A surgical instrument includes a shaft and a probe that extends distally from a distal end of the shaft. The probe includes a distal tip configured to puncture a tissue surface to enter a nerve canal of a patient, and an ablation element operable to ablate a nerve located within the nerve canal. The surgical instrument further includes a stop element arranged proximally of the distal tip. The stop element is configured to abut the tissue surface punctured by the distal tip. In some examples, the ablation element may be in the form of an RF electrode operable to ablate the nerve with RF energy. The surgical instrument may further include a navigation sensor operable to generate a signal corresponding to a location of the probe within the patient.

A method for lung nodule evaluation is provided. The method may include obtaining a target image including at least a portion of a lung of a subject. The method may also include segmenting, from the target image, at least one target region each of which corresponds to a lung nodule of the subject. The method may further include generating an evaluation result with respect to the at least one lung nodule based on the at least one target region.

Various methods and systems are provided for automatically or semi-automatically adjusting one or more ultrasound imaging parameters for imaging in a second mode based on images obtained in a first mode. In one example, a method includes operating an ultrasound imaging system in a first operating mode, determining an anatomy imaged by the ultrasound imaging system in the first operating mode, and responsive to an operating mode transition request, adjusting imaging parameters of the ultrasound imaging system in a second operating mode based on the first operating mode and the anatomy imaged in the first operating mode.

A method for estimating human body temperature includes receiving, via a thermal camera, a thermal image captured of a real-world environment, the thermal image including thermal intensity values for each of a plurality of pixels of the thermal image. A position of a human face is identified within the thermal image, the human face corresponding to a human subject. An indication of a distance between the human subject and the thermal camera is received. Based on the distance, a distance correction factor is applied to one or more thermal intensity values of one or more pixels corresponding to the human face to give one or more distance-corrected thermal intensity values. Based on the one or more distance-corrected thermal intensity values an indication of a body temperature of the human subject is reported.

Improvements to intracardiac devices such as intracardiac blood pump assemblies, and associated methods. In one example, the present technology includes systems and methods for pacing the heart, and/or performing cardiac ablation using electrodes mounted on a portion of the intracardiac device. In another example, the present technology includes systems and methods for detecting mural thrombi in a patient's heart using electrical sensors or ultrasonic phased arrays mounted on the intracardiac device. In another example, the present technology includes systems and methods for detecting tissue changes and reactions in heart tissue during treatment using one or more temperature sensors. In another example, the present technology includes an improved distal tip for use with an intracardiac device. In another example, the present technology includes systems and methods for maintaining an intracardiac device in a desired position within a patient's heart using magnets or ultrasonic phased arrays mounted on the intracardiac device.

A tissue detection system includes a probe having a body defining a distal end portion for positioning in contact with or close proximity to tissue. The probe includes an emission optical fiber extending from an input end through the probe body to an output end at the distal end portion of the probe body, and a detection optical fiber extending from an output end through the probe body to an input end at the distal end portion of the probe body. An emitter is coupled to the input end of the emission optical fiber and a detector is coupled to the output end of the detection optical fiber. One or more optical elements is disposed at the detector filter out electromagnetic radiation received from the detection optical fiber below a pre-determined wavelength threshold or outside of a pre-determined wavelength range.

Provided is a paracentesis assistance system that identifies the type of biological tissue. The paracentesis assistance system (10) comprises a measurement device that applies high-frequency waves to at least two electrodes (31 and 32) of an electrode needle (3) inserted into a biological tissue (9), and repeatedly measures the electrical impedance of the biological tissue (9) where the electrode (31) is located, the electrodes being arranged at the tip of the electrode needle in a longitudinal direction; and an identification device (2) that identifies the type of biological tissue (9) based on the temporal change in the repeatedly measured electrical impedance.

An exemplary tissue detection and location identification apparatus can include, for example, a first electrically conductive layer at least partially (e.g., circumferentially) surrounding a lumen, an insulating layer at least partially (e.g., circumferentially) surrounding the first electrically conductive layer, and a second electrically conductive layer circumferentially surrounding the insulating layer, where the insulating layer can electrically isolate the first electrically conductive layer from the second electrically conductive layer. A further insulating layer can be included which can at least partially surrounding the second electrically conductive layer. The first electrically conductive layer, the insulating layer, and the second electrically conductive layer can form a structure which has a first side and a second side disposed opposite to the first side with respect to the lumen, where the first side can be longer than the second side thereby forming a sharp pointed end via the first side at a distal-most portion. The exemplary configuration can be used for (a) determination/detection of a tissue type using impendence of the electrically conductive layers, and/or (ii) determination of a location of at least one portion of the insertion device/apparatus. Another exemplary apparatus can include, for example, a base structure comprising a lumen extending along a length thereof, and at least one optically-transmissive layer circumferentially surrounding the base structure and provided at least at a distal end of the base structure. For example, in operation, the optically-transmissive layer can be configured to transmit a particular optical radiation at the distal end thereof toward a target tissue.

Systems and methods for joint reconstruction and segmentation of organs from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data are provided. Sparse MRI data is received at a computer system, which jointly processes the MRI data using a plurality of reconstruction and segmentation processes. The MRI data is processed using a joint reconstruction and segmentation process to identify an organ from the MRI data. Additionally, the MRI data is processed using a channel-wise attention network to perform static reconstruction of the organ from the MRI data. Further, the MRI data can is processed using a motion-guided network to perform dynamic reconstruction of the organ from the MRI data. The joint processing allows for rapid static and dynamic reconstruction and segmentation of organs from sparse MRI data, with particular advantage in clinical settings.

Example methods and systems may be used intraoperatively to help surgeons perform accurate and replicable surgeries, such as knee arthroplasty surgeries. An example system combines real time measurement and tracking components with functionality to compile data collected by the hardware to register a bone of a patient, calculate an axis (e.g., mechanical axis) of the leg of the patient, assist a surgeon in placing cut guides, and verify a placement of an inserted prosthesis.