Abstract: A delivery apparatus for implanting a prosthetic valve includes a handle, a first shaft, a plurality of actuation shafts, and a control mechanism. The first shaft has one or more lumens extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. The actuation shafts each have a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and the actuation shafts extend through the one or more lumens of the first shaft. The control mechanism is coupled to the actuation shafts and to the handle. The control mechanism is configured such that the actuation shafts can move axially relative to each other in a first operational mode and such that the actuation shafts can be moved axially simultaneously in a second operational mode. Additionally or alternatively, the first shaft can include a plurality of helical lumens configured for receiving the actuation shafts.

Abstract: An assembly can comprise a prosthetic valve comprising a radially expandable and compressible frame and a rotatable screw connected to the frame, where the screw comprises a screw head having an annular bore with internal threads, and where the screw is rotatable to radially expand the frame. The assembly further comprises a delivery apparatus releasably coupled to the screw, the delivery apparatus comprising a first shaft and a first head disposed at an end of the first shaft, the first head comprising external threads configured to engage with the internal threads of the screw head, and a second shaft that is coaxial with and surrounds the first shaft, the second shaft comprising a second head disposed at an end of the second shaft. The second head is configured to releasably engage with an exterior surface of the screw head and rotate the screw.

Abstract: A delivery assembly constituted of: a prosthetic valve comprising a plurality of intersecting struts, and a delivery apparatus comprising: a handle; a delivery shaft extending distally from the handle; and a flex sensing assembly, comprising: at least one flex sensor coupled to at least one of the plurality of struts; and a control unit in communication with the at least one flex sensor, wherein the prosthetic valve is movable between a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration, and wherein, responsive to an output of the at least one flex sensor, the control unit is configured to generate a signal indicative of a diameter of the prosthetic valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods for measuring physiological parameters, such as flow, pressure, temperature, electric conductivity and/or visual indication of thrombus formation or deposits accumulations, prior to, during and/or after prosthetic heart valve implantation procedures.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic valve can include a frame movable between a radially compressed and a radially expanded configuration. The frame can include a first strut having a first locking feature disposed on a radially facing inner surface of the strut and a second strut having a second locking feature disposed on a radially facing outer surface of the strut. The first and second locking features can engage each other so as to allow pivoting of the first and second struts relative to one another in a first direction upon radial expansion of the frame and resist pivoting of the first and second struts relative to one another in a second direction to resist radial compression of the frame.

Abstract: An assembly can comprise a radially expandable and compressible annular frame, at least one linear actuator assembly coupled to the frame and at least one locking mechanism coupled to the frame. The linear actuator can be configured to apply a distally directed force and/or a proximally directed force to the frame to radially expand or compress the frame. The locking mechanism can comprise a first sleeve member connected to the frame at a first location, a second sleeve member having internal threads and being connected to the frame at a second location, and a first screw configured to engage the internal threads of the second sleeve member to retain the frame in a radially expanded state.

Abstract: A ptychography system is presented for imaging an object located in an object plane. The ptychography system comprises an optical system, and a detection device. The optical system comprises a single shot ptychography arrangement configured and operable to create light response patterns from the object in the object plane on a pixel matrix of the detection device during the same exposure session of the detection device, wherein the optical system further comprises at least one light coding device configured and operable to apply at least one predetermined coding function to at least one of illuminating light and the light response of the object being collected, and said detection device is configured and operable with a predetermined duration of the exposure session during which the pixel matrix detects the collected light, such that image data indicative of the detected light during a single exposure session is in the form of a coded light response of the object being illuminated.

Abstract: A crimping device includes a housing and a crimping band. The housing has a lumen for receiving a prosthetic valve. The crimping band is adjustably coupled to the housing and has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a loop. The loop of the crimping band is disposed within the lumen and move between first and second configurations. In the first configuration, the loop has a first diameter and is configured such that the prosthetic valve in a radially expanded configuration can be positioned radially within the loop. In the second configuration, the loop has a second diameter and is configured to apply a radial force on the prosthetic valve to move the prosthetic valve to a radially compressed configuration. The loop of the crimping band is configured to contact less than half of an axial length of the prosthetic valve.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting chiral characteristic of an analyte, are provided. In some embodiments, the method disclosed herein (e.g. operated by a system) comprises receiving at least one spectral line of harmonic emission generated by an interaction between a laser field and the analyte; measuring a characteristic of an electric field of the at least one spectral line resulting from an electric dipole interaction between the laser field and the analyte; and determining the chiral characteristic of said analyte based on said measured characteristics of the at least one spectral line.

Abstract: A method comprising: receiving a plurality of signals representing spectral emissions resulting from an interaction between a laser field and a respective plurality of analytes, wherein at least some of the analytes comprise multi-center chiral molecules; at a training stage, training a machine learning model on a training set comprising: (i) the plurality of signals, and (ii) labels associated with a configuration of a chirality in each of the plurality of analytes; and at an inference stage, applying the machine learning model to a target signal representing spectral emission associated with a target analyte comprising a multi-center chiral molecule, to determine chiral characteristic of the target analyte.

Abstract: Various mechanically expandable prosthetic heart valves, as well as deliver apparatus, delivery assemblies, and methods for implanting such prosthetic heart valves. In one example, a prosthetic heart valve includes a mechanically expandable frame, a valve structure, and an actuator. The frame includes a plurality of struts and is movable between a radially compressed state and a radially expanded state. The valve structure includes a plurality of leaflets. The actuator is coupled to the frame and comprises an actuation lumen, a locking member, and a locking element. The actuation lumen is circumferentially spaced and axially parallel to the locking member. The actuation lumen is configured for receiving an axially movable actuation shaft that can move the frame between the radially compressed state and the radially expanded state. The locking element is rotatably coupled to the locking member and is configured to lock the frame at a desired state.

Abstract: A medical assembly can include a radially expandable prosthetic heart valve and a delivery apparatus. The delivery apparatus can include a handle, an actuation member, and a force limiting mechanism within the handle including a pivot arm coupled to a base portion. The actuation member can apply a proximally directed force to the prosthetic valve to cause the valve to expand. The actuation member can be coupled to the pivot arm such that a force applied to the actuation member causes the pivot arm to pivot. The force limiting mechanism can pinch the actuation member between the pivot arm and the base portion when the force applied to the actuation member exceeds a predetermined force to prevent proximal movement of the actuation member and can allow proximal movement of the actuation member to produce radial expansion of the prosthetic valve when the force applied is less than the predetermined force.

Abstract: Accessories for improving sensitivity or efficiency of optical spectrometers and methods for utilizing such accessories are disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a prosthetic valve delivery apparatus are disclosed. The delivery apparatus includes a first portion configured to maintain a fixed spatial relationship relative to a first end of the prosthetic valve and a second portion configured to maintain a fixed spatial relationship relative to a second end of the prosthetic valve during radial expansion of the prosthetic valve. The first portion includes one or more reference radiopaque markers and the second portion includes an indicator radiopaque marker. A position of the indicator radiopaque marker relative to the one or more reference radiopaque markers measures an axial distance between the first and second ends of the prosthetic valve indicative of a corresponding diameter of the prosthetic valve as it is radially expanded from a radially compressed state to a radially expanded state.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus including a measurement device to monitor the real-time diameter of a prosthetic heart valve can include a handle, at least one first actuator extending from the handle and being configured to apply a distally directed force to a proximal end portion of a prosthetic heart valve, at least one second actuator extending from the handle and being configured to apply a proximally directed force to a distal end portion of a prosthetic heart valve, a sensor, and first and second motion-transmitting members coupled to the first and second actuators, respectively, and having proximal ends coupled to the sensor, wherein the sensor senses relative movement between the motion-transmitting members upon actuation of the first and second actuators to determine the diameter of the prosthetic heart valve as it expands from a radially compressed configuration to a radially expanded configuration.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve delivery assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a delivery apparatus having a shaft and a prosthetic valve mounted in a radially compressed configuration around a distal portion of the shaft. The delivery apparatus further includes an expansion assist device mounted on the shaft. The expansion assist device is independently radially expandable and compressible relative to the prosthetic valve between a radially compressed state and a radially expanded state. The prosthetic valve is radially expandable by applying an axially directed force against the prosthetic valve in a proximal or distal direction through contact between the prosthetic valve and the expansion assist device when the expansion assist device is in the radially expanded state.

Abstract: An electrical circuitry fitted to be connected or to be an integral part of a bone fixation device having at least one linear actuator coupled between two rings, including: at least one linear actuator connector, mechanically and/or electrically connectable to said at least one linear actuator; a control circuitry, wherein said control circuitry measures a value related to the movement of said at least one linear actuator and/or to the distance or change in distance between said two rings, by receiving signals from said linear actuator connector; and a memory, wherein said memory stores said value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a delivery apparatus handle, such as for a mechanical heart valve frame can comprise an actuation knob with a toggle mechanism that can toggle the actuation knob from a first state in which the actuation knob is operable to cause the linear or rotational movement of multiple elements or sets of elements, such as tubes that are attached to, e.g., a mechanical heart valve frame to cause expansion or collapsing of the frame, to a second state in which only a single element or set of elements is moved, allowing for additional operations, such as, e.g., locking the frame and/or releasing it from the delivery apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a delivery apparatus handle, such as for a mechanical heart valve frame can comprise an actuation knob with a toggle mechanism that can toggle the actuation knob from a first state in which the actuation knob is operable to cause the linear or rotational movement of multiple elements or sets of elements, such as tubes that are attached to, e.g., a mechanical heart valve frame to cause expansion or collapsing of the frame, to a second state in which only a single element or set of elements is moved, allowing for additional operations, such as, e.g., locking the frame and/or releasing it from the delivery apparatus.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide various apparatus, devices, systems and methods for dynamically configuring a cache partition in a solid state drive (SSD). The SSD may include non-volatile memory (NVM) that can be configured to store a different number of bits per cell. The NVM is partitioned into a cache partition and a storage partition, and the respective sizes of the partitions is dynamically changed based on a locality of data (LOD) of the access pattern of the NVM.