A portable level sensor for a flexible bag for collecting a fluid and/or a solid, and a system and method for sensing the content level of a flexible bag using the portable level sensor. The sensor comprises a flexible resistor element with an electrical resistance that changes in dependence upon its degree of flexing, means for attaching the resistor element to an outside surface of the flexible bag and means for periodically polling the electrical resistance of the resistor element and transmitting to a receiver a signal which varies in dependence on the said electrical resistance.

Methods and apparatus for inducing weight loss using blood flow control are described herein. The apparatus and methods operate by controlling blood flow to the stomach and/or small bowel.

A method of sizing a cavity to fit an organ is disclosed. The method may include inserting the organ into the cavity. The method may also include inserting a support member into the cavity and inserting a substance into the cavity or the support member. The support member and the substance may at least partially fill a void space in the cavity after the organ is inserted therein.

An apparatus for measuring lesion volume, for example, in laboratory animals, provides a mirror box allowing a camera to simultaneously acquire profiles of the lesion along at least two crossing axes from which accurate volume may be approximated at low cost.

An ablation catheter system includes: a catheter shaft; a balloon attached to the catheter shaft; a lumen extending through the catheter shaft in a longitudinal direction thereof and communicating with the interior of the balloon; a heating electrode and a temperature sensor provided in the interior of the balloon; a heater that applies electrical energy to the heating electrode; a pressure sensor; a balloon volume sensor; and a processor that calculates the estimated depth of ablation, using as variables, heating temperature of a generator, ablation time of the generator, a value of balloon pressure obtained from the pressure sensor and a value of balloon volume obtained from the balloon volume sensor.

A sample collection device for collecting a fluid sample is provided. The device includes a sample collection chamber, for collecting a sample therein, having a first end and a second end and a sample collection conduit, for conveying a sample from a user into the sample collection chamber. The sample collection conduit includes an inlet for receiving a sample and wherein in at least a first position the sample collection conduit extends from within the sample collection chamber out through the first end such that at least the inlet is outside of the sample collection chamber. The device further includes a plunger configured to expel the sample out of the sample collection chamber through the second end of the sample collection chamber.

A medical device may include a handle assembly having an actuator and a sheath. The sheath may extend between a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the sheath may be coupled with the actuator. The medical device may further include an end-effector moveable relative to the sheath between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. The end-effector may include a plurality of expandable legs. Each of the plurality of expandable legs may include a plurality of first indicia and a plurality of second indicia. A color of each of the first plurality of indicia may be different than a color of each of the second plurality of indicia.

A method for performing percutaneous spinal interbody fusion on a spine of a patient can include inserting without direct visualization a neuro-monitoring dilating probe into the patient, performing neuro-monitoring via the neuro-monitoring dilating probe, advancing the neuro-monitoring dilating probe into a disc space, passing a second dilator over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe, and advancing the second dilator into the disc space. A kit for performing percutaneous spinal interbody fusion can include a neuro-monitoring dilating probe, a second dilator, a tissue removal tool, an access portal comprising an adjustable depth stop, and a discectomy verification device.

A method for verifying the position of at least two bone structures relative to each other, comprising the method steps of: recording a three-dimensional dataset which represents the bone structures; segmenting the three-dimensional dataset into segments, wherein each segment represents a bone structure and the segments exhibit a known relative position in the three-dimensional dataset; changing the virtual relative position of the segments, such that the virtual relative position of the segments matches the actual relative position of the bone structures; and verifying whether the virtual relative position of the segments matches a target position of the bone structures.

An ultrasonic aspirator includes a body, an aspirator wand extending from the body, a shield to cover the aspirator wand, a removable headpiece removably attached to the aspirator wand, and a guard extending past an end of the headpiece in a direction distal to the body. the aspirator also includes a generator or a detector to generate or detect electrical pulses, light sources, endoscopy, modified body angles, image navigation integration for improved visualization and optimization of the surgical field.