Self-righting articles, such as self-righting capsules for administration to a subject, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may be configured such that the article may orient itself relative to a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). The self-righting articles described herein may comprise one or more tissue engaging surfaces configured to engage (e.g., interface with, inject into, anchor) with a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). In some embodiments, the self-righting article may have a particular shape and/or distribution of density (or mass) which, for example, enables the self-righting behavior of the article. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may comprise a tissue interfacing component and/or a pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery of the active pharmaceutical agent to a location internal of the subject). In some cases, upon contact of the tissue with the tissue engaging surface of the article, the self-righting article may be configured to release one or more tissue interfacing components. In some cases, the tissue interfacing component is associated with a self-actuating component. For example, the self-righting article may comprise a self-actuating component configured, upon exposure to a fluid, to release the tissue interfacing component from the self-righting article. In some cases, the tissue interfacing component may comprise and/or be associated with the pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery to a location internal to a subject).

Exemplary embodiments of method and apparatus are provided for resurfacing of skin that includes formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm, using a mechanical apparatus, thus avoiding generation of thermal damage as occurs with conventional laser resurfacing procedures and devices. The holes formed can be well-tolerated by the skin, and can exhibit shorter healing times and less swelling than conventional resurfacing procedures. The apparatus includes one or more needles adapted to remove a small portion of tissue when inserted into and withdrawn from the skin. The fractional surface coverage of the holes can be between about 0.1 and 0.7, or between about 0.2 and 0.5. The exemplary method and apparatus can produce cosmetic effects such as increases in collagen content, epidermal thickness, and dermal/epidermal junction undulations in the skin.

Provided herein is a pre-Caesarean method for collecting amniotic fluid from a patient. A needle is inserted into the incision site for the future C-section, which may be under ultrasound guidance, through which the amniotic fluid is drawn under a low level suction and, optionally, gravity to a sterile collection container. The method encompasses filtering and/or irradiating the amniotic fluid to collect biomolecules of interest such as growth factors and/or stem cells. Also provided is the sterile amniotic fluid or filtrates thereof collected by the method described herein.

A device including a probe unit and a driver unit for tissue extraction and sample collection is disclosed. The probe unit includes an injection unit, a driving mechanism, a filtering mechanism and a tissue sample container. The injection unit includes a needle actuated by a prime-mover and the driving mechanism, which drives the needle into the subject for extraction of tissue sample. The tissue extraction is performed by a rotational motion of the needle and pressure. The pressure is provided by a pressure subsystem in the lumen of the needle and the tissue is collected in the tissue sample container. The amount of pressure applied is controlled by a control subsystem based on the organ specific requirement.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

The invention relates to coaxial needle assembly (41) for introduction into human tissue, comprising an anesthesia needle (11), a stylet (21) and a coaxial cannula (31), wherein the anesthesia needle is inserted in the stylet and has a distal end (12) that projects out from a distal end (22) of the stylet, and wherein the stylet is inserted in the coaxial cannula and has a distal end (22) that projects out from a distal end (32) of the coaxial cannula, such that, during introduction into and through human tissue, the coaxial needle assembly acts and is manipulated as an integrated device. The assembly is arranged with a predetermined needle-stylet release torque which is required to release the anesthesia needle (11) from the stylet (21), and a predetermined stylet-cannula release torque which is required to release the stylet (21) from the coaxial cannula (31), wherein the value of predetermined needle-stylet release torque is less than the value of predetermined stylet-cannula release torque.

A multimodal system for breast imaging includes an x-ray source, and an x-ray detector configured to detect x-rays from the x-ray source after passing through a breast. The system includes an x-ray detector translation system operatively connected to the x-ray detector so as to be able to translate the x-ray detector from a first displacement from the breast to a second displacement at least one of immediately adjacent to or in contact with the breast. The system includes an x-ray image processor configured to: receive a CT data set from the x-ray detector, the CT data set being detected by the x-ray detector at the first displacement; compute a CT image of the breast; receive a mammography data set from the x-ray detector, the mammography data set being detected by the x-ray detector at the second displacement; and compute a mammography image of the breast.

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for assisting or performing guided interventional procedures using custom templates. The system uses pre-procedure scans of a patient's anatomy to identify targets and critical structures. A template is then manufactured containing guide elements. During a procedure, the template may be aligned to the patient and instruments passed though the guide elements and into various targets. The template may be aligned using one or more of, for example, a position sensing system or a live imaging modality to register the patient to the template. The system makes optional use of devices designed to immobilize or track an organ during therapy.

Devices, systems, and methods used to deploy a localization device into a target lesion are disclosed. The system includes a delivery device configurable in a ready-to-deploy state and a deployed state. When the delivery device is in the ready-to-deploy state, biased engagement members are engaged with proximal detents of a handle of the delivery device. When the delivery device is in the deployed state, the biased engagement members are engaged with distal detents. The delivery device is transitioned from the ready-to-deploy state to the deployed state by distal displacement of a plunger relative to the handle. The localization device is deployed from a cannula of the delivery device into the target lesion when the delivery device transitions from the ready-to-deploy state to the deployed state.

One or more example embodiments relate to a positioning support system for positioning a medical device based on at least one medical image, the positioning support system comprising at least one channel for the medical device and configured to be pierced with the medical device, the channel configured to be at an acute first angle to a normal of a surface, the channel including a water-containing medium including at least one polymerizable component, the water-containing medium being configured to cure after being pierced with the medical device when the medical device is coated with a polymerization catalyst, wherein the positioning support system is configured to be placed on the surface, and the positioning support system permits the medical device in the water-containing medium to be depicted in the at least one medical image.