Abstract: A medical implant made of an elastic, solid, biocompatible, and non-hemolytic material having a thickness of less than about 5 mm, a modulus of elasticity between about 10 kPa and about 100 MPa. The implant device has a pore size of less than about 10 microns in order to prevent growth and passage of cells through the implant, while allowing water and nutrient transport across the implant device.

Abstract: A prosthesis for placement into a joint space between two or more bones is disclosed. The prosthesis includes a body formed from a pre-formed solid one piece elastomer, wherein the elastomer is formed from a synthetic organic polymer that is biocompatible and has a modulus of elasticity and a mechanical strength between 0.5 MPa and 75 MPa. The body having a shape contoured to fit within a joint space between the femoral condyle, tubercle, and tibial plateau without any means of attachment.

Abstract: Implantable biomaterials, particularly hydrogel substrates with porous surfaces, and methods for enhancing the compatibility of biomaterials with living tissue, and for causing physical attachment between biomaterials and living tissues are provided. Also provided are implants suitable for load-bearing surfaces in hard tissue repair, replacement, or augmentation, and to methods of their use. One embodiment of the invention relates to an implantable spinal disc prosthesis.

Abstract: Computer systems and methods allow users to annotate content items found in a corpus such as the World Wide Web. Annotations, which can include any descriptive and/or evaluative metadata related to a document, are collected from a user and stored in association with that user. Users are able to annotate and view their annotations for any document they encounter while interacting with the corpus, including hits returned in a search of the corpus. Users are also able to search their annotations or to limit searches to documents they have annotated. Metadata from annotations can also be aggregated across users and aggregated metadata applied in generating search results.

Abstract: Computer systems and methods incorporate user annotations (metadata) regarding various pages or sites, including annotations by a querying user and by members of a trust network defined for the querying user into search and browsing of a corpus such as the World Wide Web. A trust network is defined for each user, and annotations by any member of a first user's trust network are made visible to the first user during search and/or browsing of the corpus. Users can also limit searches to content annotated by members of their trust networks or by members of a community selected by the user.

Abstract: Computer systems and methods allow users to annotate content items found in a corpus such as the World Wide Web. Annotations, which can include any descriptive and/or evaluative metadata related to a document, are collected from a user and stored in association with that user. Users are able to annotate and view their annotations for any document they encounter while interacting with the corpus, including hits returned in a search of the corpus. Users are also able to search their annotations or to limit searches to documents they have annotated. Metadata from annotations can also be aggregated across users and aggregated metadata applied in generating search results.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating search results including searching by subdomain and providing sponsored results by subdomain is provided. A search system according to embodiments of the present invention analyzes search queries to determine if they are to be routed to subdomains and presents results include sponsored hits sponsored on a subdomain by subdomain basis.

Abstract: Computer systems and methods allow users to annotate content items found in a corpus such as the World Wide Web. Annotations, which can include any descriptive and/or evaluative metadata related to a document, are collected from a user and stored in association with that user. Users are able to annotate and view their annotations for any document they encounter while interacting with the corpus, including hits returned in a search of the corpus. Users are also able to search their annotations or to limit searches to documents they have annotated. Metadata from annotations can also be aggregated across users and aggregated metadata applied in generating search results.

Abstract: Inverse search systems and methods operate on identifiers of content items in a corpus such as the World Wide Web In an inverse search, the user submits a query that includes an identifier of a target content item in the corpus and receives information (metadata) about the target content item being returned to the user. Many types of metadata can be returned, including ratings or other metadata related to the target content item obtained from users, popularity data specific to the target content item, information about previously submitted forward search queries that led to the target content item being identified as a hit, and metadata extracted from the target content item.

Abstract: A search query is received. Personal information for a user is then determined. A search is performed in a general subdomain of general content using the search query. For example, the general subdomain of general content may be a WWW search. Then, a vertical subdomain is determined based on the personal information. A search is then performed in the vertical subdomain of specialized content using the search query. The search performed in the general subdomain and the search performed in the vertical subdomain generate general search results and vertical search results. The results may be combined and outputted to a client.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel construct having a wide range of mechanical strengths for use as a human tissue replacement. The hydrogel construct may comprise a tissue scaffolding, a low bearing surface within a joint, or any other structure which is suitable for supporting the growth of tissue.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel construct having a wide range of mechanical strengths for use as a human tissue replacement. The hydrogel construct may comprise a tissue scaffolding, a low bearing surface within a joint, or any other structure which is suitable for supporting the growth of tissue.

Abstract: A medical device and its use are described. The device is useful for replacement or treatment of a diseased or damaged intervertebral spinal disc. The device has volume to occupy space between vertebral bodies, has mechanical elasticity to provide motion between vertebral bodies, and sufficient strength to withstand the forces and loads on the vertebra. The device may have modifications to allow for attachment to the bones of the vertebrae. The device may also contain modifications for ease of placement in the anatomic space between vertebral bodies. The device may be constructed to expand to restore the normal height of the intervertebral space.

Abstract: A method and system for processing and aggregating medical information for analysis, including distributing the initial data acquisition among multiple medical practices, transferring data over the Internet, storing data in a centralized database, and providing Internet-based applications and services using the data—aggregated or individually—to be used in the care or management of patients. Examples of such applications include, but are not limited to, using the database to train and re-educate computer-assisted diagnosis and detection software and using the database like a textbook to compare abnormalities observed in an present patient to those of other patients with confirmed diagnoses. The method and system provides improvements in the practice of medicine because it delivers real-time decision support to physicians and uses the most current information available in so doing.