Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for compensating for insertion of an instrument into a working channel of another instrument in a surgical system. According to one embodiment, a method of compensation includes: detecting insertion of an insertable instrument into a working channel of a flexible instrument; detecting, based on a data signal from at least one sensor, a position change of a distal portion of the flexible instrument from an initial position: generating a control signal based on the detected position change; and adjusting a tensioning of a pull wire based on the control signal to return the distal portion to the initial position.

The present invention relates to a suction instrument, more particularly a bipolar mapping suction instrument, for surgical purposes and to a system for suctioning fluids and tissue and for monitoring nerve tissue. The suction instrument comprises a cannula unit, which comprises an electrically conductive outer cannula tube, an electrically conductive inner cannula tube, and insulation. The electrically conductive inner cannula tube is electrically connected to a first pole of the bipolar electrical connection of the second interface. The electrically conductive inner cannula tube is arranged concentrically in the outer cannula tube which optionally can be insulated from the exterior. The electrically conductive inner cannula tube is mechanically connected to the handpiece and/or the first interface. The electrically conductive outer cannula tube is electrically connected to a second pole of the bipolar electrical connection of the second interface. The insulation is concentrically arranged between the outer cannula tube and the inner cannula tube. The insulation is configured to fully electrically isolate the outer cannula tube and the inner cannula tube in relation to one another.

A method of training includes providing a medical device having a tangible proximal portion including a magnetic element, and using a virtual tracking system to simulate a distal portion of the medical device. The virtual tracking system can include a tracking component and a display. The tracking component can be configured to detect a magnetic field of the magnetic element and to generate magnetic field strength data. The tracking component can include a processor that iteratively computes position data of the distal portion of the medical device according to the magnetic field strength data to simulate insertion of the distal portion of the medical device into a body of a patient. The display can be configured to depict an image of the position data of the distal portion of the medical device.

Systems and methods of tracking the position of an endoscope within a patient's body during an endoscopic procedure is disclosed. The devices and methods include determining a position of the endoscope within the patient in the endoscope's coordinate system, capturing in an image fiducial markers attached to the endoscope by an external optical tracker, transforming the captured fiducial markers from the endoscope's coordinate system to the optical tracker's coordinate system, projecting a virtual image of the endoscope on a model of the patient's organ, and projecting or displaying the combined image.

Certain aspects relate to biopsy apparatuses, systems and techniques for biopsy using a biopsy pattern. Some aspects relate to moving a distal portion of a medical instrument to one or more sample locations of the biopsy pattern and guiding the instrument to obtain tissue samples from the sample locations within the biopsy pattern. Some aspects relate to obtaining the biopsy pattern and adjusting the sample locations within the biopsy pattern based on various factors such as anatomical features.

A system comprising: one or more field generating coils configured to generate a magnetic field; a sensor comprising a shell that contains a ferrofluid, the sensor configured to be introduced in proximity to the magnetic field, wherein the ferrofluid causes distortion of the magnetic field when the ferrofluid is in proximity to the magnetic field; and one or more field measuring coils configured to: measure a characteristic of the magnetic field when the ferrofluid is in proximity to the magnetic field; and provide, to a computing device, a signal representative of the measured characteristic of the magnetic field, wherein the computing device is configured to determine one or both of a position and an orientation of the sensor based on the measured characteristic of the magnetic field.

A stretch-measurement probe includes an elongate outer sleeve, expansion feature associated with a distal portion of the outer sleeve, and an elongate inner rod disposed at least partially within the outer sleeve. The expansion feature is configured to allow a longitudinal distance between a proximal end of the outer sleeve and the distal end of the outer sleeve to be varied.

An imaging capsule including, a radiation source, a collimator that provides a collimated beam from the radiation source, at least one detector configured to detect particles resulting from X-ray fluorescence and/or Compton backscattering in response to the collimated beam to reconstruct images of a user's gastrointestinal tract, wherein the imaging capsule is configured to identify an inflamed area, within the user's gastrointestinal tract, based on a count of the detected particles and initiate actions responsive to detecting the inflamed area.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods to magnetically influence the position, orientation, movement, and/or activation of a medical device within an operating region within the body using a magnetic guidance system introduced into a target location of a body. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to magnetic navigation systems for applying a magnetic field to an operating region within the body, the system comprising a first magnet assembly configured for introduction into a target location of a body and a second magnet assembly disposed opposite the first magnet assembly, wherein the first and second magnet assemblies are configured for applying a magnetic field to an operating region between the magnet assemblies.

A catheter has single axis sensors mounted directly along a portion of the catheter whose position/location is of interest. The magnetic based, single axis sensors are on a linear or nonlinear single axis sensor (SAS) assembly. The catheter includes a catheter body and a distal 2D or 3D configuration provided by a support member on which at least one, if not at least three single axis sensors, are mounted serially along a length of the support member. The magnetic-based sensor assembly may include at least one coil member wrapped on the support member, wherein the coil member is connected via a joint region to a respective cable member adapted to transmit a signal providing location information from the coil member to a mapping and localization system. The joint region provides strain relief adaptations to the at least one coil member and the respective cable member from detaching.