Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed herein may be directed to clips for medical implementation, including clips for a portion of a heart. The clips may be configured to close the portion of the heart, to reduce blood flow therethrough as well as passage of clots or other undesired materials. In examples, the clips may be configured to close the left atrial appendage (LAA). The closure of the LAA may reduce the possibility of stroke or other maladies stemming from fluid flow with the LAA. In examples, the clips may be positioned exterior of the LAA, to extend over an outer surface of the LAA for closure.

Abstract: A liquid animal digest (LAD) can include hydrolyzed animal tissue, antioxidant, and from about 0.1 wt% to about 5 wt% dairy fat based on a total weight of the LAD.

Abstract: A method of modifying razor blade edges prior to a first use, the method comprising providing at least one razor blade having a coated razor blade edge, and mechanically modifying at least one coating of said coated razor blade edge. Also provided is an apparatus for modifying one or more coated razor blade edges, the apparatus comprising a support member for holding a plurality of razor blades with said coated razor blade edges, and an applicator for contacting a mechanical modifying material with at least a section of said coated razor blade edges.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for selecting offers based on segmentation of users targeted for the offers. To personalize the offer selection for a user while avoiding the processing burden of selecting offers tailored at an individual user level, an offer selection optimizer system divides targeted users into persona segments based on the behavior of the targeted users with enterprises or offers. The system selects an offer based on initial weights applied to respective parameters of candidate offers, where the candidate offers may be scored using a weighting function. The weights may vary depending on the persona segment for which the offer is scored. The system may modify the initial weights to generate exploration weights, which are used to select exploration offers. Users' activities with the generated offers are tracked to update the initial weights. The system can generate subsequent offers using the updated weights.

Abstract: A method of modifying razor blade edges prior to a first use, the method comprising providing at least one razor blade having a coated razor blade edge, and mechanically modifying at least one coating of said coated razor blade edge. Also provided is an apparatus for modifying one or more coated razor blade edges, the apparatus comprising a support member for holding a plurality of razor blades with said coated razor blade edges, and an applicator for contacting a mechanical modifying material with at least a section of said coated razor blade edges.

Abstract: A palatant composition can be derived from cocoa butter or a fat blend with a similar compositional profile and can be combined with a food composition to enhance the palatability of the food composition. Alternatively or additionally, a mixture of different fatty acids can be used. Mono-ethanolamine can be subjected to a heat treatment and an amidation reaction with the fat blend to make the palatant composition. The resultant palatant composition can be used with the food composition at a ppm level, for example 10-1000 ppm relative to the food composition. The palatant composition can also be delivered in a free-flowing, encapsulated form and packed in a sachet to use as supplement to main meals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and measuring cardiac contractile function of a heart using an acceleration sensor unit inserted within the heart, such as within a vein of the cardiac wall are disclosed. The systems and methods involve detecting the occurrence of electrical events within the patient's heart by inserting and positioning an implantable lead having an electrode near a cardiac wall as well as detecting mechanical events within the patient's heart by then inserting and positioning a cardiac motion sensor unit through the inner lumen of the implantable lead. Furthermore, the systems and methods do not require dedicated leads and may be used with preexisting implantable leads.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved collecting and testing device comprising a specimen container for collecting and/or storing specimen, a testing chamber having at least one test element, and a conduit for automatically transferring a portion of the specimen from the specimen container to the testing chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and measuring cardiac contractile function of a heart using an acceleration sensor unit inserted within the heart, such as within a vein of the cardiac wall are disclosed. The systems and methods involve detecting the occurrence of electrical events within the patient's heart by inserting and positioning an implantable lead having an electrode near a cardiac wall as well as detecting mechanical events within the patient's heart by then inserting and positioning a cardiac motion sensor unit through the inner lumen of the implantable lead. Furthermore, the systems and methods do not require dedicated leads and may be used with preexisting implantable leads.