Abstract: An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject. The guiding apparatus comprises an elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the aces graft, and an elongated tubular sleeve defining an pocket having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension configured to receive the body member. The body member is adapted to be received in the pocket of the sleeve for securing adjacent the subcutaneous access graft such that the inner surface of the base portion is aligned with a cannulation point of the graft for guiding location of a needle insertion.

Abstract: A method for rotatable selection of sites for cannulation of a subcutaneous vascular access vessel comprises the step of providing a template defining an opening for a plurality of zones, each of the plurality of zones configured for receiving a plurality of simultaneous cannulations accessing the vascular access vessel. The outer surface of the template is marked, the marking defining each of the plurality of zones for use as cannulation sites along the vascular access vessel. The template is positioned on the skin of the patient adjacent the subcutaneous vascular access vessel such that the opening aligns with the vascular access vessel, and the marking is used for selecting a first zone for a cannulation site into the vascular access vessel such that the cannulation site in the first zone is spaced from and not adjacent to a second zone used for cannulation immediately previously to the first zone.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for rotatable selection of sites for cannulation with a needle along a subcutaneous vascular access vessel. The cannulation site selection apparatus comprises a template having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a plurality of visible markings on the outer surface of the template. The template is adapted to be disposed adjacent the subcutaneous vascular access vessel such that the markings align with the cannulation sites along the vascular access vessel for selecting a site for cannulation with a needle into the vascular access vessel.

Abstract: A reconfigurable solar array has a plurality of photovoltaic cells and an interconnect circuit including a plurality of switches for interconnecting the photovoltaic cells. A thermostatic feedback control circuit in communication with a temperature sensor is configured to produce a temperature signal that is proportional to a temperature of the photovoltaic cells. The thermostatic feedback control circuit is configured to cause at least one of the switches to change state at a preset temperature that is independent of supply voltage. When the temperature is above the preset temperature, the photovoltaic cells are arranged in a plurality of strings connected in parallel. When the temperature is at or below the preset temperature, at least one photovoltaic cell in each string is disconnected from a respective string and reconnected in series to each other to form a new string connected in parallel to the other strings.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for determining monitoring compliance for an enterprise application deployed on an application delivery platform. Existing resources, monitors and alerts are discovered with gaps in monitoring being calculated based on a comparison of monitoring objectives and the existing monitors and alerts. Gaps in monitoring are reported in a GUI reflecting effectiveness of existing monitors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for determining monitoring compliance for an enterprise application deployed on an application delivery platform. Existing resources, monitors and alerts are discovered with gaps in monitoring being calculated based on a comparison of monitoring objectives and the existing monitors and alerts. Gaps in monitoring are reported in a GUI reflecting effectiveness of existing monitors.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivery of a vascular arteriovenous graft comprises a tubular sleeve defining an interior lumen adapted for being slidably positioned over a tunneling instrument. Once the tunneling instrument has been advanced to a desired subcutaneous anatomical location the shaft is removed while the sleeve remains in the tissue. The sleeve has a linear slit extending from a proximal end to a point intermediate the length of the sleeve. The lumen receives the distal end of the graft and at least a portion of a cannulation chamber such that the end of the sleeve progressively expands along the slit to provide an enlarged diameter for accommodating the cannulation chamber. Longitudinal force to the sleeve during removal of the sleeve from the tissue secures the graft in the sleeve by radial compression of the sleeve for pulling the graft and the sleeve through the tunnel and deploying the vascular graft.

Abstract: A cannulation chamber is provided for use with an arteriovenous graft including a flexible conduit. The cannulation chamber comprises an elongated body defining an annular passageway having a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end. The body receives and surrounds the conduit in the passageway. The body comprises a self-sealing material and a cannulation port that exposes the self-sealing material. A flexible resilient elongated back plate is embedded in the body of the cannulation chamber such that the back plate extends generally parallel with and may partially surround the passageway. The back plate is formed of a substantially rigid material such that when a needle is inserted through the cannulation port and the self-sealing material, the needle is inhibited or prevented from extending through the back plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject. The guiding apparatus comprises an elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the aces graft, and an elongated tubular sleeve defining an pocket having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension configured to receive the body member. The body member is adapted to be received in the pocket of the sleeve for securing adjacent the subcutaneous access graft such that the inner surface of the base portion is aligned with a cannulation point of the graft for guiding location of a needle insertion.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for subcutaneous implantation in a patient using a tunneling instrument. The implantation apparatus comprises a vascular graft and a connector adapted to couple a distal end of the tunneling instrument and a proximal end of the graft. The connector comprises a tip, a first end of the tip configured to be received within the proximal end of the graft, a clip for securing the graft to the tip, and a coupler for a rotatable connection of the tip to the tunneling instrument such that the tip is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the coupler to facilitate attachment of the graft to the tunneling instrument. The implantation apparatus may further comprise a removable sheath configured to substantially cover the length of the graft.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject. The guiding apparatus comprises an elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the aces graft, and an elongated tubular sleeve defining an pocket having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension configured to receive the body member. The body member is adapted to be received in the pocket of the sleeve for securing adjacent the subcutaneous access graft such that the inner surface of the base portion is aligned with a cannulation point of the graft for guiding location of a needle insertion.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for subcutaneous implantation in a patient using a tunneling instrument. The implantation apparatus comprises a vascular graft and a connector adapted to couple a distal end of the tunneling instrument and a proximal end of the graft. The connector comprises a tip, a first end of the tip configured to be received within the proximal end of the graft, a clip for securing the graft to the tip, and a coupler for a rotatable connection of the tip to the tunneling instrument such that the tip is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the coupler to facilitate attachment of the graft to the tunneling instrument. The implantation apparatus may further comprise a removable sheath configured to substantially cover the length of the graft.

Abstract: A method for rotatable selection of sites for cannulation of a subcutaneous vascular access vessel comprises the step of providing a template defining an opening for a plurality of zones, each of the plurality of zones configured for receiving a plurality of simultaneous cannulations accessing the vascular access vessel. The outer surface of the template is marked, the marking defining each of the plurality of zones for use as cannulation sites along the vascular access vessel. The template is positioned on the skin of the patient adjacent the subcutaneous vascular access vessel such that the opening aligns with the vascular access vessel, and the marking is used for selecting a first zone for a cannulation site into the vascular access vessel such that the cannulation site in the first zone is spaced from and not adjacent to a second zone used for cannulation immediately previously to the first zone.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for subcutaneous implantation in a patient using a tunneling instrument. The implantation apparatus comprises a vascular graft and a connector adapted to couple a distal end of the tunneling instrument and a proximal end of the graft. The connector comprises a tip, a first end of the tip configured to be received within the proximal end of the graft, a clip for securing the graft to the tip, and a coupler for a rotatable connection of the tip to the tunneling instrument such that the tip is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the coupler to facilitate attachment of the graft to the tunneling instrument. The implantation apparatus may further comprise a removable sheath configured to substantially cover the length of the graft.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for rotatable selection of sites for cannulation with a needle along a subcutaneous vascular access vessel. The cannulation site selection apparatus comprises a template having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a plurality of visible markings on the outer surface of the template. The template is adapted to be disposed adjacent the subcutaneous vascular access vessel such that the markings align with the cannulation sites along the vascular access vessel for selecting a site for cannulation with a needle into the vascular access vessel.

Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and compositions for increasing a growth characteristic of a plant, increasing nutrient use efficiency of a plant, or improving a plant's ability to overcome stress comprising applying a composition comprising ketosuccinamate, a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof, to the plant or to a propagation material of the plant.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding cannulation with a dialysis needle of an arteriovenous dialysis access graft subcutaneously implanted in a body of a subject. The guiding apparatus comprises an elongated body member comprising a base portion terminating in longitudinal edges, a distance between the longitudinal edges of the base portion being substantially equal to a lateral dimension of the aces graft, and an elongated tubular sleeve defining an pocket having a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension configured to receive the body member. The body member is adapted to be received in the pocket of the sleeve for securing adjacent the subcutaneous access graft such that the inner surface of the base portion is aligned with a cannulation point of the graft for guiding location of a needle insertion.

Abstract: An arteriovenous dialysis access graft is configured to be implanted in a body of a subject. The arteriovenous dialysis graft comprises a flexible conduit defining a longitudinal flow passageway. The conduit has a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion configured to connect to an artery of the subject and the second end portion configured to connect to a vein of the subject such that blood flows through the longitudinal flow passageway of the conduit from the first end portion to the second end portion. The graft further comprises a first cannulation chamber and a spaced second cannulation chamber with the conduit extending through each of the first chamber and the second chamber. The first chamber is positioned between the first end portion and the second chamber, and the second chamber is positioned between the second end portion and the first chamber. A valve device is positioned between the first cannulation chamber and the second cannulation chamber for controlling fluid flow.

Abstract: A system and method of managing and coordinating a medical procedure simplifies a desired medical procedure from beginning to end. The method includes at least one practitioner account and at least one patient account, both managed by at least one remote server. The method allows the practitioner account and the patient account to communicate with each other through a practitioner personal computing (PC) device and a patient PC device, respectively. The method begins with the execution of an exploratory process in order to identify a desired medical procedure. A distal preparatory process is then executed to gather and manage pre-procedure logistic data. A proximal preparatory process is then executed in order to gather and manage pre-procedure checklist data for the desired medical procedure. The method is completed with execution of a recovery process in order to gather and manage post-procedure logistic data for the desired medical procedure.

Abstract: An adjustable lighting apparatus for illuminating a specimen while facilitating access to the specimen includes an elongated post defining a first axis, a hub movably attached to the post, and a pair of pivotable curved plate jaws, each jaw connected to the hub and configured for independent movement relative to the hub. The hub is configured for movement parallel to the first axis of the post. Each jaw of the pair of pivotable curved plate jaws has a concave interior surface and has one or more light sources positioned within or against the interior surface between a proximate jaw end and a distal jaw end for illuminating a specimen located within the expandable boundary.