Abstract: Systems and methods for use in monitoring treatment of pressure-related conditions, such as hydrocephalus, include an implantable vessel, and a meter including one or more microfluidic channels connected to the vessel. The microfluidic channels may be configured to detect at least one of pressure and fluid flow rate through the vessel and to be read out remotely by a wirelessly coupled external device. The meter may include a passive resonant (LC) circuit. A dynamic flap may be included in the microfluidic channel that may act as part of the LC circuit. An external device may also be configured to inductively couple remotely to the LC circuit, with-out physical connections to the implantable vessel or pressure meter, and to display a pressure acting on the pressure meter and/or a fluid flow through the meter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for refueling a nuclear reactor that has a reactor core in a reactor pool having a plurality of elongated reactor core components, a fuel pool for storing core components, and a transfer channel connecting the fuel pool to the reactor pool. The method includes retrieving a replacement core component from the fuel pool, and securing the replacement core component in a first compartment of a handover assembly in a vertical position. The method also includes retrieving a spent core component from the reactor core, and securing the spent core component in a second compartment of the handover assembly in a vertical position. The replacement core component is retrieved from the first compartment and installed into the reactor core. The spent core component is retrieved from the second compartment and stored in a storage rack in the fuel pool.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in monitoring treatment of pressure-related conditions, such as hydrocephalus, include an implantable vessel, and a meter including one or more microfluidic channels connected to the vessel. The microfluidic channels may be configured to detect at least one of pressure and fluid flow rate through the vessel and to be read out remotely by a wirelessly coupled external device. The meter may include a passive resonant (LC) circuit. A dynamic flap may be included in the microfluidic channel that may act as part of the LC circuit. An external device may also be configured to inductively couple remotely to the LC circuit, with-out physical connections to the implantable vessel or pressure meter, and to display a pressure acting on the pressure meter and/or a fluid flow through the meter.

Abstract: A method, technique and system is disclosed for the delivery of therapeutic agents and/or into the bulk brain tissues and other parts, tissues and organs of the body, including vasculature. A novel form of coaxial catheter provides a means for implanting an outer tube into the brain, then inserting an inner tube into the outer tube and aligning them such that port holes on both of the tubes will overlap and permit a flux of the therapeutic agent to flow into the brain in such a way as to minimize the effects of trapped air, virtually eliminate backflow of the agent, and avoid the potential for additional damage to the brain since only one surgical placement of the outer tube is needed. Similarly, the method, technique system may be utilized to remove fluids or other medium from the brain, tissues, and organs to minimize the effects of escaped air or negative pressure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in monitoring treatment of pressure-related conditions, such as hydrocephalus, include an implantable vessel, and a meter including one or more microfluidic channels connected to the vessel. The microfluidic channels may be configured to detect at least one of pressure and fluid flow rate through the vessel and to be read out remotely by a wirelessly coupled external device. The meter may include a passive resonant (LC) circuit. A dynamic flap may be included in the microfluidic channel that may act as part of the LC circuit. An external device may also be configured to inductively couple remotely to the LC circuit, with-out physical connections to the implantable vessel or pressure meter, and to display a pressure acting on the pressure meter and/or a fluid flow through the meter.

Abstract: A vertical spring wedge restores a tight fitup against an adjacent structure, such as between an inlet mixer and an adjacent restrainer bracket in a boiling water nuclear reactor jet pump. The vertical spring wedge includes a U-shaped bracket including a pair of guiding portions and a pair of bracket holes. A pair of wedge assemblies are coupled with the bracket, each of the wedge assemblies including a wedge segment attached to a spring-loaded guide rod. The guide rods are displaceable in the bracket holes between a retracted position and an extended position. The wedge segments engage the guiding portions, and a combination of the bracket and wedge assemblies have a first width when the guide rods are in the retracted position and have a second width wider than the first width when the guide rods are in the extended position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for refueling a nuclear reactor that has a reactor core in a reactor pool having a plurality of elongated reactor core components, a fuel pool for storing core components, and a transfer channel connecting the fuel pool to the reactor pool. The method includes retrieving a replacement core component from the fuel pool, and securing the replacement core component in a first compartment of a handover assembly in a vertical position. The method also includes retrieving a spent core component from the reactor core, and securing the spent core component in a second compartment of the handover assembly in a vertical position. The replacement core component is retrieved from the first compartment and installed into the reactor core. The spent core component is retrieved from the second compartment and stored in a storage rack in the fuel pool.

Abstract: A vertical spring wedge restores a tight fitup against an adjacent structure, such as between an inlet mixer and an adjacent restrainer bracket in a boiling water nuclear reactor jet pump. The vertical spring wedge includes a U-shaped bracket including a pair of guiding portions and a pair of bracket holes. A pair of wedge assemblies are coupled with the bracket, each of the wedge assemblies including a wedge segment attached to a spring-loaded guide rod. The guide rods are displaceable in the bracket holes between a retracted position and an extended position. The wedge segments engage the guiding portions, and a combination of the bracket and wedge assemblies have a first width when the guide rods are in the retracted position and have a second width wider than the first width when the guide rods are in the extended position.

Abstract: A method, technique and system is disclosed for the delivery of therapeutic agents and/or into the bulk brain tissues and other parts, tissues and organs of the body, including vasculature. A novel form of coaxial catheter provides a means for implanting an outer tube into the brain, then inserting an inner tube into the outer tube and aligning them such that port holes on both of the tubes will overlap and permit a flux of the therapeutic agent to flow into the brain in such a way as to minimize the effects of trapped air, virtually eliminate backflow of the agent, and avoid the potential for additional damage to the brain since only one surgical placement of the outer tube is needed. Similarly, the method, technique system may be utilized to remove fluids or other medium from the brain, tissues, and organs to minimize the effects of escaped air or negative pressure.

Abstract: Cells are generated from skin biopsies for use in cell implantation by identifying a source of skin cells that have a surface concentration of at least one cell selected from the group consisting of keritinocytes and/or melanocytes; taking a sample of tissue from the surface area; mechanically disaggregating the tissue samples; collecting the disaggregated cells; washing the disaggregated cells; filtering the washed disaggregated cells; providing a cell suspension with filtered and washed keritinocytes and/or melanocytes; and suspending the cell suspension in a medium.

Abstract: A method of magnetically manipulating a medical device within a body part of a human patient in conjunction with MR imaging includes applying a navigating magnetic field with magnets from the MR imaging device, and changing the magnetic moment of the medical device to change the orientation of the medical device within the body part

Abstract: A method of sequential consensus region-directed amplification comprising, (a) amplifying a first segment of at least one target DNA in a DNA mixture, using a first and second oligonucleotide primer, each of which hybridizes to the target DNA, and a nucleic acid polymerase, under conditions in which DNA amplification is achieved, resulting in a first segment of double-stranded DNA; (b) amplifying a second segment of the first segment of double-stranded DNA, using a third and fourth oligonucleotide primer, each of which hybridizes to the first DNA segment, and a nucleic acid polymerase, under conditions in which DNA amplification is achieved, resulting in a second segment of double-stranded DNA.