Abstract: A catheter is disclosed for providing pressure measurements at a vascular lesion. The catheter includes an outer component having a side opening the providing transverse access to a lumen thereof and an inner component slidably disposed within the lumen. The inner component has a guidewire lumen with a proximal side port. When the inner component is longitudinally translated relative to the outer component, the side port of the inner component is accessible through the side opening of the outer component for providing transverse access to a guidewire. A first pressure sensor is disposed proximate of a distal end of the outer component and a second pressure sensor is disposed proximate of a distal end of the inner component, such that relative longitudinal translation between the inner and outer components permits a distance between the first and second pressure sensors to be varied.

Abstract: Embodiments hereof relate to methods and systems for determining a pressure gradient across a lesion of a vessel without requiring the use of a pharmacological hyperemic agent. A measurement system includes at least an injection catheter and a pressure-sensing instrument or guidewire slidingly disposed through the catheter, the pressure-sensing guidewire including at least one pressure sensor configured to obtain a pressure measurement for use in determining the pressure gradient across the lesion. The catheter is configured to deliver or inject a non-pharmacological fluid, such as saline or blood, across the lesion in order to increase a flow rate there-through, thereby simulating hyperemia without the use of a pharmacological hyperemic agent. Once an increased flow rate that simulates hyperemia is achieved, the pressure sensor of the pressure-sensing guidewire may be utilized to measure the pressure gradient across the lesion in order to assess the severity of the lesion.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for the selective positioning of an intravascular ultrasound neuromodulation device are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology is directed to positioning systems for focused ultrasound devices. Some embodiments, for example, are directed to dual-balloon positioning systems. Such systems can include, for example, an elongated shaft and a therapeutic assembly and a balloon assembly carried by a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The therapeutic assembly is configured for delivery within a blood vessel. The balloon assembly can include a first balloon and a second balloon circumferentially offset from the first balloon about the elongated shaft. The first and second balloons can be selectively inflated to position an ultrasound transducer of the therapeutic assembly at a precise location within the blood vessel.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of providing a semiconductor device. The method can include: (a) providing a flexible substrate; (b) depositing at least one layer of material over the flexible substrate, wherein the deposition of the at least one layer of material over the flexible substrate occurs at a temperature of at least 180° C.; and (c) providing a diffusion barrier between a metal layer and an a-Si layer. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.

Abstract: Assemblies, systems, and methods for intravascular neuromodulation include a method of positioning a treatment device and a track element at a treatment site in an artery of a human patient and transforming the track element from a delivery configuration to a deployed configuration to form a spiral-shaped track tending to be in apposition with an inner wall of the artery. The treatment device has a distally-located neuromodulation element for sliding along the spiral-shaped track. The method can also include delivering energy via the neuromodulation element across the inner wall of a renal artery to heat or otherwise electrically modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function.

Abstract: Medical devices for positioning a valve in a subject's body, such as a prosthetic heart valve in a subject's heart, are disclosed. The prosthetic heart valve may include a valve assembly, a frame, and a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include a commissural post or multiple commissural posts. The prosthetic heart valve may include a positional marker on a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include multiple positional markers on one or more control arms. The positional markers can be shapes, characters, or other symbols. The positional markers may themselves be asymmetric. The positional markers may be placed in an asymmetric location on a control arm. The control arm may be asymmetrically shaped.

Abstract: Delivery systems for delivering medical devices and prosthetic heart valves in a patient's body are disclosed. The delivery system may include a catheter-based delivery system. The delivery system may include a tip, a capsule, an inner sheath, and a projection. The delivery system may include an outer sheath and a handle. The delivery system may be configured to be actuated via an actuator disposed on the handle. The projection may include an arm portion and a feeler portion. The feeler portion may include an indentation. The delivery system may be configured to correctly position a medical device or prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: In one aspect, a medical device has a first configuration and a second configuration, a reservoir containing a therapeutic agent, and a barrier layer disposed over the reservoir, wherein the barrier layer comprises an inorganic material. In another aspect, a medical device has a reservoir containing a therapeutic agent, a barrier layer disposed over the reservoir, wherein the barrier layer comprises an inorganic material, and a swellable material disposed between the barrier layer and a surface of the medical device, wherein the swellable material is a material that swells upon exposure to an aqueous environment. In yet another aspect, a medical device has a multi-layered coating having alternating reservoir layers and barrier layers, and a plurality of excavated regions penetrating through at least a partial thickness of the multi-layered coating.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates photovoltaic devices, and more particularly to methods of fabricating heterojunction interdigitated back contact photovoltaic cells having interdigitated emitter regions and back surface field regions.

Abstract: An implantable medical device for releasing therapeutic agent having a medical device body and a plurality of reservoir-defining structures disposed on a surface of the body. A reservoir can be defined by the reservoir-defining structures and therapeutic agent may be located in the reservoir. A cover may extend over the reservoir so that the therapeutic agent is released from the reservoir when the medical device implanted. Methods for making the medical device may also include providing a medical device body, positioning a plurality of reservoir-defining structures on a surface of the body to form a reservoir, loading therapeutic agent into the reservoir, and covering the reservoir so that the therapeutic agent may release when the medical device is implanted. Alternatively, the reservoir may be covered with a cover and an opening formed in the cover so that the therapeutic agent may release when the medical device is implanted.

Abstract: Medical devices, particularly stents, suitable for drug delivery and including a porous structure and/or colors are disclosed.

Abstract: Medical devices having a plurality of nanoparticles disposed over a surface of the medical device. The nanoparticles have a core comprising a therapeutic agent and a shell surrounding the core, wherein the shell comprises a metal. A barrier layer is disposed over the nanoparticles. The barrier layer is water-permeable and comprises a metal that may be different from the metal used in the nanoparticle shells. In certain embodiments, the metal in the barrier layer undergoes galvanic corrosion. Also disclosed are medical device having a reservoir containing a therapeutic agent, with nanoparticles and a barrier layer being disposed over the reservoir; and medical devices having multiple barrier layers and multiple reservoirs containing therapeutic agents.

Abstract: Digital media content from files, streaming data, broadcast data, optical disks, or other storage devices can be linked to Internet information. Identifiers extracted from the media content can be used to direct Internet searches for more information related to the media content.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of providing a semiconductor device. The method can include: (a) providing a flexible substrate; (b) depositing at least one layer of material over the flexible substrate, wherein the deposition of the at least one layer of material over the flexible substrate occurs at a temperature of at least 180° C.; and (c) providing a diffusion barrier between a metal layer and an a-Si layer. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.

Abstract: A bioerodible endoprosthesis erodes to a desirable geometry that can provide, e.g., improved mechanical properties or degradation characteristics.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting a viral infection of a host comprising administering to the host an anti-viral griffithsin polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 3 or a fragment thereof comprising at least eight contiguous amino acids, a nucleic acid encoding the anti-viral polypeptide, or an antibody to the anti-viral polypeptide. A method of inhibiting a virus in a sample comprising contacting the sample with an anti-viral griffithsin polypeptide or antibody thereto also is provided.

Abstract: A bioerodible endoprosthesis erodes to a desirable geometry that can provide, e.g., improved mechanical properties or degradation characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention features methods of treating or preventing a viral infection in a subject, methods of inhibiting a virus in a biological sample, and methods of treating or preventing a viral infection caused by a virus in or on the skin or mucus membrane. The instant invention describes novel methods for treating viral infections, in particular infections caused by high mannose enveloped viruses, for example hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Abstract: A vascular filter device (1) has a perfusion balloon (3) with a through-hole for blood flow. There is a distal filter (4) for trapping emboli, and the filter (4) is configured to filter an annular cross-sectional area extending from a vessel wall, while leaving an un-filtered central passageway. The filter (4) may be substantially frusto-conical in shape when deployed, and have a proximal tubular part (41) which is attached to the perfusion balloon or a support for the perfusion balloon. The filter has a retainer (5) to retain an end of the filter in an in-use position abutting a vessel wall. The retainer may comprise wires (5) or an inflated ring (8). The device may have an internal support (2, 12, 22, 96, 112) for the perfusion balloon (3, 11, 21, 95, 111). The balloon inflates and expands the inner arterial wall, and the filter captures emboli released during the procedure while leaving a channel that allows blood to flow to tissues distal to the blockage, maintaining antegrade flow.

Abstract: Medical devices, such as stents, and methods of making the devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a medical device includes an alloy having tantalum, tungsten, zirconium and niobium. For example, the alloy can include from about 20% to about 40% by weight of tantalum, from about 0.5% to about 9% by weight of tungsten, and from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of zirconium.