Sleeves and cases for protecting medical devices against contamination, and methods for cleaning and disinfecting medical devices are provided. The various embodiments enable a single medical device to be used by more than one patient successively while reducing the risk of disease transmission from patient to patient.

Insertable imaging devices, and methods of use thereof in minimally invasive medical procedures, are described. In some embodiments, insertable imaging devices are described that can be introduced and removed from an access port without disturbing or risking damage to internal tissue. In some embodiments, imaging devices are integrated into an access port, thereby allowing imaging of internal tissues within the vicinity of the access port, while, for example, enabling manipulation of surgical tools in the surgical field of interest. In other embodiments, imaging devices are integrated into an imaging sleeve that is insertable into an access port. Several example embodiments described herein provide imaging devices for performing imaging within an access port, where the imaging may be based one or more imaging modalities that may include, but are not limited to, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, optical imaging such as hyperspectral imaging and optical coherence tomography, and electrical conductive measurements.

A method and a device for diagnostic of skin cancer and other mammalian skin tissue pathologies are described. The method relies on determination of pathological changes in tissue vascularization and capillary blood flow. The device uses photonic emitters and detectors to characterize temporal and spatial changes in blood flow in response to external perturbation such as external mechanical force or temperature change.

A patient monitoring sensor having a communication interface, through which the patient monitoring sensor can communicate with a monitor is provided. The patient monitoring sensor includes a light-emitting diode (LED) communicatively coupled to the communication interface and a detector, communicatively coupled to the communication interface, capable of detecting light. The patient monitoring sensor includes hydrophobic materials provided around the light-emitting diode and the detector, wherein the hydrophobic materials reduce water absorption and prevent bacterial growth within the sensor.

The present invention is: a blood flow sensor that sandwiches a longitudinal-direction section of a blood vessel of a subject, from the outer circumference of such section, to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the blood flow; and a blood flow measurement instrument that processes the electrical signal from the blood flow sensor and converts the signal to an electrical signal indicating blood flow. The blood flow sensor and the blood flow measurement instrument are provided with connectors so as to be mechanically and electrically separable from each other.

An oral tool is provided that includes a body, a measurement unit, and a flow stopper. The measurement unit is moveable relative to the body, and includes a sensor unit at an end opposite to an end where the body is disposed. The sensor unit is constructed to be insertable into a mouth. Moreover, the flow stopper is disposed between the measurement unit and the body, and has a surface with a curvature different from a curvature of a surface of the measurement unit.

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for measuring an analyte in a host. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for transcutaneous measurement of glucose in a host.

A photoacoustic-ultrasonic dual-mode endoscope includes: a probe and a probe driving unit, wherein the probe includes: a coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly including an optical fiber, the optical fiber including a core and a cladding, and a conductive path coaxially arranged with the optical fiber; a scanning tip located at an end of the coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly and configured to deliver a laser beam to an object to be examined and detect a photoacoustic signal and an ultrasonic signal generated from the object to be examined; and a plastic catheter surrounding outer surfaces of the coaxially configured optical and electromagnetic rotary waveguide assembly and the scanning tip, wherein the conductive path includes: a first conductive path including a portion coaxially arranged with the optical fiber; and a second conductive path including a portion coaxially arranged with the optical fiber and insulated from the first conductive path.

A sensor cartridge according to embodiments of the disclosure is capable of being used with a non-invasive physiological sensor. Certain embodiments of the sensor cartridge protect the sensor from damage, such as damage due to repeated use, reduce the need for sensor sanitization, or both. Further, embodiments of the sensor cartridge are positionable on the user before insertion in the sensor and allow for improved alignment of the treatment site with the sensor. In addition, the sensor cartridge of certain embodiments of the disclosure can be configured to allow a single sensor to comfortably accommodate treatment sites of various sizes such as for both adult and pediatric applications.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attachment and method for head-fixing rats for experimental purposes. The invention provides a tool for multi-region electrophysiology & precision monitoring of organismal state during complex cognitive tasks. The attachment for a skull of a rat, comprises a frame enclosing an open space inside the frame, at least one tooth on the frame extending from the frame towards the open space. Adhesive may be used as an attaching agent.