Abstract: An imaging sensor that optimizes a pixel array area on a substrate using a stacking scheme for placement of related circuitry with minimal vertical interconnects between stacked substrates and associated features are disclosed. Embodiments of maximized pixel array size/die size (area optimization) are disclosed, and an optimized imaging sensor providing improved image quality, improved functionality, and improved form factors for specific applications common to the industry of digital imaging are also disclosed. Embodiments of the above may include systems, methods and processes for staggering ADC or column circuit bumps in a column or sub-column hybrid image sensor using vertical interconnects are also disclosed.

Abstract: An endovascular detachment mechanism can include an endovascular implant including an open end and a pinched end, a connector positioned approximate the pinched end, a lock wire, and an outer coil surrounding the lock wire. The lock wire can include a distal end engaged within the connector and a threaded portion having a radius larger than the lock wire. The outer coil be engaged to the threaded portion. Axial rotation of the threaded portion can cause the lock wire to translate proximally with respect to the outer coil to thereby disengage the distal end of the lock wire from the connector. The mechanism can include an inner coil and an outer coil, and axial rotation of the inner coil with respect to the outer coil can cause the distal end of the lock wire to disengage from the connector.

Abstract: A device can detect and retrieve a blood clot by advancing a catheter with a clot sensing element through a patient's vascular system. The catheter can map, using an electromagnetic sensor disposed at a distal end of the clot sensing element, the patient's vascular system. A force sensor can generate a position signal indicating the clot sensing element contacted the clot in the patient's vascular system. Once located, a blood clot retrieval device can be deployed through the catheter and a lumen in the clot sensing element to remove the clot from the patient's vascular system.

Abstract: A surgical instrument assembly may include a processor, a surgical instrument configured to operate on an anatomical structure, and a display coupled to the processor and attached to the surgical instrument. The processor can be configured to determine a position of the medical imaging device, from which the medical imaging device can generate an X-ray image that includes holes of an intramedullary nail shown as circles, for instance perfect circles. In an example, the processor identifies the intramedullary nail, so as to determine an intramedullary nail identity, and determines the position of the medical imaging device based on a portion of at least two locking holes of the intramedullary nail and based on the intramedullary nail identity.

Abstract: Surgical instrument calibration methods, systems, and devices are provided that allow a virtual representation of a surgical instrument to be modified to adjust for any variations in a distal tip of a surgical instrument. For example, an instrument calibration system is provided that can have a surgical instrument, a calibration instrument, and a monitoring system. The surgical instrument can have a distal tip and an orientation element thereon, and the calibration instrument can have a pivot point thereon and a calibration reference element attached thereto. The monitoring system can be configured to record movement of the surgical instrument with respect to the calibration instrument when the tip of the surgical instrument is inserted into the pivot point of the calibration instrument, and to calculate a deviation of the tip of the surgical instrument from a predefined ideal tip based on the recorded movement.

Abstract: An example apparatus is provided for placing a first anchor in a first bone, and a locking assembly in a second bone, the first anchor and locking assembly being connected by a flexible segment that provides substantial tensile stabilization but offers little or no resistance to bending, rotation, or shear motion of the first anchor and locking assembly with respect to each other. The first anchor can include a proximal end and a distal end configured for insertion into a first hole in the first bone. The locking assembly can include a proximal end and a distal end configured for insertion into a second hole in the second bone. The flexible segment can be configured to adjust a distance between the first and second bones, while the locking assembly releasably engages the flexible segment to fix the distance between the first and second bones.

Abstract: A system for monitoring bone ingrowth includes an orthopaedic prosthesis having a circuit configured to transmit force sensor data indicative of an amount of force applied to a stem of the orthopaedic prosthesis in response to receiving power from an external power supply. The force sensor data is indicative of bone ingrowth of the orthopaedic prosthesis. As such, an orthopaedic surgeon may monitored the force sensor data over time to ensure bone ingrowth of the orthopaedic prosthesis has sufficiently occurred.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus having a locking mechanism that receives a cutting burr and that may include a loading and running position. The locking mechanism may include a motor driven spindle that carries a locking pawl and a detent pawl that lock the cutting burr in place an prevent the cutting burr from inadvertently falling out of the surgical drill instrument when in its load position. A diamond-shaped portion of the cutting burr may be formed in a six-sided diamond configuration and a perpendicular back end surface. The end of the cutting burr may include another diamond-shaped portion formed in a six-sided diamond shape surface that mates with a complementary surface formed in the receiving end of the spindle of the motor/locking mechanism. In an aspect, the attachment of the cutting burr is such that the cutting burr has substantially zero axial movement and runs true in the running condition.

Abstract: A method of constructing a detachment system for delivering an implantable medical device to a target location of a body vessel is presented. The method includes forming a compressible portion on a distal tube, engaging an implantable medical device with an engagement system, extending the engagement system through the distal tube such that the implantable medical device is distal of a distal end of the distal tube, applying a force to the engagement system to compress the compressible portion to a compressed state, fixing the engagement system to the distal tube to maintain the compressed state of the compressible portion, and joining a proximal end of the distal tube to a distal end of a proximal tube. The engagement system can include a loop wire that is fixed to the distal tube and engages the medical device.

Abstract: Provided herein are compositions for treating biofilm-derived infections include a cis-monounsaturated fatty acid solubilized in a solvent with a concentration in the range of about 100 ppm (parts per million) to about 1000 ppm, where the composition is configured to produce a bactericidal effect measured as a log reduction of colony forming units (CFU) of a bacteria of at least 1.0 when the composition is applied to a biofilm formed from the bacteria. Also provided are methods for treating the site of a biofilm-derived infection comprising applying a composition as disclosed herein to the site.

Abstract: The objectives for the designs presented herein can be for a variably flexible and kink-resistant catheter for vascular applications. The designs benefit from good compressive and tensile stiffness. A braided wire support structure can be disposed around an inner liner and an outer layer having a plurality of outer jackets of variable durometer. A metallic reinforcing layer can be cut from a hypotube and be used as the primary structure for catheter stiffness, reducing the reliance on and number of jackets to transition stiffness changes along the length of the catheter. The metallic reinforcing layer can have one or more ribbon cut segments and one or more axial hole patterns laser cut into the hypotube to progressively evolve the stiffness from proximally regions with more column stiffness and distal regions with greater lateral flexibility. The polymer jackets can be reflowed to bond the structure together.

Abstract: A model production device generates one or more contact bodies of a patient-specific surgical instrument model based on a parameterized model of a patient's bone. The parameterized model includes a predetermined number of polygons each having a predetermined position relative to the patient's anatomy. The parameterized model may be generated based on a three-dimensional model that was generated based on multiple images of the patient's bone. The model production device adds parametric fixed geometry to the patient-specific surgical instrument model based on the parameterized model and subtracts the three-dimensional model of the patient's bone from the patient-specific surgical instrument model. Each contacting body may be positioned at a high-confidence part of the parametric model, and the parametric fixed geometry may be positioned at a low-confidence part. A patient-specific surgical instrument may be manufactured based on the patient-specific surgical instrument model.

Abstract: The helical balloon assist device includes a tubular balloon formed at least partially into an independent helical shape in an uninflated state and an inflation tube in sealed communication with the balloon and extending from the helical balloon assist device in a proximal direction. The helical balloon assist device may include an inner core member formed at least partially into an independent helical shape and supporting the helical shape of the tubular balloon.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for tensioning a tether. In one embodiment, a tether tensioning device is provided and includes an elongate shaft adapted to be positioned adjacent to a bone anchor implanted in bone, and a tensioning mechanism pivotally associated with the elongate shaft and adapted to couple to a tether seated across the bone anchor and to pivot relative to the elongate shaft to apply a tensioning force to the tether.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a polyaxial bone fixation element for use in spinal fixation to interconnect a longitudinal spinal rod with a patient's vertebra. The polyaxial bone fixation element preferably includes a bone anchor, a collet, a body, and a locking cap. The polyaxial bone fixation element preferably enables in-situ assembly. That is, the polyaxial bone fixation element is preferably configured so that in use, the bone anchor may be secured to the patient's vertebra prior to being received within the body. Accordingly, the polyaxial bone fixation element enables a surgeon to implant the bone anchor without the body to maximize visibility and access around the anchoring site. Once the bone anchor has been secured to the patient's vertebra, the body can be snapped-onto the bone anchor. The bone anchor preferably also includes a second tool interface so that a surgical instrument can be directly coupled to the bone anchor.

Abstract: Technologies for determining the accuracy of three-dimensional models include a device having circuitry to obtain two-dimensional images of an anatomical object (e.g., a bone of a human joint), to obtain a candidate three-dimensional model of the anatomical object, and to produce two-dimensional silhouettes of the candidate three-dimensional model. The circuitry is also to apply an edge detection algorithm to the two-dimensional images to produce corresponding edge images and to compare the two-dimensional silhouettes to the edge images to produce a score indicative of an accuracy of the candidate three-dimensional model.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a connector can be configured to couple a first fixation element (e.g., a first rod) to a second fixation element (e.g., a second rod). One or both of the first and second fixation elements can be included with the connector, or one or both can be separately provided. In some instances, at least one of the fixation elements is previously implanted in a patient. The connector can provide one or more degrees of freedom between the first and second fixation elements. The connector can also include a locking element configured to (1) lock one or more of the fixation elements to the connector, and (2) lock one or more of the degrees of freedom between the fixation elements. The connector can be configured to snap onto or otherwise engage a fixation element in a manner that provides tactile and/or audible feedback to the surgeon.

Abstract: A device for capturing an obstruction in a vasculature can include an expandable braid, an invertible braid, and elongated members such as tubes or wires that can be moved to cause the expandable braid to expand and the invertible braid to form a pocket facing toward the expandable braid to thereby capture the obstruction within the pocket. The expandable braid can form a cap at an open end of the pocket so that the pocket and cap define a cavity in which the obstruction can be confined. The device can also have an expandable framework between the expandable braid and the invertible braid that can engage the obstruction to further secure the obstruction between the expandable braid and invertible braid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed an anchor assembly for use in spinal fixation to interconnect a longitudinal spinal rod with a patient's vertebra. The anchor assembly preferably includes a bone anchor, a body with a rod-receiving channel, an insert member (preferably a bushing), and a locking cap with a saddle. The anchor assembly preferably enables in-situ assembly where the bone anchor may be secured to the patient's vertebra prior to being received within the body of the bone anchor assembly. Accordingly, the anchor assembly enables a surgeon to implant the bone anchor without the body to maximize visibility and access around the anchoring site. Once the bone anchor has been secured to the patient's vertebra, the body may be snapped onto the bone anchor and a spinal rod may be inserted into the rod-receiving channel.

Abstract: A guide provides for placing a suture anchor into an outer rim of a glenoid cavity of a patient adjacent an edge of a glenoid labrum. The guide comprises an elongated guide tube having an axial lumen with a distal opening a rim engagement member pivotally attached to the elongated tube adjacent the distal opening. The rim engagement member has a first contact surface and a second contact surface each of which are distal of the guide tube and are separated from each other and disposed on opposite lateral sides of the guide tube whereby to allow placement of the contact member over the glenoid rim, with subsequent angular positioning of the guide tube and passage of an instrument down the lumen to the labrum.