Abstract:
An orthopedic device (10) for treatment of injured joints or limbs having at least one gel pad (20) including at least one phase change material (25) for improving the thermal energy storage capacity of the gel pad (20). The phase change material (25) included in the gel material (21) inside the gel pad (20) may be encapsulated, formed in pellets, soluble, insoluble, or in any desirable form. The gel pad (20) may be removed from the orthopedic device (10), heated or cooled, and then used with the device for hot or cold therapy of injured joints or limbs, taking advantage of the increased thermal energy storage capacity of the phase change material (25). Two different phase change materials (102, 104) may be included in the gel pad (20), one of which may be used for cold temperaure therapy while the other is used for hot temperature therapy. The gel pad (20) may include encapsulated water as a phase change material. In addition, a sheet of encapsulated phase change material (112, 113) may be used inside the gel pad (20) which prevents the phase change material (112, 113) from moving inside the gel pad (20) in order to provide a uniform distribution of phase change material (112, 113) inside the pad, resulting in uniform temperature distribution for hot or cold therapy.
Abstract:
An incontinence treatment device includes a urethral support and first and second connectors. The urethral support extends between a first end and a second end and has porosity that is configured to allow tissue in-growth through the urethral support. The first connector is attached to the first end of the urethral support and the second connector is attached to the second end of the urethral support. At least one of the first connector and the second connector is a cross- linked polymer connector having a glass transition temperature between 40-70 degrees Celsius. The cross-linked polymer connector has an initial length that is elongated to an implant length that is greater than the initial length. Means for heating the cross-linked polymer connector from an extracorporeal location through intact skin is provided, thereby shortening the cross-linked polymer connector.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are described for killing cancer cells (44) of a subject, the subject having cancer cells and healthy cells. The apparatus includes a plurality of first molecules (40) configured to be coupled to the cancer cells to a greater extent than to the healthy cells, in response to being administered to the subject. A plurality of clusters (42) of phase-change molecules are provided, each of the clusters coupled to a respective one of the first molecules. An energy transmission unit (50) kills cancer cells coupled to the first molecules by heating the cancer cells, by transmitting energy toward the clusters that selectively heats the clusters. Other embodiments are also described.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for treating a vascular malformation in a vessel, the vascular malformation having an opening. The apparatus includes an aneurysm exclusion device ("AED") that includes at least one sleeve. The sleeve includes a shape memory material such that the AED exists in a compact form in a first state and an expanded form in a second state. The AED is placed within the vessel while in the compact form and expanded into the expanded form such that the AED occludes the opening of the vascular malformation. The AED may also include two sleeves. The sleeve may also include an opening in the sidewall.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for treating a vascular malformation in a vessel, the vascular malformation having an opening. The apparatus includes an aneurysm exclusion device ("AED") that includes at least one sleeve. The sleeve includes a shape memory material such that the AED exists in a compact form in a first state and an expanded form in a second state. The AED is placed within the vessel while in the compact form and expanded into the expanded form such that the AED occludes the opening of the vascular malformation. The AED may also include two sleeves. The sleeve may also include an opening in the sidewall.
Abstract:
An artificial nucleus pulposus implant (102, 104) is injected minimally invasively into the nucleus cavity (51) of the annulus fibrosus (12). A device (70) delivers a phase changing biomaterial in a fluid state (102) to a tissue site. The device (70) comprises a dispenser (72) including a plunger (76), a dispensing actuator (74), and a cartridge (80) insertable into an inlet of the plunger (76) for containing the phase changing biomaterial in a fluid state (102). The biomaterial is permitted to transition from the fluid state (102) to a solid state (104) in-situ after a given condition.
Abstract:
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Intraokularlinsenzuführsystem (100; 400; 500), aufweisend: - ein Gehäuse (1), - eine in das Gehäuse (1) einsetzbare Kassette (2) zur Aufnahme einer Intraokularlinse (3), 5 - ein Heizelement (4), welches einen Latentwärmespeicher (5) und einen Keimbildner (6) aufweist, - ein Druckelement (8; 40; 52), welches mit der Kassette (2) oder dem Gehäuse (1) gekop- pelt ist und so verlagerbar ist, dass das Druckelement (8; 40; 52) bei in das Gehäuse (1) eingesetzter Kassette (2) auf den Keimbildner (6) eine Druckkraft ausübt, sodass vom 10 Heizelement (4) Wärmeenergie an die Kassette (2) zuführbar ist.
Abstract:
An implantable ophthalmic device with flexible, fluid-filled membranes provide dynamically variable optical power to restore lost accommodation in individuals suffering from presbyopia or aphakia without moving parts or reducing the amount of transmitted light. Actuating the device causes the fluid-filled membrane to change curvature, which produces a corresponding change in optical power. For instance, squeezing the edge of the membrane causes the center of the membrane to bulge by an amount proportional to the squeezing force. Alternatively, heating or applying a voltage to the membrane may cause the liquid in the membrane to undergo a phase transition accompanied by a corresponding change in volume that causes the membrane to inflate so as to change the optical power of the device.
Abstract:
This invention provides aragonite- and calcite-based solid substrates for the repair, regeneration, enhancement of formation or a combination thereof of cartilage and/or bone, which solid substrates comprise or are made to ultimately comprise three phases, wherein each phase differs in terms of its chemical content, or structure, kits comprising the same, and methods of use thereof.
Abstract:
Cet implant orthopédique(1) comporte un substrat (2) polymère avec une surface externe (3) destinée à être solidarisée à un tissu osseux. La surface externe (3) est couverte de particules (5) métalliques comprenant du titane. Les particules (5) comprennent des particules primaires (51) de grande taille et des particules secondaires (52) de petite taille. Les particules primaires (51) et les particules secondaires (52) sont distribuées uniformément sur la surface externe (3).