Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods for transducing immune cells in vivo where a viral particle comprising a polynucleotide encoding a chimeric antigen receptor and a multipartite cell-surface receptor is administered to a subject.

Abstract: An echogenic needle may have at least one V-shaped spiral groove formed at its distal portion adjacent to its patient end. The walls of the groove are orthogonal to each other. The groove is titled at a given angle from a neutral position toward the proximal end of the needle so that when the needle is inserted into the patient at an insertion angle under ultrasound imaging, the ultrasound wave emitted from the ultrasound transducer is reflected in a substantially reverse direction back to the transducer by at least one wall of the spiral groove. A pair of crisscrossing grooves may be spirally wound about the distal portion of the needle with each groove being tilted to the given angle to enhance echogeneity. The echogeneity of the needle may also be enhanced by increasing the pitch density of each groove while maintaining the crisscrossing groves at their neutral position.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously deploying a prosthetic heart valve. The system includes an inner shaft assembly, a delivery sheath capsule and a handle maintaining a first actuator and a second actuator. The capsule is configured to compressively retain the prosthetic heart valve over the inner shaft assembly. The first actuator is operated to proximally retract the delivery sheath capsule and expose the prosthetic heart valve relative to the capsule. The second actuator is operated to proximally retract the prosthetic heart valve by transmitting forces to the inner shaft assembly.

Abstract: An echogenic needle may have at least one V-shaped spiral groove formed at its distal portion adjacent to its patient end. The walls of the groove are orthogonal to each other. The groove is titled at a given angle from a neutral position toward the proximal end of the needle so that when the needle is inserted into the patient at an insertion angle under ultrasound imaging, the ultrasound wave emitted from the ultrasound transducer is reflected in a substantially reverse direction back to the transducer by at least one wall of the spiral groove. A pair of crisscrossing grooves may be spirally wound about the distal portion of the needle with each groove being tilted to the given angle to enhance echogeneity. The echogeneity of the needle may also be enhanced by increasing the pitch density of each groove while maintaining the crisscrossing groves at their neutral position.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously deploying a prosthetic heart valve. The system includes an inner shaft assembly, a delivery sheath capsule and a handle maintaining a first actuator and a second actuator. The capsule is configured to compressively retain the prosthetic heart valve over the inner shaft assembly. The first actuator is operated to proximally retract the delivery sheath capsule and expose the prosthetic heart valve relative to the capsule. The second actuator is operated to proximally retract the prosthetic heart valve by transmitting forces to the inner shaft assembly.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously deploying a prosthetic heart valve. The system includes an inner shaft assembly, a delivery sheath capsule and a handle maintaining a first actuator and a second actuator. The capsule is configured to compressively retain the prosthetic heart valve over the inner shaft assembly. The first actuator is operated to proximally retract the delivery sheath capsule and expose the prosthetic heart valve relative to the capsule. The second actuator is operated to proximally retract the prosthetic heart valve by transmitting forces to the inner shaft assembly.

Abstract: A needle assembly has a needle having an echogenic feature proximate to its distal sharp tip mounted to an echogenic cannula, with the echogenic tip of the needle extending beyond the distal end of the cannula. The echogenic tip provides guidance for the movement of the needle assembly under ultrasound observation so that the needle assembly may be more readily maneuvered inside a body. Once correctly positioned, the needle is removed and further confirmation may be made under ultrasound observation that the cannula has been correctly positioned inside the body. The echogenic feature of the needle may be at least one spiral groove that is tilted at an angle relative to the tip of the needle to effect a substantially 180° reflection of the ultrasound. An alternative echogenic feature to improve reflected echogeneity has crisscrossing grooves each having a predetermined pitch density formed at a neutral position on the needle.

Abstract: An echogenic needle may have at least one V-shaped spiral groove formed at its distal portion adjacent to its patient end. The walls of the groove are orthogonal to each other. The groove is titled at a given angle from a neutral position toward the proximal end of the needle so that when the needle is inserted into the patient at an insertion angle under ultrasound imaging, the ultrasound wave emitted from the ultrasound transducer is reflected in a substantially reverse direction back to the transducer by at least one wall of the spiral groove. A pair of crisscrossing grooves may be spirally wound about the distal portion of the needle with each groove being tilted to the given angle to enhance echogeneity. The echogeneity of the needle may also be enhanced by increasing the pitch density of each groove while maintaining the crisscrossing groves at their neutral position.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously deploying a prosthetic heart valve. The system includes an inner shaft assembly, a delivery sheath capsule and a handle maintaining a first actuator and a second actuator. The capsule is configured to compressively retain the prosthetic heart valve over the inner shaft assembly. The first actuator is operated to proximally retract the delivery sheath capsule and expose the prosthetic heart valve relative to the capsule. The second actuator is operated to proximally retract the prosthetic heart valve by transmitting forces to the inner shaft assembly.

Abstract: An introducer for dispensing a flexible member such as a catheter has a receptacle extension having a plurality of sections. Some of the sections are configured to have their own given dimensions. The dimensions may be in the form of a given tapered conical configuration for each of the sections so that those sections each are adapted to only fittingly mate with the receptacle of a counterpart connector that has a configuration complementary to the given tapered conical configuration. The introducer is thus usable with connectors of different configurations.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously deploying a prosthetic heart valve. The system includes an inner shaft assembly, a delivery sheath capsule and a handle maintaining a first actuator and a second actuator. The capsule is configured to compressively retain the prosthetic heart valve over the inner shaft assembly. The first actuator is operated to proximally retract the delivery sheath capsule and expose the prosthetic heart valve relative to the capsule. The second actuator is operated to proximally retract the prosthetic heart valve by transmitting forces to the inner shaft assembly.

Abstract: A delivery system for use with a prosthetic heart valve having a stent frame to which a valve structure is attached includes a shaft assembly including a distal end, an intermediate portion, and a first coupling structure disposed near the distal end and configured to be coupled to a distal end of the prosthetic heart valve via a first tether. A sheath assembly defines a lumen sized to slidably receive the shaft assembly. The delivery system is configured to transition from a loaded state in which the sheath assembly encompasses the prosthetic heart valve to a deployed state in which the sheath assembly is withdrawn from the prosthetic heart valve. The first coupling structure is configured to be manipulated in a first direction to provide a controlled expansion or contraction of the distal end of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously deploying a prosthetic heart valve. The system includes an inner shaft assembly, a delivery sheath capsule and a handle maintaining a first actuator and a second actuator. The capsule is configured to compressively retain the prosthetic heart valve over the inner shaft assembly. The first actuator is operated to proximally retract the delivery sheath capsule and expose the prosthetic heart valve relative to the capsule. The second actuator is operated to proximally retract the prosthetic heart valve by transmitting forces to the inner shaft assembly.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously deploying a prosthetic heart valve. The system includes an inner shaft assembly, a delivery sheath capsule and a handle maintaining a first actuator and a second actuator. The capsule is configured to compressively retain the prosthetic heart valve over the inner shaft assembly. The first actuator is operated to proximally retract the delivery sheath capsule and expose the prosthetic heart valve relative to the capsule. The second actuator is operated to proximally retract the prosthetic heart valve by transmitting forces to the inner shaft assembly.

Abstract: A delivery system for use with a prosthetic heart valve having a stent frame to which a valve structure is attached includes a shaft assembly including a distal end, an intermediate portion, and a first coupling structure disposed near the distal end and configured to be coupled to a distal end of the prosthetic heart valve via a first tether. A sheath assembly defines a lumen sized to slidably receive the shaft assembly. The delivery system is configured to transition from a loaded state in which the sheath assembly encompasses the prosthetic heart valve to a deployed state in which the sheath assembly is withdrawn from the prosthetic heart valve. The first coupling structure is configured to be manipulated in a first direction to provide a controlled expansion or contraction of the distal end of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: A delivery system for use with a prosthetic heart valve having a stent frame to which a valve structure is attached includes a shaft assembly including a distal end, an intermediate portion, and a first coupling structure disposed near the distal end and configured to be coupled to a distal end of the prosthetic heart valve via a first tether. A sheath assembly defines a lumen sized to slidably receive the shaft assembly. The delivery system is configured to transition from a loaded state in which the sheath assembly encompasses the prosthetic heart valve to a deployed state in which the sheath assembly is withdrawn from the prosthetic heart valve. The first coupling structure is configured to be manipulated in a first direction to provide a controlled expansion or contraction of the distal end of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: A delivery system for use with a prosthetic heart valve having a stent frame to which a valve structure is attached includes a shaft assembly including a distal end, an intermediate portion, and a first coupling structure disposed near the distal end and configured to be coupled to a distal end of the prosthetic heart valve via a first tether. A sheath assembly defines a lumen sized to slidably receive the shaft assembly. The delivery system is configured to transition from a loaded state in which the sheath assembly encompasses the prosthetic heart valve to a deployed state in which the sheath assembly is withdrawn from the prosthetic heart valve. The first coupling structure is configured to be manipulated in a first direction to provide a controlled expansion or contraction of the distal end of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: A delivery system for percutaneously deploying a prosthetic heart valve. The system includes an inner shaft assembly, a delivery sheath capsule and a handle maintaining a first actuator and a second actuator. The capsule is configured to compressively retain the prosthetic heart valve over the inner shaft assembly. The first actuator is operated to proximally retract the delivery sheath capsule and expose the prosthetic heart valve relative to the capsule. The second actuator is operated to proximally retract the prosthetic heart valve by transmitting forces to the inner shaft assembly.