Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for measuring an injection catheter needle insertion depth and/or injection solution efficacy. An example injection catheter may include a catheter tube and a retractable, electrically conductive needle disposed in the catheter tube and configured to extend from the catheter tube. The injection catheter may also include one or more electrodes disposed at a distal portion of the catheter tube, an electrical lead coupled to the needle, and electrical leads coupled to the electrode(s). An example method includes deploying such an injection catheter adjacent to the tissue, extending a needle into the tissue, receiving electrical signals from an electrical lead coupled to the needle and from other electrical leads coupled to the electrode(s), determining a bioelectrical parameter based on the received electrical signals, and determining a depth of the needle inserted into the tissue based on the bioelectrical parameter.

Disclosed cannula systems can detect the tissue type within which the cannula tip is located in real time using electrodes adjacent the cannula tip. The sensing cannula system can differentiate when the cannula tip is in adipose tissue or muscle based on electrical impedance. The system can be used in fat grafting and liposuction procedures, for example. An operator can detect if the cannula tip enters muscle by watching for an indicator light or audible alarm that is automatically activated by the device based on a change in sensed impedance. The device may also stop the flow of fat through a pump halting injection into the sub-muscular space.

Implementations relate generally to devices for measuring an analyte in a host. Implementations may provide reduced sizes for wearable devices including a transcutaneous analyte sensor for analyte measurement.

A system for a physiological characteristic sensor deployed with a sensor inserter includes an adhesive skin patch coupled to the physiological characteristic sensor. The adhesive patch is to couple the physiological characteristic sensor to an anatomy. The system also includes a gravity resistance system coupled to the adhesive patch and to be coupled to the sensor inserter. The gravity resistance system maintains the adhesive patch substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sensor inserter prior to deployment of the physiological characteristic sensor and is removable from the adhesive patch by the sensor inserter upon deployment of the physiological characteristic sensor.

A probe for real-time sensing of a target biomarker the includes a needle, a luminescent probe within the opening of the needle, a coating comprising a biomarker luminescent material in contact with biological tissue, and an ion-consuming coating within the needle and adjacent to the coating. The disclosed probe is useful for real-time sensing of blood during medical procedures. Additionally, a biomarker detection system is disclosed that includes a biomarker luminescent material at the tip of or inside of the tip of a needle and an optical coupler.

A medical puncture device system includes a puncture device, a sensor, and an indicator system. The puncture device is configured to create a puncture through patient tissue and into an internal patient cavity to enable a medical tool to be inserted through the puncture into the cavity. The sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of motion of the puncture device through the tissue into the cavity. The indicator system is operable by a controller to produce human-perceptible feedback in response to the signal generated by the sensor.

A photovoltaic unit that includes a biological interface for sensing an electrical signal from the biological tissue, the biological interface including a multilayered piezoelectric amplifier including a composite impulse generating layer including a matrix of a piezo polymeric material and dispersed phases including piezo nanocrystals and carbon nanotubes. The photovoltaic unit also includes a transducer structure comprising a fiber substrate having quantum dots present on a receiving end of the fiber. The receiving end of the fiber receiving the electrical signal. The quantum dots converts the electrical signal to a light signal.

Disclosed herein are impedance-determining medical systems. An impedance-determining medical system can include an impedance interrogator and an impedance-sensing medical device. The impedance interrogator can include instructions configured to instantiate one or more processes in random-access memory upon processing by one or more processors that determine impedance from electrical signals corresponding to electrical currents passed through a biological or non-biological material. The impedance-sensing medical device can include two or more longitudinal conductors distributed among one or more pieces of the impedance-sensing medical device and separated by one or more longitudinal insulators. The two-or-more conductors can be configured to emit, detect, or alternately emit and detect via two or more electrodes thereof the electrical currents passed through the biological or non-biological material. The impedance-sensing medical device can be configured to form a direct or indirect connection to the impedance interrogator and provide the electrical signals to the impedance interrogator.

A precision forward-looking image-guided diagnostic and therapeutic surgical probe and needle insert for microsurgery in support of imagery, neurology, neurosurgical procedures, and ophthalmic surgical applications comprising an introducer needle (stylet), a fiber carrier, a therapeutic conduit, and a spirographic method for scanning a target and associated algorithms to create and render a reconstructed image for display to a physician in real-time or near real-time. The probe implements Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to provide high-resolution extended imagery of an intended therapeutic or target tissue. A separate therapeutic conduit provides surgical access for therapeutic devices such as a cutting or ablation laser, an RF electrode for locally heating tissue, a lumen for local injection of neurolytics/paralytics, placement of electrodes for neuromodulation, and deployment of a micro-endoscopic imaging tool. A third working channel supports the delivery of neurolytic and other fluids.

A cannula with a proximally mounted camera and proximally mounted light sources. The lighting sources have beam axes directed distally, toward a workspace at the distal end of the cannula. The light sources are coupled with focusing lenses, to reduce the beam angle of the lighting sources and reduce glare within the cannula tube.