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This is a non-surgical tricuspid annuloplasty to treat functional tricuspid valve regurgitation, meaning regurgitation with intact valve leaflets. The device is delivered using novel catheter techniques into the pericardial space and positioned along the atrioventricular groove. A compression member is positioned along the tricuspid annular free wall and tension applied through a variably-applied tension element. In the best embodiment, the compression member has an M shaped portion with at least two inflection points between the segments of difference curvatures.

Cells, cell culture methods, and cell culture media compositions useful for producing and maintaining iPSC-derived cell lines that are of higher purity and maintain cell type integrity better than current iPSC-derived cell lines are disclosed. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can be generated by reprogramming somatic cells by the expression of four transcription factors. The hiPSCs exhibit similar properties to human embryonic stem cells, including the ability to self-renew and differentiate into all three embryonic germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm, or mesoderm.

The invention pertains to a system for reconstructing images acquired from MR and CT scanners in a robust Gadgetron based cloud computing system. A hardware interface connects clinical imaging instruments (e.g., MR or CT scanners) with a cloud computing environment that includes image data reconstruction and processing software not limited by the computational constraints typical of static hardware with finite processor power.

Available for licensing and commercial development is a three-dimensionally configured curved catheter for safe traversal of the right atrial appendage (RAA). The device is configured to optimize one-way access of the pericardial space through the right atrium and into the RAA reducing the risk of coronary lacerations. Specifically the curved catheter is best described in three segments: a proximal segment, a transitional segment and a distal segment; the transition segment having a clockwise spiral shaped curvature.

The invention pertains to methods of increasing the density of carboxylic acids on the surface of a carbon nanoparticle that can be functionalized with biologically relevant molecules, such as antibodies or peptides, for biomedical applications. Advantageously, the method could increase functionalization of a nanoparticle by at least about 1x107 functional groups/g of nanoparticle.

The invention relates to a combination hybrid computer tomography (CT) system that is particularly suited for elucidating stages in pulmonary diseases, notably cystic fibrosis and lung cancer. Improved visualization of lung parenchyma and the margins of lung cysts (non-invasive “virtual biopsy”) may provide sufficient detail to distinguish the types of cystic lesions such that the typical lung tissue pathologic biopsy would not be needed to make a diagnosis.

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction is a life-threatening complication of transcatheter mitral valve replacement caused by septal displacement of the anterior mitral leaflet (AML). The AML is a mobile structure that physically separates inflow and outflow zones of the left ventricle. Preserving the AML during surgical mitral valve replacement can cause left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, either when the prosthesis struts protrude into the left ventricular outflow tract or when along redundant anterior leaflet prolapses into the left ventrical outflow tract.

This technology includes an interventional device to occlude the left atrial appendage to prevent thrombus formation. Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with formation of thrombus in the left atrial appendage. Standard preventative treatment involves anticoagulation, which is not tolerated by all patients. Existing devices necessitate improvement because they need trans-septal puncture and anticoagulation to prevent thrombus or are prone to life-threatening complications.

This technology includes a technique to improves detection of myocardial scar compared with conventional bright-blood late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) techniques. Dark-blood late gadolinium enhancement (DB-LGE) improves tissue delineation with signal suppression of the blood pool based on T2-preparation pulse that is relatively independent from the blood flow velocities and improves scar detection in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease.