Abstract: A biodegradable foam which includes a polyester-based polyurethane foam and a mixture comprised of a soil-dwelling carbon-digesting bacteria embedded in a carrier compound. The mixture of the soil-dwelling carbon-digesting bacteria is homogenously dispersed throughout the polyester-based polyurethane foam. This biodegradable foam exhibits biodegradation rates higher than a polyester-based polyurethane foam absent the soil-dwelling carbon-digesting bacteria.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for performing diagnostics on patient devices (720). The patient devices (720) may include respiratory therapy devices that operate in accordance with instruction sets, such as software or firmware. A server (710) may maintain a database of diagnostic data (718) indicating faults in one or more of a plurality of patient devices (720). The server (710) may transmit this diagnostic data (718) to one or more computing devices (760), including identification of faults that have occurred. The server (710) may also transmit service data to the plurality of patient devices (720) in order to address the identified faults.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump comprising an impeller suspended hydrodynamically within pump housing by thrust forces generated by said impeller during movement in use of said impeller as it rotates about an impeller axis, and the driving torque of said impeller is derived from the magnetic interaction between permanent magnets within the blades of said impeller and windings within said housing, and wherein said windings are encapsulated by a first fluid resistant polymer material, and said housing is at least partially made of a second polymer material that encapsulates said first polymer material.

Abstract: A rotary blood pump (13) including: a motor adapted to magnetically rotate an impeller (2) within a housing (6). The impeller and/or the housing are formed of a composite material and the composite material includes a first material that is a relatively, insulative, biocompatible and impermeable polymer. The composite material may include a second material that reinforces the polymer.