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An inexpensive surgical stapler, such as for use in securing vascular catheters, has a plastic applicator made for use with a single staple. The applicator has a backbone and two identical arms. The inside face of the backbone has a retaining channel that secures the crown portion of the staple against movement. The inside faces of the arms have guidance grooves that direct the movement of the staple as the applicator arms are squeezed with finger pressure. The outside faces of the arms are configured to permit gripping by the operator's fingers. The stapler can be used in lieu of suturing. Other staple and applicator assemblies can include two or more of such assemblies.

A surgical system and the associated methods for use in Minimally Invasive Surgical procedures for use in the short- and long-term termination of signals through nerves. Such a procedure is an improvement over the current state-of-the-art because of the use of a tightly coupled single-needle bi-polar probe. The proximity of both electrodes, to the nerve or tissue targeted for the treatment, is such that it reduces the losses experienced with external electrodes (e.g. plates or probes). Further, the probe has features associated with locating the probe and dispensing or sampling far above the probes currently available. The resulting improvements provide a quantum leap in technology for the associated medical industries and a base line for these procedures in the future.

Ablation instruments and methods are disclosed for ablating diseased tissue such as cardiac tissue. The method includes introducing a flexible elongate member into a predetermined tissue site with a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal lumen extending therebetween. A slidable conductor is positioned through the lumen proximate to the tissue site and energy is transmitted to the distal end of the elongate member through the conductor. The flexible elongate member is both longitudinally flexible and resists twisting during bending. The target tissue is ablated, coagulated or photochemically modulated without damaging surrounding tissue.

The various aspects of the invention pertain to devices and related methods for treating heart conditions, including, for example, dilatation, valve incompetencies, including mitral valve leakage, and other similar heart failure conditions. The devices and related methods of the present invention operate to assist in the apposition of heart valve leaflets to improve valve function. According to one aspect of the invention, a method improves the function of a valve of a heart by placing an elongate member transverse a heart chamber so that each end of the elongate member extends through a wall of the heart, and placing first and second anchoring members external the chamber. The first and second anchoring members are attached to first and second ends of the elongate member to fix the elongate member in a position across the chamber so as to reposition papillary muscles within the chamber. Also described herein is a method for placing a splint assembly transverse a heart chamber by advancing an elongate member through vasculature structure and into the heart chamber.

Disclosed herein are modular spinal implants having components which are interlocked together to form a single implant. Specifically exemplified herein are implants that are sectioned along a longitudinal plane. Implants are disclosed which include channels for inter-fragmentary association with an elongate bone screw and which allow for angular variability of the screw relative to the channel. Also disclosed is an anti-backout mechanism that helps prevent fixators from backing out upon securement of the implant in the spine. Kits comprising different sizes and inclination angles of components are disclosed, which can assist the surgeon in preoperatively assembling an implant to best fit in the surgical site of the patient.

The present invention relates to the use of a gene transfer product to reduce hyperplastic connective tissue growth after tissue trauma or implantation of a medical device. The present invention also relates to a medical device with improved biological properties for an at least partial contact with blood, bodily fluids and/or tissues when introduced in a mammalian body, which device comprises a core and a nucleic acid, encoding a product capable of leading to production of extracellular superoxide dismutase present in a biologically compatible medium. Said nucleic acid encodes a translation or transcription product, which is capable of inhibiting hyperplastic connective tissue growth and promoting endothelialisation in vivo at least partially on a synthetic surface of said core. The present invention also relates to a method of producing a medical device according to the invention.

An electronic wallet which is biometrically secured stores credit card and other information. A biometric sensor prevents the electronic wallet from being used by the user who does not have permission to use the wallet. A rewriteable card is inserted into a slot of the wallet in order to have credit card information placed on the card. After the card is used the information is erased from the card when it is placed back in the slot in the electronic wallet.

A deployment assembly (10) for an introducer used for introducing into a patient a stent or other device, the deployment assembly including a housing 30 carrying a sprung loaded (90) actuator (44, 50). The actuator includes a toothed wheel (50) carrying a spool (48) around which a retraction strap (44) can be wound. The strap (44) is coupled to a body member (26) of the introducer and through this to the outer sheath (14) thereof. A trigger (16) is provided for operating the actuator (44, 50). When the trigger (16) is pressed, the actuator winds, under the force produced by the spring (90), the strap (44) to thereby retract the outer sheath (14) so as to expose and then deploy the device carried on the introducer. The mechanism is such that a surgeon need not expend his own energy to retract the outer sheath (14) since this force is provided by the spring (90). Furthermore, the spring (90) acts in a plane other than that of the direction of retraction of the sheath (14), which minimises the risk of inadvertent movement of the introducer as the sheath (14) is being retracted.

The present invention relates to methods for changing the state of differentiation of a eukaryotic cell, the methods comprising introducing mRNA encoding one or more reprogramming factors into a cell and maintaining the cell under conditions wherein the cell is viable and the mRNA that is introduced into the cell is expressed in sufficient amount and for sufficient time to generate a cell that exhibits a changed state of differentiation compared to the cell into which the mRNA was introduced, and compositions therefor. For example, the present invention provides mRNA molecules and methods for their use to reprogram human somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells.

A method for placing a splint assembly transverse a heart chamber includes providing an elongate member having a first end and a second end and a deployable heart-engaging assembly connected to at least the first end. The method includes advancing the elongate member through vasculature structure and into the heart chamber such that the first end of the elongate member extends through a first location of a wall surrounding the heart chamber and the second end extends through a second location of the heart chamber wall substantially opposite the first location. A deployable heart-engaging assembly is deployed such that it engages with a first exterior surface portion of the heart chamber wall adjacent the first location. The elongate member is secured with respect to the heart with a second heart-engaging assembly connected to the second end. The second heart-engaging assembly engages with a second exterior surface portion of the heart chamber wall adjacent the second location. A splint assembly includes an expandable heart-engaging assembly formed partially from portions forming the elongate member of the splint assembly. A delivery tool includes a tubular member configured to be advanced through vasculature structure and has a curved distal end.

A spinal implant system for stabilization of the spine is disclosed comprising a pair of bone anchors, an elongate stabilization device received in the bone anchors, the stabilization device having an elongate inner stabilizing member and an outer stabilizing member disposed about the inner member and wherein said anchors are configured to inhibit translation of the outer member and to permit translation of the inner member.

A posterior spinal fastener is disclosed for insertion into a vertebra of a mammalian body, the vertebra having posterior elements and a vertebral body. The fastener includes an elongate member adapted for insertion into the vertebra. The elongate body has an anterior portion and a posterior portion. The anterior portion is arcuate in shape for placement in the vertebral body. The posterior portion has a length so as to be accessible at the posterior elements of the vertebra when the anterior portion is disposed in the vertebral body. A method of use of the posterior spinal fastener is also disclosed, in which the posterior spinal fastener is introduced into the vertebra at the posterior elements and arcuately extended into the vertebral body.

A lightweight photovoltaic concentrator is disclosed. The concentrator comprises at least two sections each comprising a cell panel, a radiator panel and a reflector panel. In one embodiment, the concentrator system of the present invention comprises at least two hinged sections each comprising a solar cell panel, a flat radiator panel, and a curved reflective concentrator panel. The solar cell panel comprises at least one photovoltaic cell for generating electrical power in response to radiation. The solar cell panel is aligned with the radiator panel at an angle less than 180 degrees but not less than 90 degrees facing the reflective concentrator panel. In another embodiment, the cell panels on adjoining sections are angled in opposite directions with respect to the radiator panels and wherein the reflective concentrator panels are located on opposite sides of the radiator panels. A heat pipe or loop heat pipe is located in the radiator panel to dissipate heat from the solar cells.

A method of establishing a shared secret random cryptographic key between a sender and a recipient using a quantum communications channel is described. The method comprises: generating a plurality of random quantum states of a quantum entity, each random state being defined by a randomly selected one of a first plurality of bases in Hilbert space, transmitting the plurality of random quantum states of the quantum entity via the quantum channel to a recipient, measuring the quantum state of each of the received quantum states of the quantum entity with respect to a randomly selected one of a second plurality of bases in Hilbert space, transmitting to the recipient composition information describing a subset of the plurality of random quantum states, analysing the received composition information and the measured quantum states corresponding to the subset to derive a first statistical distribution describing the subset of transmitted quantum states and a second statistical distribution describing the corresponding measured quantum states, establishing the level of confidence in the validity of the plurality of transmitted random quantum states by verifying that the first and second statistical distributions are sufficiently similar, deriving a first binary sting and a second binary string, correlated to the first binary string, respectively from the transmitted and received plurality of quantum states not in the subset, and carrying out a reconciliation of the second binary string to the first binary string by using error correction techniques to establish the shared secret random cryptographic key from the first and second binary strings.

The invention relates to a material laminate for use as a covering sheet on absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, incontinence protectors, diapers, pant diapers, or the like. The material laminate comprises a first, fluid pervious fibrous material layer and a second fluid pervious porous material layer, wherein at least one of the two material layers comprises thermoplastic material and wherein the two material layers are mutually connected by means of the covering material laminate exhibiting bond sites within which the thermoplastic material has been caused to at least partially soften or melt and thereby bond the two material layers together. In the planar extension, the material laminate exhibits two side portions extending in the length direction and having an extension in the width direction from a respective longitudinal side edge and a distance in towards the longitudinal central axis of the material laminate and a central portion positioned between the side portions in the planar extension of the material laminate, wherein the first material layer and the second material layer in the central portion of the material laminate are intermittently bonded together with a first bond pattern and that the first material layer and the second material layer in the two side portions of the material laminate are intermittently bonded together with a second bond pattern wherein the percentage bonded area in relation to the total area in the two side portions is greater then the percentage bonded area in relation to the total area in the central portion. The invention further pertains to an absorbent article comprising the material laminate.

A method of selling articles of manufacture which utilizes an electronic communication system to identify a plurality of articles of manufacture, from a plurality of manufacturing entities, which are available for purchase by said plurality of potential purchasers. The steps of the method include: Identifying pricing milestones in each of (1) a manufacturing phase and (2) a distribution phase, which correspond to an increase in commercial risk. Determining a separate price for each of said pricing milestones to establish a range of prices for said selected ones of said plurality of articles of manufacture, taking into account a change in said commercial risk as said pricing milestones are experienced. Making conditional offers for sale to potential purchasers at each of the pricing milestones, with the conditional offers specifying at least a minimum number of articles which must be ordered in aggregate before the conditional offer becomes binding upon a manufacturing entity. Communicating with potential purchasers and aggregating commercial commitments from potential purchasers for each pricing milestones and thereby selling articles of manufacture. Such that each pricing milestone corresponds to a period of availability in which costs of future supply chain activities or savings related to avoidance of future supply chain activities are reflected in an offer price. The method may also include the use of a trusted intermediary, which may use a virtual exchange.