Abstract: A guide for placing a landmark(s) in a patient tissue comprises a central portion defining at least one guiding bore configured to receive and guide a tool for placing the at least one landmark in the patient tissue. Extended portions project away from the central portion, each of the extended portions having respective lower base surfaces contoured to mate with the patient tissue, at least the respective lower base surfaces being customized as a function of preoperative imaging of the patient tissue, whereby the guide is specific to the patient.

Abstract: Heterogeneity for biomarkers in a tissue sample can be calculated. A heterogeneity score can be combined with an immunohistochemistry combination score to provide breast cancer recurrence prognosis. Heterogeneity can be based on percent positivity determinations for a plurality of biomarkers according to how many cells in the sample stain positive. An immunohistochemistry combination score can be calculated. An imaging tool can support a digital pathologist workflow that includes designating fields of view in an image of the tissue sample. Based on the fields of view, a heterogeneity metric can be calculated and combined with an immunohistochemistry combination score to generate a breast cancer recurrence prognosis score.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to estimating an interior diameter of a hollow organ. As such, one aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that can include a light-based distance sensor and a device housing the light-based distance sensor located within the hollow organ. The light-based distance sensor can include an emitter and a detector. The emitter can transmit a conical beam of light to an inner surface of a hollow organ. The detector can receive a portion of the light back-reflected from the inner surface of the hollow organ. The device can determine a volume of the hollow organ based on a signal related to the back-reflected portion of the light, which can be based on a distance between the light-based distance sensor and the inner surface of the hollow organ.

Abstract: A device for minimizing obstruction in a medical device that carries fluids includes a housing defining a channel configured to receive and secure a section of the medical device such that the section of the medical device extends coaxially with a central longitudinal axis of the channel. The device also includes components supported in the housing, including a motor, wherein the components are configured to be operated to impart motion to the housing and the attached medical device. The motion is configured to produce oscillatory motion of a frequency sufficient to concentrate shear stresses in a fluid boundary layer adjacent an inner wall of the medical device. The housing and the components supported in the housing are configured and arranged so that a device center of mass lies along or near the longitudinal axis of the channel.

Abstract: A blood pump (20) includes a stator assembly comprising a motor stator (52), a fluid inlet (24), and a fluid outlet (26). A rotor assembly includes a motor rotor (54) and an impeller (40) rotatable about an axis (44) to move fluid from the inlet (24) to the outlet (26). An outflow sheath (300) directs the flow along the outside of the pump (20).

Abstract: A hemostatic vessel band is provided. The hemostatic vessel band has a membrane. A plurality of cells extend transversely from a membrane second surface. Each of the cells has a cell chamber that is defined by the membrane second surface and a plurality of cell walls. When the hemostatic vessel band is selectively fastened circumferentially about a vessel to at least partially cover the target site. The hemostatic vessel band applies radially inward pressure to at least a portion of the vessel and at least a portion of the target site. Each cell chamber that is positioned transversely adjacent to at least a portion of the target site forms one isolation zone of a plurality of isolation zones. Each isolation zone is at least partially isolated from each of the other isolation zones and from any vessel surface adjacent to the isolation zone.

Abstract: A method for treating regurgitation of blood flow through a diseased heart valve is provided. The diseased heart valve including an annulus, an anterior valve leaflet, a posterior valve leaflet and a subvalvular apparatus. The method includes providing an apparatus comprising a substantially annular support member, at least one infra-annular support member securely connected thereto, and at least one anchoring element associated with the at least one infra-annular support member. The method further includes attaching the substantially annular support member to the annulus of the diseased heart valve and attaching proximal and distal ends of a prosthetic chordae tendineae to the at least one anchoring element and a papillary muscle, respectively, so that the papillary muscle is caused to move medially.

Abstract: A method of treating or preventing a neuroinflammatory and/or neurodegenerative disease in a subject by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a CB2 receptor agonist is described. The CB2 receptor agonist can be a compound according to formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with R1 and R2 as defined herein. Administration of the CB2 receptor agonist activates CB2 receptors in the microglia, and can restore syntaptic plasticity, cognition, and memory in subjects having elevated levels of amyloid-ßpeptide in the brain.

Abstract: The effects of acute toxicity from a radiation procedure can be reduced without altering the radiation dose by temporally feathering the radiation procedure. Using temporal feathering, the radiation procedure delivers a total amount of radiation that is weighted amounts of radiation per day. The weighted amounts of radiation can be delivered according to a sequence plan that ensures the total dose of radiation is administered in the time period. The sequence plan includes one day of a high fractional dose of radiation and four days of a low fractional dose of radiation.

Abstract: Blocking peptides that inhibit FAK or NANOG binding to Cx26, and a method of treating cancer by administering these blocking peptides to a subject in need thereof are described.

Abstract: A multiple-bore solute cartridge carrier 10) for use in a sterile fluid delivery system. The carrier includes a rotary housing (12) adapted for connection to the sterile fluid delivery system. The rotary housing has one or more bores (30) configured to receive a solute cartridge. The rotary housing, when connected to the sterile fluid delivery system, is selectively rotatable to facilitate creation of a desired sterile solution when sterile water from the fluid delivery system is flowed through the solute cartridge.

Abstract: A method of restoring perfusion to a blood vessel with an obstruction. The method includes delivering an expandable member into the blood vessel, said expandable member having a tubular mesh defined between a proximal end and a distal end; causing the expandable member to expand and compress the obstruction; and dislodging the obstruction to restore blood flow through the blood vessel.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods, kits and compositions for the treatment and/or prevention of ovarian cancer through the induction of an immune response against Anti-Mullerian Hormone Receptor, Type II (AMHR2).

Abstract: Methods of treating airway stenosis are provided. Methods include gradually dilating the stenotic region of a patient's airway lumen with sequentially implanted customized airway stents. The airway stents are sequentially implanted until the diameter of the stenotic region of the patient's airway has substantially the same diameter as the diameter of an adjacent healthy region of the patient's airway lumen.

Abstract: A gradually-expandable stent includes a base ring completely encircling a central valve-accepting area. A plurality of uprights is provided. Each upright includes two longitudinally extending upright struts. Each upright strut has a strut base directly connected to the base ring and a strut tip directly attached to the other strut tip of the upright strut at a rounded upright apex. The upright apex is longitudinally spaced from the base ring. At least one expansion feature is associated with the base ring and gradually expands to enlarge the central valve-accepting area toward a maximum valve-accepting area responsive to growth of the patient over an extended dwell time.

Abstract: An endovascular graft including a stent graft and a surgical graft is provided. The stent graft can include an elongated body having a collapsed and expanded configuration and include a frame structure covered by a compression sleeve that retains the elongated body in the collapsed configuration until deployment of the stent graft. The endovascular graft can include a first cuff member sized and dimensioned to extend into a lumen of an aortic arch branch vessel when the endovascular graft is implanted in a subject. The frame structure can include a backstop sized and dimensioned to extend into the first cuff member when the endovascular graft is implanted in the subject. The surgical graft can be partially attached to the stent graft at a proximal end portion thereof.

Abstract: A stent graft (2) for placement in the thoracic arch of a patient has a first tubular body portion (6) with a first lumen therein for placement in the ascending aorta of a patient and a second tubular body portion (8) to extend along the thoracic arch and down the descending aorta. The second tubular body portion is of a lesser diameter than the first tubular body portion. There is a step portion (10) between the first body portion and the second body portion. The step portion is joined to and continuous with the first portion and the second portion. A first side of each of the first body portion, the step portion and the second body portion are substantially aligned so that there is a step (18) defined on a second side opposite to the first side of the body portion. There is an aperture (30) in the step portion and an internal tube (32) extending from the aperture towards the first body portion.

Abstract: Embodiments access a digitized image of tissue demonstrating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the tissue including a plurality of cellular nuclei; segment the plurality of cellular nuclei represented in the digitized image; extract a set of nuclear radiomic features from the plurality of segmented cellular nuclei; generate at least one nuclear cell graph (CG) based on the plurality of segmented nuclei; compute a set of CG features based on the nuclear CG; provide the set of nuclear radiomic features and the set of CG features to a machine learning classifier; receive, from the machine learning classifier, a probability that the tissue will respond to immunotherapy, based, at least in part, on the set of nuclear radiomic features and the set of CG features; generate a classification of the tissue as a responder or non-responder based on the probability; and display the classification.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device includes a housing including a pumping chamber. A stator assembly is supported in the housing. The stator assembly includes a core having a length measured along a pump axis. A rotating assembly is rotatable relative to the stator assembly about the pump axis. The rotating assembly includes an impeller positioned in the pumping chamber and a rotor magnet. The rotating assembly is movable axially along the pump axis relative to the pump housing and the stator assembly. The rotating assembly includes a rotor magnet configured and arranged such that the magnetic attraction of the rotor magnet to the core urges the rotating assembly to move axially relative to the stator assembly such that a flow regulating portion of the rotating assembly engages with a corresponding portion of the housing to block flow through the pumping chamber when the pump is at rest.

Abstract: A method of providing a prognosis or diagnosis of prostate cancer in a subject is described. The method includes obtaining a urine or prostate sample from the subject; determining the level of expression of ABCA1 in the sample; and comparing the level of expression of ABCA1 in the sample to the level of a control sample, wherein a decreased level of ABCA1 expression compared to the control indicates the subject has prostate cancer or a more severe form of prostate cancer. Methods of treating subjects identified as having prostate cancer, and kits for carrying out the method of prognosis or diagnosis are also described.