University of Minnesota

Timothy Mariusz Kowalewski

Darrin D Beekman

Jack B Stubbs

Sachin Bijadi

Gregory Kermit Peterson

Arthur Guy Erdman

Paul Anthony Iaizzo

James Donald Van De Ven

Robert M Sweet

Troy E Reihsen

Astrini Sie

Michael Winek

Mark David Gilbertson

Lauren H Poniatowski

Gabriel Ray Crooks Korinek

Vincent Rotty

Gillian Jo McDonald

David Hananel

A material-mapped actuator useful as, or as part of, a soft robot along with automated methods of design and manufacture. The actuator exhibits mechanical properties that spatially vary along a coordinate system of the actuator. The actuator body has an initial shape with a corresponding initial map of mechanical attributes consisting of locally-varying stiffness at each point in a volume of the actuator body. The actuator is configured to change to a different shape or distribution of mechanical properties upon being activated by an actuation medium. The map of mechanical attributes influences and determines the new shape or distribution. The material-mapped actuator can incorporate a spatially-varying distribution of mechanical properties that dictates multiple desired shapes as the actuation medium is applied, including an actuation sequence in which the actuator transitions from a first shape to a desired intermediate shape(s), and from the intermediate shape to a desired final shape.

Soft robots, soft actuators, and methods for making the same

Apparatus and methods for ablating material in a region within a vascular system of a patient are provided. A determination of at least one of a type of material in the region and an indication of a distance to the material in the region is made based on at least one property of the region determined from light reflected from the region. Light from a light source is transmitted in at least one of a plurality of optical fibers based on the determination, and at least some of the transmitted light is received at a first emitter disposed along a length of a laser catheter proximate a distal end thereof. The first emitter radially transmits the at least some of the light from the length of the laser catheter so that the light impinges upon and ablates the material through an opening in the length of the laser catheter.

Laser catheter with use of determined material type in vascular system in ablation of material

Apparatus and methods for determining a type of a material in a region within a vascular system of a patient are provided. The determination is made after light has been reflected from the region after being supplied to the region from a light source by at least one optical fiber. The determination is made based on an analysis of the light reflected from the region and of a received at least one indication of a force applied to the material in the region by one or more of the at least one optical fiber. The indication of the force applied by the one or more of the at least one optical fiber is provided by at least one force sensor coupled to the at least one optical fiber.

Laser catheter with use of reflected light and force indication to determine material type in vascular system

Apparatus and methods for determining a type of a material in a region within a vascular system of a patient and/or a distance to the material are provided. At least one source fiber is provided that supplies light from a light source to a region within a vascular system of a patient. At least one return fiber is provided to receive light reflected from the region within the vascular system. At least one controller is provided to determine at least one property of the region within the vascular system from the reflected light, and to determine a type of a material in the region within the vascular system and/or an indication of a distance to the material. Techniques such as laser ablation may then be performed based on the determined material type and/or distance to remove unwanted buildup, deposits, etc., while avoiding harmful results such as tearing of tissue.

Laser catheter with use of reflected light to determine material type in vascular system

A system for assessing performance of a procedure comprises a tissue model or a tool comprising assessment indicators applied thereto, one or more image-capturing devices for capturing one or more assessment images of the assessment indicators while or after a user performs the medical procedure, and a processor configured to analyze the assessment indicators in the one or more assessment images and provide feedback to the user. A system can also comprise a tissue model, one or more image-capturing devices each configured to capture one or more images of the tissue model, and a processor configured to analyze the one or more images from the one or more image-capturing devices to determine a deformation of the tissue model and determine a force exerted on the tissue model based on the determined deformation of the tissue model.

Systems and methods for analyzing surgical techniques

An article of handwear for grasping a medical device in a medical environment includes a base adapted to be worn by a hand of a wearer. A sensor assembly is carried by the base. The sensor assembly is adapted to sense a force applied by the hand of the wearer, via the article of handwear, to the medical device. The sensor assembly is adapted to provide information regarding at least one shear component of the forces sensed by the sensor assembly.

Articles of handwear for sensing forces applied to medical devices

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Timothy Mariusz Kowalewski