Abstract: An electronic pegboard setup is provided for assessing patient dexterity. In certain embodiments, the pegboard setup may be wireless and may employ pegs equipped with sensors that that allow tracking of the motion of the peg in three-dimensions and over time. In one such embodiment, a visual output of the motion path may be provided to the clinician. In such an embodiment, the device may provide quantitative data regarding motion path to assess patient dexterity.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to the use of 24-hydroxylated vitamin D compounds as therapeutics in mammalian bone fracture repair. In addition, the instant invention relates to novel 24-hydroxylated vitamin D compound receptors which can be employed in the development of compounds capable of facilitating fracture repair in animals. The instant invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding such receptors as well as vectors, host cells, transgenic animals comprising such nucleic acids and screening assays employing such receptors.

Abstract: The present invention makes use of immunoassays, such as sandwich ELISAs, to profile the circulating concentration of elastic fiber and microfibril fragments in samples from individuals with diseases associated with elastic fiber and/or microfibril degradation. Examples of such diseases include, Marfan's syndrome, aortic aneurysm, and scleroderma. Profiling the concentration of such fragments can be used to diagnose disease and monitor disease progression.

Abstract: Provided here in are, inter alia, methods of determining whether a patient is resistant or sensitive to glucocorticoid therapy.

Abstract: Disclosed is a prosthetic knee appliance having upper and lower leg elements with a single-axis, articulating joint therebetween controllable with an electric knee-lock mechanism. A tilt-switch located within the prosthetic knee can facilitate activation of the electric knee-lock to lock or unlock the joint when the lower leg element is in a pre-determined position. A remote control can provide external locking control of the articulating joint. A pressure switch can ensure that the free-knee is locked only when the lower leg element is sufficiently extended relative to the upper leg element. The mobility of a free-knee system combined with the stability of a straight-leg prosthesis can be advantageous for pre-ambulatory pediatric patients.

Abstract: Bioprosthesis having an implantable braided or woven construct with a plurality of collagen-derived fibers interlocked or interlaced together. The braided or woven constructs can be flexible and resorbable. The braided or woven constructs can have the dynamic flexibility, tensile strength and stiffness suitable for tendon or ligament repairs. The braided or woven construct may be used for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction.

Abstract: Sensors and methods for automatically detecting and recording physical activities of an individual are described. An event is detected, in which data representative of at least one physical activity of an individual is received from an activity monitor associated with the individual. The data is combined into at least two intermediate calculations. A score is generated from the at least two intermediate calculations. The score is compared to a predefined threshold to decide whether or not an event has occurred. Data representative of the event is recorded.

Abstract: Provided here in are, inter alia, methods of determining whether a patient is resistant or sensitive to glucocorticoid therapy.

Abstract: The invention provides FIAT nucleic acids and proteins, and methods of using such nucleic acids and proteins.

Abstract: A material derived from sea cucumber collagen fibrils is suitable for use in corneal replacements or as an implantable contact lens. To produce material, the collagen fibrils are centrifuged into orthogonal stacks of lamellae comprised of aligned fibrils. The resulting structure is a transparent film of arbitrary thickness very similar in structure to mammalian corneal tissue.

Abstract: The present application describes, inter alia, methods, devices, and systems for modeling and fabricating corrective appliances and methods of treating cleft palate using same.

Abstract: The disclosure describes implantable bioprosthesis having an implantable construct with a multi-fiber array of collagen fibers attached together.

Abstract: A device, and method of making the device, capable of therapeutic treatment and/or for in vitro testing of human skin. The device may be used on skin wounds for burned, injured, or diseased skin, and provides structures and functions as in normal uninjured skin, such as barrier function, which is a definitive property of normal skin. The device contains cultured dermal and epidermal cells on a biocompatible, biodegradable reticulated matrix. All or part of the cells may be autologous, from the recipient of the cultured skin device, which advantageously eliminates concerns of tissue compatibility. The cells may also be modified genetically to provide one or more factors to facilitate healing of the engrafted skin replacement, such as an angiogenic factor to stimulate growth of blood vessels.

Abstract: Methods of making an indicator cell are described. The methods include, e.g., contacting a vertebrate cell comprising a functional endogenous target gene under control of an endogenous inducible promoter with a parvoviral vector comprising a construct comprising a targeting DNA sequence linked to a DNA encoding a reporter gene, wherein the construct enters the cell and undergoes homologous recombination with the target gene, thereby operably linking the reporter gene and the target gene; inducing expression of the target gene thereby causing expression of the reporter gene; and selecting the cell based on expression of the reporter gene.

Abstract: A device, and method of making the device, capable of therapeutic treatment and/or for in vitro testing of human skin. The device may be used on skin wounds for burned, injured, or diseased skin, and provides structures and functions as in normal uninjured skin, such as barrier function, which is a definitive property of normal skin. The device contains cultured dermal and epidermal cells on a biocompatible, biodegradable reticulated matrix. All or part of the cells may be autologous, from the recipient of the cultured skin device, which advantageously eliminates concerns of tissue compatibility. The cells may also be modified genetically to provide one or more factors to facilitate healing of the engrafted skin replacement, such as an angiogenic factor to stimulate growth of blood vessels.

Abstract: The invention provides FIAT nucleic acids and proteins, and methods of using such nucleic acids and proteins.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of using the apparatus to prepare a biocompatible biodegradable matrix capable of supporting cells to form an implantable or engraftable surgical device. A matrix-forming fluid is contained within a chamber defined by top and bottom surfaces of a thermally conductive material and spacers defining the thickness of the matrix. The chamber is then cooled to freeze the solution at a controlled rate, resulting in a matrix with a desired and uniform thickness having symmetric and uniform reticulations. The apparatus and method reproducibly forms such a matrix, which may be populated with cells for transplantation and engraftment into a wound.

Abstract: The invention provides FIAT nucleic acids and proteins, and methods of using such nucleic acids and proteins.

Abstract: A neural prosthesis for providing a signal indicative of a predicted event from a cycle of events includes a signal-acquisition system for receiving a neural signal, and a fuzzy-logic inference system for receiving, from the signal acquisition system, a signal indicative of a current location within the cycle of events. The fuzzy-logic inference system is configured to predict a successive event in the cycle of events.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a material derived from sea cucumber collagen fibrils for use in corneal replacements or as an implantable contact lens. The present invention also discloses a method for producing the material. The collagen fibrils are centrifuged into orthogonal stacks of lamellae comprised of aligned fibrils. The resulting structure is a transparent film of arbitrary thickness very similar in structure to mammalian corneal tissue.