The invention discloses systems and methods for generation of microfluidic jets providing a tool for very precise and localized delivery of e.g., medicaments. The proposed solution overcomes shortcomings related to miniaturization of a jet injection technology by implementing laser energy as a driving mechanism and optical fibers for its delivery. Solving the step of miniaturization can allow building new tools compatible with minimally invasive surgical techniques, high parallelization of jet injection units or design of new ergonomic injection devices.

Methods and systems for modulating intraosseous nerves (e.g., nerves within bone) are provided. For example, the methods and systems described herein may be used to modulate (e.g., denervate, ablate) basivertebral nerves within vertebrae. The modulation of the basivertebral nerves may facilitate treatment of chronic back pain. The modulation may be performed by a neuromodulation device (e.g., an energy delivery device).

Methods and systems that provide quantitative assessments of in vivo thermal treatments, such as ablations, during image-guided surgeries using a high-resolution pre-operative MRI image segmented with a shape constrained and deformable mesh representations of brain structures and generating 3-D visualizations of thermally treated volumes during the thermal treatment that can provide near real time visual and quantitative feedback to a clinician.

The invention relates to a holder device for holding a medical instrument, the device comprising:

a base that is to be carried by an apparatus comprising a medical imaging probe associated with the medical instrument; and

a carrier structure for carrying the medical instrument and movably mounted on the base so as to be capable of moving on the base between a first position and a second position.

The invention also relates to an installation including both such a device and a needle-guide.

A light applicator (5) for examining and/or treating an organic body includes a minimal-invasive, rigid, semi-flexible or flexible insertion section (11) which extends along a longitudinal direction (L) and at its distal end includes an LED (19). The light applicator (5) includes a first electrical lead (61a) for the supply of electricity to the LED (19). The lead extends in the insertion section (11) in the longitudinal direction (L) and there has a cross-sectional area of at least 70% of the cross-sectional area of the light applicator (5). The light applicator (5) in the insertion section (11) is thermally insulated in the radial direction in a manner such that the radial thermal insulation reduces proximally.

A hand piece for handling an optical fiber during a laser-surgical intervention comprises a handle body elongated along a main axis and having a through hole extending along the main axis. A guide tube having a tube lumen aligned and communicating with the through hole is attached to the handle body. A fixing device is provided in the handle body for fixing the optical fiber extending through the through hole and the tube lumen in direction of the main axis. The guide tube is made of a shaped memory alloy, which has a transition temperature between 50° C. and 120° C., and which has a straight base shape. Below the transition temperature, the guide tube is bendable by plastic deformation out of the straight base shape into a curved shape, and, when heated up above the transition temperature, the guide tube returns to its straight base shape.

Provided are conformable light delivery devices for increasing light penetration depth and related methods. The device may comprise a microarray of tissue penetrating members, each member having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the tissue penetrating members are at least partially optically transparent to provide optical transmission through a surface that extends between the distal and proximal ends of each tissue penetrating member and a substrate that supports the tissue penetrating members, wherein the substrate is optionally a flexible substrate.

A method and system utilizes an imaging device that generates images of target tissue of a patient during a surgical procedure that acts on the target tissue imaged by the imaging device. The method and system enables visual detection of patient movement during the surgical procedure by marking at least one spatial attribute of one or more identifiable features of the target tissue illustrated in an image presented in a display window. Prior to acting on the target tissue, a visual indicator of the spatial attribute(s) is superimposed on one or more subsequent images captured by the imaging device and displayed to the operator. The operator can visually compare a position of the visual indicator to a position of the operator-identified feature in order to detect movement of the patient during the procedure. The system and methodology also facilitates realignment that corrects for detected patient movement.

Provided are conformable light delivery devices for increasing light penetration depth and related methods. The device comprises a tissue penetrating member having a distal end and a proximal end, the tissue penetrating member configured to penetrate the tissue of the patient to be inserted into the tissue, wherein the tissue penetrating member is at least partially optically transparent along a surface of the tissue penetrating member positioned between the distal end of the tissue penetrating member and the proximal end of the tissue penetrating member to provide optical transmission of at least a portion of the light through the surface of the tissue penetrating member, thereby allowing at least the portion of the light to be delivered into the tissue of the patient when the tissue penetrating member is inserted into the tissue; and a substrate that supports the tissue penetrating member.

Methods and systems for modulating intraosseous nerves (e.g., nerves within bone) are provided. For example, the methods and systems described herein may be used to modulate (e.g., denervate, ablate) basivertebral nerves within vertebrae. The modulation of the basivertebral nerves may facilitate treatment of chronic back pain. The modulation may be performed by a neuromodulation device an energy delivery device).