Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for delivering and affixing tissue replacements. In one embodiment, a tissue scaffold can be delivered into a patient through a cannula to a cavity formed at a defect site in tissue, e.g., cartilage. A delivery shaft can be used to deliver the scaffold through the cannula, and a loading device can help load the scaffold onto the delivery shaft. A delivery guide device can position and temporarily hold the scaffold within the cavity. The delivery guide device can guide one or more surgical instruments to the scaffold to affix the scaffold within the cavity, e.g., to bone underlying the scaffold, using at least one securing mechanism.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for cutting tissue using a high pressure fluid jet. In one exemplary embodiment, a high pressure fluid jet delivery device is provided having a nozzle adapted to direct fluid to a tissue site. A heating element is disposed on the nozzle and is adapted to heat fluid surrounding a high pressure fluid jet flowing from the nozzle to form at least one vapor bubble. The vapor bubble can reduce the interaction between the high pressure fluid jet and the fluid surrounding the high pressure fluid jet.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for delivering and affixing tissue replacements. In one embodiment, a tissue scaffold can be delivered into a patient through a cannula to a cavity formed at a defect site in tissue, e.g., cartilage. A delivery shaft can be used to deliver the scaffold through the cannula, and a loading device can help load the scaffold onto the delivery shaft. A delivery guide device can position and temporarily hold the scaffold within the cavity. The delivery guide device can guide one or more surgical instruments to the scaffold to affix the scaffold within the cavity, e.g., to bone underlying the scaffold, using at least one securing mechanism.

Abstract: A high pressure fluid jet system is provided, which is useful for cutting hard material during a surgical procedure. The cutting of hard material is more efficient as the system delivers abrasive solid particles with the high pressure fluid. A method of effecting cutting during a surgical procedure is also provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical tool that is effective to deliver a pressurized stream of fluid through a nozzle is provided, and the pressurized stream of fluid is delivered through the surgical tool and out of the nozzle to hard material within a patient to effect cutting of the hard material within the patient in a desired pattern. The fluid that cuts the hard material can include a delivery liquid having a plurality of abrasive solid particles that are formed from an organic material. The abrasive solid particles can be entrained in the pressurized fluid stream or the pressurized fluid stream can erode a solid or suspension form of the abrasive particles.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for cutting tissue using a high pressure fluid jet. In one exemplary embodiment, a high pressure fluid jet delivery device is provided having a nozzle adapted to direct fluid to a tissue site. A heating element is disposed on the nozzle and is adapted to heat fluid surrounding a high pressure fluid jet flowing from the nozzle to form at least one vapor bubble. The vapor bubble can reduce the interaction between the high pressure fluid jet and the fluid surrounding the high pressure fluid jet.

Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for cutting tissue using a high pressure fluid jet. In one exemplary embodiment, a high pressure fluid jet delivery device is provided having a nozzle adapted to direct fluid to a tissue site. A heating element is disposed on the nozzle and is adapted to heat fluid surrounding a high pressure fluid jet flowing from the nozzle to form at least one vapor bubble. The vapor bubble can reduce the interaction between the high pressure fluid jet and the fluid surrounding the high pressure fluid jet.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for delivering and affixing tissue replacements. In one embodiment, a tissue scaffold can be delivered into a patient through a cannula to a cavity formed at a defect site in tissue, e.g., cartilage. A delivery shaft can be used to deliver the scaffold through the cannula, and a loading device can help load the scaffold onto the delivery shaft. A delivery guide device can position and temporarily hold the scaffold within the cavity. The delivery guide device can guide one or more surgical instruments to the scaffold to affix the scaffold within the cavity, e.g., to bone underlying the scaffold, using at least one securing mechanism.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for preparing and implanting tissue scaffolds. Various embodiments of scribing tools are provided that are configured to mark one or more predetermined shapes around a defect site in tissue. The shape or shapes marked in tissue can be used to cut a tissue scaffold having a shape that matches the shape or shapes marked in tissue. In one embodiment, the scribing tool used to mark a shape in tissue can also be used to cut the tissue scaffold.

Abstract: A fluid ejector system including at least one fluid ejection ejector for ejecting a main drop of a fluid. Each main drop of fluid has satellites that are formed upon ejection. An aperture plate having at least one channel is provided to alter the flight path of the satellites while allowing the main drop to pass through.

Abstract: A filter structure having a plurality of pores through the structure each of the pores having a cross section with a length (L) and a width (W) wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W. The filter can be used with an improved ink jet printhead having an ink inlet in one of its surfaces, a plurality of nozzles, individual channels connecting the nozzles to an internal ink supplying manifold, the manifold being supplied ink through the ink inlet, and selectively addressable heating elements for expelling ink droplets, the improved ink jet printhead comprising a substantially flat filter having predetermined dimensions and being bonded to the printhead containing the ink inlet, the filter having a plurality of pores, therethrough, each of the pores having a cross section with a length=L and a width=W, wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W.

Abstract: A filter structure having a plurality of pores through the structure each of the pores having a cross section with a length (L) and a width (W) wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W. The filter can be used with an improved ink jet printhead having an ink inlet in one of its surfaces, a plurality of nozzles, individual channels connecting the nozzles to an internal ink supplying manifold, the manifold being supplied ink through the ink inlet, and selectively addressable heating elements for expelling ink droplets, the improved ink jet printhead comprising a substantially flat filter having predetermined dimensions and being bonded to the printhead containing the ink inlet, the filter having a plurality of pores, therethrough, each of the pores having a cross section with a length=L and a width=W, wherein the dimension of L is greater than the dimension of W.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of warming a printhead with a heat sink using prepulsing is provided. A temperature of the printhead may be measured and then using predetermined data, an amount of prewarming of the printhead may be determined based on the measured temperature. The printhead may be prewarmed by prepulses based on the determined amount of prewarming prior to printing a swath of data. The swath of data may then be printed and the temperature of the printhead may again be measured to determine a subsequent temperature and amount of prewarming. The printhead may again be prewarmed prior to printing subsequent swath by applying prepulse signals which are determined based on the subsequent temperature of the printhead. The thermal mass of the heat sink may be used for the advantage of minimizing the amount of required prewarming, and therefore, maximizing the productivity, when the ambient temperature is low.