Abstract: The present invention is a multi-stage treatment that heals tissue or organ damage (e.g., linear defects, fissures, and fibrillations, as well as focal and large defects) in collagen-rich tissues and organs such as articular cartilage. The present invention includes methods 1) to prime tissues in preparation for treatment, which comprises “melting” the tissue matrix, 2) to add or fill the damaged area with a “melding” agent, comprising of endogenous or exogenous tissue matrix, with or without cells, with or without exogenous biomaterials, and with or without endogenous or exogenous enzymes, such that the melding agent enhances anchoring into the defect for the purpose of integration and/or tissue healing. The Melt-and-Meld process can also be applied in conjunction with any existing treatments of tissue or organ defects.

Abstract: A system, method, and appliance provide sleep-related disorder data collection, assessment, and visual representation. The appliance may be configured to be worn during a sleep cycle of an individual and may include or be operatively connected to various sensors that collect physiological data of the individual during the sleep cycle. Aspects of the system are configured to correlate data obtained from various sensors/data sources during an individual's sleep cycle, determine relevant events associated with sleep-related disorders based on the obtained data, provide summaries and information about the determined relevant events, and generate and provide dynamic visualizations of the individual's anatomy corresponding to the determined relevant events. A dynamic visualization may include a 3D model of the individual's airway and mandibular anatomy that, when played back, morphs to represent dynamics of the individual's anatomy during the relevant event.

Abstract: A therapeutic position verifying tool is a semi-custom oral appliance equipped with adjustment assemblies for setting trial occlusion dimensions during a process of fitting a patient for an oral appliance. The oral appliance is fabricated from a polymer such as control-cured PMMA. The adjustment assemblies enable the vertical, anterior-posterior and lateral occlusion dimensions to be set. Occlusion dimensions are measured directly with a pharyngometer or indirectly with a bite registration method. The measurements are transferred to the tool by setting the tool to the measured dimensions using the adjustment assembly. When a target therapeutic position for a patient is found, the patient tests the position during the night with a Polysomnogram (PSG) or Home Sleep Test (HST). The use of the tool in verifying a therapeutic position for an oral appliance eliminates much of the time-consuming process of titrating the appliance to the patient.

Abstract: Engineered neocartilage tissue compositions comprising human rib cartilage-derived cells at passage 5 (P5) or greater and methods for producing said engineered neocartilage tissue compositions. The engineered neocartilage tissue compositions are scaffold-free and feature the use of highly expanded cells exhibiting functional properties similar to native articular cartilage. The human rib cartilage-derived cells may be allogeneic cells. The tissue compositions herein may be configured for surgical implantation. The tissue compositions may be configured to repair a variety of tissues and defects such as, but not limited to, hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage, elastic cartilage, chondral lesions, osteochondral lesions, osteoarthritic conditions, a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc complex, TMJ tissues, a knee meniscus, nasal cartilages, facet cartilages, knee articular cartilage, ear cartilage, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The methods described herein are for conserving highly expanded cells that have functional properties such as potential for use in neotissue constructs. For example, highly expanded chondrocytes that can be used to construct neocartilage exhibiting functional properties similar to native articular cartilage. The methods and systems feature processes that form functional, human cartilage using cells that have been expanded to at least 1.5×105 times or P3 or greater. This enables a large quantity of engineered cartilage implants to be produced from few cells.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhancing cell populations such as chondrocytes for tissue engineering applications, e.g., for production of neocartilage. The methods and systems of the present invention feature the introduction of a hypotonic buffer to the cells during the cell isolation process, which results in neotissue (e.g., neocartilage) constructs that are significantly more mechanically robust as compared to those not treated with hypotonic buffer. The methods and systems may further comprise introducing cytochalasin D to cells purified with a hypotonic buffer, which can further bolster the mechanical properties and matrix deposition of the cells. The methods and systems result in neocartilage engineered from chondrocytes, for example, from fetal aged tissue, having compressive properties on par with native adult articular cartilage.

Abstract: The present invention is a multi-stage treatment that heals tissue or organ damage (e.g., linear defects, fissures, and fibrillations, as well as focal and large defects) in collagen-rich tissues and organs such as articular cartilage. The present invention includes methods 1) to prime tissues in preparation for treatment, which comprises “melting” the tissue matrix, 2) to add or fill the damaged area with a “melding” agent, comprising of endogenous or exogenous tissue matrix, with or without cells, with or without exogenous biomaterials, and with or without endogenous or exogenous enzymes, such that the melding agent enhances anchoring into the defect for the purpose of integration and/or tissue healing. The Melt-and-Meld process can also be applied in conjunction with any existing treatments of tissue or organ defects.

Abstract: A therapeutic position verifying tool is a semi-custom oral appliance equipped with adjustment assemblies for setting trial occlusion dimensions during a process of fitting a patient for an oral appliance. The oral appliance is fabricated from a polymer such as control-cured PMMA. The adjustment assemblies enable the vertical, anterior-posterior and lateral occlusion dimensions to be set. Occlusion dimensions are measured directly with a pharyngometer or indirectly with a bite registration method. The measurements are transferred to the tool by setting the tool to the measured dimensions using the adjustment assembly. When a target therapeutic position for a patient is found, the patient tests the position during the night with a Polysomnogram (PSG) or Home Sleep Test (HST). The use of the tool in verifying a therapeutic position for an oral appliance eliminates much of the time-consuming process of titrating the appliance to the patient.

Abstract: The methods described herein are for conserving highly expanded cells that have functional properties such as potential for use in neotissue constructs. For example, highly expanded chondrocytes that can be used to construct neocartilage exhibiting functional properties similar to native articular cartilage. The methods and systems feature processes that form functional, human cartilage using cells that have been expanded to at least 1.5×105 times or P3 or greater. This enables a large quantity of engineered cartilage implants to be produced from few cells.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhancing cell populations such as chondrocytes for tissue engineering applications, e.g., for production of neocartilage. The methods and systems of the present invention feature the introduction of a hypotonic buffer to the cells during the cell isolation process, which results in neotissue (e.g., neocartilage) constructs that are significantly more mechanically robust as compared to those not treated with hypotonic buffer. The methods and systems may further comprise introducing cytochalasin D to cells purified with hypotonic buffer, which can further bolster the mechanical properties and matrix deposition of the cells. The methods and systems result in neocartilage engineered from chondrocytes, for example, from fetal aged tissue, having compressive properties on par with native adult articular cartilage.

Abstract: A process for culturing chondrocytes to form constructs which contain higher percentages of cells that retain the chondrocytic phenotype are disclosed. The tissue engineered constructs may be formed into neocartilage-containing compositions for a variety of in vitro and in vivo purposes. Methods of treating individuals in need of articular cartilage growth by implanting a new composition are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for producing metal gate MOSFETs having relatively low threshold voltages is disclosed, comprising the steps of forming 200 a gate oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming 210 a dummy gate on the substrate, removing 260 the dummy gate after further processing and depositing 270 a lower metallic gate material on said gate oxide; treating 280 the semiconductor device with a reducing gas immediately after deposition of the lower metallic gate material, and depositing 290 an upper gate metal over the lower gate material.