Abstract: A surgical appliance includes a pair of opposed prongs slideably disposed on an elongated locking track for retracting neurovascular and musculotendinous anatomical structures through an incision for affording access to deeper structures for inserting osteosynthesis hardware in the surgical treatment of a distal radius fracture or other surgical procedure. The prongs extend from retractors that traverse the locking track for opposed linear movement while recessed in a surgical working region accessible through an incision. The prongs terminate in curvatures defining a void that gather and engage the elongated anatomical structures on top of the skeletal members receiving the plate. The prongs draw back the tendons, blood vessels and nerve structures to allow unimpeded surgical access for manipulating and attaching skeletal and soft tissue members and/or appliances.

Abstract: A surgical appliance includes a pair of opposed prongs slideably disposed on an elongated locking track for retracting neurovascular and musculotendinous anatomical structures through an incision for affording access to deeper structures for inserting osteosynthesis hardware in the surgical treatment of a distal radius fracture or other surgical procedure. The prongs extend from retractors that traverse the locking track for opposed linear movement while recessed in a surgical working region accessible through an incision. The prongs terminate in curvatures defining a void that gather and engage the elongated anatomical structures on top of the skeletal members receiving the plate. The prongs draw back the tendons, blood vessels and nerve structures to allow unimpeded surgical access for manipulating and attaching skeletal and soft tissue members and/or appliances.

Abstract: Compositions that include fibrin microthreads are provided. The compositions can include one or more therapeutic agents including cytokines and interleukins, extracellular matrix proteins and/or biologically active fragments thereof (e.g., RGD-containing peptides), hormones, vitamins, nucleic acids, chemotherapeutics, antibiotics, and cells. Also provided are methods of making compositions that include fibrin microthreads. Also provided are methods for using the compositions to repair or ameliorate damaged or defective organs or tissues.

Abstract: An assembly for rigid bone fixation includes a plate and a screw. The screw can be rotated freely within the plate in a non-locking configuration to secure the plate against the bone. A locking mechanism is engaged to prevent the screw from moving relative the plate. In one embodiment, the plate includes a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion. The screw head rotates within the non-threaded portion to tighten the screw and pull the plate against the bone. The locking mechanism can include a moveable nut that rotates within the threaded portion of the plate to lock the screw and plate in a locking mode. The assembly can be used for rigid fixation of bones that experience cyclic loads, such as the sternum and mandible. Methods of rigid bone fixation are also described.

Abstract: Compositions that include fibrin microthreads are provided. The compositions can include one or more therapeutic agents including cytokines and interleukins, extracellular matrix proteins and/or biologically active fragments thereof (e.g., RGD-containing peptides), hormones, vitamins, nucleic acids, chemotherapeutics, antibiotics, and cells. Also provided are methods of making compositions that include fibrin microthreads. Also provided are methods for using the compositions to repair or ameliorate damaged or defective organs or tissues.

Abstract: Compositions that include fibrin microthreads are provided. The compositions can include one or more therapeutic agents including cytokines and interleukins, extracellular matrix proteins and/or biologically active fragments thereof (e.g., RGD-containing peptides), hormones, vitamins, nucleic acids, chemotherapeutics, antibiotics, and cells. Also provided are methods of making compositions that include fibrin microthreads. Also provided are methods for using the compositions to repair or ameliorate damaged or defective organs or tissues.

Abstract: Compositions that include fibrin microthreads are provided. The compositions can include one or more therapeutic agents including cytokines and interleukins, extracellular matrix proteins and/or biologically active fragments thereof (e.g., RGD-containing peptides), hormones, vitamins, nucleic acids, chemotherapeutics, antibiotics, and cells. Also provided are methods of making compositions that include fibrin microthreads. Also provided are methods for using the compositions to repair or ameliorate damaged or defective organs or tissues.

Abstract: An assembly for rigid bone fixation includes a plate and a screw. The screw can be rotated freely within the plate in a non-locking configuration to secure the plate against the bone. A locking mechanism is engaged to prevent the screw from moving relative the plate. In one embodiment, the plate includes a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion. The screw head rotates within the non-threaded portion to tighten the screw and pull the plate against the bone. The locking mechanism can include a moveable nut that rotates within the threaded portion of the plate to lock the screw and plate in a locking mode. The locking mechanism can include a second screw to actuate and expansion portion of screw inserted into the bone. The assembly can be used for rigid fixation of bones that experience cyclic loads, such as the sternum and mandible. Methods of rigid bone fixation are also described.

Abstract: An assembly for rigid bone fixation includes a plate and a screw. The screw can be rotated freely within the plate in a non-locking configuration to secure the plate against the bone. A locking mechanism is engaged to prevent the screw from moving relative the plate. In one embodiment, the plate includes a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion. The screw head rotates within the non-threaded portion to tighten the screw and pull the plate against the bone. The locking mechanism can include a moveable nut that rotates within the threaded portion of the plate to lock the screw and plate in a locking mode. The assembly can be used for rigid fixation of bones that experience cyclic loads, such as the sternum and mandible. Methods of rigid bone fixation are also described.

Abstract: An assembly for rigid bone fixation includes a plate and a screw. The screw can be rotated freely within the plate in a non-locking configuration to secure the plate against the bone. A locking mechanism is engaged to prevent the screw from moving relative the plate. In one embodiment, the plate includes a threaded portion and a non-threaded portion. The screw head rotates within the non-threaded portion to tighten the screw and pull the plate against the bone. The locking mechanism can include a moveable nut that rotates within the threaded portion of the plate to lock the screw and plate in a locking mode. The locking mechanism can include a second screw to actuate and expansion portion of screw inserted into the bone. The assembly can be used for rigid fixation of bones that experience cyclic loads, such as the sternum and mandible. Methods of rigid bone fixation are also described.

Abstract: Compositions that include fibrin microthreads are provided. The compositions can include one or more therapeutic agents including cytokines and interleukins, extracellular matrix proteins and/or biologically active fragments thereof (e.g., RGD-containing peptides), hormones, vitamins, nucleic acids, chemotherapeutics, antibiotics, and cells. Also provided are methods of making compositions that include fibrin microthreads. Also provided are methods for using the compositions to repair or ameliorate damaged or defective organs or tissues.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a tube construct from a planar sheet matrix includes a stand supporting two opposing mounts and spanning between the opposing mounts are a mandrel, a porous rod, and a spring-loaded roller held in parallel arrangement; a guide for aligning and engaging the mandrel on the opposing mounts; and a means for imparting a tangential force on the planar sheet matrix to prevent wrinkling. The porous rod has a lumen running its length and has pores that communicate between the lumen of the porous rod through to the surface of the rod for water to uniformly pass through. The spring-loaded roller runs along the length of the porous rod creating a line of contact between the roller and the mandrel. The mandrel is contacted with a planar sheet of matrix and is rotated such that successive portions of the matrix contact the porous rod and become lightly moistened by the water passing through the pores of the porous rod and become wrapped around the mandrel to form a tube construct.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed at a device that provides a reliable, accurate and quantifiable measure of a patient's edema. The device improves on the current method of digital manipulation by evaluating the pitting phenomena in a user-independent manner. The output of the device allows a physician to categorize edema into at least ten different levels of severity. The systems of the present invention provides the ability to distinguish between tissues of varying viscosity.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a tube construct from a planar sheet matrix includes a stand supporting two opposing mounts and spanning between the opposing mounts are a mandrel, a porous rod, and a spring-loaded roller held in parallel arrangement; a guide for aligning and engaging the mandrel on the opposing mounts; and a means for imparting a tangential force on the planar sheet matrix to prevent wrinkling. The porous rod has a lumen running its length and has pores that communicate between the lumen of the porous rod through to the surface of the rod for water to uniformly pass through. The spring-loaded roller runs along the length of the porous rod creating a line of contact between the roller and the mandrel. The mandrel is contacted with a planar sheet of matrix and is rotated such that successive portions of the matrix contact the porous rod and become lightly moistened by the water passing through the pores of the porous rod and become wrapped around the mandrel to form a tube construct.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a tube construct from a planar sheet matrix includes a stand supporting two opposing mounts and spanning between the opposing mounts are a mandrel, a porous rod, and a spring-loaded roller held in parallel arrangement; a guide for aligning and engaging the mandrel on the opposing mounts; and a means for imparting a tangential force on the planar sheet matrix to prevent wrinkling. The porous rod has a lumen running its length and has pores that communicate between the lumen of the porous rod through to the surface of the rod for water to uniformly pass through. The spring-loaded roller runs along the length of the porous rod creating a line of contact between the roller and the mandrel. The mandrel is contacted with a planar sheet of matrix and is rotated such that successive portions of the matrix contact the porous rod and become lightly moistened by the water passing through the pores of the porous rod and become wrapped around the mandrel to form a tube construct.