Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a desired trajectory and/or monitoring the trajectory of surgical instruments and/or implants in any number of surgical procedures, such as (but not limited to) spinal surgery, including (but not limited to) ensuring proper placement of pedicle screws during pedicle fixation procedures and ensuring proper trajectory during the establishment of an operative corridor to a spinal target site.

Abstract: A filter device having at least one filter element (37) that can be accommodated in a filter housing, and is fluid-connected to a fluid tank (1) and that has at least one connection appliance (29) for forming a fluid connection to the filter element (37), is characterized in that the filter housing is formed by a filter bowl (13) that is moulded into the tank (1), at the bowl bottom (17) of which is situated the connection appliance (29) associated with the element receiver.

Abstract: Genetic variants in the BRCA2 gene are disclosed which are useful as diagnosis biomarkers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methods generally aimed at surgery. More particularly, the present invention is directed at a system and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments involving the use of neurophysiology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new high-functionality, highly branched or hyperbranched polylysines, to processes for preparing them, and to their use.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for the enrichment of rare microparticles, cells, or nucleic acids from a complex mixture using serial size exclusion filtration. Also provided are less invasive methods for detecting chromosomal or genetic abnormalities in a fetus, by enriching fetal microparticles in maternal plasma using serial size exclusion filtration, and isolating and analyzing the fetal nucleic acids from the fetal microparticles. Methods for diagnosis of diseases such as cancer are also provided, including enriching disease specific microparticles in the patient's plasma using serial size exclusion filtration, and isolating and analyzing the nucleic acids from the disease specific microparticles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methods generally aimed at surgery. More particularly, the present invention is directed at a system and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments involving the use of neurophysiology.

Abstract: Methods for enriching specific microparticles, such as fetal microparticles or disease specific microparticles, in a biological sample are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the methods include combining a biological sample with a molecule that binds specific microparticles, and separating fractions of the biological sample, wherein the fraction that contains the binding molecule is enriched for the specific microparticles. Also disclosed are methods for enriching fetal nucleic acids by enriching fetal microparticles in a fraction of the biological sample and isolating nucleic acids from the enriched fraction. Methods for facilitating prenatal diagnosis of fetal chromosomal abnormalities are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the methods include combining a biological sample with a molecule that binds fetal microparticles, separating fractions of the biological sample, isolating nucleic acids from the fraction enriched for fetal microparticles, and analyzing the nucleic acids for the presence of a mutation.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, a simple, reproducible, and cost-effective method for enriching fetal or other low molecular weight nucleic acids in a biological sample. In certain embodiments, methods are provided for enriching fetal nucleic acids (e.g., fetal DNAs), typically comprising steps of adding a polymer such as PEG to a heterogeneous biological sample containing fetal DNA and high molecular weight non-fetal DNA such that the PEG precipitates substantially the high molecular weight non-fetal DNA, and purifying the fetal DNA from supernatant, thereby enriching the fetal DNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, new methods for optimizing comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) data analysis. In particular, the methods of the invention provide increased sensitivity and specificity due to the implemented individual chromosome-based GC-wave correction. In certain embodiments, the log ratios of probes derived from each chromosome are corrected based on the chromosome's GC content slope, and certain selected chromosomes undergo chromosomal median adjustment. As a result, the log ratios of the probes on the array are normalized to be closer to zero (0) for diploid regions and thus, the GC waves are substantially reduced, resulting in a reduced false positive rate. Systems, computer readable media, and kits for use in the optimized CGH methods also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel approach for identification and characterization of differentially represented fetal or maternal genomic regions in maternal circulation. Identification of overrepresented fetal genomic regions in the maternal circulation according to the present invention permit accurate analysis of fetal DNA without the need for enrichment or purification, which provides a simpler, more accurate and efficient prenatal diagnosis in early pregnancy. The present invention is particularly useful for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis during early pregnancy (e.g., during the first trimester).

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for enumeration of nucleic acids, including for the detection of rare events in a biological sample. In certain embodiments, the method may comprise arranging polynucleotides obtained from a biological sample to form a plurality of reaction sites, wherein each reaction site contains on average one polynucleotide; amplifying the polynucleotides in the plurality of reaction sites; determining by nucleic acid hybridization (i) a first number of first reaction sites containing a target nucleic acid sequence, or a portion thereof, and (ii) a second number of second reaction sites containing a reference nucleic acid sequence, or a portion thereof; comparing the first number of the first reaction sites to the second number of the second reaction sites to determine the relative amount of the target nucleic acid in the biological sample.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for reliable communications in a packet network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) having a controller programmed to establish between first and second customer edge (CE) routers in a full mesh packet network first and second logical data tunnels conforming to an isolation protocol, synchronize packet data in the first and second logical data tunnels, enable packet data exchanges between the first and second CE routers over the first logical data tunnel, direct the first and second CE routers to duplicate the packet data exchanged between them over the second logical data tunnel, and direct the first and second CE routers to synchronously switch to the second logical data tunnel upon detecting a fault in the first logical data tunnel.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for detecting tumor origin are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the origin is determined by detecting expression levels of pan-epithelial membrane mucin (MUC1), intestinal-type secretory mucin (MUC2), cytokeratin 17 (CK17), or a combination thereof. Also disclosed are methods for aiding in the determination of an appropriate course of treatment for a subject with a tumor, or for predicting a therapeutic outcome of a subject, based on the expression levels of MUC1, MUC2, CK17, or a combination thereof. Kits for use in each of these methods are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for measuring of blood, tissue, or skin parameters, in particular the oxygen saturation in blood, by attaching to body parts such as fingers, earlobes, toes, hand, or foot. The invention relates further to a method for the preparation of said device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing copy number of a target locus, detecting a disease associated with abnormal copy number of a target gene or a carrier thereof.

Abstract: A pedicle access system including a cannula, a stylet, and a removable T-handle. The pedicle access system may be used to percutaneously approach the pedicle, initiate pilot hole formation, and conduct a stimulation signal to the target site for the purposes of performing a pedicle integrity assessment during the pilot hole formation. To do this, the cannula and stylet are locked in combination and inserted through an operating corridor to the pedicle target site, using the T-handle to facilitate easy movement and positioning of the cannula/stylet combination. A stimulation signal may be applied during pilot hole formation to conduct the pedicle integrity assessment. In a significant aspect, the T-handle may be detached from the cannula/stylet combination to facilitate the use of various surgical tools as necessary.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to respond to signaling protocol failures in traffic engineering (TE) tunnels are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a database to store a tunnel state for a first TE tunnel, a signaling engine to detect whether a signaling protocol failure associated with the first TE tunnel occurred, and to set the tunnel state to a first logic state when the signaling protocol failure is detected, and a label switching engine to route the data through a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) based network via a second TE tunnel when the tunnel state is the first logic state, and to route the data through the MPLS-based network via the first TE tunnel when the tunnel state is a second logic state.