Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter, an introducer sheath, and a tubular plug. The catheter comprises an elongate body having an expandable medical device coupled with a distal end thereof. The introducer sheath comprises an elongate body defining a lumen therein. The introducer sheath is disposed over the catheter to form a gap therebetween. The tubular plug comprises an elongate body and extends through the lumen of the introducer sheath. The tubular plug is disposed between the catheter and the introducer sheath to occlude the gap. Further, the tubular plug is releasably fixed relative to the introducer sheath such that the tubular plug is removable from the lumen to allow the expandable medical device to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and/or method is disclosed for—inter alia—producing a product. One or more financial characteristics relating to one or more sample products may be received. For each of the sample products, a value for each of one or more respective properties of the sample product may be received. The received values of the one or more respective properties of the sample products, the one or more received financial characteristics relating to the sample products, and a desired financial characteristic for a potential product may be input into the machine learning model. A value for each of the one or more respective properties for the potential product may be determined based on the desired financial characteristic for the potential product. A product having the determined value for each of the one or more respective properties for the potential product may be produced.

Abstract: A modular plank is provided. The modular plank includes a body portion extending in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from a first end of the body portion in the longitudinal direction. The plurality of protrusions each include a cross-section that changes size as the cross-section extends outwardly from the body portion in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the cross-section includes an upper end that is sized differently than a lower end.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches are disclosed. Parallel configurations of back-to-back MEMS switches are disclosed in some embodiments. An isolation connection of constant electrical potential may be made to a midpoint of the back-to-back switches. In some embodiments, a separate MEMS switch is provided as a shunt switch for the main MEMS switch. MEMS switch device configurations having multiple switchable signal paths each coupling a common input electrode to a respective output electrode are also disclosed. The MEMS switch device includes shunt switches each coupling a respective output electrode to a reference potential. The presence of a shunt switch coupled to an output electrode enhances the isolation of the signal path corresponding to that output electrode when the path is open.

Abstract: Impedance paths for integrated circuits having microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches that allow for electrical charge to bleed from circuit nodes to fixed electric potentials (e.g., ground) are described. Such paths are referred to herein as charge bleed circuits. The circuit nodes may be circuit locations where electrical charge may accumulate because there is no other path for the electrical charge to dissipate. In some embodiments, a charge bleed circuit includes a switchable device (e.g., a MEMS switch, a solid-state device switch, or a circuit including various solid-state device switches that, collectively, implement a device that can be switched on and off) that connects and disconnects the impedance path from a circuit node. This may allow the device to perform different types of measurements at desired performance levels.

Abstract: Described herein are oral care compositions comprising—in relevant part—an effective amount of inulin. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described.

Abstract: Cells for increased collagen production are engineered by a novel CRISPR cellular engineering process. The process can be carried out using human cells or even patient-harvested cells. Collagen produced by the cells has a low risk of immunogenicity when implanted into human patients compared to collagen produced by non-human cells. Cell culture media including chemical additives are also provided to have a further positive effect on collagen production.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for coupling a spinous process plate to one lateral side of a spinous process of a spine of a patient; coupling a laminar plate to a laminar on the one lateral side of the spinous process of the spine; engaging a sub-laminar hook to the laminar on the one lateral side of the spinous process; and (iv) extending a rod toward a pedicle on the one lateral side of the spinous process of the spine of the patient, where the rod prohibits movement of bone associated with a fracture in a pars interarticularis of a vertebral arch on the one lateral side of the spinous process of the spine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for coupling a spinous process plate to one lateral side of a spinous process of a spine of a patient; coupling a laminar plate to a laminar on the one lateral side of the spinous process of the spine; engaging a sub-laminar hook to the laminar on the one lateral side of the spinous process; and (iv) extending a rod toward a pedicle on the one lateral side of the spinous process of the spine of the patient, where the rod prohibits movement of bone associated with a fracture in a pars interarticularis of a vertebral arch on the one lateral side of the spinous process of the spine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for: (i) coupling a spinous process plate to one lateral side of a spinous process of a spine of a patient, the spinous process plate extending substantially parallel to a sagittal plane (anterior-posterior plane) through the spine of the patient, the spinous process plate including a first fixation element facilitating a connection of the spinous process plate to the one lateral side of the spinous process; (ii) coupling a laminar plate to a laminar on the one lateral side of the spinous process of the spine, the laminar plate extending transversely from the spinous process plate and transversely to both the sagittal plane and a coronal plane (lateral plane) through the spine of the patient, the laminar plate including a second fixation element facilitating a connection of the laminar plate to the laminar on the one lateral side of the spinous process; (iii) engaging a sub-laminar hook to the laminar on the one lateral side of the spinous process, the sub-laminar hook extending

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method of preparing cannabinoid containing composition and in particular cannabinoid containing composition where the composition comprises a mixture of hemp biomass and seeds material and products comprising the composition and use of the products and the composition.

Abstract: A system for detecting blood in an oral cavity during toothbrushing. The system may include a toothbrush having a sensor that is configured to emit first light at a first wavelength and second light at a second wavelength, receive reflected portions of the first and second light, and generate a first signal indicative of a first intensity of the reflected portion of the first light and a second signal indicative of a second intensity of the reflected portion of the second light. The system may include a processor operably coupled to the sensor, the processor being configured to receive the first and second signals and calculate a ratio of the first intensity to the second intensity to determine whether hemoglobin/blood is present in the oral cavity. The processor may be a part of the toothbrush or a part of a portable electronic device such as a smart phone.

Abstract: The disclosure contains a method of quantifying and/or evaluating metal ions in a dentifrice, wherein the method comprises subjecting the dentifrice to X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and wherein the XAS is used to measure and/or evaluate the metal ions in the dentifrice. Also disclosed are methods of selecting and screening for dentifrices based upon the evaluation and quantification of their metal ion content.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, systems and devices for rapidly detecting biomarkers in a biological sample.

Abstract: Described herein are oral care compositions comprising—in relevant part—an effective amount of inulin. Methods of making and using these compositions are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for an orthopedic device, including: a base element having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough for receiving a respective bone fixation element; a retaining mechanism operating to prevent withdrawal of the fixation element; and a blocker operating to overlie the bone fixation element within the one of the apertures such that the bone fixation element is prevented from withdrawing from one or more bones of the patient.

Abstract: A biometric data collection and authentication system which validates the user of a dynamically generated and customizable internet form. The system may be used to generate biometric data from fingerprints, retinal scans, and voice-prints. It utilizes a client side biometric collection tool to allow verification against an existing database, or assign a unique identifier for future verification. It also has the ability to parse biometric information on to user provided or created documents.

Abstract: The disclosure contains a method of quantifying and/or evaluating metal ions in a dentifrice, wherein the method comprises subjecting the dentifrice to X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and wherein the XAS is used to measure and/or evaluate the metal ions in the dentifrice. Also disclosed are methods of selecting and screening for dentifrices based upon the evaluation and quantification of their metal ion content.

Abstract: An oral care evaluation process may include: illuminating soft oral tissue within an oral cavity with a light source emitting a spectrum of light which induces fluorescence in an organic compound; generating image data for an image of the soft oral tissue while illuminating the soft oral tissue, the image comprising a plurality of pixels; and evaluating oral hygiene using a programmable processor programmed to assess an attribute of each pixel of the image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is mucin-coated silica, compositions comprising the same, and methods of promoting the aggregation and/or clearance of oral bacteria using such compositions.