a user, an antenna array coupled to the barrier layer, and a control circuit coupled to the actively phased antenna, wherein the control circuit is configured to actively phase the antenna array.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a functional near infrared (fNIR) system comprising: first, second, and third light emitting diodes (LED) and a photo detector; and at least one storage medium having instructions stored thereon for causing the system to: (a) emit photo energy at first, second, and third wavelengths from the first, second, and third LEDs during first and second time periods, (b) determine first, second, and third optical density changes and changes in first and second chromophore concentrations based on the emitted photo energy; and (c) determine and fit first, second, and third absorption values to a first absorption spectra curve based on the determined changes in first and second chromophore concentrations. Other embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: [Problem] The present invention provides a dental treatment implement with an anomaly site detection function, capable of accurately detecting an anomaly site on a tooth and gingiva (marginal part) in an oral cavity using an image, accurately treating the site on the basis of the image, and performing MI and PMTC in an efficient and reliable manner.

Abstract: A non-invasive measurement of biological tissue reveals information about the function of that tissue. Polarized light is directed onto the tissue, stimulating the emission of fluorescence, due to one or more endogenous fluorophors in the tissue. Fluorescence anisotropy is then calculated. Such measurements of fluorescence anisotropy are then used to assess the functional status of the tissue, and to identify the existence and severity of disease states. Such assessment can be made by comparing a fluorescence anisotropy profile with a known profile of a control.

Abstract: A mobile, hand-held communication device with a digital touch screen display and a camera for acquiring an image of the human body is programmed to function as a digital anthropometer. The user digitizes anatomical landmarks on the displayed image to quickly obtain linear measurements which are used with a known morphological relationship to make an anatomical prediction for clothing measurement, body composition and postural displacement with accuracy and without external equipment.

Abstract: An image acquisition apparatus includes an imaging section including a light receiving device and a light emitting section that is superimposed on the imaging section and illuminates a subject. The light emitting section includes a light transmissive first substrate, a light emitting device provided on the device substrate, a barrier section as a resin layer that defines a light emitting region in the light emitting device, and a light transmissive portion that transmits light reflected off the illuminated subject and guides the reflected light to the light receiving device, and the barrier section contains an insulating resin material and a light absorbing material. The barrier section absorbs light that is emitted from the light emitting region and could undesirably leak toward the light transmissive portion.

Abstract: A histopathology system includes an elongated, cylindrical probe having therein one or more scanners connected to a distal end of the probe and configured to capture digital images of tissue. Neuro-navigation circuitry is configured to navigate the probe to a tissue examination site. The probe is inserted into an outer casing having a mesh plate integrally formed at a distal tip of the outer casing through which a tissue is drawn. At least one balloon is attached to an inner surface of the outer casing and when inflated creates a pressure differential that draws the tissue into viewing range of the one or more scanners. At least one server is configured to digitally stain a tissue image obtained by the one or more scanners of the tissue, and match the tissue images to one or more stored tissue samples.

Abstract: Provided is an object information acquiring apparatus having: a receiving unit receiving an acoustic wave generated from an object, which has been irradiated with light, at a plurality of receiving positions and outputting time-series receiving signals; and a processing unit acquiring characteristic information by back-projecting the receiving signals, and the processing unit includes: a unit acquiring, for each receiving position, a dispersion index of light intensity distribution on a back projection spherical surface; a unit acquiring, for each receiving position, an angle range in the back projection based on the dispersion index; and a unit acquiring the characteristic information by back-projecting the receiving signals in the angle range.

Abstract: There is provided a received data processing apparatus of photoacoustic tomography including a minimum constitution unit data composition unit that sequentially reads receiving digital signals from first storage units and composes minimum constitution unit data of the acoustic wave of the minimum constitution units by performing a delay-and-sum processing. A second storage unit stores the minimum constitution unit data of the entire region of the specimen, and an image construction unit constructs an image of the specimen based on the minimum constitution unit data stored in the second storage unit. A control unit sequentially stores the minimum constitution unit data calculated by the minimum constitution unit data composition unit in the second storage unit and reads the stored minimum constitution unit data of the entire region of the specimen to transmit the minimum constitution unit data to the image construction unit.

Abstract: A computerized method for detecting a core temperature of a person, the method may include: receiving multiple temperature readings obtained by scanning a temperature sensor across a skin area of a person, the skin area covers at least one blood vessel, to provide multiple temperature readings; the multiple temperature readings include a peak temperature reading; and determining, by a processor, an estimate of the core temperature of the person in response to at least one temperature reading that differs from the peak temperature reading.