Abstract: Technology is described to provide a foot/ankle prosthesis for individuals with transfemoral limb loss. This technology is able to store and release energy and thus individuals or patients who are using the foot/ankle prosthesis are able to expend less energy when walking or running. The device or system can include a prosthetic foot/ankle system with a linear or rotary hydraulic damper such that the hydraulic damper is attached to dynamic energy storing spring elements. The axis of rotation of the system can be near to that of an intact human ankle. The system can utilize spring elements based on the vertical displacement of the center of pressure of an intact normal foot. The system can also provide user adjustable heel height.

Abstract: Technology is described to provide a foot and ankle prosthesis for individuals with lower limb loss. This technology is able to store and release energy and individuals or patients who are using the foot/ankle prosthesis may be able to expend less energy when walking. The system includes a hydraulic damper attached to dynamic energy storing spring elements. The axis of rotation of the system can be near to that of an intact human ankle, providing biomimetic function. The system can utilize spring elements based on the vertical displacement of the center of pressure of an intact normal foot. A hydraulic system can provide user adjustable heel height and adaptation to inclines. The dorsiflexion and plantar flexion resistances can be independently adjusted manually or electrically. In addition, the system can be automatically locked in dorsiflexion when loaded and unlock when unloaded.

Abstract: Technology is described to provide a locking device to control movement of a prosthetic limb. The technology may include a hydraulic damper having a movable damper wall in a hydraulic housing of the hydraulic damper, and the movable damper wall may form a first chamber and second chamber in the hydraulic damper. A first fluid channel may be coupled to the first chamber. In addition, a latch may be in fluid communication with the first fluid channel. A poppet valve can be configured to set the latch in an open position when pressure is reduced in the first chamber and to stop fluid movement when pressure is increased in the first chamber. A second fluid channel between the second chamber and the latch may enable fluid to flow between the second chamber and the latch.

Abstract: A thrombus engagement tool having a flexible shaft, a clot engagement tip, and a handle. The engagement tip may include one or more radially outwardly extending structures such as a helical thread. The helical thread can be advanced through a catheter to engage a clot. The handle may be configured to be rotated by hand. When the handle is rotated, the helical thread of the engagement tip can rotate in the same direction thereby allowing the helical threat to engage the clot. The helical thread can wrap around the flexible shaft at least about one, two, or four or more full revolutions, but in some cases no more than about ten or no more than about six revolutions.

Abstract: An inserter for guiding a device through a hemostasis valve. The inserter comprises an elongate tubular body, a concave landing zone, and an axially extending slit. The elongate body tubular body of the inserter partially defines a central lumen. A method a of passing a device through a valve comprises the steps of providing an inserter having a tubular body with a split sidewall, advancing the tubular body through a valve, advancing a device through the tubular body and beyond the valve and retracting the tubular body so that the device escapes laterally from the tubular body through the split sidewall, leaving the device in place across the valve.

Abstract: A clot capture module can include a housing, a chamber inside the housing, a window, and a filter. The window permits visual inspection of a clot inside the chamber. The clot can access the chamber via an incoming flow path configured to direct blood from an aspiration catheter to an upstream surface of the filter. An aspiration control valve can block the flow of incoming aspirated blood until actuated to permit inflow of aspirated blood. An outgoing flow path can direct blood from a downstream surface of the filter to a remote vacuum canister.

Abstract: A card handling device is configured to arrange one or more cards into sets or hands. The card handling device may have a card receiving area, a card infeed mechanism for delivering cards from the receiving area to a receiver for forming the card sets or hands, and an ejector for ejecting cards to a card dispensing area. The receiving area may have a card engaging movable sidewall. The card receiver may be movable and have vertically spaced dividers which define card receiving pockets. A top of the card dispensing area is located above a top of the card receiving area.

Abstract: A thrombus engagement tool having a flexible shaft, a clot engagement tip, and a handle. The engagement tip may include one or more radially outwardly extending structures such as a helical thread. The helical thread can be advanced through a catheter to engage a clot. The handle may be configured to be rotated by hand. When the handle is rotated, the helical thread of the engagement tip can rotate in the same direction thereby allowing the helical threat to engage the clot. The helical thread can wrap around the flexible shaft at least about one, two, or four or more full revolutions, but in some cases no more than about ten or no more than about six revolutions.

Abstract: A method of removing embolic material from a vessel with mechanical and aspiration assistance. The method comprises the steps of providing an aspiration catheter having a central lumen and a distal end, advancing the distal end of the aspiration catheter to obstructive material in a vessel, applying vacuum to the central lumen to draw clot into the central lumen, introducing a thrombus engagement tool into the central lumen, and manually manipulating the tip to engage clot between the tip and an inside wall of the central lumen.

Abstract: A clot capture module can include a housing, a chamber inside the housing, a window, and a filter. The window permits visual inspection of a clot inside the chamber. The clot can access the chamber via an incoming flow path configured to direct blood from an aspiration catheter to an upstream surface of the filter. An aspiration control valve can block the flow of incoming aspirated blood until actuated to permit inflow of aspirated blood. An outgoing flow path can direct blood from a downstream surface of the filter to a remote vacuum canister.

Abstract: A vacuum aspiration system may be used to treat thromboembolic disease, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. The system includes a housing, and a fluid flow path extending through the housing. A first catheter is in fluid communication with the flow path, and a connector is configured to place a source of aspiration in communication with the flow path. A clot container is carried by the housing. A hemostasis valve is provided in the housing, and configured to receive a second catheter and direct the second catheter through the first catheter.

Abstract: A split dilator aspiration system is disclosed. The system includes a catheter, having an elongate, flexible tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end, a side wall defining a central lumen, and a handle on the proximal end. A dilator is advanceable through the central lumen, the dilator having an elongate body, cannulated to receive a guidewire, and an axially extending split along at least a portion of the elongate body, configured to allow removal of a portion of the dilator laterally from the guidewire.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for generating a new, animation-ready anatomy. A skin mesh of the new anatomy is obtained, such as by performing a 3D depth scan of a subject. Selected template anatomies are also obtained, with each of those template anatomies having a skin mesh that corresponds with the new anatomy's skin mesh. The skin meshes of the new and selected template anatomies share a first pose. Each of the selected template anatomies also has a skeleton for the first pose and skinning weights, and the skin mesh in at least one additional pose that is different from the first pose and any other additional poses. The method then involves using a processor to interpolate, from the at least one of the skeleton and skinning weights of the selected template anatomies and the first and at least one additional pose of the selected template anatomies, the new anatomy.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for generating a new anatomy use a processor to obtain a skin mesh of the new anatomy that is in correspondence with a skin mesh of a template anatomy; after obtaining the skin mesh, transfer a fascia mesh of the template anatomy to the new anatomy; and after the fascia mesh is transferred, generate a fat displacement field defining fat of the new anatomy. The displacement field includes multi-dimensional displacement vectors, and each of the displacement vectors relates a vertex of the skin mesh of the new anatomy to a corresponding vertex of the fascia mesh of the new anatomy. A new anatomy may also be generated by interpolating from anatomies in a database.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and techniques for generating a new anatomy use a processor to obtain a skin mesh of the new anatomy that is in correspondence with a skin mesh of a template anatomy; after obtaining the skin mesh, transfer a fascia mesh of the template anatomy to the new anatomy; and after the fascia mesh is transferred, generate a fat displacement field defining fat of the new anatomy. The displacement field includes multi-dimensional displacement vectors, and each of the displacement vectors relates a vertex of the skin mesh of the new anatomy to a corresponding vertex of the fascia mesh of the new anatomy. A new anatomy may also be generated by interpolating from anatomies in a database.

Abstract: An aspiration system exhibits an accelerated drop in negative pressure at the distal end of an aspiration catheter from the time of opening a valve. The system includes an aspiration pump in communication with a first chamber, and an aspiration catheter configured for placement into fluid communication with the first chamber by way of an elongate aspiration tube. A second chamber is provided between the aspiration tube and the catheter, and a valve is provided between the second chamber and the aspiration catheter. Upon opening of the valve with negative pressure at equilibrium in the first and second chambers, resistance to fluid flow between the second chamber and the distal end of the catheter is less than the resistance to fluid flow between the second chamber and the first chamber, causing a rapid aspiration into the second chamber.

Abstract: A system for accessing a central pulmonary artery includes an elongate, flexible tubular catheter, having a proximal end, a distal end and a catheter hub on the proximal end. An elongate, flexible rail has a proximal end, a distal end and a rail hub on the proximal end. The rail has a distal advance segment which extends at least about 10 cm beyond the distal end of the catheter when the catheter hub is adjacent the rail hub.

Abstract: A crane block holder includes a base made of steel of a thickness of at least ½ inch with several holes cut or formed therein. Each hole has an inner dimension. There are several crane block support arms, each of which has an arm portion connected to a peg that has a shoulder. An outer dimension of the peg is less than or equal to the inner dimension of the holes allowing snug insertion. An outer dimension of the shoulder is greater than the inner dimension of the holes such that upon insertion of the pegs into the holes, the shoulder limits how far the peg can be inserted. By inserting two or more crane block support arms of the plurality of crane block support arms into selected holes of the base, the two or more crane block support arms support a selected crane block.

Abstract: A vacuum aspiration system may be used to treat thromboembolic disease, such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. The system includes a housing, and a fluid flow path extending through the housing. A first catheter is in fluid communication with the flow path, and a connector is configured to place a source of aspiration in communication with the flow path. A clot container is carried by the housing. A hemostasis valve is provided in the housing, and configured to receive a second catheter and direct the second catheter through the first catheter.

Abstract: A hemostasis valve may be used with a catheter such as an aspiration catheter. The hemostasis valve comprises a support, and at least a first lever, pivotably carried with respect to the support. A collapsible tubular sidewall defining a valve lumen is carried by the support. A filament is formed into a loop around the tubular sidewall, the filament having at least a first tail portion extending away from the loop to the first lever. A first spring may be configured to move the first lever in a direction that pulls the first tail portion away from the tubular sidewall, reducing the diameter of the valve lumen in response to reducing the diameter of the loop. A second tail portion may extend away from the loop to a second lever. Each tail portion may be attached to its respective lever, or may be slidably advanceable around a fulcrum on the lever and attached with respect to the support.