Abstract: A method is provided for implanting a valve having at least one valve leaflet within the cardiovascular system of a subject. One step of the method includes preparing a substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve and then providing an expandable support member having oppositely disposed first and second ends and a main body portion extending between the ends. Next, the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is attached to the expandable support member so that the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is operably secured within the main body portion of the expandable support member. The expandable support member is then crimped into a compressed configuration and placed at a desired location within the cardiovascular system of the subject. Either before or after placement at the desired location, fluid or blood re-hydrates the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure can include an intubating airway. The intubating airway can include a first component (14) having a first guiding surface and a second articulating component (16) that is attached to the first component via a hinge and has a second guiding surface. In a closed configuration, the first and second guiding surfaces can be flush with one another so that the first and second components collectively define a conduit having an interior passage that is dimensioned to direct a fiber-optic scope or an endotracheal tube extending through the interior passage for tracheal intubation. In an open configuration, the first and second guiding surfaces are not flush with one another so that no such conduit is formed.

Abstract: Embodiments discussed herein facilitate generation of a prognosis for recurrence or non-recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). A first set of embodiments discussed herein relates to training of a machine learning classifier to determine a prognosis for AF after PVI based on radiographic images, alone or in combination with clinical features. A second set of embodiments discussed herein relates to determination of a prognosis for a patient for AF after PVI based on radiographic images, alone or in combination with clinical features.

Abstract: An introducer sheath is provided for inserting at least one medical instrument directly toward a target patient tissue site. A plurality of lumens extend longitudinally between sheath proximal and distal ends of the introducer sheath. A septum extends between the sheath proximal and distal ends and selectively laterally separates each of the sheath lumens from one another. The septum is at least partially formed from a deformable and elastomeric material. The septum has a biased condition in which the plurality of sheath lumens are at least partially isolated from one another. The septum is selectively deflectable from the biased condition to at least partially place at least one of the plurality of sheath lumens in fluid communication with at least one other of the plurality of sheath lumens.

Abstract: A method of identifying an epileptogenic zone of a subjects brain includes: receiving a plurality N of physiological brain signals that extend over a duration, each of the plurality N of physiological brain signals acquired from the subjects brain; calculating within a time window a state transition matrix based on at least a portion of each of the plurality N of physiological brain signals, wherein the state transition matrix is a linear time invariant model of a network of N nodes corresponding to the plurality N of physiological brain signals; calculating a minimum norm of a perturbation on the state transition matrix that causes the network to transition from a stable state to an unstable state; and assigning a fragility metric to each of the plurality N of physiological brain signals based on the minimum norm of the perturbation for that physiological brain signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds that are modulators of Integrin Linked Kinase (ILK), and methods of treating diseases with such compounds. In certain embodiments, the compounds are within Formulas I-VII (e.g., Csbl-1). In some embodiments, the compounds are used to treat an ILK-mediated disease, such as cancer (e.g., triple negative breast cancer) or an inflammatory disease.

Abstract: A ventilator conduit for a reversible airway device (RAD) is provided. The RAD can include a supra-glottic support member connected to a tubular guide (TG) having oppositely disposed proximal and distal end portions and TG lumen, which extends between the ends and is defined by an inner surface. The RAD can be physically free of an endotracheal tube. The ventilator conduit can include a hollow tube having first and second ends, and a ventilator conduit lumen extending between the ends. The first and second ends can be adapted for connection to a ventilator circuit and insertion into the TG lumen, respectively. At least the second end of the hollow tube can be sized and dimensioned so that, upon insertion into the TG, an outer surface of the second end is brought into direct contact with a portion of the inner surface to form an air-tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: A method of treating or preventing overgrowth by pathogenic bacteria in a subject deficient in butyrate and/or butyrate-producing bacteria in their gut microbiota by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a butyrate-producing bacteria to the subject is described. A prebiotic can be included with the butyrate-producing bacteria. Overgrowth by pathogenic bacteria is commonly caused by antibiotic administration.

Abstract: For decision support in a medical therapy, machine learning provides a machine-learned generator for generating a prediction of outcome for therapy personalized to a patient. The outcome prediction may be used to determine dose. To assist in decision support, a regression analysis of the cohort used for machine training relates the outcome from the machine-learned generator to the dose and an actual control time (e.g., time-to-event). The dose that minimizes side effects while minimizing risk of failure to a time for any given patient is determined from the outcome for that patient and a calibration from the regression analysis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for electrocardiographic waveform analysis, data presentation and actionable alert generation are described. Electrocardiographic waveform data can be received from a wearable device associated with a patient. A mathematical analysis of at least a portion of the electrocardiographic waveform data can be performed to provide cardiac analytics. In instances where (1) a pathologically prolonged QT interval and (2) an R on T premature ventricular contraction and/or a ventricular tachycardia are detected from the cardiac analytics of the at least a portion of the electrocardiographic waveform data, an actionable alert can be generated and displayed with a visualization of the cardiac analytics.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a subject. The system can include a power source and a neuromuscular stimulator in electrical communications with the power source. The neuromuscular stimulator can include a controller and at least one electrode. The controller can be configured to receive certain power and stimulation parameters associated with a therapy signal from the power source. The at least one electrode can be configured to deliver the therapy signal to a target tissue associated with control of a posterior base of the tongue of the subject.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to using stereo-thermo-lesioning (STL) to create lesions at one or more locations in the patient's nervous system at the patient's bedside without general anesthesia. A method that uses STL to treat a patient's neurological condition includes: using a plurality of stereotactically-implanted thermo-coupled multi-contact electrodes to record conduction data within a predetermined theoretical zone of activity within the patient's neurological tissue; detecting abnormal neurological activity of a neurological condition within the conduction data and localize a portion of the predetermined theoretical zone of activity that is responsible for a primary organization of the abnormal neurological activity; creating a lesion at the portion of the predetermined theoretical zone of activity that is responsible for a primary organization of the abnormal neurological activity using at least one contact of the plurality of thermo-coupled multi-contact electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automated identification of acute aortic syndromes in computed tomography images. A region of interest in a chest of a patient is imaged via a computed tomography (CT) scanner to provide images at a plurality of locations. The region of interest includes one of an ascending aorta, an aortic arch, and a descending aorta of the patient. For each of the plurality of locations within the region of interest, a value representing a variation in radiodensity values within the location is determined from the image to provide a set of variation values. A parameter representing a likelihood that the patient is experiencing an acute aortic syndrome is determined via a derived model from the set of variation values. The parameter representing the likelihood that the patient is experiencing the acute aortic syndrome is provided to a user at an associated output device.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method to implement a performance test to help evaluate a patient's neurological and cognitive function. The performance test can be executed by the patient autonomously using a portable computing device, such as a tablet computer or smart phone. The portable computing device can be programmed to execute a set of modules configured to assess motor and cognitive performance, such as a manual function test module, a cognitive processing speed test module, and a movement assessment test module. The set of modules can also include a collection module to aggregate test data from the manual function test module, the cognitive processing speed test module, and the movement assessment test module.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring the effects of therapeutics on the brain. Brains of first and second sets of patients are imaged and a gene expression is measured at a first time to provide a first set of images and a first set of gene expression transcripts. A therapeutic is administered to the first set of patients after the first time. The brains of the patients are imaged and the gene expression of the patients is measured at a second time, after the therapeutic is administered, to provide a second set of images and a second set of gene expression transcripts. A change in the brain is determined for the patients from the sets of images. A set of changes in the gene expression that are correlated with the changes in the brain are determined from the change in the brain and the sets of gene expression transcripts.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating an eye using retinal fluid volumes to provide a clinical parameter. An optical coherence tomography (OCT) image of an eye of a patient is obtained. The OCT image is segmented to produce a total retinal volume and one or both of a subretinal fluid volume and an intraretinal fluid volume for a region of interest within the eye. A metric is generated as a function of the total retinal volume and one or both of the subretinal fluid volume and the intraretinal fluid volume. A clinical parameter for the patient is determined from the metric. The determined clinical parameter is provided to a user at a display.

Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system for treating obstructive sleep apnea in a subject. The system can include a power source and a neuromuscular stimulator in electrical communications with the power source. The neuromuscular stimulator can include a controller and at least one electrode. The controller can be configured to receive certain power and stimulation parameters associated with a therapy signal from the power source. The at least one electrode can be configured to deliver the therapy signal to a target tissue associated with control of a posterior base of the tongue of the subject.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, brain stimulation models, systems, devices, and methods, such as for deep brain stimulation (DBS) or other electrical stimulation. In an example, volumetric imaging data representing an anatomical volume of a brain of a patient can be obtained and transformed to brain atlas data. A patient-specific brain atlas can be created using the inverse of the transformation to map the brain atlas data onto the volumetric imaging data and a volume of influence can be calculated using the patient-specific brain atlas. In certain examples, the volume of influence can include a predicted volume of tissue affected by an electrical stimulation delivered by an electrode at a corresponding at least one candidate electrode target location.

Abstract: A bifurcated implant delivery system is provided for deploying a bifurcated expandable implant in a patient lumen. A shaft has at least two shaft proximal openings. A shaft distal end has at least two shaft branches longitudinally extending from a shaft body distal end. Each of the shaft branches has a shaft open tip. The shaft has at least one shaft lumen that longitudinally extends between a respective shaft proximal opening and at least one respective shaft open tip. A reinforcing element longitudinally extends from the shaft body distal end. An outer sheath has an outer sheath proximal opening and at least one outer sheath open tip. An outer sheath lumen longitudinally extends between the outer sheath proximal opening and the at least one outer sheath open tip. The outer sheath lumen is for selectively holding at least a portion of the shaft and a bifurcated expandable implant therein.

Abstract: An intra-oral appliance to power and/or communicate with a neurostimulator is provided. The intra-oral appliance can include a teeth covering configured to fit over mandibular incisor, canine and/or premolar teeth of a human being and a remote controller in the form of a housing extending posteriorly from and operably connected to the teeth covering. The housing can include a power source, a coupling coil configured to transmit power to the neurostimulator and configured to receive power from an external charger, and electrical circuitry operably connected to the coupling coil and the power source.