Abstract: An elevator tool for preparing a surgical site for an implant device is disclosed. The elevator tool comprises a distal paddle coupled to a paddle handle assembly and a positioning grip. The paddle handle assembly influences movement of the distal paddle and the positioning grip influences position of the distal paddle. The paddle handle assembly is coupled to the distal paddle with an inner shaft extending through the receiving grip whereby the distal paddle can be placed on the contralateral side of a bone and can be moved by the paddle handle assembly oriented on the ipsilateral side of the bone. The distal paddle comprises an elongated member having at least one arm configured to be rotated at least about 90 degrees by the paddle handle assembly to remove obstructions on the contralateral side of the vertebral body from a position oriented on the ipsilateral side of the vertebral body.

Abstract: System, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed for auto-scaling of a deployment based on resource utilization data for a workload executing on the deployment. A resource availability is determined based on the resource utilization data and a current resource allocation of the deployment. A severity of resource throttling of the workload may be determined based on the resource utilization data, and a scaling factor is determined based at least on the severity of resource throttling. In response to at least the resource availability satisfying a predetermined condition with a predetermined threshold, the deployment is scaled based on the scaling factor.

Abstract: An implant system comprising a staple and a cage is disclosed. The implant system is secured to the bone by moving the staple rotationally and longitudinally whereby tines of the staple and opposing tines frictionally and mechanically engage or embed themselves in the bone side walls. For vertebral applications, the cage defines an upper surface plane, a lower surface plane and a cage surface angle between these two planes whereby the cage surface angle may alter an endplate surface plane of one or more vertebral body when the cage is implanted in a vertebral body. Implant systems may be configured for use as an interbody or intrabody implant system. The implant system may also be configured for use in arthrodesis procedures with other joints within the body. The implant system may further comprise an anchor frame or plate to further secure the cage and staple to the anatomy.

Abstract: The insertion instrument (10) for inserting a modular intervertebral fusion device or components thereof into an inter-vertebral space comprises at least one superior (arm 16), (18) mounted on a superior support (12) such that the at least one superior arm extends from the superior support. The insertion instrument further comprises at least one inferior arm (20), (22) mounted on an inferior support (14) such that the at least one inferior arm extends from the inferior support.

Abstract: Sealing members for an outer skirt of a prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. As one example, a prosthetic heart valve can include an annular frame, a plurality of leaflets arranged within an interior of the frame, and an outer skirt disposed around an outer surface of the frame. The outer skirt can comprise at least one folded portion and stitches extending through the folded portion to form a radially protruding rib.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annular frame including a plurality of strut members, the frame being radially collapsible to a collapsed configuration and radially expandable to an expanded configuration. A leaflet structure is situated at least partially within the frame, the leaflet structure including a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet having opposing commissure tab portions on opposite sides of the leaflet, each commissure tab portion being paired with an adjacent commissure tab portion of an adjacent leaflet to form a commissure, the commissure tab portions of each leaflet being folded such that each commissure tab portion forms a plurality of layers. A reinforcement member of a plurality of reinforcement members is positioned between the layers of each commissure tab portion. Each commissure tab portion of each leaflet is positioned entirely within the frame.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for forming a geomembrane. The system includes an extrusion station having a flat extrusion die for producing a resin sheet with opposite first and second flat surfaces. A spike forming station is downstream of the extrusion station in a sheet feeding direction and has first and second chill rollers for respectively contacting the first and second flat surfaces of the sheet. The second chill roller has cavities and the resin flows into the cavities to form spikes. A spike bending station is downstream from the spike forming station and has a nonrotating curved surface that applies pressure to projecting ends of the spikes to bend the spikes in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) are disclosed. According to some embodiments, an osteotomy method may include cutting a tibia with an arcuate cut to separate a tibial plateau of the tibia from a tibial base of the tibia, rotating the tibial plateau relative to the tibial base from a first orientation to a second orientation, and, with the tibial plateau in the second orientation relative to the tibial base, securing an implant to the tibia to secure the tibial plateau to the tibial base. Securing the implant to the tibia may include embedding a first leg of the implant into the tibial base, and embedding a second leg of the implant into the tibial plateau such that the first and second legs apply compression urging the tibial plateau toward the tibial base.

Abstract: A sample collection device includes a housing including an exhalation portion and a coupling portion. The coupling portion can be coupled with/to a sample collection tube. An airflow path extends through the housing. The device further includes porous sample collection media partially disposed between within the housing and arranged to occlude the airflow path. The porous sample collection includes nonwoven material and may include polylactic acid, polypropylene, or a combination thereof. The housing can be a single piece, part, or component, or can be multiple pieces, parts, components, or portions. In an embodiment of a two-piece housing, the first part includes an exhalation piece (e.g., a mouthpiece or nosepiece) and the second part includes a coupling end constructed for coupling with a sample collection tube.

Abstract: A protected sample collection media for use in a sample collection device includes a piece of porous sample collection media having a first major side and an opposing second major side; and a protective sheath fully covering the first major side and the second major side. The protective sheath has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is removable without removing the second portion. The second portion forms a tab constructed to be gripped by hand. The protected sample collection media may be part of a system including a sample collection device. The system may be provided as a kit including instructions for use of the kit.

Abstract: An assembly for determining height and angle of an intervertebral device to be implanted in an intervertebral space. The assembly comprises a sizing instrument (12) comprising a support (18) attached to first and second arms (20), (22) which extend in generally a same direction from the support. The assembly also comprises superior and inferior endplates (14), (16) of the intervertebral device to be implanted. One of the superior and inferior endplates (14), (16) engages with a distal end of the first arm (20) and the other of the superior and inferior endplates (14), (16) engages with a distal end of the second arm (22), the superior and inferior endplates opposing each other when they are engaged with their respective arms.

Abstract: Bifunctional compounds, which find utility as modulators of B-cell lymphoma 6 protein (BCL6; target protein), are described herein. In particular, the bifunctional compounds of the present disclosure contain on one end a cereblon ligand that binds to the respective E3 ubiquitin ligase and on the other end a moiety which binds the target protein, such that the target protein is placed in proximity to the ubiquitin ligase to effect degradation (and inhibition) of target protein. The bifunctional compounds of the present disclosure exhibit a broad range of pharmacological activities associated with degradation/inhibition of target protein. Diseases or disorders that result from aggregation or accumulation of the target protein are treated or prevented with compounds and compositions of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An implant system comprising a staple and a cage is disclosed. The implant system is secured to the bone by moving the staple rotationally and longitudinally whereby tines of the staple and opposing tines frictionally and mechanically engage or embed themselves in the bone side walls. For vertebral applications, the cage defines an upper surface plane, a lower surface plane and a cage surface angle between these two planes whereby the cage surface angle may alter an endplate surface plane of one or more vertebral body when the cage is implanted in a vertebral body. Implant systems may be configured for use as an interbody or intrabody implant system. The implant system may also be configured for use in arthrodesis procedures with other joints within the body. The implant system may further comprise an anchor frame or plate to further secure the cage and staple to the anatomy.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods for intravascularly delivering an implantable device to a targeted anatomical site such as the mitral annulus. A delivery system includes a delivery member coupled to a handle assembly and extending distally from the handle assembly. A delivery catheter is concentrically positioned within an outer member and configured to advance the intravascular device relative to the outer member. The delivery catheter includes a distal can structure configured to house at least a portion of the intravascular device in a compressed, pre-deployed position.

Abstract: Cushioning articles include a layer with a plurality of cuts arrayed in a pattern. The cuts are gaps and the gaps do not form apertures allowing one to see through the layer when the layer is in an unstressed state, but in a stressed state, at least some of the cuts become gaps that are perforations through the layer. In the stressed state the layer expands to form the cushioning article. The cushioning article may be a multi-layer article with another layer that is contacted to the stressed layer in the stressed state to hold the layer in a stressed state.

Abstract: A sample collection system includes a housing comprising a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being movable relative to one another; porous sample collection media disposed along an airflow path in the first part; and an assay disposed on the second part and constructed to receive a sample captured by the porous sample collection media. The first and second parts are rotatably movable relative to one another. Moving the first and second parts relative to one another aligns the porous sample collection media with at least a portion of the assay. The assay may be a lateral flow assay or a vertical flow assay. The media is constructed to collect a sample from exhalation airflow. A collected sample may be eluted from the media onto the assay using a liquid.

Abstract: A sample collection device includes a planar sheet of material having opposing edges and a first major surface and an opposing second major surface, the planar sheet of material having at least two fold lines. A porous sample collection media has at least three edges and opposing major surfaces, at least one edge is fixed to the first major surface of the planar sheet of material. The planar sheet of material is configured to form an airflow channel by fixing the opposing edges together, the airflow channel extends from a mouthpiece end to an air outlet end. The porous sample collection media substantially occludes the airflow channel between the mouthpiece end and the air outlet end.

Abstract: A sample collection system includes a housing comprising a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being movable relative to one another; porous sample collection media disposed along an airflow path in the first part; and an assay disposed on the second part and constructed to receive a sample captured by the porous sample collection media. The first and second parts may be slidably movable relative to one another. The first and second parts may be rotatably movable relative to one another. Moving the first and second parts relative to one another aligns the porous sample collection media with at least a portion of the assay. The assay may be a lateral flow assay or a vertical flow assay. The media is constructed to collect a sample from exhalation airflow. A collected sample may be eluted from the media onto the assay using a liquid.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve has an annular frame including a plurality of strut members that is radially collapsible to a collapsed configuration and radially expandable to an expanded configuration. A leaflet structure is situated at least partially within the frame. The leaflet structure includes a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet having opposing commissure tab portions on opposite sides of the leaflet. Each commissure tab portion is paired with an adjacent commissure tab portion of an adjacent leaflet to form a commissure. The commissure tab portions of each leaflet are folded to form a plurality of layers positioned on the inside of the frame. A reinforcement member is positioned between the layers of each commissure tab portion.

Abstract: A sample collection device includes a housing extending from a mouthpiece end to an air outlet end, the housing defining an airflow channel from the mouthpiece end to the air outlet end, the mouthpiece end configured to receive an exhalation airflow. A porous sample collection media is fixed within the housing and along the airflow channel. A mouthpiece end cap is replaceably coupled to the mouthpiece end and an air outlet end cap is replaceably coupled to the air outlet end.