Abstract: The present invention is generally related to a bone graft material delivery system and method for use in spinal and orthopedic surgery. In particular, the delivery system includes a flowable or non-flowable bone graft material or composite within a multi-barreled syringe. The multi-barreled syringe is then encased within an autoclavable shell. In this manner, the multi-barreled syringe in the shell (syringe-shell-system) will be able to generate the necessary pressure for delivery of the flowable or non-flowable bone graft material or composite to the desired spinal or orthopedic surgical site.

Abstract: In some embodiments, spinal disc degeneracy is diagnosed according to a decay variance map generated by determining a variance in T2 decay over time within each pixel or pixel subset of an MRI image. A region of interest may be defined as including nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) areas, and excluding cartilaginous endplate (EP) areas of a disc. A decay variance for a pixel or groups of pixels is calculated by determining ratios between consecutive intensity values of the T2 signal, determining differences between consecutive ratios, and summing the absolute values of the determined differences. Decay variance mapping may be used to diagnose degeneracy in other tissues, such as in joints.

Abstract: In some embodiments, spinal disc degeneracy is diagnosed according to a decay variance map generated by determining a variance in T2 decay over time within each pixel or pixel subset of an MRI image. A region of interest may be defined as including nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) areas, and excluding cartilaginous endplate (EP) areas of a disc. A decay variance for a pixel or groups of pixels is calculated by determining ratios between consecutive intensity values of the T2 signal, determining differences between consecutive ratios, and summing the absolute values of the determined differences. Decay variance mapping may be used to diagnose degeneracy in other tissues, such as in joints.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of matter suitable for the prevention of and/or treatment of a spinal disorder and/or spinal pain, e.g., caused by and/or associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, and methods of treatment of a spinal disorder and/or spinal pain. For example, the compositions of the present invention comprise a modulator of growth differentiation factor (GDF)-6 signaling sufficient to reduce or prevent or delay IVD degeneration and/or to enhance or induce IVD regeneration. The present invention also provides medical devices comprising such compositions, and methods of treatment making use of such compositions.

Abstract: A method and system to identify similar names and addresses from given data set comprising plurality of names and addresses. The invention more specifically addresses the challenge faced in Spanish data quality assurance. The name and data is parsed through parsing engine to parse the plurality of Spanish names and addresses. The parsed Spanish names and addresses are sent to a Probable identification engine to identify the probable matches. The combination of name and address matching process can be used for assuring data quality for Spanish names and addresses. The Spanish name matching process consists of identification of probable matches and finding similarity percentages between those probable. Similarly, the Spanish address matching process consists of identification of probable matches (criteria like same city) and finding similarity percentages between those probable. The system includes a parsing engine, a probable identification engine and a match percentage calculation engine.

Abstract: A method and system to identify similar names and addresses from given data set comprising plurality of names and addresses. The invention more specifically addresses the challenge faced in Spanish data quality assurance. The name and data is parsed through parsing engine to parse the plurality of Spanish names and addresses. The parsed Spanish names and addresses are sent to a Probable identification engine to identify the probable matches. The combination of name and address matching process can be used for assuring data quality for Spanish names and addresses. The Spanish name matching process consists of identification of probable matches and finding similarity percentages between those probable. Similarly, the Spanish address matching process consists of identification of probable matches (criteria like same city) and finding similarity percentages between those probable. The system includes a parsing engine, a probable identification engine and a match percentage calculation engine.

Abstract: A method and system to identify similar names and addresses from given data set comprising plurality of names and addresses. The invention more specifically addresses the challenge faced in Spanish data quality assurance. The name and data is parsed through parsing engine to parse the plurality of Spanish names and addresses. The parsed Spanish names and addresses are sent to a Probable identification engine to identify the probable matches. The combination of name and address matching process can be used for assuring data quality for Spanish names and addresses. The Spanish name matching process consists of identification of probable matches and finding similarity percentages between those probable. Similarly, the Spanish address matching process consists of identification of probable matches (criteria like same city) and finding similarity percentages between those probable. The system includes a parsing engine, a probable identification engine and a match percentage calculation engine.

Abstract: A method and system to identify similar names and addresses from given data set comprising plurality of names and addresses. The invention more specifically addresses the challenge faced in Spanish data quality assurance. The name and data is parsed through parsing engine to parse the plurality of Spanish names and addresses. The parsed Spanish names and addresses are sent to a Probable identification engine to identify the probable matches. The combination of name and address matching process can be used for assuring data quality for Spanish names and addresses. The Spanish name matching process consists of identification of probable matches and finding similarity percentages between those probable. Similarly, the Spanish address matching process consists of identification of probable matches (criteria like same city) and finding similarity percentages between those probable. The system includes a parsing engine, a probable identification engine and a match percentage calculation engine.

Abstract: A method and system to identify similar names and addresses from given data set comprising plurality of names and addresses. The invention more specifically addresses the challenge faced in Spanish data quality assurance. The name and data is parsed through parsing engine to parse the plurality of Spanish names and addresses. The parsed Spanish names and addresses are sent to a Probable identification engine to identify the probable matches. The combination of name and address matching process can be used for assuring data quality for Spanish names and addresses. The Spanish name matching process consists of identification of probable matches and finding similarity percentages between those probable. Similarly, the Spanish address matching process consists of identification of probable matches (criteria like same city) and finding similarity percentages between those probable. The system includes a parsing engine, a probable identification engine and a match percentage calculation engine.

Abstract: A method and system to identify similar names and addresses from given data set comprising plurality of names and addresses. The invention more specifically addresses the challenge faced in Spanish data quality assurance. The name and data is parsed through parsing engine to parse the plurality of Spanish names and addresses. The parsed Spanish names and addresses are sent to a Probable identification engine to identify the probable matches. The combination of name and address matching process can be used for assuring data quality for Spanish names and addresses. The Spanish name matching process consists of identification of probable matches and finding similarity percentages between those probable. Similarly, the Spanish address matching process consists of identification of probable matches (criteria like same city) and finding similarity percentages between those probable. The system includes a parsing engine, a probable identification engine and a match percentage calculation engine.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of matter suitable for the prevention of and/or treatment of a spinal disorder and/or spinal pain, e.g., caused by and/or associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, and methods of treatment of a spinal disorder and/or spinal pain. For example, the compositions of the present invention comprise a modulator of growth differentiation factor (GDF)-6 signaling sufficient to reduce or prevent or delay IVD degeneration and/or to enhance or induce IVD regeneration. The present invention also provides medical devices comprising such compositions, and methods of treatment making use of such compositions.

Abstract: A tissue prosthesis delivery device (10) includes an elongate, tubular introducer element (12), the element having a tissue piercing distal end (14) with an opening (16) arranged proximally of the distal end (14). A closure member (18) is associated with the introducer element (12) for opening and closing the opening (16) of the introducer element (12). An expansible prosthesis envelope (20) is received in a collapsed configuration within the tubular introducer element (12) to be deployed laterally of the introducer element (12) through the opening (16).

Abstract: A tissue prosthesis insertion system (80) includes a first assembly (10) comprising a plurality of nested tubes (12), one of the tubes being a carrier tube (14) which, in use, receives a component (16) of a tissue prosthesis at a distal end of the carrier tube (14). A magnetic mount (44) is carried at a proximal end of the first assembly (10). A second assembly (82) is removably attachable to the first assembly (10). An attachment device (92) is carried at a distal end of the second assembly (82), the attachment device (92) being responsive to the magnetic mount (44) of the first assembly (10), the magnetic mount (44) and the attachment device (92) carrying complementary engaging formations to facilitate hermetic sealing between the magnetic mount (44) and the attachment device (92).

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions comprising a modulator of GDF-6 signaling for the prevention of and/or treatment of a spinal disorder and/or spinal pain, eg., caused by and/or associated with intervertebral disc degeneration and methods of treatment of a spinal disorder and/or spinal pain comprising administering a modulator of GDF-6 signaling, or a composition comprising thereof.

Abstract: A device (12) for implanting a tissue prosthesis comprises an elongate support member (14) having a proximal end (16) and a distal end (13), the support member (14) defining a recessed receiving zone 20 at a distal region for receiving at least a part (22) of the implant in a collapsed configuration. A cover member (24) having a proximal end (26) and a distal end (28) is arranged on the support member (14) to over at least the receiving zone (20) of the support member (14), the cover member (24) being removably arranged relative to the support member (14) to provide access to the receiving zone (20), the cover member (24) and the support member (14) together defining an insertion assembly (32).

Abstract: A tissue prosthesis insertion system (80) includes a first assembly (10) comprising a plurality of nested tubes (12), one of the tubes being a carrier tube (14) which, in use, receives a component (16) of a tissue prosthesis at a distal end of the carrier tube (14). A magnetic mount (44) is carried at a proximal end of the first assembly (10). A second assembly (82) is removably attachable to the first assembly (10). An attachment device (92) is carried at a distal end of the second assembly (82), the attachment device (92) being responsive to the magnetic mount (44) of the first assembly (10), the magnetic mount (44) and the attachment device (92) carrying complementary engaging formations to facilitate hermetic sealing between the magnetic mount (44) and the attachment device (92).

Abstract: A tissue prosthesis delivery device (10) includes an elongate, tubular introducer element (12), the element having a tissue piercing distal end (14) with an opening (16) arranged proximally of the distal end (14). A closure member (18) is associated with the introducer element (12) for opening and closing the opening (16) of the introducer element (12). An expansible prosthesis envelope (20) is received in a collapsed configuration within the tubular introducer element (12) to be deployed laterally of the introducer element (12) through the opening (16).

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions of matter suitable for the prevention of and/or treatment of a spinal disorder and/or spinal pain, e.g., caused by and/or associated with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and methods of treatment of a spinal disorder and/or spinal pain. For example, the compositions of the present invention comprise a modulator of growth differentiation factor (GDF)-6 signaling sufficient to reduce or prevent or delay IVD degeneration and/or to enhance or induce IVD regeneration. The present invention also provides medical devices comprising said compositions, and methods of treatment making use of said compositions.

Abstract: A device (12) for implanting a tissue prosthesis comprises an elongate support member (14) having a proximal end (16) and a distal end (13), the support member (14) defining a recessed receiving zone 20 at a distal region for receiving at least a part (22) of the implant in a collapsed configuration. A cover member (24) having a proximal end (26) and a distal end (28) is arranged on the support member (14) to over at least the receiving zone (20) of the support member (14), the cover member (24) being removably arranged relative to the support member (14) to provide access to the receiving zone (20), the cover member (24) and the support member (14) together defining an insertion assembly (32).

Abstract: A tissue prosthesis system includes an envelope (10) which is able substantially to conform to a shape of a cavity (30) formed in a site in a patient's body, the envelope (10) having a filler opening (16) to enable access to be gained to an interior of an envelope (10). A filler mechanism (12) is connectable to the opening (16) of the envelope (10). A filler material (32) is chargeable into the interior of the envelope (10) via the filler mechanism (12) to cause expansion of the envelope (10) substantially to conform to the shape of the cavity (30). A separation arrangement is associated with the envelope (10) and the filler material (12) to facilitate separation of the envelope (10) from the filler material (12), in use.