Abstract: An orthopedic system configured for use in a pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative assessment. The orthopedic system comprises a first screw, a second screw, a first device, a second device, and a computer. The first device and the second device are respectively coupled to a first bone and a second bone of a musculoskeletal system. The first and second devices each include electronic circuitry, one or more sensors, and an IMU. A bracket, wrap, or sleeve can be used to hold the first and second devices to the musculoskeletal system. The first and second devices are configured to send measurement data to a computer. The first and second devices each have an antenna system. Electronic circuitry in the first or second devices are configured to harvest energy from a received radio frequency signal to recharge a battery to maintain operation.

Abstract: Embodiments for determining an ostomy appliance wear time based on sensor data are disclosed. In an embodiment, an accessory device for an ostomy system comprises a monitor device and an ostomy appliance. The ostomy appliance comprises a base plate. The accessory device comprises: a memory, a processor, and a monitor interface coupled to the processor and configured to communicate with the monitor device and obtain monitor data from the monitor device coupled to the ostomy appliance. The processor is configured to determine an operating state of the base plate, determine sensor data associated with the user, the user's activities, and/or the user's environment, and determine an actual wear time of the ostomy appliance based on the operating state and the sensor data.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method performed in an accessory device. The accessory device comprises an interface configured to communicate with one or more devices of an ostomy system. The interface comprises a display. The ostomy system comprises a monitor device, and/or an ostomy appliance configured to be placed on a skin surface of a user, wherein the ostomy appliance comprises the base plate. The method comprises displaying, on the display, a notification settings user interface comprising one or more control objects including a first control object, wherein the notification settings user interface is configured to adjust notification setting parameters of an ostomy user application.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, performed in an accessory device, for managing remaining wear time of the ostomy appliance (e.g. managing remaining wear time of the ostomy appliance, e.g. of the base plate disclosed herein). The accessory device comprises an interface configured to communicate with one or more devices of an ostomy system, the interface comprising a display. The ostomy system comprises a monitor device, and/or an ostomy appliance configured to be placed on a skin surface of a user. The ostomy appliance comprises a base plate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the impact of air resistance on the power being produced by a body motion are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes measuring positions and orientations of a portion of the body in motion. The method further includes measuring pressure experienced by the portion of the body in motion. The motion further includes calculating a static pressure based on the measured pressures and correlated position and orientation measurements. The method further includes calculating a maximum pressure and calculating an air induced power exerted on the body in motion.

Abstract: A flexible circuit comprising two or more circuit layers separated by one or more insulating layers; a plurality of nodes located on each of the circuit layers; and a processor configured to estimate the distribution of liquid within the circuit from the capacitance measured at one or more of the nodes.

Abstract: A wrist-watch back case for replacing existing back case of a timekeeping device or to be attached thereto is provided. The back case comprises a casing comprising a bottom wall and a side wall thereby defining an inner empty space, at least five openings at the bottom wall, an optoelectronic board, at least two paired radiation sources and at least one radiation detector. Methods for measuring biomarkers, systems and a watchband are also provided.

Abstract: A microsensor and method of manufacture for a microsensor, comprising an array of filaments, wherein each filament of the array of filaments comprises a substrate and a conductive layer coupled to the substrate and configured to facilitate analyte detection. Each filament of the array of filaments can further comprise an insulating layer configured to isolate regions defined by the conductive layer for analyte detection, a sensing layer coupled to the conductive layer, configured to enable transduction of an ionic concentration to an electronic voltage, and a selective coating coupled to the sensing layer, configured to facilitate detection of specific target analytes/ions. The microsensor facilitates detection of at least one analyte present in a body fluid of a user interfacing with the microsensor.

Abstract: This inspection chip is provided with: a base plate having an inflow hole, a micro flow passage connected to the inflow hole, and a reaction chamber connected to the micro flow passage; a porous micro needle provided at a position overlapping the inflow hole and composed of a biodegradable material; a sensor disposed in the reaction chamber, and a capillary tube pump part which has a fine diameter flow passage, and is provided on the base plate and connected to the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A system for detecting bioelectrical signals of a user comprising: a set of sensors configured to detect bioelectrical signals from the user, each sensor in the set of sensors configured to provide non-polarizable contact at the body of the user; an electronics subsystem comprising a power module configured to distribute power to the system and a signal processing module configured to receive signals from the set of sensors; a set of sensor interfaces coupling the set of sensors to the electronics subsystem and configured to facilitate noise isolation within the system; and a housing coupled to the electronics subsystem, wherein the housing facilitates coupling of the system to a head region of the user.

Abstract: A medical system comprising a patch device and a computer. The patch device is in communication with the computer. The patch device is configured for generating measurement data or providing a therapy. The patch device comprises electronic circuitry, a battery, an antenna system, one or more sensors, an IMU (inertial measurement unit), and a flexible enclosure. The antenna system can comprise a dual antenna formed on a dielectric substrate with a first antenna on a first side of the dielectric substrate and a second antenna on a second side of the dielectric substrate. The one or more sensors can comprise devices configured to provide measurement data or a therapy. The IMU is configured to measure position, movement, and trajectory of the patch device. The electronic circuitry is configured to harvest energy from one or more radio frequency signals received by the antenna system to recharge the battery.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, the intravascular device is a guide wire that includes separate sections with engaged core components. For example, a sensing guide wire can include a proximal portion having a proximal core member and at least one proximal electrical conductor and a distal portion coupled to the proximal portion, the distal portion having a distal core member, a sensing element, and at least one distal electrical conductor coupled to the sensing element, wherein engagement structures of the proximal and distal core members are engaged and wherein the at least one distal electrical conductor is coupled to the at least one proximal electrical conductor such that the at least one proximal electrical conductor is in electrical communication with the sensing element. Methods of making, manufacturing, and/or assembling such intravascular devices and associated systems are also provided.

Abstract: A medical system comprising a first medical device, a second medical device, and a computer. The first medical device is configured to be placed beneath the dermis. The first medical device comprises an enclosure comprising non-electrically conductive material. A cap couples to the enclosure and is configured to seal the enclosure. The enclosure houses electronic circuitry configured to measure one or more parameter or provide a therapy. The cap couples to the ground of the electronic circuitry. The first medical device includes a dual band antenna. A first antenna is configured to operate within a first frequency band below 1 gigahertz. The second antenna is configured to operate at a frequency above 1 gigahertz. The second medical device is configured to transmit a radio frequency signal to the first medical device. The first medical device is configured to harvest the energy received from the radio frequency signal to enable the electronic circuitry and perform at least one task.

Abstract: If a user enters a bed, a sensor in the pump of the bed can detect the user's presence in the bed.

Abstract: A method includes receiving bio-potential inputs; generating signal channels from the bio-potential inputs; pre-processing data in the signal channels; extracting R-wave peaks from the pre-processed data; removing artifacts and outliers from the R-wave peaks; generating R-wave signal channels based on the R-wave peaks in the pre-processed signal channels; selecting two or more of the R-wave signal channels; and combining the selected two or more R-wave signal channels to produce an electrical uterine monitoring signal.

Abstract: Training a generator includes processing a dental image using the generator to obtain a synthetic pathology label, such has a pixel mask indicating portions of the dental image representing caries. The synthetic pathology label is compared to a target pathology label for the dental image and the generator is updated according to the comparison. The synthetic pathology may be evaluated by a discriminator along with a real pathology label to obtain a realism estimate. The discriminator and generator may be updated according to accuracy of the realism estimate. Inputs to the generator may further include tooth labels and/or labels of restorations. Machine learning models may be trained to label restorations and defects in restorations. A machine learning model may be trained to identify the surface of a tooth having a pathology thereon.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods herein relate to predicting infection of a patient. These systems and methods may comprise illuminating a patient fluid in a fluid conduit from a plurality of illumination directions, measuring an optical characteristic of the illuminated patient fluid using one or more sensors, and predicting an infection state of the patient based at least in part on the measured optical characteristic.

Abstract: In some examples, determining a heart failure status of a patient using a medical device comprising a plurality of electrodes includes determining an estimated arterial pressure waveform of the patient based on an arterial impedance signal received from at least two of the plurality of electrodes. The estimated arterial pressure waveform may comprise a plurality of arterial pressure cycles. Each of the plurality of arterial pressure cycles may correspond to a different cardiac cycle of a plurality of cardiac cycles of the patient. At least one value of an intrinsic frequency of the corresponding arterial pressure cycle may be determined for at least some of the plurality of cardiac cycles and the heart failure status of the patient may be determined based on the at least one value of the intrinsic frequency.

Abstract: A biological information display device has a camera, a monitor, a CPU as a processing unit, and a DSP, and the camera and the monitor are positioned on the same surface in a housing. The camera acquires, from captured images, video data of a detected region comprising a section of skin on the face of a subject being monitored, and the processing unit acquires, from the video data, biological information comprising information about the pulse wave of a person, and generates an information display screen, which include a respiration assistant that assists the respiration of the subject being monitored. In the information display screen, at least one portion of the breathing assistant is positioned on a straight line that passes through the camera, and the straight line that passes through the camera perpendicularly crosses the outer peripheral edge of the monitor closest to the camera.

Abstract: A mobile imaging device includes a base having at least one caster, a first drive mechanism that moves the system in a transport mode and translates an imaging component relative to the base in a scan mode, and a second drive mechanism that extends caster relative to the base to raise the base off the ground in the transport mode, and retracts the caster relative to the base to lower the base to the ground in the scan mode. A caster system for a mobile apparatus includes a base containing a housing and a caster, attached to the base, the caster having a wheel defining a wheel axis and a swivel joint defining a swivel axis and a pivot point defining a pivot axis, wherein the caster pivots on the pivot axis as the caster is retracted into the housing and extended out of the housing.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and method for reconstructing a PET image. The method may include: obtaining PET data relating to an object collected by a plurality of detector units; determining functional status of the plurality of detector units; generating reconstruction data based on the functional status of the respective detector units and the PET data; and reconstructing a PET image based on the reconstruction data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing X-ray scatter during breast imaging, and more specifically during tomosynthesis imaging. In one embodiment, an anti-scatter grid having a plurality of septa may be configured to be positioned relative to an X-ray imaging device such that each septum of the plurality of septa extends along a direction substantially parallel to a coronal plane of a subject during imaging of the subject using the X-ray imaging device. The X-ray imaging device may be operable in a tomosynthesis mode for imaging of a breast of the subject and may include the anti-scatter grid disposed between a breast platform and the X-ray detector. The anti-scatter grid may be configured to move in a direction substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the subject during tomosynthesis imaging.

Abstract: A real-time fluoroscopic imaging system includes a collimator and a detector which are rotationally movable independent of the support assembly, e.g., c-arm, to which they are mounted. Rotational movement of the collimator and the detector are coordinated such that the orientation of the detector with respect to the collimator does not change. The collimator may include a geared flange member to facilitate rotation, and may be a single molded piece formed of a plastic such as tungsten polymer material. The system may also include a plurality of interchangeable collimators characterized by different shapes. A display is provided to present an image to an operator, and image orientation logic displays a target anatomy in a selected orientation regardless of orientation of the target anatomy relative to the detector, and regardless of rotation of the detector.

Abstract: A radiation suite includes a room having a floor, a ceiling, and one or more walls, a radiation system including a gantry enclosing a radiation source and a couch, and an image projection system operable to project an image on a projection surface on at least a portion of the gantry and/or the couch, providing a calming environment for a patient to relax. The image projection system comprises a computer and one or more projectors operably controlled by the computer. The computer comprises a mapping software operable to map an image file to the projection surface. The one or more projectors are operable to project the mapped image file on the projection surface.

Abstract: An imaging system housing is provided which includes a body and a scanning plate. The body defines a cavity and an opening in communication with the cavity. The body includes one of a lip or groove formation extending from peripheral zone adjacent the opening in a direction away from or towards the cavity and transverse to a plane defined by the opening. The scanning plate is shaped and dimensioned to close the opening and has the other of a groove or lip formation extending along a periphery thereof and being shaped and dimensioned to cooperate with and receive the lip or groove formation of the body. The scanning plate is made from a low surface energy plastic material. The body and plate are bonded together using a structural acrylic adhesive applied to one or both of the lip and groove formations. The imaging system may be a dual-modality imaging system.

Abstract: A device for performing a radiological examination on a patient having a part of the body examined includes a housing with an openable containment portion and an examination portion. The containment portion and the examination portion together substantially enclose the patient. The examination portion is substantially transparent to X-rays and is configured to contain the part of the body to be examined.

Abstract: In a mobile X-ray apparatus including a power supply supplying operation power, the power supply may include: a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells; a battery management system configured to control the operation power to be supplied from the battery pack to at least one component of the mobile X-ray apparatus; and a monitoring integrated circuit configured to monitor a voltage of the plurality of battery cells and control monitoring power supplied from the plurality of battery cells, based on whether the operation power is supplied to at least one component of the mobile X-ray apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a system capable of preventing inappropriate radiation stop control from being performed. A radiation imaging apparatus configured to perform imaging by radiation includes: an imaging unit including a dose signal output pixel arranged to output an electric signal based on a dose of the radiation that has entered the dose signal output pixel; and a processing unit configured to perform processing of comparing an integration value of the electric signal output from the dose signal output pixel included in the imaging unit to a threshold value during a period in which the radiation is not applied to the imaging unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for detecting a dose distribution of an article. The method includes performing a fluoroscopy scanning on the article to be detected, to obtain mass data per unit area or unit volume for each point of the article to be detected; obtaining corresponding dose distribution data based on the mass data per unit area or unit volume and a preset mapping model, wherein the preset mapping model includes a mapping relationship between mass per unit area or unit volume and the dose distribution of the article under irradiation of a preset amount of energy; and matching the dose distribution data with a fluoroscopy image of the article to be detected, to generate and display a radiation image.

Abstract: A method is for providing collision information. In an embodiment, the method includes acquiring first position data relating to an outer contour of an object, via at least one measuring device arranged on a gantry of a medical imaging device; receiving second position data relating to an inner contour of an opening of the gantry and/or an outer contour of the gantry; receiving movement data relating to relative movement between the gantry and the object; calculating the collision information relating to a collision of the object and the gantry, based on the first position data, the second position data and the movement data; and providing the collision information.

Abstract: Augmented reality systems and methods for user health analysis. Methods for user health analysis may include collecting data for an initial prediction model and continuing to collect additional data based on one or more data criteria. The methods may further include updating the initial prediction model based on the additional data to produce a revised prediction model or causing an intervention to occur based on the additional data. The data may be collected by a display system including one or more sensors configured to collect user-specific data and a display device configured to present virtual content to a user. The display device may be configured to output light with variable wavefront divergence.

Abstract: A method for using metastable perfluorocarbon nanodroplets for ultrasonic lysis of blood clots includes administering metastable perfluorocarbon nanodroplets into a blood vessel that includes or that leads to a blood vessel that includes a blood clot, the metastable perfluorocarbon nanodroplets each have a liquid core comprising a perfluorocarbon material that has a boiling point below 25° C. at atmospheric pressure and that remains stable in liquid form at 25° C. at atmospheric pressure. The method further includes applying ultrasound energy to the perfluorocarbon nanodroplets within or surrounding the blood clot, causing the perfluorocarbon nanodroplets to vaporize and convert to bubbles, which cavitate and lyse the blood clot.

Abstract: Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some instances, a method for treating a vessel of a patient includes collecting intravascular ultrasound imaging data of the placement of the stent using the intravascular ultrasound imaging device, estimating, using a processing device, a restenosis probability value based on the intravascular ultrasound imaging data of the placement of the stent and communicating the estimated restenosis probability value to a clinician. Associated devices and systems are also provided.

Abstract: Breast imaging ultrasound systems and methods are described. In an embodiment, a method for ultrasound imaging of a body includes: scanning a target volume in the body with an ultrasound transducer having a fixed focal number (FN); acquiring ultrasonic images of portions of the target volume, wherein the acquired images have the same voxel resolution; processing the ultrasonic images; and determining a 3D image of the target volume.

Abstract: Example ultrasound medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device includes a support member having a proximal end region and a distal end region and a sensing member having a proximal end region and a distal end region, the distal end region of the sensing member coupled to the distal end region of the support member. The medical device also includes one or more ultrasound sensors disposed along the sensing member and a support shaft having a first end coupled to the sensing member and a second end coupled to the support member. Additionally, the sensing member is configured to shift from a first configuration in which the sensing member is adjacent to the support member to a second configuration in which at least a portion of the sensing member extends away from the support member.

Abstract: Provided are a portable ultrasound apparatus, a portable ultrasound system, and an ultrasound diagnosis method performed by using the portable ultrasound apparatus. The portable ultrasound apparatus includes at least two probes having different specifications; a first display unit for displaying an ultrasound image; and a second display unit for displaying a control screen.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for determining an identification characteristic of a medical device carrying at least an ultrasound emitter/sensor element. The identification characteristic is based on a detection signal from the ultrasound emitter/sensor element upon a drive signal. The system can identify the medical device from a database of known medical devices. Furthermore, the system can update the duration and frequency of use of the medical device and it can prohibit further use of the medical device (when a predetermined limit of use is exceeded.

Abstract: For longitudinal monitoring of a patient using quantitative ultrasound (QUS), one or more indicators of region of interest (ROI) position relative to the patient and one or more images from a past QUS imaging for the patient are stored. The indicator is in addition to an image with the ROI. For subsequent QUS imaging of the patient, the indicator is used to position the ROI. In QUS monitoring, a same or fixed anatomy is monitored from examination-to-examination based on placement of the ROI using a displayed indicator for the previous placement.

Abstract: For ultrasound imaging with an ultrasound scanner, fat fraction of the tissue is measured. The fat fraction may be measured without access to channel data, such as from beamformed data. The speed of sound varies with the fat fraction of tissue, so the fat fraction is used to set the speed of sound in beamforming. Imaging the tissue using the fat fraction-based optimization for speed of sound may provide better images than imaging with an assumed speed.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to a pipeline configured to pipeline ultrasound signals from multiple analog front-ends (AFEs) to a digital portion of an ultrasound processing unit. The ultrasound signals may be digital ultrasound signals from analog-to-digital converters of the multiple AFEs. The pipeline may include first pipelining circuitry in a first AFE and second pipelining circuitry in a second AFE. The first pipelining circuitry may be configured to output a first digital ultrasound signal from the first pipelining circuitry to the digital portion of the UPU, receive a second digital ultrasound signal from second pipelining circuitry, and output the second digital ultrasound signal from the first pipelining circuitry to the digital portion of the UPU. De-interleaving circuitry may be coupled to the first pipelining circuitry and configured to de-interleave the first digital ultrasound signal and the second digital ultrasound signal outputted by the first pipelining circuitry.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein related to an ultrasound processing unit (UPU) including gray-coding circuitry configured to convert standard binary-coded digital ultrasound signals to gray-coded digital ultrasound signals and gray-decoding circuitry coupled to the gray-coding circuitry and configured to convert the gray-coded digital ultrasound signals to standard binary-coded digital ultrasound signals. The UPU may include an analog portion, a digital portion, and a data bus configured to route the gray-coded digital ultrasound signals from the analog portion to the digital portion subsequent to converting the standard binary-coded digital ultrasound signals to the gray-coded digital ultrasound signals. The analog portion may include multiple analog front-ends (AFEs), the gray-coding circuitry, and an analog-to-digital converter. The digital portion may include the gray-decoding circuitry. A data bus from one AFE may pass over another AFE.

Abstract: Methods and instrumentation for pulse scattering estimation and imaging of scattering parameters in a material object by transmitting a pulse along a transmit beam and directing a receive beam that crosses at least one transmit beam at an angle <45 deg. The receive beam is at least in an azimuth direction at the transmit beam, and records scattered receive signal from the overlap region. A receive interval of the receive signal is gated for further processing to form measurement and/or image signals from cross-beam observation cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes ultrasound imaging systems and methods configured to generate ultrasound images based on undersampled ultrasound data. The ultrasound images may be generated by applying a neural network trained with samples of known fully sampled data and undersampled data derived from the known fully sampled data to a acquired sparsely sampled data. The training of the neural network may involve training adversarial generative network including a generator and a discriminator. The generator is trained with sets of known undersampled data until the generator is capable of generating estimated image data, which the classifier is incapable of differentiation as either real or fake, and the trained generator may then be applied to unknown undersampled data.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitter; a receiver; a Doppler processor that detects a Doppler shift frequency resulting from a blood flow in a subject, based on a reception signal corresponding to a reflected wave from a sample gate position in the subject; and a velocity scale adjuster that adjusts a velocity scale determining a pulse repetition frequency, based on a Doppler waveform corresponding to the Doppler shift frequency during an observation target period. In a case where a recommendation value of the velocity scale calculated based on the Doppler waveform is larger than a critical value of the velocity scale at which a measurement state calculated based on the sample gate position transitions from a non-high-pulse-repetition-frequency state to a high-pulse-repetition-frequency state, the velocity scale adjuster sets the critical value as the velocity scale to be used in measurement.

Abstract: Ultrasound apparatus and methods of processing signals are described. The ultrasound apparatus may include multiple channels. In some embodiments, signal processing techniques are described, which in some embodiments are performed on a per-channel basis. The signal processing techniques may involve using down-conversion and filtering of signals on multiple channels. The down-conversion and filtering may be done prior to beamforming.

Abstract: A suction channel is made of a flexible resin, and is formed in a base. The suction channel suctions sweat that has come into contact with the detection electrode. The suction channel makes use of surface tension from micro channels to suction liquid into an interior from a suction port. A sodium ion detection electrode, a potassium ion detection electrode, and a reference electrode, which are detection electrodes for detecting ions contained in the sweat, are formed on an inner wall of a channel of the suction channel.

Abstract: A base material is made of a flexible resin, and formed in the shape of a sheet provided with a hollow portion. The base material can be wrapped around, for example, a forearm, an upper arm, a wrist, or the like. A sweat absorption unit is made of a plurality of fibers, and is arranged at the hollow portion for taking up sweat that has been taken in by a suction port. The sweat absorption unit is made of, for example, paper made of cellulose. A sodium ion detection electrode, a potassium ion detection electrode, and a reference electrode are allowed to contact the sweat that has been suctioned from the suction port of the sweat absorption unit and taken up into the sweat absorption unit, to detect ions contained in the sweat.

Abstract: A tissue resecting instrument includes a drive assembly coupled to an inner cutting shaft and configured to drive translation and/or rotation of the inner cutting shaft, a trigger coupled to the drive assembly and configured for manual actuation to drive the drive assembly, a vacuum generator configured to generate vacuum to suction cut tissue through the inner cutting shaft and into the vacuum generator, and a tissue collection cartridge configured to engage the housing. The tissue collection cartridge defines a port configured to communicate with the vacuum generator such that the vacuum generator urges cut tissue from the vacuum generator through the port into the tissue collection cartridge. The tissue collection cartridge may include at least one histological agent disposed therein, may include a fill indicator configured to indicate a fill level of tissue within the tissue collection cartridge, and/or may include a latch configured to seal the port closed.

Abstract: A needle assembly for sampling fluid from a patient including a needle guard, an insertion needle, and a needle housing. The distal end of the needle guard includes a nose portion and a flexible nose extension defining a fluid collection reservoir. The proximal end of the needle guard includes a push feature. The insertion needle has a sharpened distal tip, a proximal needle end and a shaft defining a lumen extending therebetween. The needle housing is operably coupled to the proximal needle end and is slideably coupled to the needle guard. The needle housing includes a flash chamber including a wall defining a cavity. The cavity is in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion needle and is sealed at one end by a gas permeable flash plug. The push feature selectively engages the flash plug to divert captured bodily fluids to the fluid collection reservoir for sampling.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a body, a needle, a cutter, a tissue sample holder, and a gate assembly. The needle extends distally from the body. The cutter is longitudinally translatable relative to the needle and defines a cutter lumen. The tissue sample holder is coupled proximally relative to the body. The cutter lumen of the cutter defines at least a portion of a fluid conduit extending between the cutter and the tissue sample holder. The gate assembly is configured to selectively arrest movement of a tissue sample holder within the fluid conduit between the cutter and the tissue sample holder.