Abstract: A cable management system includes a cap that cooperates with a housing to enclose a connection between a first cable and a second cable. The cap defines a first port and a second port through which cables extend into the housing. A base is to be coupled to the cap. The base includes a first clamp that protrudes from a surface of the base and maintains an alignment of a portion of the first cable with the first port. The base also includes a base interlock portion. A first cable guide, separate from the base, is to be installed on the cap to maintain an alignment of a portion of the second cable. The first cable guide includes a second clamp, and a first cable guide interlock portion that cooperates with the base interlock portion to interfere with separation of the first cable guide from the base.

Abstract: A clamp, and cable management system including the clamp, includes a bolster with a first clamping surface, and a keeper that is to be coupled to the bolster. The keeper is adjustable relative to the bolster to establish a first separation of the keeper from the first clamping surface of the bolster, and a second separation of the keeper from the first clamping surface of the bolster. The first separation is different from the second separation. The keeper includes a second clamping surface configured to cooperate with a first object having a first exterior dimension, and a third clamping surface, different from the second clamping surface, that is configured to cooperate with a second object having a second exterior dimension.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention is directed to a novel method for synthesizing Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 catalyst, which has several advantages over previous methods. Dry toluene or pentane are not required for synthesizing the catalyst, and the reaction is done in a bulk solution of BHT and THF. Further, because the Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 is made in a one-step (“one-pot”) synthesis, the time required for synthesizing and drying the catalyst is reduced. Using the new method of the present invention, the Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 is pure after removing excess THF, thereby eliminating the need for washes and recrystallization.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention provide a novel drug loaded amino acid based poly(ester urea) polymers for use in drug delivery having shape memory properties and without the shortcomings of the polymers for drug delivery known in the art, as well as related methods for their synthesis and use.

Abstract: In various aspects, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a series of multivalent dendrons containing a bioactive peptide domain and surface-binding catechol domains. In some embodiments, these multivalent dendrons were obtained through solid phase synthesis and have a strong binding affinity to metal oxide surfaces such as, TiO2, ZrO2, CeO2, and Fe3O4, SiO2, as well as other inorganic surfaces such as hydroxyapatite, silver, fluorapatite, calcium carbonate and gold. These catechol-bearing dendrons provide a fast and efficient method to functionalize a wide range of inorganic materials with bioactive peptides and have the potential to be used in coating orthopaedic implants and fixation devices.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention is directed to a implantable polymer mesh for use in hernia and other soft tissue repair made using amino acid based poly(ester urea) (PEU) polymers. In some embodiments, the implantable polymer mesh is made using linear or branched L-valine based PEUs and displays mechanical properties similar to poly(propylene) (PP), but with significantly less fibrous capsule formation. In some embodiments, the implantable polymer mesh is made using L-valine-co-L-phenylalanine PEUs. In some embodiments, the implantable polymer mesh is made using these PEUs in a composite with an extracellular matrix (ECM). In various embodiments, these amino acid-based PEU materials can be formed into implantable polymer mesh having a conventional size and shape by a wide variety of techniques including conventional compression molding, vacuum molding, blade coating, flow coating, and/or solvent casting.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present invention is directed to novel bioactive peptide loaded poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) tissue scaffolds and related methods for their making and use. In various embodiments, these bioactive peptide loaded poly(propylene fumarate) tissue scaffolds are formed by forming a PPF structure or matrix using photochemical 3-D printing techniques and then loading that printed PPF structure or matrix with a bioactive peptides or other bioactive compounds that have, or have been functionalized to have, a thiol functional group at or near its terminus. The thiol groups on the bioactive peptides or other compound will react with exposed alkene functional groups on the PPF polymer matrix via a thiol-ene “click” reaction, thereby binding these bioactive peptides or other compounds to the tissue scaffolds. The bioactive peptide loaded PPF tissue scaffolds of the present invention are particularly useful in repairing bone defects.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides well-defined biodegradable poly(lactone-b-propylene fumarate) diblock and triblock polymers formed using a novel one-pot, scalable ring-opening block-order copolymerization (ROBOCOP) technique that utilizes magnesium 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenoxide (Mg(BHT)2(THF)2) to “switch” from the ROP of cyclic esters to the ROCOP of maleic anhydride (MAn) and propylene oxide (PO) to produce PPF based block copolymers for application in additive manufacturing and patient specific regenerative medicine. These block copolymers are fully resorbable and can be photochemically crosslinked in a number of applications, including 3D printing. By adding the lactone block to the PPF polymer, the viscosity of the resulting block copolymer at working temperatures can be precisely controlled and the quantity of the reactive diluent in printable resins can be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s with amino acid residues selected L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-valine or combinations thereof. The amino acid-based poly(ester urea)S may optionally include a second amino acid residue selected from proteinogenic amino acids and non-proteinogenic amino acids. The amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s are particular useful for the preparation of vascular grafts. Due to the biocompatibility of the amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s, vascular grafts prepared from amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s with small internal diameters (i.e. less than 5 mm) may be prepared and inserted into a patient or animal, and provide a substantial decrease in the risk of failure compared to conventional polymers used in vascular grafts.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention is directed to poly(propylene fumarate) polymers and polymer structures made therefrom (and related methods) that have been end and/or monomer functionalized to add functional groups for post-polymerization modification with bioactive materials or other functional species, preferably through one of many facile “click” reactions. In some embodiments, end-group functionalization is accomplished via a functionalized initiating alcohol used during polymerization. In some embodiments, functionalization of these poly(propylene fumarate) polymers is accomplished via the functionalization of the propylene oxide monomer precursors, which then form functionalized side-chains on the resulting poly(propylene fumarate) polymers.

Abstract: Method for making poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) polymer made by ring-opening polymerization of propylene oxide and maleic anhydride in the presence of magnesium ethoxide initiator, wherein PPF is specifically designed for us in 3D manufacturing of medical devices. PPF polymers have a number average molecular weight (Mn) of from about 450 Daltons to about 3400 Daltons; a molecular mass distribution (m) of from 1.0 to 2.0; and contains less than 1% w/w of poly(maleic anhydride-co-propylene oxide) polymer chains particularly. PPF polymers are non-toxic, degradable, and resorbable and can be used in tissue scaffolds and medical devices that are implanted within a living organism.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel group of amino acid-based poly(ester urea)s (PEUs) for use in biodegradable adhesive and related methods for their making and use. These novel amino acid-based PEUs have a wide variation in mechanical properties and degradation behavior that can be tuned by varying the amino acids and polyols used to form the polyester monomers that form the PEUs. Importantly, these novel PEUs have been shown to be non-toxic in vitro and in vivo and may be suitable to a wide variety of biomedical and other uses. In some embodiments, the adhesive properties of these degradable amino acid-based poly(ester urea) adhesives has been further improved by the incorporation of controlled amounts of catechol functional groups into the side chains of the PEU via post-polymerization functionalization chemistry.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides a novel approach to the addition of plasticizers for softening TPUs, i.e., lowering the durometer and the melt viscosity. This approach involves incorporating bonded sulfonate groups with quaternary ammonium counterions into the TPU. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the softening of TPU is achieved by incorporating an ionic diol, such as N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid (BES), coupled with various bulky alkyl ammonium cations, during the chain extension step of the TPU synthesis. It is believed that that steric hindrance of the bulky quaternary ammonium groups weakens the dipole-dipole interactions of the sulfonate groups and/or lowers the crystallinity of the hard block, thereby creating additional free volume that softens the polymer and lowers the melt viscosity.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides a novel approach to the addition of plasticizers for softening TPUs, i.e., lowering the durometer and the melt viscosity. This approach involves incorporating bonded sulfonate groups with quaternary ammonium counterions into the TPU. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the softening of TPU is achieved by incorporating an ionic diol, such as N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid (BES), coupled with various bulky alkyl ammonium cations, during the chain extension step of the TPU synthesis. It is believed that that steric hindrance of the bulky quaternary ammonium groups weakens the dipole-dipole interactions of the sulfonate groups and/or lowers the crystallinity of the hard block, thereby creating additional free volume that softens the polymer and lowers the melt viscosity.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present invention provides a degradable and resorbable novel phosphate functionalized amino acid-based poly(ester urea) adhesive and related methods for its synthesis and use. These adhesives are formed from phosphate functionalized PEU polymers and copolymers crosslinked using one or more divalent metal crosslinking agents. The phosphate functionalized amino acid-based poly(ester urea) adhesives of various embodiments of the present invention have been found particularly effective in bonding bone to either bone or metal and have demonstrated adhesive strengths on bone samples that were significant and comparable to commercially available poly(methyl methacrylate) bone cement.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides a novel approach to the addition of plasticizers for softening TPUs, i.e., lowering the durometer and the melt viscosity. This approach involves incorporating bonded sulfonate groups with quaternary ammonium counterions into the TPU. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the softening of TPU is achieved by incorporating an ionic diol, such as N,N-bis (2-hydoxyethyl)-2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid (BES), coupled with various bulky alkyl ammonium cations, during the chain extension step of the TPU synthesis. It is believed that that steric hindrance of the bulky quaternary ammonium groups weakens the dipole-dipole interactions of the sulfonate groups and/or lowers the crystallinity of the hard block, thereby creating additional free volume that softens the polymer and lowers the melt viscosity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer scaffold design and method for treating segmental long bone defects without amputation that permits permanent regrowth of bone in the area of the segmental defect, without external fixation or other problems inherent in current systems. The polymer scaffold is preferably made from a poly(ester urea) polymer and includes an outer shell, sized to fit over a segmental defect in a bone, and a collagen containing material. In some embodiments, the collagen containing material is placed in a polymer insert sized to fit within the segmental bone defect and within said outer shell. In some embodiments, the outer shell may contain struts running longitudinal struts along the inside surface of the outer shell. In some of these embodiments, the insert will have a corresponding set of grooves sized to receive the struts.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting radiation energy includes a first comparator coupled to a first voltage source applying a first threshold voltage to the first comparator. The apparatus includes a second comparator, a radiation detector, Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), and control circuitry. The second comparator is coupled to a second voltage source applying a second threshold voltage to the second comparator. The radiation detector is coupled to the first and second comparators. The ADC has a first input coupled to the detector, and is responsive to a second input for placing it in a low-power mode. The control circuitry is coupled to outputs of the comparators and the ADC, and the control circuitry temporarily switches the ADC from the low-power mode to a normal operating mode to perform a peak measurement of detected radiation energy, and determine the first and second threshold voltages based on the peak measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting radiation energy includes a first comparator coupled to a first voltage source applying a first threshold voltage to the first comparator. The apparatus includes a second comparator, a radiation detector, Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), and control circuitry. The second comparator is coupled to a second voltage source applying a second threshold voltage to the second comparator. The radiation detector is coupled to the first and second comparators. The ADC has a first input coupled to the detector, and is responsive to a second input for placing it in a low-power mode. The control circuitry is coupled to outputs of the comparators and the ADC, and the control circuitry temporarily switches the ADC from the low-power mode to a normal operating mode to perform a peak measurement of detected radiation energy, and determine the first and second threshold voltages based on the peak measurement.

Abstract: A radiation detection system is disclosed comprising of number of detector elements arranged in a regular pattern that allows for directional information to be collected based on the number of radiation interaction events in each detection element. This system is mounted to an unmanned vehicle. In some embodiments, this information is used by the motion control unit of the unmanned vehicle to guide its movement toward a radiation source. A radiation spectrometer, also integrated in the detection system, is able to identify radiation sources.