A method where a propeller is set into locomotion relative to a medium at least partially surrounding the propeller. An actuator induces a rotation of the propeller relative to the medium and about a rotational axis of the propeller, and the propeller converts its rotational movement into locomotion relative to the medium. The aspect ratio of at least one cross-section of the propeller is three or more. Also a helical or modifiedly helical propeller for converting rotational movement of the propeller into locomotion of the propeller relative to a medium at least partially surrounding the propeller, where the aspect ratio of at least one cross section of the propeller is three or more. And a method of producing a propeller, including the step of providing a plate extending along the helical axis, where the aspect ratio of at least one cross section of the plate is three or more.

Systems and methods are disclosed for medical devices which can operate within a person in connection a medical procedure. In aspects of the present disclosure, a system for assisting with a surgical procedure includes a swarm of medical devices sized to be wholly deployed within a surgical site of a patient where the swarm of medical devices is configured to operate concurrently within the patient to assist a surgeon to perform a surgical procedure in the patient. The swarm of medical devices includes a first medical device that includes an imaging system configured to capture a view of at least a portion of a surgical site and to communicate the captured view, and a second medical device that includes one or more of a retracting device, an irrigation device, a suction device, a clipping device, a therapy delivery device, or a cutting device.

Disclosed embodiments provide a biopsy tool and methodologies for obtain biopsies and/or a tool and methodology that may be used to add material to a subject's tissue.

Methods and apparatuses are provided for performing surgery and other interventional procedures on human and non-human animals with a semi-autonomous and/or fully autonomous robotic system. The methods and apparatuses include a system for controlling magnetic fields to dynamically detect the location of magnetizable tools and to manipulate said tools in order to obtain a favorable therapeutic or diagnostic outcome.

Apparatus and methods for deactivating bronchial nerves extending along the secondary bronchial branches of a mammalian subject to treat asthma and related conditions. An ultrasonic transducer (11) is inserted into the bronchus as, for example, by advancing the distal end of a catheter (10) bearing the transducer into the secondary bronchial section to be treated. The ultrasonic transducer emits circumferential ultrasound so as to heat tissues throughout circular impact volume (13) as, for example, at least about 1 cm.sup.3 encompassing the bronchus to a temperature sufficient to inactivate nerve conduction but insufficient to cause rapid ablation or necrosis of the tissues. The treatment can be performed without locating or focusing on individual bronchial nerves. The apparatus and methods utilized for lung tumor ablation.

A system and a method are disclosed for forming an anastomosis between a first layer of tissue and a second layer of tissue of a patient's body. The system includes a first anastomosis device component and a second anastomosis device component configured to interact with the first anastomosis device component. The first anastomosis device component is configured to be delivered to a first lumen inside the patient's body. The second anastomosis device component is configured to be delivered to a second lumen inside the patient's body. The second anastomosis device includes one or more sensors configured to capture sensor data for determining an alignment of the second anastomosis device component relative to the first anastomosis device component, or for characterizing the position or orientation of the second anastomosis device component in three-dimensional space.

An in-scale display device is provided. The in-scale display device includes at least one flexible electronic display screen that is configured to display at least one reference image in-scale with a subject. A medical device position guidance system including the in-scale display device and an invasive medical device system, and a method of using the medical device position guidance system, are also provided.

Methods described herein can include drawing materials to form a drawn filled tubing (DFT) wire. The materials can include a core material, a first layer of a biocompatible material disposed exterior to the filler material, a magnetic material disposed external to the first layer of biocompatible material, and a second layer of biocompatible material disposed exterior to the magnetic material. In some embodiments, the method further comprises melting the core material to form a magnet with a through hole lumen. In some embodiments, the method can further include applying an external magnetic field to the materials during the drawing to align grains of the magnetic material. In some embodiments, the core material can have a melting point lower than a melting point of the magnetic material and the biocompatible material.

A system and a method are disclosed for forming an anastomosis between a first layer of tissue and a second layer of tissue of a patient's body. The system includes a first anastomosis device component and a second anastomosis device component configured to interact with the first anastomosis device component. The first anastomosis device component is configured to be delivered to a first lumen inside the patient's body. The second anastomosis device component is configured to be delivered to a second lumen inside the patient's body. The second anastomosis device includes one or more sensors configured to capture sensor data for determining an alignment of the second anastomosis device component relative to the first anastomosis device component, or for characterizing the position or orientation of the second anastomosis device component in three-dimensional space.

Flagellated magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), specifically AMB-1 bacteria, are provided as a system of microrobots, and the heterogeneity of their hydrodynamic interactions with a solid-liquid boundary wall is systematically exploited to control multiple microrobots using a global magnetic field. A method comprises providing a plurality of a microrobots and controlling the microrobots using a global magnetic field.