Abstract: A bone fixation assembly may include a male member removably couplable with a female member. The male member may include a male load-sharing feature having at least one male load-sharing surface. The female member may include a female load-sharing feature having at least one female load-sharing surface. The female load-sharing feature may be positioned and shaped to receive the male load-sharing feature therein. In response to a bending load acting on the bone fixation assembly, at least one of the male member and the female member may bend such that, at least a portion of the at least one male load-sharing surface engages with at least a portion of the at least one female load-sharing surface to distribute the bending load between the male member and the female member.

Abstract: A trephine may be used to form a tunnel through bone and/or cartilage. The trephine may have a trephine body with a generally tubular shape centered on a trephine body longitudinal axis, and a trephine body distal rim. The trephine may also have a drive shaft that receives torque and transmits the torque to the trephine body. The trephine body distal rim may lie substantially in a plane that is non-perpendicular to the trephine body longitudinal axis. The trephine may further have a cutting tooth extending distally from the trephine body distal rim. The cutting tooth may have a first distal tip and a second distal tip displaced circumferentially from the first distal tip. The trephine may be advanced while rotating to form the tunnel through bone and a first, adjacent cartilage surface of a joint, without breaching a second cartilage surface on the opposite side of the joint.

Abstract: This invention discloses a design a capillary column for use with electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography (EMLC). The capillary design, which results in a marked reduction in the flow of current through the column, enables the use of a two-electrode column construction that overcomes the mechanical and electrical shortfalls of the conventional standard bore design.

Abstract: A bone screw may be insertable into a bone. The bone screw may have a distal member with bone-engaging threads, a proximal member configured to slidably engage the distal member, and a tension member with a proximal end coupled to the proximal member, and a distal end coupled to the distal member such that, in response to motion of the distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member.

Abstract: Methods of minimizing dysregulation of Staufen1-associated RNA metabolism can include introducing an amount of a Staufen1-regulating agent to a target cell sufficient to minimize the dysregulation. Therapeutic compositions for treating a neurodegenerative condition associated with Staufen1-induced dysregulation of RNA metabolism can include a therapeutically effective amount of a Staufen1-regulating agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: A bone screw may be insertable into a bone. The bone screw may have a distal member with bone-engaging threads, a proximal member configured to slidably engage the distal member, and a tension member with a proximal end coupled to the proximal member, and a distal end coupled to the distal member such that, in response to motion of the distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member. The tension member may be configured such that, at a minimum length of the bone screw, the tension member is pre-stretched so that the tension member is under tension to urge the bone screw to shorten. The bone screw may be inserted in the pre-stretched state. A pre-stretch driver may be used to tension the bone screw prior to or during insertion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring changes in smart hydrogel microresonator structures positioned in an in vivo or other environment, having an acoustic resonance frequency in an ultrasound range. The system includes a smart hydrogel microresonator structure positioned within the environment configured to exhibit a change in resonance frequency in response to interaction with one or more predefined analytes in the environment. The system includes an ultrasound transducer for querying the smart hydrogel microresonator structure at or near its resonance frequency. The system also includes a computer system configured to receive ultrasound data as provided by query of the smart hydrogel microresonator structure and to determine changes in resonance frequency, amplitude or intensity of the ultrasound query wave, or mean grayscale value (MGV) associated with the ultrasound data of the smart hydrogel microresonator structure due to the change in resonance frequency.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for non-continuous rotation (cogging-torque actuator (CTA)) (100) comprises a support structure (116), an output shaft (104) rotatable about and defining an axis of rotation (X), a permanent magnet rotor (106) comprising at least two magnetic poles (108a, 108b) attached to the output shaft (104), and a stator device (110) comprising a ferromagnetic pole body (112) attached to the support structure (116) and surrounding the at least two magnetic poles (108a, 108b). The ferromagnetic pole body (112) can have at least four ferromagnetic stator poles (112a-d) each wrapped in a conductive wire (114a-d) to define a stator coil. The at least four ferromagnetic stator poles (112a-d) are sized, and spaced radially from each other, so as to define a maximum cogging torque of the electromagnetic actuator (100). The CTA (100) can operate as an actuator, an elastic spring, a clutch, and/or a load support device.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of treating myopia comprising administering composition comprising a cop-per-containing agent to an eye of a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, are recombinant polypeptides comprising one or more homologous amino acid repeats; and, non-immunogenic bioconjugates comprising recombinant polypeptides comprising one or more homologous amino acid repeats and one or more therapeutic agents. Also, disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions including the recombinant polypeptides; and methods of administering the recombinant polypeptides to patients for the treatment of cancer or infections.

Abstract: Methods of minimizing dysregulation of Staufen1-associated RNA metabolism can include introducing an amount of a Staufen1-regulating agent to a target cell sufficient to minimize the dysregulation. Therapeutic compositions for treating a neurodegenerative condition associated with Staufen1-induced dysregulation of RNA metabolism can include a therapeutically effective amount of a Staufen1-regulating agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: Methods and devices for eradicating biofilms and planktonic bacteria are provided. In on embodiment, a therapeutic delivery device comprised of at least a port and a antimicrobial releasing pouch and one or more therapeutic agents is provided to the mammal. In one aspect of at least one embodiment the releasing pouch has an internal reservoir comprised of a membrane that is configured to contain the one or more therapeutic agents that is to be administered to the mammal and the port is in fluid communication with the pouch and configured such that the pouch can be refilled with one or more therapeutic agents via the port. In other aspect of at least one embodiment the method is able to fully eradicate 109 colony forming units (CFU) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) within a 24 hr period.

Abstract: A therapeutic delivery device that provides a controlled release of high doses of a therapeutic agent in a local area, sustains the high dose controlled release with a percutaneous port for refilling the device, and is versatile for use with multiple types of therapeutic agents and/or implant systems. A rate determining/controlled release membrane is used to decrease the molecular mobility of the therapeutic compounds thereby controlling the therapeutic release profile. The therapeutic delivery device includes a body defining an internal reservoir for receiving a therapeutic agent and including a first membrane for providing a controlled release of the therapeutic agent to the surgical site, a port in fluid communication with the reservoir, a sleeve configured to encapsulate the body, and a rigid housing configured to support the body and a portion of the sleeve, the rigid housing configured to release the body and the sleeve after the body and the sleeve are anchored position relative to the surgical site.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of treating obesity or an obesity-related condition comprising administering an effective amount of soluble (pro)renin receptor (sPRR) to a subject that is obese or having an obesity-related condition. In some instances, obesity-related conditions can be, but are not limited to, steatosis, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, chronic renal disease. Disclosed are methods of reducing body weight comprising administering an effective amount of sPRR to a subject in need thereof. Disclosed are methods of treating fatty liver in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of sPRR to a subject in need thereof. Disclosed are methods of treating a fluid and electrolyte disorder comprising administering an effective amount of sPRR to a subject diagnosed with a fluid and electrolyte disorder.

Abstract: A therapeutic delivery device that provides a controlled release of high doses of a therapeutic agent in a local area, sustains the high dose controlled release with a percutaneous port for refilling the device, and is versatile for use with multiple types of therapeutic agents and/or implant systems. A rate determining/controlled release membrane is used to decrease the molecular mobility of the therapeutic compounds thereby controlling the therapeutic release profile. The therapeutic delivery device includes a body defining an internal reservoir for receiving a therapeutic agent and including a first membrane for providing a controlled release of the therapeutic agent to the surgical site, a port in fluid communication with the reservoir, a sleeve configured to encapsulate the body, and a rigid housing configured to support the body and a portion of the sleeve, the rigid housing configured to release the body and the sleeve after the body and the sleeve are anchored position relative to the surgical site.

Abstract: A therapeutic delivery device that provides a controlled release of high doses of a therapeutic agent in a local area, sustains the high dose controlled release with a percutaneous port for refilling the device, and is versatile for use with multiple types of therapeutic agents and/or implant systems. A rate determining/controlled release membrane is used to decrease the molecular mobility of the therapeutic compounds thereby controlling the therapeutic release profile. The therapeutic delivery device includes a body defining an internal reservoir for receiving a therapeutic agent and including a first membrane for providing a controlled release of the therapeutic agent to the surgical site, a port in fluid communication with the reservoir, a sleeve configured to encapsulate the body, and a rigid housing configured to support the body and a portion of the sleeve, the rigid housing configured to release the body and the sleeve after the body and the sleeve are anchored position relative to the surgical site.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a chondrogenic cell sheet comprising at least two layers of confluent chondrogenically differentiated cells, wherein the cell sheet is prepared from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and wherein the chondrogenically differentiated cells on the basal side of the cell sheet express adhesion molecules. The disclosure also relates to a method of preparing a chondrogenic cell sheet comprising: a) culturing MSCs on temperature responsive cultureware until confluent to form a cell sheet; b) detaching the cell sheet by temperature reduction and allowing the cell sheet to contract, forming a contracted cell sheet; c) contacting the contracted cell sheet with a culture surface; and d) treating the contracted cell sheet on the culture surface with chondrogenic medium and culturing to form a chondrogenic cell sheet. Methods of using the chondrogenic cell sheets to repair cartilage tissue or treat joint disease are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for harvesting bone material from a bone may include a rotary cutter defining a rotary cutter longitudinal axis extending between a rotary cutter proximal end and a rotary cutter distal end. The rotary cutter may have a drive shaft configured to receive input torque, and an osteochondral cutter configured to cut the tissue and receive the tissue material in response to rotation of the osteochondral cutter under pressure against the tissue. The system may further include a bone port defining a bone port longitudinal axis extending between a bone port proximal end and a bone port distal end. The bone port may have a bone port cannulation sized to closely fit over the osteochondral cutter. At least one of the bone port proximal end and the bone port distal end may be securable to the tissue. A stratiform tissue graft may be delivered through the bone port.

Abstract: A bone screw may be insertable into a bone. The bone screw may have a distal member with bone-engaging threads, a proximal member configured to slidably engage the distal member, and a tension member with a proximal end coupled to the proximal member, and a distal end coupled to the distal member such that, in response to motion of the distal member away from the proximal member, the tension member elongates and urges the distal member to move toward the proximal member.

Abstract: Growing rod systems and methods for correcting spinal deformities include at least one growing rod assembly and at least one fluid delivery assembly. Each growing rod assembly includes a fluid actuator that is operable to extend first and second rod segments in opposite directions along the spine. The fluid actuator can be provided by, for example, a piston-cylinder actuator. Each fluid delivery assembly includes a fluid pump operably connectable to a fluid line, which in turn is connected to the fluid actuator. In one embodiment, the fluid actuator is of a linear design. In another embodiment, two linear or curvilinear fluid actuators are provided back-to-back and connected by a connecting rod that mounts to the mid-spine and is contourable. In another embodiment, the fluid actuator is of a curvilinear design to generally conform the normal spine. And in another embodiment, the fluid actuator includes a fluid-over-fluid shock absorber.