Abstract: The invention provides cell potency assays for measuring, determining, identifying, confirming, or validating the therapeutic potential of a cell population. Cell potency assays may be performed with various types of cells, including stem or progenitor cells, such as, for example, hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. Cell potency assays may also be performed on stem or progenitor cells that have been treated with one or more agents to enhance therapeutic potential. Hematopoietic cells having therapeutic potential are useful in downstream clinical applications for increasing engraftment, reconstitution, homing, and proliferation in vivo.

Abstract: The invention provides cell potency assays for measuring, determining, identifying, confirming, or validating the therapeutic potential of a cell population. Cell potency assays may be performed with various types of cells, including stem or progenitor cells, such as, for example, hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. Cell potency assays may also be performed on stem or progenitor cells that have been treated with one or more agents to enhance therapeutic potential. Hematopoietic cells having therapeutic potential are useful in downstream clinical applications for increasing engraftment, reconstitution, homing, and proliferation in vivo.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods for cell therapy. In particular, the invention provides therapeutic compositions of modified hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells having improved engraftment and homing properties, and methods of making the therapeutic composition. The invention further provides methods of improving the efficacy of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell transplantation including transplanting the therapeutic composition to subjects in need of hematopoietic system reconstitution.

Abstract: The invention provides cell potency assays for measuring, determining, identifying, confirming, or validating the therapeutic potential of a cell population. Cell potency assays may be performed with various types of cells, including stem or progenitor cells, such as, for example, hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. Cell potency assays may also be performed on stem or progenitor cells that have been treated with one or more agents to enhance therapeutic potential. Hematopoietic cells having therapeutic potential are useful in downstream clinical applications for increasing engraftment, reconstitution, homing, and proliferation in vivo.

Abstract: The invention provides improved methods for cell therapy. In particular, the invention provides therapeutic compositions of modified hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells having improved engraftment and homing properties, and methods of making the therapeutic composition. The invention further provides methods of improving the efficacy of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell transplantation including transplanting the therapeutic composition to subjects in need of hematopoietic system reconstitution.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for specifically identifying a fetal cell. An initial screening of approximately 400 candidate genes by digital PCR in different fetal and adult tissues identified a subset of 24 gene markers specific for fetal nucleated RBC and trophoblasts. The specific expression of those genes was further evaluated and verified in more defined tissues and isolated cells through quantitative RT-PCR using custom Taqman probes specific for each gene. A subset of fetal cell specific markers (FCM) was tested and validated by RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in blood samples from non-pregnant women, and pre-termination and post-termination pregnant women.

Abstract: An adapter seal adapted to facilitate the use of a small instrument within a laparoscopic cannula. The adapter seal comprises a body portion formed of elastomeric material, and a relatively rigid insertion guide mounted on the body portion The body portion has an aperture therein adapted to sealingly engage and support the small instrument while permitting movement of the instrument through the aperture The insertion guide has a wall forming a generally conical passageway for guiding small instruments toward the aperture of the body portion. A tether may be provided for holding the adapter seal adjacent the cannula when the body portion is disconnected from the cannula, and the insertion guide may be color-coded to indicate the size aperture through the body portion of the adapter seal.

Abstract: The present invention provides in combination, a supply roll comprising an elongate liner, a multiplicity of electrodes, and a coating of moist adhesive on the electrodes that releasably adheres the electrodes in spaced relationship along the liner, and a refillable air-restricting dispenser comprising a plurality of walls forming a housing. The walls comprise a hollow tubular peripheral wall, and first and second opposite end walls, and define a central cavity within the housing. The peripheral wall has a slot communicating between inner and outer surfaces of the peripheral wall. The slot is adapted to afford passage of the liner with electrodes adhered thereto.

Abstract: An anti-drain clogging device used to containerize and dispense anti-clogging solution into a drain pipe in a controlled slow flow manner over an extended period of time. The anti-drain clogging device has a main container section for holding anti-drain clogging solution and a dispensing section for directing the anti-drain clogging solution from the container section to the inlet of a drain pipe. The device has both a liquid-tight, stable storage mode that the device is placed in prior to use and an operational mode where the device is adjustably fixed over a drain pipe inlet. In the operational mode, the dispensing section is adjusted to a chosen position over the opening of the drain pipe inlet by adjusting a support collar attached to the device. In this position, anti-clogging drain solution drips from the dispensing section in a controlled, slow manner into the drain pipe to steadily dissolve, layer by layer, the clogging and sediment in the pipe over a period of time.

Abstract: A low-pass filter is incorporated into the binaural tube of a stethoscope to selectively attenuate high frequency noise. The filter includes a small diameter inertance tube communicating with a large volume compliance chamber and is preferably located as far as possible from the chestpiece of the stethoscope to filter noise not only transmitted from the chestpiece, but also transmitted directly to the binaural tube.

Abstract: An infant ventilator is described of the type that switches between an inspiration phase during which gas under pressure is applied through a mouthpiece to cause involuntary inspiration of the infant to which the mouthpiece is coupled, and an expiration phase during which the infant is allowed to exhale or voluntarily inhale through the mouthpiece while gas flows past the mouthpiece. An overpressure relief system is included to monitor the pressure in the patient circuit and react to pressures above an operator-selected level by halting inflow of gas into the patient circuit, exhausting patient pressure to the atomsphere, and producing an alarm.

Abstract: An infant ventilator of the type that switches between an inspiration phase during which gas under pressure is applied through a mouthpiece to cause involuntary inspiration of an infant to which the mouthpiece is coupled, and an expiration phase during which the infant is allowed to exhale or voluntarily inhale through the mouthpiece while gas flows past the mouthpiece. The gas delivery system in the ventilator is interconnected so as to regulate the gas pressure at the mouthpiece during the expiration phase to generally atmospheric pressure (in the absence of operator selected PEEP) for any flow rate of gas past the mouthpiece in the expiration phase in the range of about 0 to 25 liters per minute as selected by a flow control valve without the need for further manual adjustments.