A method for performing an efficient and thorough percutaneous discectomy includes making into the patient a percutaneous incision, which is a small stab wound, no more than approximately 10 mm in length. A stimulated combination neuro-monitoring dilating probe is passed through an approximately 10 mm or less skin incision and into a patient's disc space to establish a safe path and trajectory through Kambin's Triangle. Once a neuro-monitoring dilating probe is in the disc space, a second dilator is placed over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe and impacted into the disc space. Neuro-monitoring dilating probe may then be removed. An access portal optionally combined with a force dissipation device may then be placed over the second dilator and into the disc space. The second dilator is removed and then discectomy instruments may be placed through the access portal to perform the discectomy.

A system, method, and computer readable media are provided for obtaining a first set of skin data from an image capture system including at least one ultraviolet (UV) image of a user's skin. Performing a correction on the skin data using a second set of skin data associated with the user. Quantifying a plurality of skin parameters of the user's skin based on the first skin data, including quantifying a bacterial load. Quantifying the bacterial load by applying a brightness filter to isolate portions of the at least one UV image containing fluorescence, applying a dust filter, identifying portions of the at least one UV image that contain fluorescence due to bacteria, and determining a quantity of bacterial load in the users skin. Determining, using a machine learning model, an output associated with a normal skin state of the user and a current skin state of the user.

The present disclosure relates to compounds that are useful as near-infrared fluorescence probes, wherein the compounds include i) a pteroyl ligand that binds to a target receptor protein, ii) a dye molecule, and iii) a linker molecule that comprises an amino acid or derivative thereof. The disclosure further describes methods and compositions for incorporating the compounds as used for the targeted imaging of tumors. Conjugation of the amino acid linking groups increase specificity and detection of the compound. Methods and compositions for use thereof in diagnostic imaging are contemplated.

The present invention provides scanning mechanisms for imaging probes using for imaging mammalian tissues and structures using high resolution imaging, including high frequency ultrasound and/or optical coherence tomography. The imaging probes include adjustable rotational drive mechanism for imparting rotational motion to an imaging assembly containing either optical or ultrasound transducers which emit energy into the surrounding area. The imaging assembly includes a scanning mechanism having including a movable member configured to deliver the energy beam along a path out of said elongate hollow shaft at a variable angle with respect to said longitudinal axis to give forward and side viewing capability of the imaging assembly. The movable member is mounted in such a way that the variable angle is a function of the angular velocity of the imaging assembly.

Device and methods for detection and classification of pathogens have an imaging module, an image processing module, and a display module. The imaging module has a plurality of light sources to expose a sample to excitation radiation at various wavelengths. A detector in the imaging module synchronously captures time-resolved fluorescence emission spectra, time-resolved reflectance, and transmittance spectra at multiple spectral bands from the sample. The image processing module resolves the spectra and compares obtained spectral parameters to set of standard parameters provided in a library database to determine a match to detect and classify pathogens.

The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods of carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors. The present disclosure also relates to targeting conjugates of carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors. The present disclosure also relates to the use of targeting conjugates of carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors in methods of treating disease and for imaging of disease.

The present disclosure provides methods of imaging cancerous cells in a subject, wherein the cancerous cells are localized to the skeletal system or central nervous system of the subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of 18F-fluoroacetate, detecting a first signal emitted by 18F-fluoroacetate, and generating an image representative of the location and/or amount of the first signal to image the cancerous cells. In some embodiments, the methods further comprising diagnosing, prognosing, staging, and/or monitoring the progression of a disease or disorder, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia and/or leptomeningeal disease.

A method for determining if a tissue is ganglionic is provided. The method comprises a) generating at least one hyperspectral Raman image of a tissue from a region of interest in a tissue suspected to contain ganglion cells that was optionally identified by a method comprising autofluorescence (AF) and Second Harmonic generation (SHG) imaging of the tissue; and b) analyzing any of the images for one or more of the following: i) optical excitation; ii) chemical information or emission spectra; or iii) AF, SHG, and/or Raman signatures, wherein the analysis provides indicators that the region of interest is either ganglionic or non-ganglionic. A system for analysis of in vivo tissue or ex vivo tissue samples including a multiphoton autofluorescence microscope, a Second Harmonic Generation microscope, and a hyperspectral Raman microscope in operative communication is also provided.

Provided herein are systems and methods for imaging using a microscope system comprising removeable or replaceable component parts. Such systems and methods employ semi-kinetic coupling for easy, tool-free attachment of the microscope system to a baseplate. Systems and methods provided herein may comprise simultaneous imaging and stimulation using a microscope system. The microscope system can have a relatively small size compared to an average microscope system.

In one aspect, there is provided a method performed by one or more data processing apparatus, the method including obtaining a baseline image of a baseline biological organism brain, obtaining a follow-up image of a target biological organism brain, wherein the follow-up image shows at least a damaged region of the target biological organism brain, processing the baseline image and the follow-up image to generate data defining a predicted anatomical microstructure of the damaged region of the target biological organism brain before the target biological organism brain was damaged, and generating a design for a neural prosthesis for replacing the damaged region of the target biological organism brain based on the predicted anatomical microstructure of the damaged region of the target biological organism brain before the target biological organism brain was damaged.