Abstract: A method of preventing tissue adhesion includes forming an incision in tissue, applying a hydrogel to tissue through the incision, and closing the incision with the hydrogel therein. The hydrogel includes a polymer non-covalently cross-linked with a plurality of nanoparticles and prevents a formation of adhesions between tissues and/or organs.

Abstract: A tissue adhesion prevention hydrogel is provided and engineered with essential features for maintaining separation between tissues and organs in any part of the body, thus preventing adhesion formation, are their shear-thinning, viscoelasticity, and rapid self-healing. A method of using the tissue adhesion prevention hydrogel for tissue adhesion prevention is also provided. A method of interposing the tissue adhesion prevention in between tissue layers for tissue adhesion prevention is further provided.

Abstract: Simulated motion of the papillary muscles in a heart simulator is provided that simulates natural motion of the papillary muscles. This improves heart valve simulation. This can be done with a six degree of freedom robotic actuator (e.g., a Stewart platform or the like) appropriately driven by a controller. This can also be done with a robotic actuator that provides constrained motion of its effector by including a mechanical linkage, as long as the resulting simulated papillary muscle motion includes time-varying position and orientation of the papillary muscle.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for mitral valve repair. For example, “C” or “D” shaped annuloplasty mitral valve rings are provided that include a structure including an elongate curved posterior segment and first and second curved lateral segments extending from opposite ends of the posterior segment, the posterior segment and lateral segments may lie within a plane and/or define a C-shape, the structure defining a first lateral axis extending between the lateral segments within the plane, and a second posterior-anterior axis perpendicular to the first axis intersecting a midpoint of the posterior segment, the structure having a stiffness such that the structure resists anterior-posterior motion along the second axis within the plane while allowing flexibility of the lateral segments out of the plane about the second axis.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for pressurization of an aortic valve of a heart before and/or after a valve surgery procedure to mimic the physiologic environment that the aortic valve experiences while allowing surgeons to visually inspect the aortic valve, so that if additional repair needs to be performed, it can be done immediately before aortotomy closure.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are provided for mitral repair of a mitral valve within a heart of a subject that includes introducing a distal portion of a delivery device carrying an artificial chordae into the vasculature of the subject; advancing the distal portion into a right atrium of the heart and trans-septally from the right atrium into a left atrium of the heart; directing the distal portion through a mitral valve of the heart into a left ventricle of the heart; securing a distal end of the artificial chordae to a posterior ventricular wall of the heart adjacent the mitral valve; coupling a leaflet anchor end of the artificial chordae to a posterior leaflet of the mitral valve; adjusting a distance between the leaflet anchor and the distal end of the artificial chordae until coaptation of the mitral valve is improved and/or regurgitation is eliminated; and removing the delivery device from the subject's body.

Abstract: A dilation device is provided for modeling mitral regurgitation in a mitral valve that includes an annular housing surrounding an aperture; a first anterior blade mounted to the housing and defining a substantially straight inner edge adjacent the aperture; and a plurality of posterior blades mounted to the housing and defining a curved inner edge adjacent the aperture, the posterior blades movable to dilate a valve mounted to the blades. An annulus of a valve may be sutured to the blades such that valve is disposed adjacent the aperture, and the dilation device may be actuated to cause the posterior blades to dilate a posterior region of the valve.

Abstract: Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are used to provide measurement of chordae tendineae forces. Two basic modes of operation are considered, The first mode is a research mode, where the FBG sensors are affixed to native chordae in situ and preferably in vivo to provide data on chordae forces in a beating heart under various conditions (e.g., normal, hypertensive, etc.), The second mode is a clinical mode, where the FBG sensor can be used to measure tension on a prosthetic neochord during the surgical procedure to implant the prosthesis.

Abstract: Simulated motion of the papillary muscles in a heart simulator is provided that simulates natural motion of the papillary muscles. This improves heart valve simulation. This can be done with a six degree of freedom robotic actuator (e.g., a Stewart platform or the like) appropriately driven by a controller. This can also be done with a robotic actuator that provides constrained motion of its effector by including a mechanical linkage, as long as the resulting simulated papillary muscle motion includes time-varying position and orientation of the papillary muscle.

Abstract: A method of preventing tissue adhesion includes forming an incision in tissue, applying a hydrogel to tissue through the incision, and closing the incision with the hydrogel therein. The hydrogel includes a polymer non-covalently cross-linked with a plurality of nanoparticles and prevents a formation of adhesions between tissues and/or organs.

Abstract: Engineered multilevel cell sheet-derived blood vessels and methods of preparing and using them are disclosed. Blood vessels are generated by wrapping cell sheets around a rod-like device, such as an angiocath needle, to form a tube, which is stabilized with a cyanoacrylate membrane or fibrin glue followed by endothelialization. Such engineered blood vessels can be implanted in tissue and used in vascular surgery as vascular bypass or interposition grafts as well as for vascularization and perfusion of tissue or organs prior to transplant.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for photosynthetic correction of metabolic imbalances that occur in ischemic conditions. In the methods of the invention, an ischemic or potentially ischemic tissue is contacted with an effective dose of a photosynthetic system in the presence of a light source, where the dose or concentration is sufficient to increase oxygenation and simple sugar supply of the targeted tissue or organ.

Abstract: A tissue adhesion prevention hydrogel is provided and engineered with essential features for maintaining separation between tissues and organs in any part of the body, thus preventing adhesion formation, are their shear-thinning, viscoelasticity, and rapid self-healing. A method of using the tissue adhesion prevention hydrogel for tissue adhesion prevention is also provided. A method of interposing the tissue adhesion prevention in between tissue layers for tissue adhesion prevention is further provided.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for photosynthetic correction of metabolic imbalances that occur in ischemic consitions. In the methods of the invention, an ischemic or potentially ischemic tissue is contacted with an effective dose of a photosynthetic system in the presence of a light source, where the dose or concentration is sufficient to increase oxygenation and simple sugar supply of the targeted tissue or organ.

Abstract: A sleeve adapter for connecting a ventricular assist device to a ventricle of the heart.

Abstract: A sleeve adapter for connecting a ventricular assist device to a ventricle of the heart.

Abstract: A method and device that addresses the problem of an incompetent aortic valve by using a simple cardioplegia catheter that can deliver cardioplegia solution to the coronary arteries through the usual aortic cannulation site even in the presence of aortic valve incompetence. The device includes a cardioplegia cannula (32) with an additional lumen containing a nitinol wire (34) inside it that allows advancement of a folded nitinol umbrella (36) with a non-porous membrane or a compressed nitinol ring that covers the aortic valve when opened. During installation, after puncture of the aorta by the coaxial needle and removal of the coaxial needle but before installation of the cardioplegia solution through the central lumen of the catheter, the nitinol umbrella (in folded position) or nitinol ring (in compressed position) is advanced through the second lumen into the aorta just above the aortic valve.