The present invention relates to a device for sampling internal substance(s) in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal composed of at least one wall which is partially expandable. The invention also relates to a method of orally administering the device to an animal and recovering the device from the stool to carry out analysis on the collected sample for diagnosing the health of the gastrointestinal tract and determining nutrient absorption and digestibility.

A method includes positioning an expandable balloon, coupled to a distal end of a catheter, at a target location within an organ of a patient, the expandable balloon including multiple electrodes and one or more sensors in proximity to each electrode, wherein the one or more sensors are configured each to measure a characteristic of blood. The expandable balloon is expanded at the target location. A fluid is flowed through an inner lumen of the catheter and into the blood in a vicinity of each electrode. A dependence of the characteristic of blood on time is measured, via the one or more sensors, in proximity to each electrode. Using a processor, it is determined whether or not each electrode is in physical contact with tissue, based on the measured dependence of the characteristic of blood. An indication of whether or not each electrode is in physical contact with tissue is outputted to a user.

Embodiments include methods, systems, and apparatus for identification, detection, and removal of cancerous cells from a patient. The apparatus includes an apparatus handle. The apparatus also includes a display including a pH measurement result. The apparatus also includes an apparatus tip including a reference electrode and a plurality of sensing surfaces, wherein each of the plurality of sensing surfaces is connected to a base of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) device. The BJT device further includes a collector and an emitter. The apparatus also includes automation circuitry including a processing unit in communication with the apparatus tip and the display. The plurality of sensing surfaces includes a conducting material.

An electrosurgical generator is presented for controlling a surgical instrument. The electrosurgical generator includes a controller programmed to generate a first carrier wave signal and a second carrier wave signal based on an algorithm employing real-time current values of tissue at a tissue site to determine tissue impedance at a distal end of the surgical instrument, the first carrier wave signal having a first oscillating waveform and the second carrier wave signal having a second oscillating waveform, a multistage variable gain amplifier for amplifying the first and second oscillating waveforms to generate a first output signal for a first mode of operation and a second output signal for a second mode of operation, and an electrosurgical connector for transmitting the first and second output signals. The controller concurrently runs the first and second oscillating waveforms while switching between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation.

A cannula system and method for accessing a blood mass in the brain. The system comprises a cannula with a camera mounted on the proximal end of the cannula with a view into the cannula lumen and the surgical field below the lumen. A prism, reflector or other suitable optical element is oriented between the camera and the lumen of the cannula to afford the camera a view into the cannula while minimizing obstruction of the lumen. The system may also include an obturator with a small diameter shaft and a large diameter tip which is optically transmissive, so that a surgeon inserting or manipulating the assembly can easily see that the obturator tip is near brain tissue (which is white) or blood (which is red).

A surgical device includes an end effector and a handle assembly. The end effector includes a body portion and a tool assembly disposed at a distal end of the body portion. The tool assembly is insertable into tissue and includes an anvil assembly, a cartridge assembly, and a sensor disposed on an outer surface of the anvil assembly or the cartridge assembly for measuring a preselected mechanical property of the tissue. The handle assembly is operably coupled to the end effector. The handle assembly includes a power-pack including a controller circuit board configured to receive sensor data of the sensor corresponding to the preselected mechanical property and to control a function of the end effector in response to the sensor data.

The systems and methods of the present disclosure are used for guiding a medical instrument towards a target, the method positioning a medical instrument at a first location within a patient anatomy, wherein the medical instrument comprises at least one sensor, determining a first biomarker measurement using the at least one sensor, determining a second biomarker measurement using the at least one sensor, comparing the first biomarker measurement with the second biomarker measurement to determine a proximity to the target to provide a first comparison, and providing guidance for moving the medical instrument based on results of the first comparison.

An ingestible capsule arranged, in use, to cross a human stomach for carrying out a phototherapic treatment arranged to combat an infection due to the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, said ingestible capsule comprising at least one primary light source arranged to emit an electromagnetic phototherapic wave having a wavelength .sub.1, at least one auxiliary light source arranged to emit an electromagnetic phototherapic wave having a wavelength .sub.2, a wrapper arranged to contain said or each primary light source and said or each auxiliary light source, said wrapper being at least partially transparent to said wavelengths .sub.1 and .sub.2, a control unit arranged to selectively activate said or each primary light source and/or said or each auxiliary light source, and at least one energy source arranged to provide energy for feeding said control unit and/or said light sources. In particular, 400 nm<.sub.1<525 nm and 525 nm<.sub.2<650 nm. Furthermore, said control unit is configured to receive an information of position reporting in real time an area of said stomach crossed by said ingestible capsule; to determine, known said information of position, a wavelength, a dosage and a duration of administration of said electromagnetic phototherapic waves for an optimal phototherapic treatment of said area of said stomach; to selectively activate said or each primary light source and/or said or each auxiliary light source to provide said optimal phototherapic treatment of said area of said stomach.

A medical system and method for density assessment utilizing ultrasound. The system includes a guidewire configured and dimensioned for insertion in the vessel of the patient, a sensor positioned at the distal portion of the elongated member and a connector connecting the elongated member to an indicator, the sensor determining the density and the indicator providing an indication of the determined density.

Embodiments include methods, systems, and apparatus for identification, detection, and removal of cancerous cells from a patient. The apparatus includes an apparatus handle. The apparatus also includes a display including a pH measurement result. The apparatus also includes an apparatus tip including a reference electrode and a plurality of sensing surfaces, wherein each of the plurality of sensing surfaces is connected to a base of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) device. The BJT device further includes a collector and an emitter. The apparatus also includes automation circuitry including a processing unit in communication with the apparatus tip and the display. The plurality of sensing surfaces includes a conducting material.