Abstract:
A target finding system identifies a surgical target such as a kidney stone by disposing an emitter such as a magnetic source behind or adjacent the surgical target, and employing a circuit to identify an axis to the emitter, thus defining an axis or path to the surgical target. An array of sensors arranged in an equidistant, coplanar arrangement each senses a signal indicative of a distance to the emitter. A magneto resistor sensor generates a variable resistance is responsive to the distance to a magnetic coil emitting a magnetic field. An equal signal from each of the coplanar sensors indicates positioning on an axis passing through a point central to the sensors and orthogonal to the plane. In one embodiment, a pair of Wheatstone bridges enhances the accuracy of the system.
Abstract:
A surgical locator circuit identifies a surgical target such as a kidney stone by disposing an emitter such as a magnetic source behind or adjacent the surgical target, and employing the circuit to identify an axis to the emitter, thus defining an axis or path to the surgical target. An array of sensors arranged in an equidistant, coplanar arrangement each senses a signal indicative of a distance to the emitter. A magneto resistor sensor generates a variable resistance is responsive to the distance to a magnetic coil emitting a magnetic field. An equal signal from each of the coplanar sensors indicates positioning on an axis passing through a point central to the sensors and orthogonal to the plane. A fixed element and signal conditioner augments and normalizes the signal received from each of the sensors to accommodate subtle differences in magneto resistive response among the plurality of sensors.
Abstract:
A system for producing three dimensional components by bonding together successive layers of a porous material with droplets of a binder material. A binder printhead has an array of nozzles which controllably supply jets of binder material droplets to the layers of porous material. The printhead is scanned in a raster scan fashion over each layer of porous material along a first scan axis in one direction to provide first fast scanning paths of droplets. The printhead is then moved laterally of such one direction and is then moved along the fast-scan axis in the opposite direction to provide second fast scanning paths of droplets which are interlaced with the first scanning paths. The supply of the droplets to the porous material can be controlled so as to control the overlapping thereof to produce various desired surface and interior characteristics of the components.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method are presented for a therapy delivery device including a catheter, an endoscope and an endoscope shaft, one or more attachment features for attaching the catheter to the endoscope, wherein the catheter has an expandable lumen at a distal end and wherein the expandable lumen expands upon injection of a therapy at the proximal end of the catheter. Attachment features may be a series of clips along the length of the catheter for attaching to an endoscope or a second lumen on the catheter wherein an endoscope may through one of said lumens. Targeted therapy delivery may be a hydrogel or a chitosan hydrogel to provide a treatment within a sinus of a patient.
Abstract:
A system for producing three dimensional components by bonding together successive layers of a porous material with droplets of a binder material. A binder printhead has an array of nozzles which controllably supply jets of binder material droplets to the layers of porous material. The printhead is scanned in a raster scan fashion over each layer of porous material along a first scan axis in one direction to provide first fast scanning paths of droplets. The printhead is then moved laterally of such one direction and is then moved along the fast-scan axis in the opposite direction to provide second fast scanning paths of droplets which are interlaced with the first scanning paths. The supply of the droplets to the porous material can be controlled so as to control the overlapping thereof to produce various desired surface and interior characteristics of the components.
Abstract:
A process for making a component by depositing a first layer of a powder material in a confined region and then depositing a binder material to selected regions of the layer of powder material to produce a layer of bonded powder material at the selected regions. Such steps are repeated a selected number of times to produce successive layers of selected regions of bonded powder material so as to form the desired component. The unbonded powder material is then removed. In some cases the component may be further processed as, for example, by heating it to further strengthen the bonding thereof.
Abstract:
Endoscopes having a hollow outer sheath configured for insertion into a patient's body are disclosed. A hollow inner sheath is receivable within the outer sheath, and is configured to slideably receive a first internal instrument. A working element can be configured to rotatably support at least the first internal instrument and a second internal instrument such that at least the first internal instrument and the second internal instrument are rotatable about a common axis of rotation being substantially coextensive with a longitudinal axis of the outer sheath. The working element can have at least one guide rail extending longitudinally of the axis of rotation and an actuator block can be slideably mountable to the at least one guiderail and so securable to at least one of the instruments as to be able to urge the at least one of the internal instruments longitudinally of the outer sheath.
Abstract:
A surgical locator circuit identifies a surgical target such as a kidney stone by disposing an emitter such as a magnetic source behind or adjacent the surgical target, and employing the circuit to identify an axis to the emitter, thus defining an axis or path to the surgical target. An array of sensors arranged in an equidistant, coplanar arrangement each senses a signal indicative of a distance to the emitter. A magneto resistor sensor generates a variable resistance is responsive to the distance to a magnetic coil emitting a magnetic field. An equal signal from each of the coplanar sensors indicates positioning on an axis passing through a point central to the sensors and orthogonal to the plane. A fixed element and signal conditioner augments and normalizes the signal received from each of the sensors to accommodate subtle differences in magneto resistive response among the plurality of sensors.
Abstract:
Endoscopes having a hollow outer sheath configured for insertion into a patient's body are disclosed. A hollow inner sheath is receivable within the outer sheath, and is configured to slideably receive a first internal instrument. A working element can be configured to rotatably support at least the first internal instrument and a second internal instrument such that at least the first internal instrument and the second internal instrument are rotatable about a common axis of rotation being substantially coextensive with a longitudinal axis of the outer sheath. The working element can have at least one guide rail extending longitudinally of the axis of rotation and an actuator block can be slideably mountable to the at least one guiderail and so securable to at least one of the instruments as to be able to urge the at least one of the internal instruments longitudinally of the outer sheath.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for controlling an energy output setting of a lithotripsy device during a lithotripsy procedure are provided. The system includes a laser or other lithotripsy device configured for facilitating the lithotripsy procedure, an irrigation system configured for supplying an irrigant such as saline to a surgical site, and a temperature sensor configured to provide temperature data associated with the irrigant. The system can modulate the energy output setting of the lithotripsy device based on an estimated temperature that is determined based at least in part on the temperature data and one or more other factors such as a current energy output setting or a flow rate of the irrigant.