1313 results about "Meniscus" patented technology

Unitary surgical devices (10) are disclosed. One group of the illustrated devices has a pair of biocompatible, bioresorbable anchors (16,18) connected to fixed lengths suture. The anchors (16,18) and fixed length of suture are connected to each other prior to surgery. Another group of unitary surgical devices has a pair of fixating mechanisms (15,17) connected to a base (21) prior to surgery. The second group of illustrated devices generally includes extracellular matrix material either as part of the base (21) or supported on the base (21). The extracellular matrix material serves as tissue regenerating material. In the second group of unitary surgical devices, the fixating mechanisms illustrated generally comprise suture, anchors or pre-formed holes in the base. All of the illustrated unitary surgical devices are useful in repairing a damaged meniscus. The first group of unitary surgical devices can be used to approximate inner surfaces of a tear in the meniscus. The second group of devices can be used either as an insert to be placed between and approximated to the inner surfaces of the tear or as an insert to replace a void in the meniscus left after a meniscectomy.

An optical sampling interface system is disclosed that minimizes and compensates for errors that result from sampling variations and measurement site state fluctuations. Embodiments of the invention use a guide that does at least one of, induce the formation of a tissue meniscus, minimize interference due to surface irregularities, control variation in the volume of tissue sampled, use a two-part guide system, use a guide that controls rotation of a sample probe and allows z-axis movement of the probe, use a separate base module and sample module in conjunction with a guide, and use a guide that controls rotation. Optional components include an occlusive element and a coupling fluid.

The present invention relates to a new method for repairing human or animal tissues such as cartilage, meniscus, ligament, tendon, bone, skin, cornea, periodontal tissues, abscesses, resected tumors, and ulcers. The method comprises the step of introducing into the tissue a temperature-dependent polymer gel composition such that the composition adhere to the tissue and promote support for cell proliferation for repairing the tissue. Other than a polymer, the composition preferably comprises a blood component such as whole blood, processed blood, venous blood, arterial blood, blood from bone, blood from bone-marrow, bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, placenta blood, erythrocytes, leukocytes, monocytes, platelets, fibrinogen, thrombin and platelet rich plasma. The present invention also relates to a new composition to be used with the method of the present invention.

A system and method of moving a meniscus from a first surface to a second surface includes forming a meniscus between a head and a first surface. The meniscus can be moved from the first surface to an adjacent second surface, the adjacent second surface being parallel to the first surface. The system and method of moving the meniscus can also be used to move the meniscus along an edge of a substrate.

A lens assembly for an image sensor comprises an aperture, a first lens, a second lens and a third lens, which are arranged sequentially from the object side. The first lens is a planoconvex lens or a positive meniscus lens whose convex surface faces the object side; the second lens is a negative meniscus lens with a convex surface facing the image side and at least has an aspherical surface; and the third lens is a positive meniscus lens with a convex surface facing the object side and, at least, has an aspherical surface. The sensitivity of decentration and the aberration-correction effect of the whole lens assembly in accordance with the present invention can be effectively improved.

A front group consists of two concave lenses. A rear group consists of: a positive lens in which the object-side surface has a larger radius of curvature; and a cemented lens configured by a positive lens in which the object-side surface has a larger radius of curvature, and a negative meniscus lens, the cemented lens having being positive as a whole. An objective lens satisfies the following conditional expressions:|dx / fF|≧3.0   (1)(f / f3)×ν3<23   (2)f2×(ν5−ν4) / {RA×(Bf+d5 / n5)}>7   (3)where dx is the distance between the groups, f, fF, and f3 are the focal lengths of the objective lens, the front group, and the lens, respectively, ν3, ν4, and ν5 are the Abbe numbers of the lenses, RA is the radius of curvature of the cementing surface between the lenses, Bf is the back focus, and d5 and n5 are the center thickness and refractive index with respect to the d-line of the lens.

The invention provides compositions and methods for repairing intra-articular and extra-articular tissue including ligament, meniscus, cartilage, tendon, and bone. The method includes contacting the ends of an injured tissue from a patient with a composition. The repair composition includes soluble type 1 collagen, a platelet, and at least one of an extracellular protein and a neutralizing agent.

Methods of utilizing magnetic particles or beads (MBs) in droplet-based (or digital) microfluidics are disclosed. The methods may be used in enrichment or separation processes. A first method employs the droplet meniscus to assist in the magnetic collection and positioning of MBs during droplet microfluidic operations. The sweeping movement of the meniscus lifts the MBs off the solid surface and frees them from various surface forces acting on the MBs. A second method uses chemical additives to reduce the adhesion of MBs to surfaces. Both methods allow the MBs on a solid surface to be effectively moved by magnetic force. Droplets may be driven by various methods or techniques including, for example, electrowetting, electrostatic, electromechanical, electrophoretic, dielectrophoretic, electroosmotic, thermocapillary, surface acoustic, and pressure.