Abstract: An apparatus for holding a first portion of a bone and a second portion of a bone together for the bone to heal. A method for holding a first portion of a bone and a second portion of a bone together for the bone to heal. A suture. A grommet for a bone. A method for securing a suture through a bone.

Abstract: A blood pump preferably has a magnetically suspended rotor that rotates within a housing. The rotor may rotate about a stator disposed within the housing. Radial magnetic bearings may be defined within the stator and the rotor in order to suspend the rotor. The radial magnetic bearings may be passive magnetic bearings that include permanent magnets disposed within the stator and the rotor or active magnetic bearings. The pump may further include an axial magnetic bearing that may be either a passive or an active magnetic bearing. A motor that drives the rotor may be disposed within the housing in order to more easily dissipate heat generated by the motor. A primary flow path is defined between the rotor and the stator, and a secondary flow path is defined between the stator and the rotor. Preferably, a substantial majority of blood passes through the primary flow path.

Abstract: A rotary pump for pumping fluids through a patient having a housing with an internal region, a stator member and an impeller positioned within the housing and having impeller blades, wherein the impeller is magnetically suspended and rotated, and wherein the geometric configuration of the rotary pump is sized and proportioned to minimize stagnant and traumatic fluid flow within the rotary pump. The plurality of magnetic impeller blades are preferably rare earth, high-energy-density magnets selected from the group consisting of samarium cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron alloy.

Abstract: Harmonica structures designed for enhancing harmonica play are disclosed. In one aspect, a reed comb is provided with a common bridge having reeds formed integrally therewith. The reed plate has a plurality of reed slots formed therein and is adapted to receive the reeds of the reed comb into corresponding slots formed in the reed plate. A stepped portion formed in the reed plate is adapted to receive a reed of the reed comb therein to permit substantial encasement of the reed within the reed slot. A key benefit of this arrangement is to resist leakage of air between the reed plate and the flanks of the reed during harmonica play. The reed plate can also include a first stepped portion upon which the roots of the reeds are positioned and a second stepped portion positioned adjacent to the tips of the reeds. Other structures are disclosed that include a radiused surface formed on a portion of the reed or on the surface of the reed slot in which the reed is positioned.

Abstract: Harmonica structures designed for enhancing harmonica play are disclosed. In one aspect, a reed comb is provided with a common bridge having reeds formed integrally therewith. The reed plate has a plurality of reed slots formed therein and is adapted to receive the reeds of the reed comb into corresponding slots formed in the reed plate. A stepped portion formed in the reed plate is adapted to receive a reed of the reed comb therein to permit substantial encasement of the reed within the reed slot. A key benefit of this arrangement is to resist leakage of air between the reed plate and the flanks of the reed during harmonica play. The reed plate can also include a first stepped portion upon which the roots of the reeds are positioned and a second stepped portion positioned adjacent to the tips of the reeds. Other structures are disclosed that include a radiused surface formed on a portion of the reed or on the surface of the reed slot in which the reed is positioned.

Abstract: Harmonica structures designed for enhancing harmonica play are disclosed. In one aspect, a reed comb is provided with a common bridge having reeds formed integrally therewith. The reed plate has a plurality of reed slots formed therein and is adapted to receive the reeds of the reed comb into corresponding slots formed in the reed plate. A stepped portion formed in the reed plate is adapted to receive a reed of the reed comb therein to permit substantial encasement of the reed within the reed slot. A key benefit of this arrangement is to resist leakage of air between the reed plate and the flanks of the reed during harmonica play. The reed plate can also include a first stepped portion upon which the roots of the reeds are positioned and a second stepped portion positioned adjacent to the tips of the reeds. Other structures are disclosed that include a radiused surface formed on a portion of the reed or on the surface of the reed slot in which the reed is positioned.

Abstract: An improved harmonica is disclosed that includes a plurality of reeds and means operatively associated with at least one of the reeds that converts the mechanical vibration of the reed into electrical energy. The electrical signals are obtained and processed by a sensor board having sensors positioned thereon that correspond to the plurality of reeds on the reed plates of the harmonica. A variety of types and configurations for these sensors are provided. In addition, a piezoelectric material can be employed in conjunction with the reeds to alter the characteristics of their mechanical vibration during harmonica play. The sensor board or boards of the harmonica can be electrically coupled to auxiliary signal conditioning equipment, such as stereo equipment or conventional amplification equipment to further enhance play. Methods for retrofitting a commercially available harmonica with at least one sensor board are also provided.

Abstract: A blood pump preferably has a magnetically suspended rotor that rotates within a housing. The rotor may rotate about a stator disposed within the housing. Radial magnetic bearings may be defined within the stator and the rotor in order to suspend the rotor. The radial magnetic bearings may be passive magnetic bearings that include permanent magnets disposed within the stator and the rotor or active magnetic bearings. The pump may further include an axial magnetic bearing that may be either a passive or an active magnetic bearing. A motor that drives the rotor may be disposed within the housing in order to more easily dissipate heat generated by the motor. A primary flow path is defined between the rotor and the stator, and a secondary flow path is defined between the stator and the rotor. Preferably, a substantial majority of blood passes through the primary flow path.

Abstract: Enclosures for a harmonica are disclosed wherein the wall of the enclosure surrounds the harmonica, provides a mouthpiece opening and an outlet opening, and forms at least one resonance chamber. A lip groove, a bulge, a cradle and a diffuser are disclosed forming a saddle-shaped surface which is concave along a front-to-back axis and convex around the ends of the enclosure. A key benefit of this arrangement is the improved control of the sound by the player's hands. Another key benefit of this arrangement is the enhanced tone and increased loudness of the sound produced by the harmonica. Supporting members are disclosed that constrain movement of the harmonica relative to the enclosure. Single-piece and multi-piece enclosures are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for depositing multiple implants carrying radioactive isotopes, pharmalogical agents or transgenes, in soft tissue including tumors and organs with precise, selectable spacing between implants includes an introducer in the form of a tube which is inserted into the soft tissue and an obturator for pushing implants out of the introducer one at a time. An operating mechanism incrementally withdraws the introducer while the obturator remains stationary thereby depositing a single implant. The obturator is then coupled to the introducer for the remainder of the stroke to provide the spacing. In a preferred embodiment, the introducer is resequenced to lay down parallel rows of implants. An indicator records the total number of implants deposited. The distal end of the introducer is configured to retain the implants and allow them to be discharged into the soft tissue singly.

Abstract: A blood pump preferably has a magnetically suspended rotor that rotates within a housing. The rotor may rotate about a stator disposed within the housing. Radial magnetic bearings may be defined within the stator and the rotor in order to suspend the rotor. The radial magnetic bearings may be passive magnetic bearings that include permanent magnets disposed within the stator and the rotor or active magnetic bearings. The pump may further include an axial magnetic bearing that may be either a passive or an active magnetic bearing. A motor that drives the rotor may be disposed within the housing in order to more easily dissipate heat generated by the motor. A primary flow path is defined between the rotor and the stator, and a secondary flow path is defined between the stator and the rotor. Preferably, a substantial majority of blood passes through the primary flow path.

Abstract: A rotary pump having a housing defining a flow path, a stator attached to the housing, a rotor which contacts the stator and rotates thereabout, a motor for rotating the rotor and semiconductor-based electronic components which draws the heat created by the frictional contact between the stator and rotor away from blood flowing through the housing. The rotary pump can be a centrifugal pump having a housing with a base plate, a rotor with rotor blades and a stator wherein the base plate and the rotor are shaped and proportioned such that blood is prevented from stagnating/collecting between the rotor blades and base plate.

Abstract: An automatic speed control system continually adjusts the speed of an implanted cardiac assist blood pump to an optimum level for the varying physiological needs of the patient. It does this by periodically iteratively incrementing the speed setpoint of the pump. When the system detects the imminence of a ventricular collapse at diastole, it decrements the speed setpoint by a predetermined safety margin. An alarm condition is provided if the setpoint decrease results in an insufficient blood flow rate through the pump. The flow rate and imminence of ventricular collapse are computed in real time as functions of only the pump's motor current and speed setpoint.

Abstract: A rotary pump for pumping fluids through a patient having a housing with an internal region, a stator member and an impeller positioned within the housing and having impeller blades, wherein the impeller is magnetically suspended and rotated, and wherein the geometric configuration of the rotary pump is sized and proportioned to minimize stagnant and traumatic fluid flow within the rotary pump. The plurality of magnetic impeller blades are preferably rare earth, high-energy-density magnets selected from the group consisting of samarium cobalt and neodymium-iron-boron alloy.

Abstract: An automatic speed control system continually adjusts the speed of an implanted cardiac assist blood pump to an optimum level for the varying physiological needs of the patient. It does this by periodically iteratively incrementing the speed setpoint of the pump. When the system detects the imminence of a ventricular collapse at diastole, it decrements the speed setpoint by a predetermined safety margin. An alarm condition is provided if the setpoint decrease results in an insufficient blood flow rate through the pump. The flow rate and imminence of ventricular collapse are computed in real time as functions of only the pump's motor current and speed setpoint.

Abstract: A fluid delivery apparatus including a chamber for holding a conduit, such as a portion of a human vascular tissue, a fluid supply source for delivering a fluid into the conduit and a fluid pressure modulating device for modulating the fluid pressure supplied from the fluid source before the fluid enters the conduit. The modulating device produces a fluid having a desired pressure waveform for delivery to the conduit. The modulating device includes a microprocessor that digitizes the desired pressure waveform into a plurality of discrete digitized data points and stores a motion controller computer program. The modulating device further includes a motion controller which receives the digitized data points and the motion controller computer program and which at least partially restricts the delivery of the fluid to the conduit based on the digitized data points and the motion controller computer program to produce the desired pressure waveform for delivery to the conduit.