A medical guidance apparatus (100) includes a base assembly (110) configured to be attached to a subject and a guide (150) configured to be removably mated with the base assembly (110). The base assembly (110) has an opening (160), and the guide (150) includes a rotatable ring (152) and an arc member (154). The arc member (154) includes a first end (162) and a second end (164), the first end of the arc member is connected to the rotatable ring (152) and the second end extends diametrically opposite to the first end across the rotatable ring. A probe holder (600) is mounted on the arc member (154) so as to hold a needle-like instrument (2161) at a desired angle relative to an axis (Ax) of the rotatable ring (152). In some embodiments, the arc member is monolithically integrated with the rotatable ring. In other embodiments, the arc member is pivotable and/or completely removable from the rotating ring.

In one embodiment, a force sensor apparatus is provided including a tube portion having a plurality of radial ribs and a strain gauge positioned over each of the plurality of radial ribs, a proximal end of the tube portion that operably couples to a shaft of a surgical instrument that operably couples to a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system, and a distal end of the tube portion that proximally couples to a wrist joint coupled to an end effector.

An ultrasound therapy device for generating ultrasound therapy. The ultrasound therapy device includes a wearable structure, ultrasound transducer units, a tightening mechanism, a memory, and a processor. The wearable structure is securable to a user to transmit the ultrasound to a target therapy area of a user including at least one of a kidney region, a lung region, and a lower limb of the user. The ultrasound transducer units are attachable and repositionable in the wearable structure to generate and deliver the ultrasound to the target region. The ultrasound transducer units are arranged in an array. The array of ultrasound transducer units is mechanically moved within the wearable structure and is in contact with a material to facilitate penetration of ultrasound into the user's body.

A system for use in surgery includes a central body, a visualization system operably connected to the central body, a video rendering system, a head-mounted display for displaying images from the video rendering system, a sensor system, and a robotic device operably connected to the central body. The visualization system includes at least one camera and a pan system and/or a tilt system. The sensor system tracks the position and/or orientation in space of the head-mounted display relative to a reference point. The pan system and/or the tilt system are configured to adjust the field of view of the camera in response to information from the sensor system about changes in at least one of position and orientation in space of the head-mounted display relative to the reference point.

An ablation catheter system configured with a compact force sensor at a distal end for detection of contact forces exerted on an end effector. The force sensor includes fiber optics operatively coupled with reflecting members on a structural member. In one embodiment, the optical fibers and reflecting members cooperate with the deformable structure to provide a variable gap interferometer for sensing deformation of the structural member due to contact force. In another embodiment, a change in the intensity of the reflected light is detected to measure the deformation. The measured deformations are then used to compute a contact force vector. In some embodiments, the force sensor is configured to passively compensate for temperature changes that otherwise lead to erroneous force indications. In other embodiments, the system actively compensates for errant force indications caused by temperature changes by measuring certain local temperatures of the structural member.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward systems and methods for detecting force applied to a distal tip of a medical catheter. In some embodiments, a medical catheter with a deformable body near a distal tip of the catheter deforms in response to a force applied at the distal tip, and a sensor detects various components of the deflection. Processor circuitry may then, based on the detected components of the deformation, determine a force applied to the distal tip of the catheter.

One variation of a method for tracking objects within a surgical space during a surgery includes: based on a first image depicting the surgical space at a first time, detecting a first object and a constellation of objects in the surgical space, estimating distances from each object—in the constellation of objects—to the first object, and calculating a contamination risk of the first object based on contamination scores and distances to the first object for each object in the constellation of objects; calculating a contamination score of the first object based on a combination of the contamination risks of the first object during the surgery; and, in response to the contamination score of the first object exceeding a threshold contamination score prior to contact between the first object and a patient, serving a prompt within the surgical space to address sterility of the first object.

This system comprises: at least one vibrational sensor which is operable to produce data each time an impact application device applies an impact from a user to the prosthetic component during assembly between the prosthetic component and with the support member, the produced data representing acoustic vibrations generated in the air and/or material vibrations generated in the impact application device, an analysis unit which is configured both to calculate a frequency characterization of the vibrations for each impact applied by the impact application device to the prosthetic component, from the corresponding data produced by the at least one vibrational sensor, and to compare the frequency characterizations that are respectively calculated for successive impacts so as to provide at each of the successive impacts either a first indication when the assembly between the prosthetic component and the support member is not fully seated or a second indication when the assembly between the prosthetic component and the support member is fully seated, and a user interface which provides feedback to the user based on the first and second indications.

A device for detecting a foot abnormality includes a platform configured to be stood upon by a user, an imaging device within the platform, and a processor connected to the imaging device. The processor is configured to detect a foot abnormality from images gathered by the imaging device.

An intracortical-detection device including: at least one electrode that contacts a group of neurons; a first body, forming a surface that contacts a portion of a cerebral region; a first motor that moves the electrode with respect to the first body; a second motor; and a second body, operatively connected to the second motor, the first and second bodies being able to slide with respect to one another in a first direction, under the action of the second motor. The detection device moreover includes a sensor generating an electrical signal indicating a pressure exerted by the portion of cerebral region on the surface.