Abstract: The present invention features interferon-free therapies for the treatment of HCV. Preferably, the treatment is over a shorter duration of treatment, such as no more than 12 weeks. In one aspect, the treatment comprises administering at least two direct acting antiviral agents to a subject with HCV infection, wherein the treatment lasts for 12 weeks and does not include administration of either interferon or ribavirin, and said at least two direct acting antiviral agents comprise (a) Compound 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and (b) Compound 2 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: A nanoparticle material, a process for obtaining the nanoparticle material, a product that includes the nanoparticle material, and methods of using the nanoparticle material. The nanoparticle material includes a resorbable nanoparticle that is functionalized with at least one compound.

Abstract: A mixture contains at least one polyether block amide (PEBA) and at least one poly(meth)acrylate, selected from poly(meth)acrylimides, poly-alkyl(meth)acrylates, and mixtures thereof. The mass ratio of PEBA to poly(meth)acrylate is 95:5 to 60:40. The polyalkyl(meth)acrylate contains 80% by weight to 99% by weight of methyl methacrylate (MMA) units and 1% by weight to 20% by weight of C1-C10-alkyl acrylate units, based on the total weight of polyalkyl(meth)acrylate. The mixture can be processed to give foamed mouldings. The mouldings can he used in footwear soles, stud material, insulation or insulating material, damping components, lightweight components, or in a sandwich structure.

Abstract: A device configured for antimicrobial, in particular bacteriostatic or bactericidal, activity, and a method for manufacturing the device. The device includes a device body having a surface. The device body is configured to anchor thermal nanoparticles supporting optical resonance, in particular localized surface plasmon resonance, at its surface. The device body includes thermal nanoparticles supporting optical resonance, in particular localized surface plasmon resonance, bonded to the surface of the device body. The thermal nanoparticles are capable of increasing their temperature by light irradiation in a wavelength range that matches with the wavelength of the optical resonance, in particular localized surface plasmon resonance, of the thermal nanoparticles. The device body also includes an antimicrobial substance that is releasable from the device body.

Abstract: A mixture contains at least one amino-regulated polyether block amide (PEBA) and at least one poly(meth)acrylate selected from poly(meth)acrylimides, polyalkyl(meth)acrylates, and mixtures thereof. The mass ratio of PEBA to poly(meth)acrylate is 95:5 to 60:40. The polyalkyl(meth)acrylate contains 80% by weight to 99% by weight of methyl methacrylate (MMA) units and 1% by weight to 20% by weight of C1-C10-alkyl acrylate units, based on the total weight of polyalkyl(meth)acrylate. The mixture can be processed to give foamed mouldings. The mouldings can be used in footwear soles, stud material, insulation or insulating material, damping components, lightweight components, or in a sandwich structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a moulding compound which contains at least 50 wt. % of a semicrystalline poly amide component and the moulding compound contains a filler which imparts conductivity to the moulding compound, wherein the moulding compound does not have a crystallite melting point (Tm) below 50° C. and the polyamide component contains components A and B, A) PA homopolymer of the type PA X.Y or PAZ, where X is a diamine radical (DA), Y is a dicarboxyl radical (DC), and Z is an alpha-omega amino acid radical; B) PA copolymer of the type PA X?.Y?, where X is a diamine radical (DA?) and Y? is a dicarboxyl radical (DC?); wherein a portion of the diamine radical (DA?) is replaced by a polyether having at least two amino termini or at least two hydroxy termini; wherein the proportion of polyether in the sum of components A and Bis between 0.5 and 15 wt. % and wherein the proportion of filler is 2.5 to 6 wt. % based on the total mass of the poly amide component and the filler.

Abstract: A method of using CPAP equipment to sense cardiogenic oscillations in a patient's airflow, and to monitor and treat the patient's cardiac condition. The apparatus diagnoses cardiac morbidity conditions, such as the existence of arrhythmias or other cardiac abnormalities, and influences and optimizes cardiac stroke volume. The apparatus further monitors pulse-transit time, changes in the heart pre-ejection period, and the duration of the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified surface capable of having bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity when it is light irradiated, thus converting the surface of the substrate into a bacteriostatic and a bactericidal surface as many times as it is desired, and for a long time. According to the invention, the modified surface upon light irradiation avoids the attachment of a microorganism to this surface, inhibits the formation of a biofilm on this surface and destroys an already formed biofilm on this surface. These effects can be achieved as many times as it is desired, and for indefinite time.

Abstract: A system for determining the shape of a surgical instrument includes an elongate instrument body having a selectively steerable distal tip, a pair of automatically controlled segments proximal to the selectively steerable distal tip, and a joint that couples the pair of adjacent automatically controlled segments together. An actuator changes an angle of the joint and a position encoder provides information associated with the joint angle. A controller receives the information associated with the angle of the joint and generates a three dimensional model of a shape of the instrument. A method for determining the three dimensional shape of an instrument includes providing axial position data to a controller, providing angular position data to the controller from a respective segment controller, and generating a three-dimensional model of a shape of said instrument using the axial position data and the angular position data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified surface capable of having bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity when it is light irradiated, thus converting the surface of the substrate into a bacteriostatic and a bactericidal surface as many times as it is desired, and for a long time. According to the invention, the modified surface upon light irradiation avoids the attachment of a microorganism to this surface, inhibits the formation of a biofilm on this surface and destroys an already formed biofilm on this surface. These effects can be achieved as many times as it is desired, and for indefinite time.

Abstract: A method of using CPAP equipment to sense cardiogenic oscillations in a patient's airflow, and to monitor and treat the patient's cardiac condition. The apparatus diagnoses cardiac morbidity conditions, such as the existence of arrhythmias or other cardiac abnormalities, and influences and optimizes cardiac stroke volume. The apparatus further monitors pulse-transit time, changes in the heart pre-ejection period, and the duration of the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical delivery apparatus with an automatic syringe retraction following a manually controlled injection. The apparatus includes a housing (28), a syringe carriage (90), a medication-filled syringe (70) held within the carriage, the syringe needle tip being disposed within the housing in a first position and projecting from the housing beyond the housing proximal end for insertion into an injection site in a second position, a manually shiftable plunger (130), means on the carriage and the housing and the plunger for causing the carriage to advance from the first position to the second position and for injecting medicine from the syringe when the plunger is manually plunged proximally toward the housing, and means on the carriage and the plunger for causing the carriage to retract from the second position to a position at which the needle tip is disposed within the housing when the plunger shifts distally.

Abstract: A system for determining the shape of a surgical instrument includes an elongate instrument body having a selectively steerable distal tip, a pair of automatically controlled segments proximal to the selectively steerable distal tip, and a joint that couples the pair of adjacent automatically controlled segments together. An actuator changes an angle of the joint and a position encoder provides information associated with the joint angle. A controller receives the information associated with the angle of the joint and generates a three dimensional model of a shape of the instrument. A method for determining the three dimensional shape of an instrument includes providing axial position data to a controller, providing angular position data to the controller from a respective segment controller, and generating a three-dimensional model of a shape of said instrument using the axial position data and the angular position data.

Abstract: A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.

Abstract: A method of using CPAP equipment to sense cardiogenic oscillations in a patient's airflow, and to monitor and treat the patient's cardiac condition. The apparatus diagnoses cardiac morbidity conditions, such as the existence of arrhythmias or other cardiac abnormalities, and influences and optimizes cardiac stroke volume. The apparatus further monitors pulse-transit time, changes in the heart pre-ejection period, and the duration of the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A medical product for use in treating/managing hernias, prolapses, urinary incontinence and/or dyspareunia in humans and/or animals including at least one textile fabric having a textile ground structure and thread structures which protrude from the trextile ground structure, wherein at least some of the thread structures are interloped with the textile ground structure.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical delivery apparatus with an automatic syringe retraction following a manually controlled injection. The apparatus includes a housing (28), a syringe carriage (90), a medication-filled syringe (70) held within the carriage, the syringe needle tip being disposed within the housing in a first position and projecting from the housing beyond the housing proximal end for insertion into an injection site in a second position, a manually shiftable plunger (130), means on the carriage and the housing and the plunger for causing the carriage to advance from the first position to the second position and for injecting medicine from the syringe when the plunger is manually plunged proximally toward the housing, and means on the carriage and the plunger for causing the carriage to retract from the second position to a position at which the needle tip is disposed within the housing when the plunger shifts distally.

Abstract: A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.

Abstract: A medicotechnical product for adhesion prophylaxis for the post-operative prevention of accretions in the body comprises at least one PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) selected from the group comprising uncrosslinked PVA with a molecular weight of 15,000 to 400,000, crosslinked PVA and mixtures thereof. The molecular weight of the PVA or the mixture is selected in such a way that it can be excreted via the kidneys substantially with no degradation of the PVA molecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to a an incontinence strap (66) for treating urinary incontinence, in particular, urinary incontinence in females, that is configured such that it is flexible.