Abstract: A method for the production of silicon oxide particles includes the pyrolysis of a molecular stream with a silicon compound precursor, an oxygen source and a radiation absorbing gas. The pyrolysis is driven by a light beam such as an infrared laser beam. The method can be used in the production of nanoscale particles including highly uniform nanoscale particles.

Abstract: Novel adhesive compositions are described that include an epoxyamine and, preferably, a curing agent. The adhesive composition can be used in surgical settings such as implanting bioprostheses and/or in manufacturing of bioprostheses. Biocompatible substrates can be adhered together by an adhesive bond formed by curing of the epoxyamine adhesive composition.

Abstract: Amine-terminated urethane oligomer compositions are described that include very high oligomer concentrations. The compositions are melts of the amine-terminated oligomers. The compositions can include one or more property modifiers. The compositions are useful in the formation of crosslinked copolymers, especially with epoxy resins. The resulting copolymers are useful in the formation of coatings.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis can be formed with a harvested tissue heart valve and a sewing rim that extends outwardly from the annulus of the harvested heart valve for easier attachment of the prosthesis. The heart valve prosthesis can further include a belt that extends along the annulus to provide further support to the valve annulus. A single piece of pericardial tissue can be used to form the sewing rim, belt and a collar that envelopes the edge of the annulus. The harvested heart valve prosthesis can have the diameter of its annulus adjusted using pledgeted suture prior to the application of additional support structures such as the belt, sewing rim and collar.

Abstract: Laser pyrolysis can be used to produce directly metal vanadium oxide composite nanoparticles. To perform the pyrolysis a reactant stream is formed including a vanadium precursor and a second metal precursor. The pyrolysis is driven by energy absorbed from a light beam. Metal vanadium oxide nanoparticles can be incorporated into a cathode of a lithium based battery to obtain increased energy densities. Implantable defibrillators can be constructed with lithium based batteries having increased energy densities.

Abstract: A collection of nanoscale particles are a composite of carbon and metal oxide or silicon oxide. The composite particles have an average diameter from about 5 nm to about 1000 nm, and can be produced by laser pyrolysis. The laser pyrolysis involves the formation of a molecular stream including a metal precursor, an infrared absorber, an oxidizing agent and a carbon precursor. The pyrolysis is driven by heat absorbed from a laser beam. Furthermore, nanoparticles including titanium oxide with a rutile crystal structure have been produced.

Abstract: Approaches are described for sterilizing medical and biological articles using sterilizing compositions. The sterilizing compositions include epoxy amine compounds and, optionally, alcohol. The epoxy amine compounds act as antimicrobial agents in the sterilizing compositions. In particular, medical articles can be sterilized and/or stored in the compositions described.

Abstract: A prosthesis is formed from a substrate with an associated attraction compound. The attraction compound binds viable precursor cells to the substrate. Thus, the substrate forms a synthetic tissue supporting viable cells once the substrate is contacted with a solution containing viable precursor cells. Preferred precursor cells differentiate into fibroblasts or into endothelial cells.

Abstract: A process for treating orthopedic injuries including the steps of presenting a set of treatment protocols; approving a treatment protocol from among the presented set of treatment protocols; capturing information identifying the approved treatment protocol from among the set of presented protocols; and generating information from the captured information into a form compatible with a handheld computer adapted for connection to an orthopedic sensor system. The generated information includes parameters of the identified approved treatment protocol. The process may also include the steps of basing the presented set of treatment protocols upon a database of historic patients, orthopedic injuries, treatment protocols and outcomes, and retaining information about the current patient, the patients injury, treatment protocol and outcome. A system for treating orthopedic injuries with a historic database on a central computer and a handheld computer attached to a sensor system.

Abstract: Medical devices are formed from metal/polymer composites that have improved characteristics. The metal/polymer composites have a relatively thick metal coating with an average metal thickness of greater than about 3 microns. The composite has mechanical properties, such as mechanical strength, durability and resiliency, contributed by the metal coating. The metal/polymer composites can be formed by solution based or vapor based approaches.

Abstract: An improved approach for cleaning and recycling materials is based on pressurized solvents including liquid propane, butane, dimethyl ether, and supercritical carbon dioxide. The approaches are particularly suitable for cleaning sorbent materials. The approach allows for recycling of the sorbent materials, the solvent and the contaminents, typically oils and the like.

Abstract: The invention involves a bioprosthetic article including a biocompatible material having at least one bound exogenous storage structure, the storage structures having collectively greater than about 0.5 mg metal cations per gram of biocompatible material. The calcification inhibitors preferably decrease calcium deposition by greater than 95% relative to untreated tissue. The calcification inhibitors are bonded to the bioprosthetic material preferably at a pH between about 6.0 and 8.5.

Abstract: An instrumented orthopedic restraining device is provided. The device includes an ambulatory housing, including first and second distal end portions, and restraining means for restraining movement of the first and second distal end portions relative to one another. The restraining device preferably includes an elongated restraining bar equipped with a stress sensing mechanism for sensing stress on the restraining bar. A control unit is provided for indicating sensed stress based upon outputs from the stress sensing mechanism. Preferred embodiments include a plurality of strain gauges attached to the elongated restraining bar and interconnected with the control unit which preferably includes a recording mechanism and a microprocessor mechanism. The elongated restraining bar alternately includes an adjustable hinge interconnecting distal end sections of the elongated restraining bar, wherein the angle between the respective distal end sections can be adjusted relative to one another.

Abstract: Polishing compositions are described that are appropriate for fine polishing to very low tolerances. The polishing compositions include particles with small diameters with very narrow distributions in size and effectively no particles with diameters several times larger than the average diameter. Furthermore, the particles generally have very high uniformity with respect to having a single crystalline phase. Preferred particles have an average diameter less than about 200 nm. Laser pyrolysis processes are described for the production of the appropriate particles including metal oxides, metal carbides, metal sulfides, SiO2 and SiC.

Abstract: A particle collection apparatus has a chamber, one or more filters and a back pressure system. The filters are located in the flow path through the system to collect the particles from an input gas stream. The back pressure system applies a pulse of gas against the flow through the system to dislodge particles collected on the filters. The dislodged particles fall to a particle drain where they are removed from the system. The particle collection apparatus can be connected to a particle synthesis apparatus. The particle collection apparatus and the particle synthesis apparatus can operated at reduced pressures.

Abstract: A variety of new ways can be used for associating antimicrobial elemental metal with a medical article. The associated antimicrobial metal reduces the risk of infection associated with the medical use of the medical article. New medical articles are produced by some of these new approaches. Some of the methods involve ways of adjusting the dissociation rate of associated elemental metal such that desired degrees of antimicrobial activity can be achieved over selected periods of time.

Abstract: This invention relates to heart valve annuloplasty prostheses that are fashioned of bioresorbable materials. The prostheses are eventually resorbed by the patient, during which time regenerated tissue replaces the prosthesis. This leaves the patient with a biological and functional annular structure, resulting in improved heart valve function.

Abstract: Medical articles can include biocompatible material with a deposit of anticalcific elemental metal. The biocompatible material can be tissue, fabric or the like. The biocompatible material can be configured on the medical article such that when the medical article is positioned for its intended use, the biocompatible material is substantially removed from blood flow or is in a low blood flow area effectively removed from vascular blood flow. Gas phase or solution phase methods can be used to deposit the anticalcific elemental metal.

Abstract: A method for efficiently producing particles from gas phase chemical reactions induced by a radiation beam. The apparatus includes a reaction chamber and an elongated reactant inlet, where the reaction chamber is configured to conform generally to the elongated shape of the reactant inlet. Shielding gas may be introduced to form a blanket of inert gas on both sides of the reactant stream. A feed back loop may be used to maintain the desired pressure within the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Metal vanadium oxide particles have been produced with an average diameter less than about 500 nm. The particles are produced from nanocrystalline vanadium oxide particles. Silver vanadium oxide particles, for example, can be formed by the heat treatment of a mixture of nanoscale vanadium oxide and a silver compound. Other metal vanadium oxide particles can be produced by similar processes. The metal vanadium oxide particles have very uniform properties.