Abstract: A bone screw may be insertable into a bone, and may have a proximal member, a distal member with bone-engaging threads, wherein the distal member is configured to slidably engage the proximal member such that a variable-length cavity is defined within the proximal member and the distal member, and a tension member residing at least partially within the variable-length cavity. The tension member may have 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 proximal member and the distal member may be interconnected to share bending loads at a bending transmission feature.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of producing platelets and red blood cells using synthetic biology and uses thereof. The methods disclosed herein can also be used to produce platelets and red blood cells comprising a therapeutic agent. The cells produced by the methods disclosed herein can be used to treat, manage, prevent and diagnosis various diseases and disorders and be used as a research tool.

Abstract: A sensor interface for a resistive sensor has an analog front end comprising. The analog front end has an analog input/output (I/O) sensor port to be coupled to the resistive sensor. An integration stage is coupled to the analog I/O sensor port to oscillate at an oscillation frequency proportional to a sensor resistance of the resistive sensor. The integration stage has a variable integrator capacitance to vary the oscillation frequency. A gain stage is coupled to the integration stage and has a variable gain to vary the oscillation frequency of the integration stage. The sensor interface also has a smart digital controller (SDC) coupled to the analog front end to compute the sensor resistance of the resistive sensor based on the oscillation frequency. In addition, the SDC automatically detects unstable oscillation in the integration stage and causes the variable gain and the variable integrator capacitance to change.

Abstract: Electronic devices and methods for single event effect mitigation are described. The device can include a processor, a memory cell, and an integrated particle sensor. The memory cell can comprise a substrate, a deep well coupled to the substrate, and a ground-coupled well coupled to the deep well. The integrated particle sensor can be coupled between the substrate and the deep well, and the ground-coupled well and the deep well. The integrated particle sensor can be operable to detect an ionizing particle generating the single event effect. The electronic device can be a field-programmable gate array. The method can include detecting an ionizing particle generating a single event effect at a memory cell of the electronic device, switching from the memory cell to a redundant memory cell associated with the memory cell when the single event effect is detected, and reconfiguring the memory cell based on the redundant memory cell.

Abstract: A Broadband Diffractive-Optical Element (BDOE) as a lens whose f-number and numerical aperture are decoupled. The BDOE can include a substrate and an array of optical cells formed on the substrate to have a non-linear arrangement of cell heights to diffract light into a focal spot. The geometry of the focal spot can be designed to decouple the f-number from the numerical aperture for an imaging device that employs the broadband diffractive optical element as a lens.

Abstract: A system for external rotational deformity correction of an intact bone may include: a first frame member and a second frame member rotatably coupled therewith, a first bone fixation member coupled to the first frame member and to a distal segment of the intact bone, a second bone fixation member coupled to the second frame member and to a proximal segment of the intact bone at a first angle, an automated control mechanism coupled to the first and second frame members, and a power source for the automated control mechanism. The automated control mechanism may: receive power from the power source, rotate the first frame member to a desired relative rotational position, and position the first bone fixation member at a desired second angle to exert torsional force on the intact bone and externally reduce rotational deformity of the intact bone.

Abstract: A method of refining a microstructure of a titanium material can include providing a solid titanium material at a temperature below about 400° C. The titanium material can be heated under a hydrogen-containing atmosphere to a hydrogen charging temperature that is above a ? transus temperature of the titanium material and below a melting temperature of the titanium material, and held at this temperature for a time sufficient to convert the titanium material to a substantially homogeneous ? phase. The titanium material can be cooled under the hydrogen-containing atmosphere to a phase transformation temperature below the ? transus temperature and above about 400° C., and held for a time to produce a phase regions. The titanium material can also be held under a substantially hydrogen-free atmosphere or vacuum at a dehydrogenation temperature below the ? transus temperature and above the ? phase decomposition temperature to remove hydrogen from the titanium material.

Abstract: Sample preparation can include obtaining a sample in the form of a liquid mixture and forcing the liquid mixture through a cavitation chamber at an optimal pressure for separating pathogens from particles in the mixture without fragmenting at least 30% of the pathogens. Apparatuses used for sample preparation methods can include a fluid circuit, a cavitation chamber incorporated into the fluid circuit and having a channel with first, second, and third cross-sectional areas, the second cross-sectional area being downstream of and smaller than the first cross-sectional with respect to fluid flow through the fluid circuit and the third cross-sectional area being larger than and downstream of the second cross-sectional area with respect to fluid flow through the fluid circuit. The apparatus can include a pump in fluid communication with the cavitation chamber and a pressure sensor positioned upstream of the cavitation chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes transmission systems for use in artificial joints of assistive devices, such as assistive prostheses, orthoses, and powered exoskeletons. A variable transmission is configured to automatically or manually adapt the torque profile to the demand of different locomotion tasks, such as a relatively high torque and low speed profile for a task such as standing up or ascending stairs, or a relatively low torque and high speed profile for a task such as walking.

Abstract: A composite solid electrolyte (410) for lithium batteries can include a solid polymer (440), a lithium salt (450) distributed in the solid polymer (440), and lithium iron phosphate (460) distributed in the solid polymer (440). A solid state lithium battery cell (400) can include a composite solid electrolyte layer (410), an anode (420) containing lithium in contact with a first surface of the composite solid electrolyte layer (410): and a cathode (430) in contact with a second surface of the composite solid electrolyte layer (410). The composite solid electrolyte layer (410) can include a solid polymer (440), a lithium salt (450) distributed in the solid polymer (440), and lithium iron phosphate (460) distributed in the solid polymer (440).

Abstract: An implant assembly for a long bone is adapted to support an exo-prosthesis. The assembly includes a stem, a subdermal component and a percutaneous post. The stem has a proximal end that is adapted to be received in a surgically prepared medullary canal of the long bone, and a distal end having a surface that is adapted to promote bone ingrowth. The subdermal component includes a proximal portion that is adapted for attachment to the distal end of the stem, and a fixation surface that is adapted to promote soft tissue fixation. The percutaneous post has a proximal end that is adapted to be attached to the subdermal component.

Abstract: An exoskeleton device that includes an artificial joint and a frame member extending from the artificial joint. The frame member is configured for extension over a limb of a user. The exoskeleton device also includes a self-aligning mechanism connected to the frame member. The self-aligning mechanism includes three passive degrees of freedom (pDOF) provided in a prismatic-revolute-revolute (PRR) configuration. The self-aligning mechanism also includes a limb attachment member configured for mechanically coupling to a portion of the limb of the user.

Abstract: A multi-modal imaging device can include a sensor array, a metamaterial filter, and a memory unit. The sensor array can be any suitable sensor which detects incoming light and is capable of recording a received image. The metamaterial filter can be oriented adjacent the sensor array and can be patterned with pixels having varied physical heights designed to diffract an incoming image to produce an engineered response which is sensitive to 2D spatial coordinates (x, y), time (t), and at least one of depth spatial coordinate (z), spectrum (?), and degree of polarization ({right arrow over (S)}). The memory unit can include instructions that, when executed by a processor, reconstruct the engineered response to produce a reconstructed image which includes the 2D spatial coordinates and at least one of z, ?, and {right arrow over (S)}.

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: 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 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: 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: 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.