Various cartridge assemblies for surgical instruments are provided. Cartridge assemblies can include active sensors for applying stimuli to a tissue clamped by an end effector of the surgical instrument and a circuit configured to determine a tissue type of the tissue according to a change in the tissue parameter detected by the sensor resulting from a stimulus from the active element. Cartridge assemblies can also include physical features and/or stored data that identify the cartridge. Surgical instruments further can be configured to resolve conflicts when the physical features and/or stored data are not consistent with each other in their identification of the cartridge type.

Non-invasive measurement of intracranial pressure (ICP), for example mean ICP. A probe adjacent the head emits energy, such as ultrasound, and receives reflected signals. A processing unit derives ICP waveform from the signals. A pressure mechanism applies external pressure intermittently to outer surface of the head and incrementally increases the external pressure. The processing unit is configured to detect a decrease in amplitude of the ICP waveform (occurring in some embodiments only after an intermediate period of ICRS compensation), the processing unit configured to determine the ICP of the person from a sum of applied external pressures from a time of the initial value A1 until a final value at which the amplitude remains stable with additional increase in applied external pressure. In some cases, the final value is earlier than that but the processing unit extrapolates the sum to when the amplitude remains stable with additional increases in pressure.

An apparatus for estimating bio-information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a processor configured to obtain spectra from an object, obtain a component produced based on a change in pressure applied to the object, correct the spectra based on the obtained component produced based on the change in pressure, and estimate bio-information of the object based on the corrected spectra.

A system and method for measuring biomechanical properties of tissues without external excitation are capable of measuring and quantifying these parameters of tissues in situ and in vivo. The system and method preferably utilize a phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for measuring the displacement caused by the intrinsic heartbeat. The method allows noninvasive and nondestructive quantification of tissue mechanical properties. Preferably, the method is used to detect tissue stiffness and to evaluate its stiffness due to intrinsic pulsatile motion from the heartbeat. This noninvasive method can evaluate the biomechanical properties of the tissues in vivo for detecting the onset and progression of degenerative or other diseases and evaluating the efficacy of therapies.

A palpation support device according to an embodiment includes: a palpation data acquiring part configured to acquire a palpation data based on a plurality of pressure values applied to fingers of an examiner; and a diagnosis support information output part configured to output diagnosis support information based on the palpation data.

Apparatus and methods are described including an implantable device having first and second longitudinal ends, the device having a length of less than 80 mm when the device is unconstrained. The device includes struts arranged such that, when the device is unconstrained, along a continuous portion of the device having a length that is at least 5 mm, a maximum inter-strut distance defined by any set of two adjacent struts is more than 1.5 times as great as a maximum inter-strut distance defined by any set of two adjacent struts within longitudinal portions of the device within 3 mm of the longitudinal ends of the device. Other applications are also described.

The present disclosure relates to a neuromonitoring device. The neuromonitoring device may include a probe, an operation part, and a display part. The probe may include a probe head, an elastic piece, and an elastic measuring piece. The probe head may be connected to the elastic piece. The elastic measuring piece may be connected to the elastic piece and may be used to measure an elasticity value of the elastic piece and convert the elasticity value into a first electrical signal. The display part may be configured to display prompt information. The prompt information may include prompt information regarding the elasticity value determined based on the first electrical signal.

A method for obtaining an orthodontic treatment plan is provided. The method comprises obtaining a treatment plan for treatment of a tooth of a patient, the treatment plan including two or more stage force values, wherein each of the two or more stage force values is based on a target orthodontic force value that is based on one or more determinate points of periodontal ligament (PDL) behavior data. For each of the two or more stage force values, the method includes determining configuration parameters for configuring an orthodontic appliance to apply the stage force value to a tooth of the patient; and, using the configuration parameters to manufacture an orthodontic appliance configured to apply the stage force value.

Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for a surgical instrument having one or more sensors at or a near an end effector and configured to aide in the detection of tissues and other materials and structures at a surgical site. The detections may then be used to aide in the placement of the end effector and to confirm which objects to operate on, or alternatively, to avoid. Examples of sensors include laser sensors used to employ Doppler shift principles to detect movement of objects at the surgical site, such as blood cells; resistance sensors to detect the presence of metal; monochromatic light sources that allow for different levels of absorption from different types of substances present at the surgical site, and near infrared spectrometers with small form factors.

A system for simulating surgical methods includes a method for thorax simulation modelling. The thorax simulation modeling is generally useful in facilitating the development and optimization of person specific surgical methods and materials.