Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a device for personal heat control, including a flexible housing comprising a cooling surface, a heating surface thermally insulated from the cooling surface, and a heat transfer unit configured to transfer heat from cooling surface to heating surface. Other embodiments of the present invention provide a system for cooling wearers of impact-resistant helmets, including an impact-resistant outer shell, foam pads affixed to an inside of the impact-resistant outer shell and configured to rest on a wearer's head, thermoelectric cooling devices spaced to avoid interference with foam pads and configured to rest against the head, a heat sink, and heat pipes thermally coupled at one end to thermoelectric cooling devices and at another end to the heat sink, and configured to transfer heat from thermoelectric cooling devices to heat sink with minimal heat loss, the heat pipes spaced to avoid interference with the foam pads.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for limb off-weighting, including a sleeve operable to wrap at least partially around a leg, a support strut coupled to the sleeve to receive weight applied to the sleeve, and a foot assembly configured to support and protect the bottom of a foot, wherein the foot assembly is coupled to the support strut and operable to receive weight applied to the sleeve and transfer the weight to underlying surfaces, thus off-weighting and reducing pressure and shearing forces on the foot and ankle. According to some embodiments, foot assembly pivots around the support strut providing an assembled mode and a storage mode. According to other embodiments, sleeve is an open-ended conical shape. According to various other embodiments, the support strut may be tilted to accommodate legs and/or calves of varying sizes, and the foot assembly may adjust to feet of varying sizes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for designing and producing a custom-fit prosthesis. According to one embodiment, a mold is produced from which a custom-fit implant may be directly or indirectly manufactured. Medical image data representing surrounding portions of a patient's anatomy to be repaired by surgical implantation of the custom-fit implant are received. Then, three-dimensional surface reconstruction is performed based on the medical image data. Next, the custom-fit implant is designed based on the three-dimensional surface reconstruction and a positive or negative representation of a two-part mold is created with a void in the shape of the custom-fit implant by subtracting a representation of the custom-fit implant from a representation of a mold. Finally, the two-part mold is output from which the custom-fit implant may be directly manufactured; or an implant is directly output. Alternatively, an intermediate mold is created from which a two-part mold may be directly manufactured.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to compositions of and methods for live viruses. In certain embodiments, a live, attenuated virus composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more live, attenuated viruses and compositions to reduce inactivation and/or degradation of the live, attenuated virus. In other embodiments, the live, attenuated virus composition may be a vaccine composition. In yet other compositions, a live, attenuated virus composition may include at least one carbohydrate, at least one protein and at least one high molecular weight surfactants for reducing inactivation and/or degradation of the live, attenuated virus.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a pellet stove includes a firepot assembly with a bottom plate slideable along rails to move between a closed position during combustion in the firepot and an open position during ash removal. According to other embodiments, a firebox or combustion enclosure includes a plurality of airfoils formed on the inner and outer surfaces of the enclosure to facilitate heat exchange between exhaust gases flowing across the inner surface of the enclosure and air blown across the outer surface of the enclosure. According to some embodiments, the airfoils and enclosure are of integral unibody construction. According to yet other embodiments, a user sets parameters via a wall control unit, and a stove control unit receives the parameters and automatically controls fuel feed rate, ignition, convection blower, combustion blower, and/or firepot cleaning based on the one or more parameters.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a disk drive head suspension having a plated load point dimple. A photoresist mask having an opening with load point-defining side walls and a load point diameter is formed over a planar portion of a spring metal member. Metal is plated onto the spring metal member in the opening to form a load point having the load point diameter on the planar portion of the spring metal member.

Abstract: A medical device includes a pulse generator and an electrode configured to contact tissue in a body vessel. The medical device includes a lead that includes a lead connector. The lead connector connects a pulse generator with an electrode via a conductive path. An electrode switch is electrically connected between the lead conductor and the electrode. The electrode switch includes an open state preventing the conductive path between the lead and the electrode. The electrode switch includes a closed state establishing the conductive path between the lead and the electrode when a voltage is applied across the electrode switch that exceeds a threshold voltage. The electrode switch in the open state electrically shields the electrode from electromagnetic radiation and induced voltages during magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: A glenoid component for a shoulder prosthesis adapted to be mounted in a glenoid cavity of a shoulder. An elongated keel adapted to engage with the glenoid cavity is attached to the internal surface of the base. The keel extends along a longitudinal axis of the base. The keel includes various configurations of transverse members extending away from the longitudinal axis. The surgeon selects a glenoid component with a keel and transverse member configuration that is anatomically optimized for the patient. Glenoid components properly optimized provide mechanical strength and stability superior to prior art devices. The glenoid components disclosed herein are particularly well suited for use in an anatomical total shoulder prosthesis, but may are also suited to partial shoulder prostheses and reverse shoulder prostheses.

Abstract: Medical systems and devices are provided. A medical system includes implantable devices and an external device configured for wirelessly interacting with the implantable devices. The external device may be attachable to a patient and be configured for wirelessly communicating with a first implantable device, e.g., using acoustic energy, and wirelessly interacting with a second implantable device, e.g., using non-acoustic energy. The first implantable device may be a diagnostic device, in which case, the external device may wirelessly receive physiological information from the diagnostic device, and the second implantable device may be a therapeutic device, in which case, the external device may wirelessly interact with the therapeutic device to provide or optimize therapy to a patient.

Abstract: Preferred aspects of the present invention provide ammonium nitrate compositions comprising ammonium nitrate and at least one stabilizing agent, and preferably a third compound. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizing agent, together with third compound, is present under conditions and in amounts effective to substantially reduce the detonation sensitivity of the composition and/or to otherwise improve a desired property of the composition.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system includes a lead assembly for intracardiac mapping, pacing, and drug delivery. The lead assembly includes an implantable endocardial lead having a proximal end for connection to an implantable cardiac rhythm management device and a distal end for disposal in an intracardiac region. The lead includes a pacing-sensing electrode and a drug delivery device, both located at or near the distal end. A lumen is within and extends throughout the lead, with an opening at or near the proximal end and another opening at or near the distal end. The lumen provides for access to the intracardiac region by a steerable stylet and a hollow needle, one at a time. The steerable stylet allows for electrophysiological mapping of the intracardiac region. The hollow needle allows for delivery of chemical, biochemical, and/or biological substance to the intracardiac region.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a method of treating an animal suffering a disease characterized by excessive apoptosis by administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one serine protease inhibitor and thereafter monitoring a decrease in apoptosis. The inhibitor of the invention includes ?1-antitrypsin or an ?1-antitrypsin-like agent, including, but not limited to oxidation-resistant variants of ?1-antitrypsin, and peptoids with antitrypsin activity. The diseases treatable by the invention include cancer, autoimmune disease, sepsis neurodegenerative disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, ischemia-reperfusion injury, toxin induced liver injury and AIDS. The method of the invention is also suitable for the prevention or amelioration of diseases characterized by excessive apoptosis.

Abstract: An instrument for deploying a cardiac valve prosthesis, including a plurality of radially expandable portions, at an implantation site, includes a plurality of deployment elements each independently operable to obtain the radial expansion of a radially expandable portion of the valve prosthesis. A method for deploying the cardiac valve prosthesis includes advancing the instrument to an implant site and independently actuating the radially expandable portions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an elongated tube and an elongated rod having a holding member on one end, the holding member is adapted to hold an end of a lead such that the end of the lead can be pulled through the elongated tube resulting in minimal forces on the lead.

Abstract: A chair arm adjustment device according to embodiments of the present invention includes an arm pad base slidably coupled to the arm support, the arm pad base sliding substantially horizontally in two degrees of freedom with respect to the arm support within a range of motion of the arm pad base with respect to the arm support, and an arm brake assembly coupled with the arm pad base, the arm brake assembly moveable between a locked position in which the arm brake assembly substantially inhibits movement of the arm pad base relative to the arm support and an unlocked position in which the arm brake assembly does not substantially inhibit movement of the arm pad base relative to the arm support, wherein the arm brake assembly moves from the unlocked position to the locked position at any position of the arm pad base within the range of motion.

Abstract: An anchor for an implantable medical device, for example, and implantable physiologic sensor, includes a proximal hub portion, an intermediate portion extending radially and distally from the hub portion, and a distal portion extending distally from the proximal portion and adapted to engage an inner surface of a target vessel for securing the implantable medical device therein. The anchor can assume a collapsed configuration for delivery through a catheter, and an expanded configuration for fixation within the vessel once deployed. The intermediate portion extends from the proximal portion at an oblique angle, allowing the anchor to be retracted and re-collapsed within the delivery catheter after initial deployment, if re-positioning or removal of the implantable medical device is necessary or desired.

Abstract: An extracorporeal blood perfusion system includes a disposable assembly and a control unit having a control interface region. The interface region includes pump assemblies for selective pumping of venous blood, arterial blood, cardioplegia solution, suctioned blood and blood removed from the left ventricle. Valve assemblies control the flow of fluids through the assembly and to/from the patient and sensors monitor various fluid parameters including temperature and pressure within the various fluid circuits. The user interface is a functional screen interface for effecting the operation of the control unit and valve assemblies. The screen interface may be a touch screen having objects that corresponds to the component interface region. The display may be selectively controlled to provide graphic depictions of disposable assembly components with corresponding narrative instructions.

Abstract: A system includes network elements and a network provisioning and control system by which connection of network elements to a broadband network is controlled. The network provisioning and control system includes a configuration rendering engine that operates to configure the network elements connected to the network. Network element configuration templates are stored in the network provisioning and control system, each template including predetermined configuration data and conditional configuration data. A network element connected to the network and requiring configuration is detected and a template relating to the specific network element to be configured is determined. The system is interrogated. A configuration statement for the network element based on the selected template is determined using the predetermined configuration data and the determined, discrete values of the conditional configuration data. The network element is configured using the configuration statement.

Abstract: An embodiment of a system for gathering physiologic data related to a human body includes a sensor device implanted in the human body, an inductive coil communicably coupled to the implanted sensor device; and a manager device in communication with the implanted sensor device via the inductive coil. The coil may be wrapped around the sensor device or attached to the sensor device fixation. An embodiment of a method for gathering physiologic data related to a physiologic parameter in a human body includes communicably coupling an inductive coil to communication circuitry of an implantable medical device (IMD), deploying the inductive coil and the IMD into a vessel of the human body, and inducing current in the inductive coil via the communication circuitry, the current representative of data associated with the IMD.