Abstract: An adapter for reducing or eliminating clogs during a surgical procedure connects a suction tube with a collection canister or aspirator mechanism. An inlet portion at the distal end of the adapter defines a central channel. The inlet portion has an outer surface that engages with an inner surface of the end of the suction tube. The diameter of the central channel is nearly equal to the inner diameter of the suction tube to form a continuous or nearly continuous inner surface. An outlet portion at proximal end of the adapter forms an interference fit with an outer surface of an inlet port of the collection canister. A shoulder within the adapter at a proximal end of the central channel contacts the end surface of the port to form a continuous or nearly continuous inner surface between the central channel and the port. The adapter eliminates gaps where the tube is connected with the port that might collect debris, such as bone fragments, and prevents the debris from collecting and forming a clog.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printed swab may include a shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the swab, and a tip portion integrally formed with the shaft. The tip portion may include a plurality of protrusions each extending outward from the shaft and transverse to the longitudinal axis. A method for fabricating a three-dimensional printed swab may include receiving a digital three-dimensional model corresponding to the swab, and integrally forming, via three-dimensional printing and based at least in part on the digital three-dimensional model, a shaft and a tip portion of the swab. The shaft may define a longitudinal axis of the swab. The tip portion may include a plurality of protrusions each extending outward from the shaft and transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An expandable interbody spacer for intervertebral fusion is provided. The interbody spacer includes an anterior spacer, at least two anterior hinge members having a first end and a second end, a first lateral spacer, a second lateral spacer, at least two posterior hinge members having a first end and a second end, and a posterior spacer. The anterior spacer is operatively coupled to the first ends of the anterior hinge members. The second end of the first anterior hinge member is operatively coupled to the first lateral spacer. The second end of the second anterior hinge member is operatively coupled to the second lateral spacer. The posterior spacer is operatively coupled to the first ends of the posterior hinge members. The second end of the first posterior hinge member is connected to the first lateral spacer. The second end of the second posterior hinge member is connected to the second lateral spacer.

Abstract: A device is used to treat periprosthetic fractures, such as a fracture below the stem of a total hip replacement (THR). The device includes a clamp that is fixed to the exposed stem of the THR and a coupling, such as a morse taper, extending distally away from the stem. A post is inserted into the canal of the distal femur below the fracture. The post has a coupling extending proximally away from the distal femur. The couplings on the clamp and post are joined to create a stable connection between the patient's hip and distal femur. Instead of connecting the clamp with the post directly, one or more adapters may be provided to adjust the length and angulation of the treated limb. The device may also connect a THR stem with a Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) that includes a stem.

Abstract: A device facilitates placement of a balloon catheter to provide mechanical ripening of the cervix. The device is fitted over the gloved hand and index finger of a practitioner so that a shaft is held against the hand by a loop around the index finger and a tip portion holds the distal tip of the device to the practitioner's fingertip. The shaft and the tip portion are connected by a flexible portion that lies along the palmer side of the index finger. The shaft, flexible portion, and tip portion define an insertion path along the hand and finger. The flexible portion allows the practitioner to articulate the tip portion so that the os is located tactilely. The tip portion is advanced through the external os and a balloon catheter is advanced along the insertion path. The balloon portion of the catheter is advanced past the cervix and inflated to induce mechanical ripening of the cervix.

Abstract: A method and apparatus detects and optionally determines the amounts of bacteria in a fluid sample that may include non-bacterial cells, such as somatic cells. The device has a processing chamber for receiving the sample. The processing chamber includes a somatic cell lysis agent that preferentially disrupts somatic cells to release their contents including somatic cell-derived ATP. The somatic lysis agent is selected to leave bacterial cells intact. The processing chamber also holds a plurality of beads that have an ATP-reactive enzyme, such as ATPase, bound to their surfaces. The somatic cell-derived ATP and endogenous ATP in the sample are eliminated by reaction with the ATP-reactive enzyme. Once the reaction reaches an end point, the sample is transferred to a detection chamber while the beads and the bound ATP-reactive enzymes are retained in the processing chamber.

Abstract: An adapter connects a surgical instrument, such as a retractor, with a self-retaining retraction device. The adapter includes a retractor interface sized and shaped to releasably connect with the proximal end of a surgical retractor. The adapter also includes a device interface sized and shaped to releasably connect with the self-retaining device. The adapter allows the same self-retaining device to be used with different retractors. The adapter may also include a joining portion that holds the longitudinal axis of the retractor at a selected angle with respect to the self-retaining device.

Abstract: There is provided an acetabular cup liner for a total hip replacement (THR) prosthesis comprising an inner surface with a hemispherical portion having a radius of curvature. The hemispherical portion is disposed about a centerline and it intersects a hemisphere plane perpendicular to the centerline so that the intersection of the hemispherical portion and the plane define a circle having a radius equal to the radius of curvature. The liner further comprises a capture portion continuous with the hemispherical portion that has the same radius of curvature as the hemispherical portion and connects with the hemispherical portion at the hemispherical plane along a first arc of the circle on the plane, and extends a first distance out of the plane. The liner further comprises an insertion portion continuous with the hemispherical portion. The insertion region is connected with the hemispherical portion along a second arc of the circle on the plane.

Abstract: There is provided an acetabular cup liner for a total hip replacement (THR) prosthesis comprising an inner surface with a hemispherical portion having a radius of curvature. The hemispherical portion is disposed about a centerline and it intersects a hemisphere plane perpendicular to the centerline so that the intersection of the hemispherical portion and the plane define a circle having a radius equal to the radius of curvature. The liner further comprises a capture portion continuous with the hemispherical portion that has the same radius of curvature as the hemispherical portion and connects with the hemispherical portion at the hemispherical plane along a first arc of the circle on the plane, and extends a first distance out of the plane. The liner further comprises an insertion portion continuous with the hemispherical portion. The insertion region is connected with the hemispherical portion along a second arc of the circle on the plane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protective helmet, surgical garment, and positive pressure air filter apparatus. The helmet is adapted to fit on the head of a medical practitioner and includes a filtered air inlet located near the crown of the practitioner's head, one or more air flow ducts, and one or more outlets located near the practitioner's face. The garment fits over the helmet and provides an air-impermeable barrier to prevent airborne contaminants from entering the space around the practitioner's head. A motorized filter unit is adapted to be worn near the waist of the practitioner. A tube connects the output of the filter unit with the air inlet of the helmet to provide a filtered air supply to the practitioner. One or more filter elements are provided at the input of the filter unit. The filter elements remove contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, vapors, and gasses from ambient air drawn into the filter unit to generate filtered air that is delivered to the practitioner.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printed swab may include a shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the swab, and a tip portion integrally formed with the shaft. The tip portion may include a body extending outward from the shaft and positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of protrusions each extending outward from the body and transverse to the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, the tip portion may include a body extending outward from the shaft and positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis, and a plurality of recesses each defined in the body and extending inward toward the longitudinal axis. As another alternative, the tip portion may include a body extending outward from the shaft and positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis, and a series of annular ribs each extending outward from the body and positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printed swab may include a shaft defining a longitudinal axis of the swab, and a tip portion integrally formed with the shaft. The tip portion may include a plurality of protrusions each extending outward from the shaft and transverse to the longitudinal axis. A method for fabricating a three-dimensional printed swab may include receiving a digital three-dimensional model corresponding to the swab, and integrally forming, via three-dimensional printing and based at least in part on the digital three-dimensional model, a shaft and a tip portion of the swab. The shaft may define a longitudinal axis of the swab. The tip portion may include a plurality of protrusions each extending outward from the shaft and transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: There is provided an acetabular cup liner for a total hip replacement (THR) prosthesis comprising an inner surface with a hemispherical portion having a radius of curvature. The hemispherical portion is disposed about a centerline and it intersects a hemisphere plane perpendicular to the centerline so that the intersection of the hemispherical portion and the plane define a circle having a radius equal to the radius of curvature. The liner further comprises a capture portion continuous with the hemispherical portion that has the same radius of curvature as the hemispherical portion and connects with the hemispherical portion at the hemispherical plane along a first arc of the circle on the plane, and extends a first distance out of the plane. The liner further comprises an insertion portion continuous with the hemispherical portion. The insertion region is connected with the hemispherical portion along a second arc of the circle on the plane.

Abstract: A prosthesis including a socket configured to receive a residual limb, a pylon attached to the socket, the pylon comprising at least one fin, and an artificial foot attached to an end portion of the pylon.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to an automated dispenser including a dispensing portion, a motion sensor, a receiver module, and a control module. The control module initiates motion sensing by the motion sensor in response to receipt of an activation signal from a network server by the receiver module. The dispensing portion dispenses a product in response to the motion sensor sensing an absence, presence or motion of an object.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to an automated dispenser including a dispensing portion, a motion sensor, a receiver module, and a control module. The control module initiates motion sensing by the motion sensor in response to receipt of an activation signal from a network server by the receiver module. The dispensing portion dispenses a product in response to the motion sensor sensing an absence, presence or motion of an object.

Abstract: Methods, systems and non-transitory computer-readable media comprising executable instructions are provided to present one or more digital advertisements before a document is physically printed. A print request is captured and a digital advertising client selects and presents one or more digital advertisements before the print request is directed to a printer for printing. A digital advertisement may be presented using a monitor operatively connected to the client computer or a display device proximate to the printer to which the print request is directed. One or more advertisements may be incorporated within the physically printed document. The digital advertising client may be implemented on a combination of any or all of the client computer, networked servers and cloud computing servers.

Abstract: A method is provided to allow the use of paid promotional advertisements within physically printed document, either by using the blank space on a printer cover pages, or through insertion of useful document fragments on a target basis to the user, printer, room, user group, or other easily targetable criteria. Printer cover pages provide otherwise unused target are available for printed advertisements to a user. Additionally, the use of extended length paper stock in 8½ by 14 inch paper is provided having an 8½ by 11 inch upper portion integrally formed with a 8½ by 3 inch lower portion, integrally connected an separated by a foldable, tearable perforation laterally across the demarcation.