Abstract: Absorbable composite medical devices such as surgical meshes and braided sutures, which display two or more absorption/biodegradation and breaking strength retention profiles and exhibit unique properties in different clinical settings, are made using combinations of at least two types of yarns having distinctly different physicochemical and biological properties and incorporate in the subject construct special designs to provide a range of unique properties as clinically useful implants.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device for preparing and dispensing biological sample. Sampling, mixing of the sample with a specific solution, and loading of the mixture, can be achieved in an accurate and convenient manner.

Abstract: A device, providing enlargement and preventing collapse, of the pupil of the eye, during an ophthalmic surgical procedure. The device, configured as a continuous or discontinuous ring, comprises plurality of notches at corners and flanges at sides. The ring is formed from a strand of resiliently flexible material and is disposed entirely within a single plane. The notches engage the pupillary margin at different parts, pushing them apart, resulting in sustained enlargement of the pupil. In addition, the device causes bending of the pupillary margin and iris at the notches and above and below the flanges, resulting in a secure engagement. The enlarged pupil created by the ring, allows a wide view of the structures deeper to the pupillary plane, previously obscured due to a small pupil.

Abstract: A signal processing arrangement generates electrode stimulation signals to stimulation contacts in a cochlear implant electrode array. A signal filter bank transforms an input sound signal into band pass signals, which each represent an associated frequency band of audio frequencies. A signal processing module processes the band pass signals in a sequence of sampling time frames, wherein for each time frame, the processing includes performing a spectral feature analysis of the band pass signals, and dynamically assigning a stimulation focus pattern to one or more of the band pass signals based on the spectral feature analysis. A stimulation coding module is configured to code the processed band pass signals for each time frame to produce the electrode stimulation signals for delivery by the stimulation contacts to a region of adjacent auditory neural tissues.

Abstract: System and method to reducing risk of patient infections (HAI), using operating rooms equipped with suitable automatic airborne sterilizing agent generators, sensors, mechanisms, automatic air control devices, and ceiling mounted structures that allows the room to both provide air curtains of laminar flow sterilized air over the operating table, as well as to be quickly and completely sterilized. After suitable safety checks, the system isolates the interior air from external air, and activates an air phase anti-microbial agent generator, filing the room with air-phase anti-microbial agent. After sterilization, the invention deactivates the generator, removes the remaining air-phase anti-microbial agent by flowing room air through a catalytic converter, and then restores the connection to outside sterilized air. The ceiling mounted structure is configured for laminar flow air curtain delivery, supply lighting, and support boom mounted operating room equipment.

Abstract: An implantable hearing aid system is disclosed. The system has an external transmitter device and an implantable receiver device, and includes a skin interface to connect the external transmitter device to the head of a user. There is a transmitter connector on the external transmitter device and an interface connector on the skin interface to form a coupling between the skin interface and the external transmitter device to enable connection and disconnection of the external transmitter device to and from the skin interface. The skin interface has an adhesive surface facing the skin so that it can be adhered to the skin on the head of the user. The implantable receiver device has an implant stimulator to stimulate a hearing organ. Sound information is transmitted from the external transmitter device to the implantable receiver device that stimulates the hearing organ of the user.

Abstract: A bone conduction hearing aid system includes a hearing aid housing with a hearing aid vibrator. A skin interface has an interface connector offset on an outer interface surface and detachably connected to a housing connector. A skin adhesive connects to the skin of a patient user to transmit the sound vibrations through the skin to underlying skull bone for transmission by bone conduction to a hearing organ of the user. When the skin adhesive is pressed against the skin of the user, the skin is initially engaged during an initial engagement period with an initial adhesive force that promotes removal and relocation of the skin interface, and the skin is fully engaged after the initial engagement period with a full adhesive force greater than the initial adhesive force that promotes a fixed secure connection that resists removal of the skin interface.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a generator including a control module that is operably coupled to a power module. The power module is configured to produce an electronic signal to be received by an ultrasonic energy delivery assembly. The ultrasonic energy delivery assembly is characterized by a natural frequency, and the electronic signal is characterized by a frequency. The control module is configured to send a control signal to the power module to randomly vary the frequency of the electronic signal within a range defined at least in part by the natural frequency.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a drug syringe. The drug syringe comprises: a drug container (10) defining a space and a piston (20) arranged in the space. A drug chamber (30) for accommodating a drug may be formed on a side of the piston in the space; and a constant force providing device (40) is arranged on an opposite side of the piston (20) for providing a thrust to the piston (20), pushing the piston (20) to move along an extension direction of the space, and pushing out the drug in the drug chamber (30) by changing a volume of the drug chamber (30).

Abstract: An injection device comprises: a drug storer having a first space for storing a drug; a unidirectional switch having a second space in fluid communication with the first space; and an injection body having a third space in fluid communication with the second space, wherein the third space is provided with a piston adapted to move along the injection body, and to pump the drug stored in the first space into the third space. The drug storer comprises a base and a head cover, and at least one of the base and the head cover is formed by a flexible film, thereby forming the first space for storing a drug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of treating fibromyalgia, by administering a therapeutically-effective combination of an antiviral component and a COX-2 inhibitor component. The invention is further related to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a combination of a therapeutically-effective amount of the antiviral compound famciclovir and a therapeutically-effective amount of the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib. The invention is also related to methods of treating functional somatic syndromes by administering a therapeutically-effective combination of famciclovir and celecoxib.

Abstract: A mixing container includes a first container that stores two or more reagents and a second container for mixing two or more reagents. The first container includes reagent storage chambers that are respectively provided for the two or more reagents and have openings formed at portions thereof, and a sealing member that seals the respective openings of the reagent storage chambers. The second container includes an opening portion formed such that the first container can be connected thereto, and protruding portions disposed so as to pierce the sealing member when the first container is connected to the opening portion.

Abstract: A sound processing arrangement is described for a patient with a bilateral cochlear implant system having implanted electrode arrays in each ear. There is a left-side sensing microphone and a right-side sensing microphone, each configured for sensing the sound environment surrounding the patient and generating corresponding microphone signals. A sound object identification module is configured for analyzing the microphone signals to identify one or more sound objects within the sound environment. A sound object selection module is configured for processing the microphone signals to generate a sound object signal for each of the one or more sound objects. A stimulation side selector module is configured for selecting on which side or sides of the bilateral cochlear implant arrangement to process each sound object signal. One or more sound processors processes the sound object signals to generate stimulation signals to the implanted electrode arrays on the selected side or sides.

Abstract: An electrode guide bridge is used for inserting a cochlear implant electrode into a cochlea scala of a patient cochlea. An electrode holder encloses at least a portion of a cochlear implant electrode while allowing the electrode to slide freely without friction. A pointed distal tip of the electrode holder is sized to fit within a posterior tympanotomy during electrode insertion surgery and into an electrode opening in an outer surface of the patient cochlea without entering the cochlea scala to prevent an apical tip of the enclosed electrode from contacting tissues around the electrode opening during the insertion surgery.

Abstract: A catheter system for treating lesions is provided. The system is suitable for treatment of bifurcation lesions, has a low profile and provides substantially predictable translational and rotational positioning. In one embodiment, the system includes a fixed wire balloon catheter and a partially attached guidewire lumen, wherein the guidewire lumen is attached to the catheter at a crotch point. The location of the crotch point is predetermined so as to provide substantially predictable positioning. Several embodiments of the system are described for various types of lesions and vessel configurations.

Abstract: A shockwave probe transducer structure includes a shock cup, a magnetic disc and a focusing module. The focusing module includes a circular cover and a focusing member installed between the circular cover and the shock cup. The focusing member is consisted of a focusing bag or a lens and a focusing bag closely coupled to each other. The focal point of the shockwave of the shockwave probe transducer structure can be changed by simply changing the focusing module installed at the front of the shockwave probe transducer structure, so as to overcome the problems of complicated changing procedure and possible water leakage and avoid the risk of damaging an expensive shockwave system or jeopardizing the safety of people.

Abstract: Disclosed are an auricle clamp (101) and a delivery device thereof. The auricle clamp (101) includes two parallel clamp arms (202, 302); and two springs (201, 301) located at two ends of the parallel clamp arms (202, 302) respectively and are used for connecting the two ends of the two clamp arms (202, 302) to form a closed-loop structure and providing a clamping force enabling the two clamp arms (202, 203) to be located close to each other; and at least one of the two clamp arms (202, 302) is divided into a first segment and a second segment, and the first segment and the second segment are pivotally connected or connected via a flexible material.

Abstract: A device for positioning a catheter at an ostium. The device includes an attachment mechanism for direct attachment to the catheter at a location proximal to a treatment device positioned on the catheter, the attachment mechanism having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The device also including a stopper element extending from the distal end of the attachment mechanism and projecting away from the longitudinal axis, the stopper element being bendable in a direction toward the proximal end of the attachment mechanism.