Abstract: The present invention relates to novel genetic markers associated with degenerative disc disease (DDD), risk of developing DDD and risk of DDD progression, and methods and materials for determining whether a human subject has DDD, is at risk of developing DDD or is at risk of DDD progression.

Abstract: Glucagon formulations that resist fibril formation are disclosed. The formulations comprise curcumin derivatives such as ferulic acid and/or tetrahydrocurcumin and can further comprise human serum albumin, polysorbate-80, and L-methionine.

Abstract: A durable device is disclosed. This device allows concurrent measurement of an analyte such as glucose, and delivery of a glucose-active drug such as insulin. In order to carry out both functions, only one tubular structure is necessary. In one embodiment of the invention, wires or rings of platinum, gold, or carbon which serve as indicating electrodes are circumferentially disposed around a tubular reference electrode. In an embodiment, the reference electrode is made up of a hollow silver or silver-coated tube. The hollow characteristic is necessary in order to allow concurrent delivery of insulin or other drug through the lumen. In order to optimize sensor accuracy, there are multiple individually-addressable indicating electrodes circumferentially disposed around the shaft.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing device (10), including a drop ejection device (12) including an orifice (18) adapted for ejecting drops therefrom, a single detection device (28) positioned to receive drop information from the ejected drops of the drop ejection device, and a controller (40) that receives the drop information and uses the drop information to determine a number of drops ejected from the drop ejection device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel genetic markers associated with endometriosis and risk of developing endometriosis, and methods and materials for determining whether a human subject has endometriosis or is at risk of developing endometriosis and the use of such risk information in selectively administering a treatment that at least partially prevents or compensates for an endometriosis related symptom.

Abstract: Drop detection are disclosed. An example liquid dispensing device includes a controller to control dispensing of a first drop from a first orifice and a second drop from a second orifice, a sensor to monitor the first orifice to detect at least one of a presence or an absence of a drop from the first orifice and, in response to the sensor detecting an absence of the first drop, the controller is to classify the first orifice as at least one of occluded or non-functioning.

Abstract: An attachment clip assembly for securing a splash guard to an edge of a vehicle panel. The attachment clip assembly includes inner and outer clips and a threaded fastener. The inner clip includes wedging and gripping arms and the outer clip includes wedging and support arms, the inner clip fitting in nested relationship in the outer clip. The threaded fastener extends through an opening of the inner clip and a slotted opening of the outer clip. The wedging arm of the outer clip includes spaced apart shoulders overlying respective outer edges of the wedging arm of the inner clip such that, upon tightening the threaded fastener, the wedging arm of the inner clip slides along the wedging arm of the outer clip in a direction toward a central portion of the outer clip thereby moving the inner clip gripping arm toward the outer clip support arm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel genetic markers associated with endometriosis and risk of developing endometriosis, and methods and materials for determining whether a human subject has endometriosis or is at risk of developing endometriosis and the use of such risk information in selectively administering a treatment that at least partially prevents or compensates for an endometriosis related symptom.

Abstract: A sensing assembly (10), including a body (12) and one or more first indicating electrodes disposed on the body (26). The first indicating electrodes include an electrochemically active layer (32) and a layer (38) of an active functioning enzyme of a first enzyme type on top of the electrochemically active layer. Also, one or more second indicating electrodes (24) are disposed on the body and include an electrochemically active layer (32) and a layer (36) of an inactivated enzyme of the first enzyme type on top of the electrochemically active layer. A reference electrode (22) is also disposed on the body. Finally, an electrical and data processing system (18) is adapted to bias the electrodes and measure electrical signals from the electrodes, and uses said signals to determine an analyte concentration and communicates the analyte concentration to a location apart from the first and second indicating electrodes.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for delivering a device such as a sensor or fluid transport structure or a fluid transport structure sensor combination into, for example, mammalian skin and receiving, analyzing, and displaying signals from the device such as a sensor are disclosed. A system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes a reusable sensor assembly including a transmitter, microcontroller, and housing plus a disposable sensor assembly including a housing having an opening for receiving both the distal end of a biosensor, a sensor insertion guidance structure, and a transmission apparatus for transmitting signals received from the sensor to a reusable sensor assembly for transmission to an external electronic monitoring unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a device and method for treating animal skin to produce tautness in the skin during the insertion of an analyte sensor. A device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes a housing that partially encloses a cavity and is adapted for mounting onto animal skin and a sensor insertion module adapted to insert an analyte sensor through animal skin.

Abstract: The present invention is a bone growth stimulating and promoting cytokine type biological implant preferably comprising PTH coated with a controlled release biodegradable coating that is implanted preferably in the concave side of a scoliotically curved spine in combination with a bone growth inhibiting type biological implant preferably comprising methotrexate or like anti-metabolite coated with a controlled release biodegradable coating that is implanted preferably in the convex side of a scoliotically curved spine. The insertion of the biological implant is highly non-invasion, especially as compared to more conventional spine surgical methods, and the biological implant does not decrease spinal mobility or spinal range of motion.

Abstract: Stabilized glucagon solutions, methods of storing and using the stabilized glucagon solutions, and drug delivery devices containing the stabilized glucagon solutions. In some embodiments, the glucagon solutions may be alkaline, such as with a pH of at least about 9. The glucagon solutions may be resistant to aggregation of glucagon when the solutions are stored for a prolonged period, such as at least about three days, at room temperature and/or physiological temperature.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a method and related systems that take into account the difference between a measured glucose value and the calibration level and the amount of elapsed time since the prior calibration. As one or both of these determined differences increases, the desirability of an additional calibration also increases. The methodology described herein thus analyzes the combination of change in glucose level as well as the time since the prior calibration. If the combination exceeds a predetermined value, the system recommends, but does not require, that the subject user perform an additional calibration.

Abstract: A system that facilitates selecting advertisements that match a search query is described herein. The system includes a search query receiver component that receives a search query including keywords. The system also includes a match component that uses an associative data structure to identify in the associative data structure one or more data nodes that are associated in the associative data structure with respective unique keys corresponding to respective one or more hashes of combinations of the keywords in the search query. For each identified data node, the match component selects advertisements associated with bid phrases stored in the identified data node that respectively only include keywords included in the search query.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate a player re-entering a card game, even though they may have “folded” their hand on a previous turn in the card game. Conventionally, in traditional forms of community card poker games, once a player has folded their hand they are unable to take part in the game currently being played. Rather than folding their hand, a player can “hold” their hand with the possibility of returning to the game. By enabling a buy-back-in feature a player can re-enter the game to continue betting, etc. Further the sequence of game play can be altered compared with the conventional play. The card game can be played in a physical environment as well as a digital environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel genetic markers associated with scoliosis, risk of developing scoliosis and risk of scoliosis curve progression, and simplified methods and materials for determining whether a human subject has scoliosis, is at risk of developing scoliosis or is at risk of scoliosis curve progression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel genetic markers associated with scoliosis, risk of developing scoliosis and risk of scoliosis curve progression, and simplified methods and materials for determining whether a human subject has scoliosis, is at risk of developing scoliosis or is at risk of scoliosis curve progression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel genetic markers associated with scoliosis, risk of developing scoliosis and risk of scoliosis curve progression, and methods and materials for determining whether a human subject has scoliosis, is at risk of developing scoliosis or is at risk of scoliosis curve progression.

Abstract: One aspect is a drop detection arrangement including a light source for projecting a light beam for scattering light off of an ejected drop. The arrangement includes a light collector configured to collect the scattered light off the ejected drop and configured to process scattered light into an output signal. The arrangement includes a controller configured to receive the output signal from the light collector, to calculate the velocity of the ejected drop and to determine the volume of the ejected drop using the output signal and the velocity of the ejected drop.