Abstract: Methods of treating complement-mediated ocular disorders by administering agents that inhibit a subject's complement component in an amount sufficient to treat the ocular disorder wherein, in a selected embodiment, said agent is an anti-complement aptamer that, in a preferred embodiment, is an anti-C5 aptamer.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acid therapeutics and methods for using these nucleic acid therapeutics in the treatment of complement-related disorders.

Abstract: A device for intravascular intervention can comprise an intervention element and an elongate manipulation member. The elongate member can comprise a hooked portion extending about a proximal portion of the intervention element. The hooked portion can have a first segment, a second segment, and a bend between the first and second segments, with the first segment and the second segment located on different sides of the intervention element. At least one of the first segment or the second segment can have an extending portion that extends into a region that is (i) between a top side and a bottom side of the intervention element, and (ii) distal to a proximal part of the intervention element. The extending portion and the proximal part can be aligned such that a line extending in a proximal-distal direction intersects the extending portion and the proximal part.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology may include systems and apparatus for extracting and delivering nutrients from biomass for plant growth. In an example implementation, an apparatus is provided for supporting a multi-level system for extracting and distributing nutrients from biomass for plant growth, the apparatus includes two or more support structures. Each support structure includes two or more vertical strength members disposed substantially vertically on opposing sides of a corrugated base cylinder and are stabilized by at least one corrugations associated with the base cylinder. The apparatus includes two or more horizontal retaining members in communication with the respective two or more vertical strength members and operable to secure the two or more vertical strength members against the base cylinder. The apparatus also includes one or more upper troughs supported by the two or more support structures and disposed in a substantially horizontal position.

Abstract: A device for intravascular intervention can comprise an intervention element, an elongate manipulation member, and a joining element. The elongate member can comprise a hooked portion extending about a proximal portion of the intervention element. The joining element can substantially permanently attach the hooked portion to the intervention element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell culture medium formulation that supports the in vitro cultivation, particularly in suspension, of mammalian cells, particularly epithelial cells and fibroblast cells, and methods for cultivating mammalian cells in suspension in vitro using these media. The media comprise a basal medium and a polyanionic or polyanionic compound, preferably a polysulfonated or polysulfated compound, and more preferably dextran sulfate. The present invention also provides chemically defined, protein-free eukaryotic cell culture media comprising an iron chelate and zinc, which is capable of supporting the growth (and particularly the high-density growth of mammalian cells) in suspension culture, increasing the level of expression of recombinant protein in cultured cells, and/or increasing virus production in cultured cells.

Abstract: Methods are provided for identifying aptamer regulators. Aptamer regulators are aptamers that bind to a target wherein binding of the aptamer regulator to the target increases the binding affinity of the target for a target partner relative to the affinity of the target for the target partner when the target is not bound by the aptamer regulator such that binding of the aptamer regulator to the target is a prerequisite for target-target partner complex formation.

Abstract: A vascular remodeling device is provided. The device has an anchor portion, sized for deployment in a blood vessel, that is radially expandable from a collapsed state to an expanded state. The device also includes a distal portion sized for deployment in a blood vessel. The distal portion is radially expandable from a collapsed state to an expanded state and has a distal face that is sufficiently occlusive in the distal-to-proximal direction to perform a therapeutic blocking function in an aneurysm neck. The device also has an intermediate portion that interconnects a distal end of the anchor portion and a proximal end of the distal portion. In some embodiments, the anchor portion and/or distal portion has a plurality of interconnected struts.

Abstract: A stent delivery system can include a core member, first and second restraints, and a stent engagement component. The core member can have a distal segment. The first and second restraints can be coupled to the core member distal segment and axially spaced apart from each other to provide an axial gap. The first and second restraints can each have an outer profile that tapers radially inwardly in directions away from the gap. The stent engagement component can be at least partially disposed in the axial gap between the first and second restraints such that the component is slidably and rotatably coupled to the core member distal segment.

Abstract: A vascular remodeling device has a plurality of sections, sized for deployment in a blood vessel, that is radially expandable from a collapsed state to an expanded state. Each section has a plurality of interconnected struts that define a waist, a proximal face, and a distal face. Each face comprises (i) a plurality of distal strut portions extending proximally from a distal side of the face, (ii) a plurality of proximal strut portions extending distally from a proximal side of the face, and (iii) a plurality of sub-struts, wherein, from each proximal strut portion, two of the sub-struts each extend to a different one of the distal strut portions.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acid therapeutics and methods for using these nucleic acid therapeutics in the treatment of complement-related disorders.

Abstract: The medical device can comprise a manipulation member, a mechanical thrombectomy apparatus attached to a distal end of the manipulation member, and flow-restricting apparatus attached to the manipulation member to a location proximal to the mechanical thrombectomy apparatus. A method, for retrieving thrombus from a blood vessel, can comprise advancing a single elongate delivery member carrying a mechanical thrombectomy apparatus and a flow-restricting apparatus through a catheter to the blood vessel, expanding the thrombectomy apparatus and capturing the thrombus with the thrombectomy device, expanding the flow-restricting apparatus to at least partially occlude blood flow toward the thrombus, retracting at least a portion of the thrombectomy apparatus into the flow-restricting apparatus, and retracting the flow-restricting apparatus and the thrombectomy apparatus into the retrieval catheter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell culture medium formulation that supports the in vitro cultivation, particularly in suspension, of mammalian cells, particularly epithelial cells and fibroblast cells, and methods for cultivating mammalian cells in suspension in vitro using these media. The media comprise a basal medium and a polyanionic or polyanionic compound, preferably a polysulfonated or polysulfated compound, and more preferably dextran sulfate. The present invention also provides chemically defined, protein-free eukaryotic cell culture media comprising an iron chelate and zinc, which is capable of supporting the growth (and particularly the high-density growth of mammalian cells) in suspension culture, increasing the level of expression of recombinant protein in cultured cells, and/or increasing virus production in cultured cells.

Abstract: A system for administering medication to an eye. The system includes a siphon tube in fluid communication with a medication reservoir, a dispensing nozzle connected to the siphon tube, and a shield coupled to the dispensing nozzle for movement relative thereto between an opened position and a closed position. The siphon tube defines a longitudinal axis extending along a substantially vertical direction when the siphon tube is in an upright position. The dispensing nozzle extends at an angle offset from the longitudinal axis when the shield is in the opened position. The nozzle and the angle are so dimensioned as to facilitate accessing the eye when the siphon tube is substantially in the upright position.

Abstract: The invention provides nucleic acid therapeutics and methods for using these nucleic acid therapeutics in the treatment of complement-related disorders.

Abstract: An orthotic shoe insert having a contoured body adapted to support a location of a wearer's foot between a heel and a medial arch, the body being constructed of a semi-rigid material and including a rear concave end and a forward extending and medial arch supporting edge. The body exhibits a three dimensional shape and perimeter defining outer profile adapted for being inserted into the wearer's shoe. Corresponding methods for forming an orthotic shoe insert can include either providing a thermoplastic material in an unformed lay-flat sheet of varying thickness and rigidity, then applying a heat source to the material to assisting in forming the material into a three dimensional shape including a concave rear and heel supporting end and a forward extending and medial arch supporting end. Other methods include pre-placing scrim layers within opposing surfaces of mating die halves and post-injecting a plasticized material in fluidic state in order to form the insert.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell culture medium formulation that supports the in vitro cultivation, particularly in suspension, of mammalian cells, particularly epithelial cells and fibroblast cells, and methods for cultivating mammalian cells in suspension in vitro using these media. The present invention also provides chemically defined, protein-free eukaryotic cell culture media comprising an iron chelate and zinc, which is capable of supporting the growth (and particularly the high-density growth of mammalian cells) in suspension culture, increasing the level of expression of recombinant protein in cultured cells, and/or increasing virus production in cultured cells. The invention also provides kits for use in the cultivation of a mammalian epithelial cell that comprise one or more containers, wherein a first container contains the culture medium of the invention. These kits may further comprise one or more additional containers containing one or more supplements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cell culture medium formulation that supports the in vitro cultivation, particularly in suspension, of mammalian cells, particularly epithelial cells and fibroblast cells, and methods for cultivating mammalian cells in suspension in vitro using these media. The media comprise a basal medium and a polyanionic or polyanionic compound, preferably a polysulfonated or polysulfated compound, and more preferably dextran sulfate. The present invention also provides chemically defined, protein-free eukaryotic cell culture media comprising an iron chelate and zinc, which is capable of supporting the growth (and particularly the high-density growth of mammalian cells) in suspension culture, increasing the level of expression of recombinant protein in cultured cells, and/or increasing virus production in cultured cells.

Abstract: A stent delivery system can include a core member, first and second restraints, and a stent engagement component. The core member can have a distal segment. The first and second restraints can be coupled to the core member distal segment and axially spaced apart from each other to provide an axial gap. The first and second restraints can each have an outer profile that tapers radially inwardly in directions away from the gap. The stent engagement component can be at least partially disposed in the axial gap between the first and second restraints such that the component is slidably and rotatably coupled to the core member distal segment.