Numerous aspects of communication devices, methods, and systems are described in this application. One aspect is an apparatus comprising a plurality of energy generators arrangeable on or adjacent skin. Each energy generator of the plurality of energy generators may be operable to output a plurality of different energy types in a signal direction toward the skin. The plurality of energy generators may be operable to communicate with nerves associated with the skin when arranged on or adjacent the skin by outputting an energy signal in the signal direction with one or more energy types of the plurality of different energy types.

A closed-loop implantable neurostimulator system for mitigating chronic pain, the closed-loop implantable neurostimulator system including a neuromodulation device comprising one or more electrodes configured to measure a physiological signal of a subject and deliver an electrical stimulation signal to a target area in the subject and a controller, in communication with the one or more electrodes, comprising a processor and a computer-readable memory storing a trained healthy computer model, the controller configured to analyze the physiological signal that is measured using the trained healthy computer model to identify a corrective electrical stimulation signal that, when delivered by the one or more electrodes to the target area, reduces pathological neuronal events in the target area while preserving acute pain response.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates a method of diagnosis and/or treatment of a solid tumor. The method includes directly measuring neural activity within a solid tumor for a time and determining a state of the solid tumor based on the neural activity. The diagnosis and/or treatment can be determined based on the state of the solid tumor. In some instances, the neural activity can be used in a closed loop to detect the neural activity, determine the state, determine the risk, apply treatment, check again for neural activity, and cease treatment when the neural activity is gone.

An intraoperative ultrasound imaging system and method capable of using ultrasound imaging to safely place a surgical access instrument (e.g. guide wire, dilator, cannula, etc.) through a tissue (e.g., muscle, fat, brain, liver, lung, etc.) without damaging nearby neurovascular structure is described herein. The intraoperative ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe assembly configured for emitting and receiving ultrasound waves and a computer system including a processor and a display unit. Once the probe is in position, ultrasound imaging is performed wherein the computer receives RF data from the probe and causes a B-mode image of the visible anatomical structures (e.g. muscle, bone, etc.) to be displayed on the display unit.

Offset illumination using multiple emitters in a fluorescence imaging system is described. A system includes an emitter for emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation and an image sensor comprising a pixel array for sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation. The emitter comprises a first emitter and a second emitter for emitting different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. The system is such that at least a portion of the pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter comprises one or more of a hyperspectral emission, a fluorescence emission, and/or a laser mapping pattern.

A method for determining if a tissue is ganglionic is provided. The method comprises a) generating at least one hyperspectral Raman image of a tissue from a region of interest in a tissue suspected to contain ganglion cells that was optionally identified by a method comprising autofluorescence (AF) and Second Harmonic generation (SHG) imaging of the tissue; and b) analyzing any of the images for one or more of the following: i) optical excitation; ii) chemical information or emission spectra; or iii) AF, SHG, and/or Raman signatures, wherein the analysis provides indicators that the region of interest is either ganglionic or non-ganglionic. A system for analysis of in vivo tissue or ex vivo tissue samples including a multiphoton autofluorescence microscope, a Second Harmonic Generation microscope, and a hyperspectral Raman microscope in operative communication is also provided.

A biomagnetic field measurement processing apparatus includes circuitry; and a memory storing computer-executable instructions that cause the circuitry to execute reconfiguring a current signal from a biomagnetic field signal; extracting a current component from the current signal; and based on the extracted current component, adding to each other at least two current waveforms among current waveforms of a plurality of inward currents that are current components directed toward a nerve axon from around the nerve axon, or adding to each other at least two current waveforms among current waveforms of a plurality of inward currents that are current components directed toward a muscle fiber from around the muscle fiber, and generating a current waveform to be displayed on a display device, according to the at least two current waveforms added to each other.

There is provided a nerve activity monitoring method that includes receiving an input signal indicative of activity in a nerve of a subject; receiving physiological data indicative of physiological activity in the subject; establishing a relationship between the physiological data and the input signal; identifying a plurality of periodic portions in the input signal based on the relationship between the physiological data and the input signal; and outputting the periodic portions identified.

A device for detection of the tactile sensitivity of a user includes a base frame and a mechanical system joined to the base frame, the mechanical system being movable relative to the base frame and having a resting area for the fingertip of at least one finger of the user. The mechanical system includes a plurality of movable plate-shaped members arranged side by side to each other so that the resting area is defined by the thicknesses of at least part of the upper edges of the plate-shaped members. Each plate-shaped member is connected to an actuator, which can be operated to independently move each plate-shaped member from a minimum height position to a maximum height position, a control unit being further provided, which is adapted to operate the actuators.

Offset illumination using multiple emitters in a fluorescence imaging system is described. A system includes an emitter for emitting pulses of electromagnetic radiation and an image sensor comprising a pixel array for sensing reflected electromagnetic radiation. The emitter comprises a first emitter and a second emitter for emitting different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. The system is such that at least a portion of the pulses of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter comprises a laser mapping pattern.