Abstract: A method of performing an orthopedic procedure in a sacroiliac region. At least a portion of an undercutting system is inserted at least partially into an aperture in at least one of an ilium and a sacrum. The undercutting system includes an insertion apparatus, a probe assembly and a cutting assembly. The probe assembly is moved with respect to the insertion apparatus from a retracted position to an extended position so that at least a portion of the probe assembly is between the ilium and the sacrum. The probe assembly is manipulated between the ilium and the sacrum. The cutting assembly is moved with respect to the insertion apparatus from a refracted position to an extended position so that at least a portion of the probe assembly is between the ilium and the sacrum. The cutting assembly is manipulated between the ilium and the sacrum to cut tissue between the ilium and the sacrum.

Abstract: A closed loop catheter useable for heat exchange is manufactured by forming a plurality of generally transverse bore holes though a flexible, multilumen catheter body, lacing a tube trough the bore holes so that loops of the tube protrude from the catheter body, connecting one end of the tube to an inflow lumen of the catheter and connecting the other end of the tube to an outflow lumen of the catheter. A heated or cooled heat exchange medium may then be circulated through the tube while the catheter is inserted in the vasculature of a subject, thereby resulting in heat exchange between the subject's flowing blood and the heat exchange medium being circulated through the tube.

Abstract: Closed loop heat exchange catheters having bi-directional flow heat exchange regions and their methods of manufacture and use. The heat exchange region may be formed of expandable or non-expandable tubular conduit(s) that are configured in a series of loops or coiled configuration defining a supply flow path and a return flow path through which heat exchange medium is circulated. The individual loops of convolutions of the coiled configuration may be the same or different size. In some embodiments, the tubular conduit(s) may be passed through generally transverse bore holes formed in a catheter shaft so that the loops or convolutions of protrude from the catheter shaft.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to detecting fluid in medical tubing. In certain aspects, a method is performed by a data processing apparatus. The method includes controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes receiving a signal from the ultrasonic receiver during an activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes determining that fluid is absent or present in a portion of the medical fluid tube based on a comparison between the signal and a threshold value.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to detecting fluid in medical tubing. In certain aspects, a method is performed by a data processing apparatus. The method includes controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes receiving a signal from the ultrasonic receiver during an activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes determining that fluid is absent or present in a portion of the medical fluid tube based on a comparison between the signal and a threshold value.

Abstract: Cold plates through which refrigerant flows define a slot between them that can receive a cassette through which sterile working fluid with a relatively low flow rate flows from an intravascular heat exchange catheter. The working fluid from the catheter is heated or cooled by heat exchange with the cold plates through the walls of the cassette to maintain the sterility of the working fluid. On the other hand, high flow rate working fluid chambers surround the cold plates and non-sterile working fluid from an external heat exchange pad flows through the high flow rate working fluid chambers to exchange heat through direct contact with the cold plates.

Abstract: Examples for a traction system are provided. In one example, the traction system includes a nozzle coupled to an air source and configured to be selectively aimed toward a determined portion of a rail surface of a rail, and a conduit configured to supply pressurized air from the air source to the nozzle, the nozzle flexibly coupled thereto. The nozzle is configured for the aim of the nozzle to be controlled to change its aiming direction in response to a change in curvature of the rail, whereby a stream of air from the nozzle impacts the determined portion during movement of the vehicle through the curvature of the rail.

Abstract: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) systems, devices and methods wherein a portable ECLS device is used to deliver cardiovascular support to a humans or animal patient (or harvested organ(s)) during pre-hospital or inter-hospital transport.

Abstract: A closed loop catheter useable for heat exchange is manufactured by forming a plurality of generally transverse bore holes though a flexible, multilumen catheter body, lacing a tube trough the bore holes so that loops of the tube protrude from the catheter body, connecting one end of the tube to an inflow lumen of the catheter and connecting the other end of the tube to an outflow lumen of the catheter. A heated or cooled heat exchange medium may then be circulated through the tube while the catheter is inserted in the vasculature of a subject, thereby resulting in heat exchange between the subject's flowing blood and the heat exchange medium being circulated through the tube.

Abstract: Cold plates through which refrigerant flows define a slot between them that can receive a cassette through which sterile working fluid with a relatively low flow rate flows from an intravascular heat exchange catheter. The working fluid from the catheter is heated or cooled by heat exchange with the cold plates through the walls of the cassette to maintain the sterility of the working fluid. On the other hand, high flow rate working fluid chambers surround the cold plates and non-sterile working fluid from an external heat exchange pad flows through the high flow rate working fluid chambers to exchange heat through direct contact with the cold plates.

Abstract: A method for detecting clogs in a tractive effort system of a rail vehicle or other vehicle includes the steps of determining a baseline air flow rate from an air compressor during steady state conditions, actuating the tractive effort system, determining a secondary air flow rate from the air compressor subsequent to actuation of the tractive effort system, and comparing the secondary air flow rate to the baseline air flow rate.

Abstract: Cold plates through which refrigerant flows define a slot between them that can receive a cassette through which sterile working fluid with a relatively low flow rate flows from an intravascular beat exchange catheter or external pad. The slot may have bulge cavities along the edges to permit the membrane of the cassette to expand and thus establish fluid supply and return passageways.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump has an arcuate raceway wife a partially concave inner surface extending through an arc of at least one hundred eighty degrees (180°). The are defines a midpoint, and a rotor faces the inner surface of the raceway and is both rotatable relative to the raceway and transitionally movable relative to the raceway between a pump position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a first distance, and a tube load position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a second distance greater than the first distance. A rotor motor is coupled to the rotor to rotate the rotor and rollers arranged on the rotor to contact tubing disposed between the rotor and the raceway when the rotor is in the pump position. A loading motor moves the rotor toward and away from the raceway.

Abstract: An enclosure or plenum that supports a looped pump tube is hingedly connected to a framed thin-walled heat exchange bag through which working fluid from an intravascular heat exchange catheter flows. The frame with bag can be inserted between cold plates to exchange heat with the working fluid flowing through the bag. With the framed bag between the plates, the looped pump tube from the enclosure or plenum is receivable in the raceway of a peristaltic pump, which pumps working fluid through the system.

Abstract: A heat exchange assembly can be removably engaged between two cold plates of a heat exchange system for exchanging heat with working fluid from an intravascular heat exchange catheter or an external heat exchange pad. The heat exchange assembly may have a serpentine, winding, tortuous, or sinuous configuration, or it may have one or more curves, turns and/or bends and/or can have a flattened transverse cross-section to facilitate heat exchange with the cold plates.

Abstract: An apparatus may control the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, and may comprise a controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also comprise a controller that may be operatively coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also include a first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate via a first protocol and to join a first wireless communication network operable to communicate via the first protocol. The first wireless communication circuit may be in communication with the controller. The controller may be operative to determine a first condition for communicating via the first protocol. The controller may also be operable to control the first wireless communication circuit to join the first wireless communication network upon the first condition being satisfied.

Abstract: An apparatus may control the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, and may comprise a controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also comprise a controller that may be operatively coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also include a first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate via a first protocol and to join a first wireless communication network operable to communicate via the first protocol. The first wireless communication circuit may be in communication with the controller. The controller may be operative to determine a first condition for communicating via the first protocol. The controller may also be operable to control the first wireless communication circuit to join the first wireless communication network upon the first condition being satisfied.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump has an arcuate raceway with a partially concave inner surface extending through an arc of at least one hundred eighty degrees (180°). The arc defines a midpoint, and a rotor faces the inner surface of the raceway and is both rotatable relative to the raceway and translationally movable relative to the raceway between a pump position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a first distance, and a tube load position, wherein the rotor is spaced from the midpoint a second distance greater than the first distance. A motor is coupled to the rotor to rotate the rotor plural are rollers arranged on the rotor to contact tubing disposed between the rotor and the raceway when the rotor is in the pump position. The motor is prevented from stopping at a predetermined angular position to facilitate loading and unloading tubing.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to medical tubing installation detection. In certain aspects, a method is performed by a data processing apparatus. The method includes detecting that a tube is incorrectly installed on a drug delivery device by providing an instruction for a motor of the drug delivery device to pump a drug and receiving, after a period of time has passed since providing the instruction for the motor of the drug delivery device to pump the drug, a signal from a fluid detector connected to the tube, the signal indicating an absence of fluid in the tube.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle system includes determining a vehicle reference speed using an off-board-based input speed and an onboard-based input speed. The off-board-based input speed is representative of a moving speed of the vehicle system and is determined from data received from an off-board device. The onboard-based input speed is representative of the moving speed of the vehicle system and is determined from data obtained from an onboard device. The method includes using the vehicle reference speed to at least one of measure wheel creep for one or more wheels of the vehicle system or control at least one of torques applied by or rotational speeds of one or more motors of the vehicle system.