Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for deploying an aortic valve prosthesis. This valve prosthesis may include any of the known aortic valves including, but not limited to, stented and unstented bioprosthetic valves, stented mechanical valves, and expandable or self-expanding valves, whether biological or artificial. The method involves the steps of: making a first opening leading to the left atrium; passing a valve prosthesis through the opening and into a cardiac chamber of the left side of the heart using a first manipulation instrument; making a second opening in the arterial system and advancing one end of a second manipulation instrument through the arterial opening and into the aforementioned cardiac chamber; securing the second manipulation instrument to the valve prosthesis; and using the second manipulation instrument to retract at least some portion of the valve prosthesis out of the aforementioned cardiac chamber.

Abstract: A suture guide and fastener includes a suture retaining device which orients and secures one or more suture strands therein and receives energy applied to the strands to bond them within the suture retaining device. The fastener becomes integral with the bonded sutures and may be made of a material similar to the suture material, which melts upon the application of energy thereto. Alternatively, the fastener may be made of a different material which remains intact upon application of bonding energy to the sutures. When ultrasonic energy is applied, the fastener may function as a stationary ultrasonic weld anvil. Other types of energy, such as laser, thermal or chemical, may be applied to the suture strands to effect bonding.

Abstract: Method of propagating viruses that replicate in embryonated eggs or in primary cultures of chicken embryo cells on an immortal, virus-free, contact-inhibited, and non-oncogenic chicken embryo cell line. The method supports replication of avian viruses of the Birnaviridae, Coronaviridae, Herpesviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Picornaviridae, Polyomaviridae, Poxviridae, and Reoviridae families. The immortal cell line of the present invention supports replication of swine influenza virus, for instance. The cell line is useful for virus isolation diagnostic assays and for propagating virus suitable for live or killed vaccines.