Abstract: An implant (30) for a mammalian bone joint (3) for spacing a first bone (2) of the joint from a second bone (1) of the joint while allowing translational movement of the second bone in relation to the first bone is described. The implant comprises (a) a distal part (31) configured for intramedullary engagement with an end of the second bone, (b) a proximal part (34) having a platform (15) configured for non-engaging abutment of an end of the first bone and translational movement thereon, and (c) an articulating coupling (10, 16) provided between the distal and proximal ends allowing controlled articulation of the first and second bones. The bone-abutting platform is shaped to conform to and translate upon the end of the first bone. A kit for assembly to form the implant of the invention, and the use of the implant to treat osteoarthritis in a bone joint, are also described.

Abstract: A method for determining amplitude and phase correction coefficients for one or more signal processing paths across a frequency band of interest is provided. The method comprises transforming an input test signal from the time domain to the frequency domain to obtain an input magnitude spectrum and an input phase spectrum for the/each signal processing path. It further comprises transforming an/each respective output test signal from the time domain to the frequency domain to obtain an output magnitude spectrum and an output phase spectrum for the/each signal processing path. It also comprises comparing the/each input magnitude spectrum with its respective output magnitude spectrum to determine an amplitude correction coefficient for the/each signal processing path and/or comparing the/each input phase spectrum with its respective output phase spectrum, to determine a phase correction coefficient for the or each signal processing path.

Abstract: A method of treating a vessel in a subject comprises the steps of advancing a device distally across a treatment zone in a vessel, wherein the device comprises an elongated catheter having a lumen and a distal end, and a radially expansive treatment element disposed in the lumen and configured for axial movement relative to the catheter; deploying the radially expansive treatment element proud of the distal end of the catheter to radially expand and circumferentially impress against the vessel lumen at a distal end of the treatment zone; and withdrawing the deployed radially expansive treatment element proximally along the treatment zone with the treatment element circumferentially impressed against the vessel lumen to mechanically and circumferentially denude the treatment zone of the vessel. The radially expansive treatment element is then recaptured into the lumen of the catheter, before the device is withdrawn from the treated vessel.

Abstract: A gait management apparatus applies stimulation to a user suffering from a neurological disease (such as Parkinson's Disease) gait dysfunction. Motion sensors are arranged to be worn by a patient, and electrical stimulation electrodes are on the legs for stimulation. A controller receives motion sensing signals, and processes these signals to generate stimulation signals for operation of the electrodes to stimulate limb movement upon detection of a gait abnormality. There may be a user actuator for user actuation of electrical stimulation, and the inputs may be a series of taps. The controller may provide signals to prevent occurrence of freezing of gait when it senses that a patient is walking or has an intention to walk. Also, it may apply stimulation at an intensity level which is insufficient for functional muscle stimulation but sufficiently high to trigger activation of efferent nerves.

Abstract: There is provided system and a separation substrate device for use with an NLM separator in separating and/or detecting at least one target analyte in a sample, the substrate comprising a micromagnet array of a plurality of micromagnets, the micromagnet array comprising a first capture region, a second focusing region, and, a third detection region, the focusing region comprising a converging and/or diverging micromagnet array region. Also provided is a method for separating and detecting at least one target analyte in a sample.

Abstract: A method for the enzymatic conversion of a phenol substrate into a corresponding catechol product comprises the step of incubating the phenol substrate with a Ralstonia solanacearum tyrosinase enzyme, or a functional derivative thereof, in a reaction mixture, for a period of time sufficient to allow the enzyme convert at least some of the phenol substrate into the catechol product.

Abstract: A fistula treatment system comprises a guide such as a guide coil 1101 which is adapted to extend partially around a tissue tract and an implant element 1102. The implant element 1102 is activated to draw tissue surrounding the tract inwardly.

Abstract: A method of facilitating access to a neonate through a caesarean incision in the woman's abdomen by opening the incision, includes providing a supporting ring dimensioned to allow delivery of a neonate through the ring and comprising a non-adjustable pelvic-region retractor and handle fixed to the supporting ring and articulating the supporting ring to insert the non-adjustable pelvic-region retractor into the incision to cover and hold back the woman's bladder with the supporting ring disposed over the woman's abdomen. A first adjustable saddle-shaped retractor is then inserted into the incision to cup a first section of abdominal tissue on an abdominal side of the incision, before attaching the first adjustable saddle-shaped retractor to the supporting ring while it is cupping the first section of abdominal tissue at a first position spaced apart from the non-adjustable pelvic-region retractor to anchor the supporting ring to the woman and partially open the incision.

Abstract: An impeller-free vortex generator apparatus for fluid mixing, including: a fluid tank including: a first fluid inlet port, the first fluid inlet port including a curved flow channel between a first sidewall segment of the fluid tank and a second sidewall segment of the fluid tank, a second fluid inlet port, and a fluid outlet port; and a first fluid intake duct in fluid communication with the first fluid inlet port; wherein the first fluid intake duct is provided substantially on a tangent to the first sidewall segment of the fluid tank and aligned to deliver a first fluid to an internal surface of the first sidewall segment.

Abstract: A hydrogel composition for treatment of interstitial cystitis is described and comprises crosslinked hyaluronan particles dispersed throughout a crosslinked hyaluronan hydrogel matrix, wherein the hyaluronan is high molecular weight hyaluronan. The composition is formulated for direct bladder instillation in a human. The hyaluronan particles are nano-sized hyaluronan particles, or agglomerates of nano-sized hyaluronan particles, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the sialyltransferase ST3GAL6 for use as a biomarker for multiple myeloma, and especially as a marker for myelomas with inferior survival rates. The inventors have shown that glycosylation gene expression is dysregulated in Multiple Myeloma and that overexpression of the sialyltransferase ST3GAL6 is associated with inferior survival rates in patients.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inductor device comprising one or more interconnected columns of conductive material embedded in a supporting structure, wherein the one or more columns comprise an input terminal and an output terminal; and wherein each column is surrounded by a first magnetic layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a probability mass redistributor device comprising an input port and an output port. The device comprises a mapping block configured to perform a selected mapping function from a plurality of mapping functions on a random bitstream to generate an output signal having a desired probability mass function, at least one difference block, wherein the input to the at least one difference block comprises the output from the mapping block, and the output of the at least one difference block produces a modulation term, and wherein the output of each difference block is the difference between a previous value of the input signal to the block and a current value of the input signal to the block, and a summing block for summing a signal received by the input port and the modulation term to form an output signal.

Abstract: An implant (30) for a mammalian bone joint (3) for spacing a first bone (2) of the joint from a second bone (1) of the joint while allowing translational movement of the second bone in relation to the first bone is described. The implant comprises (a) a distal part (31) configured for intramedullary engagement with an end of the second bone, (b) a proximal part (34) having a platform (15) configured for non-engaging abutment of an end of the first bone and translational movement thereon, and (c) an articulating coupling (10, 16) provided between the distal and proximal ends allowing controlled articulation of the first and second bones. The bone-abutting platform is shaped to conform to and translate upon the end of the first bone. A kit for assembly to form the implant of the invention, and the use of the implant to treat osteoarthritis in a bone joint, are also described.

Abstract: An injectable elastin-like recombinamer (ELR) hydrogel for use in a method of treating a mammal that has suffered a myocardial infarction to modulate the response of cardiac muscle damaged by the infarct is described. The hydrogel is injected into the cardiac muscle damaged by the infarct at least two days after the myocardial infarction, and results in clinically significant repair of cardiac muscle evidenced by at least one or more of reduced scarring, positive remodelling of the damaged muscle, restoring cardiac muscle function to a clinically significant extent after infarction an improvement in angiogenesis, or a decreased pro-inflammatory response in the infarct zone, and typically within 10, 20 or 30 days of administration.

Abstract: An augmented connection graph can be created based on a task to be performed by a fog computing node by augmenting a connection graph representing plurality of IoT devices and connections among them. The augmenting can include adding to the connection graph data type nodes representing types of data processed by the fog computing node and adding connections between the data type nodes and IoT devices that generate the type of data represented by the respective data type nodes. A connection can be added between each pair of the IoT devices that are not currently connected and for which a level of correlation between the pair of IoT devices at least equals a threshold value. Based on the augmented connection graph, at least one of the IoT devices to assign to the fog computing node can be determined and assigned to the fog computing node.

Abstract: A coating composition for applying a very thin film coating to a substrate such as a polymeric film comprises a copolymer such as a block copolymer (BCP) that is compatible with the substrate, an alcohol solvent or solvents capable of dissolving the copolymer, a hydrolysed metal alkoxide precursor, a carboxylic acid stabiliser, and an active agent in an ionic, molecular, or small nanoparticle form. The active agent is configured to provide a functionality to the coating composition, selected from antimicrobial, antifungal, barrier, therapeutic, electrical, electronic, magnetic and optical. The composition is a sol comprising a continuous non-sedimentable/stable suspension of very small sized (of nano order) amorphous inorganic polymers in their oligomeric or polymeric state, and comprising the active agent dispersed in a hydrolysed metal alkoxide-BCP matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for performing high dynamic range low inter-pixel spatial and wavelength crosstalk optical image detection in a camera comprising an Optical Array Device (OAD), a point Photo Detector (PD) and a Photo Detector Array (PDA) sensor. The method comprises imaging incident light from an object onto an image plane of the Optical Array Device (OAD) to form an incident image map; selecting by the OAD and the Point Photo Detector and by the OAD and the Photo Detector Array a plurality of pixels on the incident image map for time-frequency coding; time-frequency coding the selected pixels by the OAD; detecting by the point PD the optical irradiance values of the time-frequency coded pixels output from the OAD; and performing signal processing on the detected optical irradiance values to determine the light intensity of each of the selected pixels.

Abstract: A fistula treatment system comprises a guide such as a guide coil 1101 which is adapted to extend partially around a tissue tract and an implant element 1102. The implant element 1102 is activated to draw tissue surrounding the tract inwardly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I): wherein L is an optionally substituted heterocyclic group excluding unsubstituted monocyclic pyridine groups; wherein a is 0, 1 or 2; wherein R1 is H or with R2 is a bond; wherein R2 is an optionally substituted alkoxy or aryloxy group, or with R1 forms a bond; wherein R3 is an optionally substituted alkyl group; and wherein R4 is CH2, CMe2 or O. Such compounds may be used in the treatment or prophylaxis of a disease or condition in which inhibition of acute inflammation and/or promotion of its resolution and/or suppression of fibrosis.