Abstract: Provided herein are systems and method for measuring cell stiffness. In particular, provided herein are microelectrode configuration and systems for measuring platelet deformation and stiffness.

Abstract: A polymeric valve which may include a heart valve, and also may include a trileaflet heart valve includes a stent having a base and a plurality of outwardly extending posts from the base and equidistant from each other. A plurality of leaflets each connected to a corresponding one of the posts at one end, and each of the leaflets connected to the base. Each of the leaflets having an operative end opposite the end connected to the post, and the operative ends of the leaflets being biased in a closed position such that the operative ends abut each other. The operative ends are configured to rhythmically open and close in relation to each other, and the leaflets include multiple cross sectional thicknesses at different portions of the leaflets.

Abstract: Edible electrical systems containing food and/or food-based materials that possess electrical characteristics comparable or substantially equal to those of conventional materials used traditional electronic circuits and configured to include at least one of a capacitor, resistor, inductor, microphone, RF filter, pH monitoring device to collect information representing a living biological tissue from inside a body. A set of materials for use in constructing such edible electrical systems and methods of using such systems for acquiring such information. Edible electrical systems may be configured to be implantable.

Abstract: A closed-circuit heliox delivery system and methods for alleviating symptoms of COPD and related disorders are provided. The system is self-monitoring and can be used outside of a hospital environment. The system contains a gas supply fluidly connected to a breathing circuit. The breathing circuit contains an upper airway device, such as a mask. The system contains a sensor(s) and controller. The sensors measure parameters in the system, the ambient environment, or related to the physiological state of the user. The controller can adjust the system to maintain parameters within the device, i.e. pressure, temperature, humidity, within predetermined ranges. The controller can adjust the system to maintain a target physiological state of the user, i.e. target blood oxygen levels or Work of Breathing (WOB).

Abstract: Methods and compositions for producing proteins such as growth factors, antibodies, or other therapeutic proteins in legumes. The present invention also features medical materials comprising legume material from a transgenic legume and a recombinant protein produced by the transgenic legume. The material may be a bandage, gauze, an injectable composition, or the like. The material may further comprise other elements such as non-active plant elements, synthetic elements, or medications. Soybean plants may be non-allergenic soybean plants.

Abstract: Virtual reality system and method improve clinical outcomes. The virtual reality system includes a virtual display device capable of providing virtual reality images to a patient; one or more actuators capable of providing physical experience to the patient; and a controller. The controller is capable of: automatically selecting a treatment model based upon one or both of (a) a received identity of a medical treatment applied to the patient and (b) a received identity of a targeted disease of the patient; and coordinating the virtual display device and the one or more actuators to provide a synchronized immersive virtual reality environment for the patient to experience based upon the treatment model.

Abstract: Methods, compositions, and devices to limit, modulate, insulate, and/or otherwise alter the effects of exogenous physical stimuli on cells are described herein. The cells may be removed from the body, preferably isolated, and treated ex vivo with the composition to limit the effects of physical stimuli on the cells and then returned to the patient. Alternatively, the cells may be treated in vivo. The compositions can be administered a variety of manners, such as systemically, locally or regionally.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to microfluidic devices and particularly, but not exclusively, to devices, methods, systems, and kits for imparting stresses on a fluid flowing through a microfluidic device that is designed to mimic a stress profile of a macrofluidic device or pathology.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of characterizing disease. In particular, this invention relates to methods for selecting a treatment, treating, and predicting survival time in subjects suffering from sepsis, based on the characterization of genes associated with a reactive oxygen species (ROS) molecular signature.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems according to present principles provide ways to diagnose frailty and assess the severity of its clinical status—e.g., non-frail, pre-frail, and frail, especially as measured and quantified during activities of daily living. Systems and methods according to present principles objectively quantify physical activity behaviors and identify specific motor tasks, which indicate clinical frailty syndrome behaviors such as flopping, cautious-sitting, non-uniform walking fluctuations, cognitive decline, slowness, weakness, and exhaustion. Additionally, the systems and methods allow improved sensitivity and specificity of frailty identification by further assessing physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiration rate, and skin temperature in response to, or recovery from, specific activities.

Abstract: Systems, methods and software products determine an overall motion and/or flexibility envelope for an individual. Movement and position data of the individual is captured and processed to generate an overall motion and/or flexibility envelope for the individual defining overall motion and/or flexibility of the individual. The systems include a flexibility server with memory and a processor adapted to receive movement and position data of the individual, a motion and/or flexibility analyzer, implemented as machine readable instructions stored in the memory and executed by the digital processor, capable of processing the movement and position data to generate an overall motion and/or flexibility envelope for the individual defining overall motion and/or flexibility of the individual.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software products determine an overall motion, flexibility and/or strength envelope for an individual. Force, movement and position data of the individual is captured and processed to generate an overall motion, flexibility and/or strength envelope for the individual that defines overall motion, flexibility and/or strength of the individual. The system includes a flexibility server with memory and a processor that are adapted to receive force, movement and position data of the individual. A motion, flexibility and/or strength analyzer of the system, implemented as machine readable instructions stored in the memory and executed by the digital processor, is capable of processing the force, movement and position data to generate an overall motion, flexibility and/or strength envelope for the individual that defines the overall motion, flexibility and/or strength of the individual.

Abstract: Systems and methods detect changes in ability of an individual to perform an activity. The system includes a processor, a memory, a generic signature database having at least one signature that corresponds to the activity, a decryptor that identifies a current activity of the individual, a normal activity pattern database that includes a pattern of the activity previously determined for the individual, and an activity analyzer configured to compare performance of the current activity to previous performances of the activity to identify change in the performance, and to generate an alert indicating the change when the change is identified. Sensor data indicative of movement of the individual is processed to identify the current activity and performance of the current activity is compared to previous performances of the activity to identify change and an alert is generated to indicate the change in the ability of the individual to perform the activity.

Abstract: Methods, materials, devices, and systems for electropolymeric paving and sealing (ePEPS) are provided. The methods include delivering paving materials to an interior surface of a blood vessel, tissue lumen or other hollow space, delivering electronic components to the surface, and forming a conformal device that contains the paving material and the integrated electronic components. Integrated electronic components can be homogenously or heterogeneously distributed in the material, such as on the top, middle, and/or bottom of the polymeric material. The devices are biocompatible, and preferably biodegradable or bioerodible. The devices integrated electrical properties useful for sensing or detecting one or more analytes, signals or conditions, transmitting or generating a signal, or releasing a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent. Optionally, the devices are smart devices that include feedback and logic means to respond to a change in local conditions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software products analyze healthcare data. First input data is collected from a first source and second input data is collected from a second source disparate from the first source. The second source has a data format that is different from a format of the first source. The first input data is processed to determine a first concept and the second input data is processed to determine a second concept. A relationship between the first and second concepts is determined. The first and second concepts are stored within a knowledgebase based upon the relationship and a patient medical model is generated from the knowledgebase.

Abstract: Materials and systems that enable high efficiency conversion of mechanical stress to electrical energy and methods of use thereof are described herein. The materials and systems are preferably used to provide power to medical devices implanted inside or used outside of a patient's body. For medical devices, the materials and systems convert electrical energy from the natural contractile and relaxation motion of a portion of a patient's body, such as the heart, lung and diaphragm, or via motion of body materials or fluids such as air, blood, urine, or stool. The materials and systems are capable of being bent, folded or otherwise stressed without fracturing and include piezoelectric materials on a flexible substrate. The materials and systems are preferably fashioned to be generally conformal with intimate apposition to complex surface topographies.

Abstract: Virtual reality system and method improve clinical outcomes. The virtual reality system includes a virtual display device capable of providing virtual reality images to a patient; one or more actuators capable of providing physical experience to the patient; and a controller. The controller is capable of: automatically selecting a treatment model based upon one or both of (a) a received identity of a medical treatment applied to the patient and (b) a received identity of a targeted disease of the patient; and coordinating the virtual display device and the one or more actuators to provide a synchronized immersive virtual reality environment for the patient to experience based upon the treatment model.

Abstract: A sensor interface device (e.g., orthotic device or immobilization device) is disclosed. More specifically, described is an individualized sensor device and system to prevent tissue damage resulting from, for example, pressure, torsion, temperature, shear, altered blood flow, reduced oxygen tension, pH levels, tissue conductivity, tissue viscoelasticity, infection and sweat chloride levels. In particular embodiments, the systems, devices and related methods are used for preventing ambulation and mobility related plantar tissue related damage and immobilizing tissues.

Abstract: Polymers having mechanical properties approaching or exceeding commercial elastomers and engineering thermoplastics, but improved biostability, are described herein. In one embodiment, the polymers have a hard segment containing one or more disulfoxide or disulfone moieties and a soft segment connected to the hard segment to form an elastomeric polymer. The polymer is resistant to oxidation and/or hydrolytic degradation, particularly in vivo, which allows for the use of these materials in implants/devices which are implanted for an extended period of time. The ratio or percentage by weight of soft segment to hard segment can be varied based on the physical and mechanical properties of the desired device.

Abstract: A patient coordination system, method and software product receives configuration of a hospital within a server. A hospital model is determined based upon the configuration. Location of each patient within the hospital is received. A course through hospital for each patient is received. Status for each patient is received from independently run hospital services. Progress of each patient through the corresponding course is determined and a dashboard showing the hospital model with spatial indication of the progress for each patient is generated.