Abstract: Annuloplasty rings are employed to treat heart valve defects, such as regurgitation. Synching the heart tissue to the ring restores the valve opening to its approximate original size and operating efficiency. Adjustable annuloplasty rings allow for a proper degree of synching both during open heart surgery and over the patient's lifetime. A subcutaneous port may be coupled to an adjustable annuloplasty ring such that an external activation energy generator can be used to heat the adjustable annuloplasty ring and thereby adjust the size of the annuloplasty ring.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for repairing heart valves through percutaneous transcatheter delivery and fixation of annuloplasty rings to heart valves. An annuloplasty ring includes an outer hollow member including a plurality of segments. Adjacent segments cooperate with one another to change the outer hollow member from an elongate insertion geometry to an annular operable geometry. The annuloplasty ring also includes an internal anchor member located at least partially within the outer hollow member. The internal anchor member includes a plurality of anchors configured to attach the annuloplasty ring to tissue of a heart valve annulus. The internal anchor member is configured to move the plurality of anchors with respect to a plurality of windows in the outer hollow member to selectively deploy the plurality of anchors through the respective windows.

Abstract: Systems and methods to adjust an adjustable medical device that is implanted subcutaneously within the body of a patient. The adjustable medical device is coupled to an adjustment mechanism configured to, when powered, effect a desired adjustment to the adjustable medical device. The adjustment mechanism is electrically coupled to a receiving coil configured to resonate at a desired frequency such that an electric current induced in the receiving coil powers the adjustment mechanism. An induction activation system is configured to utilize magnetic resonance to wirelessly activate the adjustable medical device assembly, from outside the patient's body, through a skin barrier of the patient. The induction activation system comprises a power source and a delivery coil. The power source creates an alternating electrical signal.

Abstract: A control system for remotely controlling a mobile platform includes a ground-based control station and a surrogate processor. The surrogate processor is remotely located from both the mobile platform and the ground-based control station and includes a communication gateway and software. The communication gateway is in communication with the software, the ground-based control station, and the mobile platform and is capable of transmitting information therebetween. The software generates a control message based on commands received from the ground-based control station to adjust an operational characteristic of the mobile platform. Locating the software and the gateway remotely from the mobile platform also enables a less costly and less complex mobile platform to be constructed.

Abstract: A guidewire assembly for use in deploying a bifurcated endoluminal vascular prosthesis that has a main graft portion and at least a first branch graft portion The guidewire assembly include a hollow guidewire sheath having a restraint mechanism, such as a tubular sheath, for constraining a branch graft portion of the vascular prosthesis and an inner core wire that is slidably insertable into a central lumen of the hollow guidewire sheath. In use, the guidewire assembly may be used with a deployment catheter to deploy the bifurcated vascular prosthesis and leave the inner core wire in position in the patient's aorta, extending through the main graft portion of the vascular prosthesis.