A system and method for inductive heating applications includes positioning one or more inductive heating elements in a location, delivering electromagnetic radiation, by a radiation source, to heat at least a portion of the one or more inductive heating elements, and detecting, by a detector, the heat generated by the one or more inductive heating elements. The system and method also include controlling, by a processing unit, a condition based on the detected heat.

An apparatus for use with a minimally invasive medical procedure into human breast tissue includes a cannula and an obturator. The cannula includes an open distal end, a lateral opening proximate to the open distal end, and a longitudinal lumen communicating with the lateral opening and the open distal end. The lumen has a non-circular cross-section. The obturator is sized for insertion into the cannula. The obturator has a distal end extending from the open distal end of the cannula when the obturator is inserted fully into the cannula. The obturator has a recess proximate of the distal end of the obturator. The recess is positioned along a portion of the length of the obturator to align with the lateral opening of the cannula when the obturator is inserted fully into the cannula.

A radiographic marker containing a sensing medium that initially includes a gas and liquid mixture for producing increased signal intensity in a first imaging modality. The radiographic marker can have a permeable portion allowing the exchange of the gases or liquids of the sensing medium to be changed or exchanged for at least a second fluid in the surrounding tissue to reduce the bubbles or air pockets created by the gas portion of the sensing medium. The change or exchange of gas for the second liquid in the radiographic marker produces a detectable signal intensity of the radiographic marker in a second imaging modality different from the first imaging modality.

A method includes inserting into a patient body a catheter, which includes an insertion tube and at least an expandable distal-end device coupled to a distal end of the insertion tube. The distal-end device is expanded in a blood vessel, thereby forming an annular guiding trench between the distal-end device and a circumference of the blood vessel, the annular trench shaped to receive and guide a distal tip of a medical instrument. The distal tip of the medical instrument is guided in the annular guiding trench formed by the expanded distal-end device of the catheter, so as to approach multiple points on the circumference of the blood vessel.

Embodiments of the present invention provide medical devices and methods for occluding a target site are provided. For example, the medical device may include a tubular member having proximal and distal ends and at least one plane of occlusion. The at least one plane of occlusion may be configured to substantially occlude the patent ductus arteriosus in less than about 1 minute. In addition or alternatively, the tubular member may consist of a single layer of material and be configured to be constrained within a catheter having an outer diameter of less than about 4 French for percutaneous delivery to the patent ductus arteriosus.

An implantable tissue marker incorporates a contrast agent sealed within a chamber in a container formed from a solid material. The contrast agent is selected to produce a change, such as an increase, in signal intensity under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An additional contrast agent may also be sealed within the chamber to provide visibility under another imaging modality, such as computed tomographic (CT) imaging or ultrasound imaging.

An apparatus includes a pen. The pen includes a reservoir configured to store a fluid. The pen also includes a tip configured to transfer the fluid from the reservoir onto a surface of an object during writing. The pen further includes a regulator configured to control a flow of the fluid from the reservoir to the tip. The apparatus also includes the fluid stored within the reservoir. The fluid includes a carrier fluid and particles of an X-Ray opaque material.

The invention relates to an animal marking system (1) provided with a drive device (10) and an animal marking fluid sprayer (2), the drive device (10) comprising an electric motor (11) associated with a transmission system (12), the transmission system receiving an initial torque from the electric motor (11), amplifying the received initial torque and transmitting the amplified torque to a drive shaft (3), the drive shaft (3) applying the amplified torque to actuate the animal marking fluid sprayer (2), the animal marking system (1) being able to be applied in extensive rural territory, where there is not a wide availability to use mechanisms that require high drive voltages.

A multimodal fiducial marker for registration of multimodal data, including a first portion comprising magnetic material visible in magnetic particle imaging (MPI) data obtained by a magnetic particle imaging method and a second portion comprising a second material visible in image data obtained by another imaging method, which image data is registrable with the MPI data and a corresponding marker arrangement.

A marker device for producing paint marks on an eye is disclosed. The marker device comprises a handling unit and a marker unit coupled to the handling unit for rotation with respect to the handling unit about a rotational axis. The marker unit includes at least two spaced apart marking surfaces and has a rotationally symmetric distribution of weight with respect to the rotational axis. A coupling between the handling unit and the marker unit permits the marker unit to rotate, due to gravity, relative to the handling unit into an equilibrium position.