Abstract: A cannula apparatus including an outer tube with an elongated body and a groove, an inner tube disposed inside the outer tube and being manipulable through the groove, and a cap including a hole, the cap mounted at one end of the outer tube through the hole, in which the inner tube is freely slidable relative to the outer tube.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dental root post for restoration of a tooth, and a damping dental post key for implanting the dental root post. The dental post is configured to give enhanced retention to a tooth core as well as for final restoration materials and dental end caps and crowns. The dental post can be divided into a head portion configured to reconstruct the tooth core and rotate the dental root post during insertion and a root portion having different features depending on a depth required for the restoration. The root portion can have a set of grooves, a set of threads and a shape configured to distribute masticatory loading stress during mastication.

Abstract: A method of treating leukemia in a patient, the method including obtaining a plasma sample from a patient at a first time point and at a second time point, measuring a gene expression level of a set of core clock genes, and at least one of a first set of peripheral clock genes and a second set of peripheral clock genes, each in the plasma sample at the first time point and in the plasma sample at the second time point. Then determining that a first treatment is effective or ineffective for the patient when a correlation of the gene expression level of the set of core clock genes, the first set of peripheral clock genes, and the second set of peripheral clock genes, and treating the patient accordingly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a damping dental post key configured to implant a dental root post for restoration of a tooth. The dental post key includes a body for handling and a post carrier having a key shape with respect to a head portion of the dental root post. During implantation of the dental post, rotation of the body compresses a set of springs in contact with the post carrier reducing a reaction force to a tooth root. In this way a limited force will be applied and a root fracture can be prevented. Further, the dental post key can be configured to have a fixed movement in a counterclockwise direction to remove the dental post and a free quarter-cycle movement with effort in a clockwise direction.

Abstract: A skull-implantable magnet assembly for delivering a static magnetic field to a patient's brain, comprising a rod-shaped magnet housed within a skull screw, removably attached to a casing housing at least one flat magnet, is described. Details of the exterior construction are discussed, as well as magnet arrangements and methods of treating a brain tumor or neurological ailment of a patient.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for surgical removal of a ring. The apparatus includes guards rotatably connected, handles rotatably connected to the guards that each include a portion partially disposed within the respective guard, a guide connected to the guards, and blades disposed on the portion of the handles. The blades contact with at least one of the guide and an inner surface of the respective guard. A rotational axis of a joint between the guards, a rotational axis of a first handle and a first guard, and a rotational axis of a second handle and a second guard are substantially parallel. Movement of a first end of the first handle toward a first end of the second handle results in movement of a second end of the first handle toward a second end of the second handle, and movement of a first blade toward a second blade.

Abstract: Multi-modal imaging capsule for image-guided proton beam therapy, consisting of a biocompatible polymer layer, 18O-enriched water, and a contrast agent. The biocompatible capsule may be inserted near or inside a tumor under the guidance of X-ray, magnetic resonance, or ultrasonography imaging. Upon proton beam irradiation, the capsule emits positrons, allowing the tumor to be imaged and tracked by a PET detector.

Abstract: A biocompatible curable composition and a method of detecting a border of a tumor, a tissue of interest, or both including injecting the biocompatible curable composition and contacting the border of a tumor or a tissue, the biocompatible curable composition crosslinks to form a three-dimensional cured nanocomposite, and imaging the three-dimensional (3D) cured nanocomposite, and imaging the 3D cured nanocomposite by at least one of MRI, CT, ultrasound, and X-ray, to detect the border of the tumor or the tissue of interest or track tumor motion during radiotherapy treatment. The biocompatible curable composition comprising an organic polymer having a hydrolysable functional group, a metallic nanoparticle, and a polar or a non-polar solvent. A brachytherapy strand consisting of a biocompatible curable composition and a radio-isotope seed. The biocompatible curable composition is shaped into an elongated cylinder and forms a 3D cured nanocomposite with a radio-isotope seed embedded.

Abstract: A device for in vivo detecting and quantifying a concentration of an analyte in a peritoneal fluid of a subject. The device includes (a) a catheter having an open proximal end configured to be disposed external to the subject, an open distal end configured to be disposed within the peritoneal cavity comprising the peritoneal fluid, an anchor portion, an outer wall, and an inner wall, (b) a sensor disposed adjacent to the open distal end and configured to detect and quantify the concentration of the analyte in the peritoneal fluid, and (c) a main control unit disposed external to the subject, connected to the sensor via a wire, and configured to control the sensor, receive and store detection and quantification data from the sensor, and transmit the data to a second device. A portion of the wire is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for surgical removal of a ring. The apparatus includes guards rotatably connected, handles rotatably connected to the guards that each include a portion partially disposed within the respective guard, a guide connected to the guards, and blades disposed on the portion of the handles. The blades contact with at least one of the guide and an inner surface of the respective guard. A rotational axis of a joint between the guards, a rotational axis of a first handle and a first guard, and a rotational axis of a second handle and a second guard are substantially parallel. Movement of a first end of the first handle toward a first end of the second handle results in movement of a second end of the first handle toward a second end of the second handle, and movement of a first blade toward a second blade.

Abstract: An artificial hypothalamus system for regulating body temperature for a human can include monitoring data from a plurality of sensors. The sensor data can be used in a control system to optimize temperature regulation in real time through a feedback loop. The feedback loop can include monitoring the sensor data, evaluating a predetermined set of fuzzy rules using the data, and combining the output of the fuzzy rules to produce a precise value. The precise value can correspond to an output level for various temperature regulation devices, and a signal can be transmitted based on the precise value to activate the temperature regulation devices to a corresponding level of output.

Abstract: A therapeutic liposome including a bilayer comprising at least one poly-unsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 fatty acid, omega-6 fatty acid, and omega-9 fatty acid), a beta-glucan, a cholesterol, and a doxorubicin. The liposome has a diameter of 100 nm to 1.5 ?m. The beta-glucan and the doxorubicin are encapsulated in the liposome and the cholesterol is integral to the bilayer of the liposome.

Abstract: Size-controlled ultra-small iron-based metal oxide nanoparticles, nanocolloids comprising the nanoparticles, and methods of making the nanoparticles. The method for making the iron-based nanoparticles include sequential mixing of an iron(III) salt, a metal (II) salt, a carboxylic acid, an amine, and an inorganic base in water at temperatures ranging from 25-80° C. Nanoparticles in the size ranging from 2 nm to 10 nm with a narrow size distribution are obtained with the method. The nanoparticles have an iron-based core surrounded by molecules such as a panel of different carboxylates, polycarboxylates, and amines. Depending on the hydrophilicity of the carboxylates used, the functional nanoparticulate colloid can be dispersed in either organic or aqueous solvents. The nanocolloids comprise the nanoparticles in a concentration ranging from 1-10 mg/ml, and are stable for at least several months.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a cartilage prosthetic implant that can be used in orthopedics for a replacement of a damaged cartilage in a joint between opposing bones, for example in the case of osteoarthritis or trauma. The cartilage prosthetic implant described herein can replace the damaged cartilage at the joint without cutting bones of the joint. The cartilage prosthetic implant can maintain or restore a native joint anatomy, allowing for a natural movement at the joint. The cartilage prosthetic implant can be used as a permanent treatment or an intermediate treatment before requiring a total joint replacement. An example of the cartilage prosthetic implant is described for a knee joint replacement and is divided into a proximal implant configured to replace a cartilage at a distal end of a femur bone and a distal implant configured to replace a cartilage on a proximal end of a tibia bone.

Abstract: A conjugate comprising a dendritic polymer or other scaffold, a metalloproteinase-cleavable linker and alpha-amanitin. Methods of using this conjugate for safe targeted treatment of cancer cells expressing metalloproteinases.

Abstract: The releasable torque device obviates the need for removal of the wire introducer in order to torque or manipulate a vascular or other guide wire and/or catheter in a medical procedure, and further obviates the need to remove the torque device for wire and/or catheter introduction. The device may include a base cylinder and an inflation cylinder defining a variable fluid volume therebetween. As the inflation cylinder is pushed toward the base cylinder, the fluid is forced through a port in the inner wall of the inflation cylinder and between a tubular inner cylinder and an inflatable guide wire grip within the inner cylinder to squeeze the grip onto the guide wire passing axially therethrough. Alternatively, the device only has a central tube and an inflatable guide wire grip therein, using a remotely disposed fluid pump and reservoir supplying fluid to the tube and guide wire grip.

Abstract: A method for detecting cancer by determining ratios of alternatively spliced Lamin A/C gene mRNAs in tissue samples, especially an increased ratio of Lamin C to Lamin A mRNAs. Therapeutic for subjects having a tumor or cancer characterized by an elevated ratio of Lamin C to Lamin A mRNA or protein.

Abstract: A medical material delivery device includes a shaft having a lumen that receives a therapeutic agent, and can include a guide having a channel for receiving a medical instrument adapted for positioning in conjunction with a bodily part. An expandable member positioned in conjunction with the guide is adapted for communication with the bodily part and is arranged to burst open when the expandable member is disrupted by a disrupting mechanism to deliver the therapeutic agent to the bodily part. Further embodiments include a medical instrument and an expandable member in conjunction with the medical instrument to burst or leak to deliver a therapeutic agent. The medical material delivery device can include a bodily fluid locator attached with the device, as well as can include a second expandable member to inflate and deflate to localize a bodily part, with a first expandable member bursting to deliver a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The thermometer using differential temperature measurements utilizes a pair of adjacent temperature sensors in order to measure the temperature of a common surface over a pre-selected period of time. The thermometer includes a housing and first and second thermistors mounted adjacent one another on the housing. The first and second thermistors are positioned against the surface, which can be a body part (for oral, rectal or axial body temperature measurements) or can be any other desired surface for which a spot check temperature reading is desired. A programmable current source pre-heats the second thermistor to a pre-selected temperature, while the first thermistor is initially at room temperature. A controller inside the housing causes both the first and second thermistors to take instantaneous temperature measurements of the surface at two successive times. The controller linearizes the measurements to predict the temperature of the surface, which is then displayed to the user.

Abstract: A medical material delivery device includes a shaft having a lumen that receives a therapeutic agent, and can include a guide having a channel for receiving a medical instrument adapted for positioning in conjunction with a bodily part. An expandable member positioned in conjunction with the guide is adapted for communication with the bodily part and is arranged to burst open when the expandable member is disrupted by a disrupting mechanism to deliver the therapeutic agent to the bodily part. Further embodiments include a medical instrument and an expandable member in conjunction with the medical instrument to burst or leak to deliver a therapeutic agent. The medical material delivery device can include a bodily fluid locator attached with the device, as well as can include a second expandable member to inflate and deflate to localize a bodily part, with a first expandable member bursting to deliver a therapeutic agent.