Main Menu

Cell-to-cell heterogeneity in gene expression is a widespread phenomenon, and may play important roles in cellular differentiation, function and disease development. Human Cell Atlas aims to profile gene expression in every single human cells. Recent studies have implicated a potential role of chromatin in the heterogeneity in gene expression. Understanding the mechanisms of cellular heterogeneity requires simultaneous measurement of RNA and occupancy of histone modifications and transcription factors on chromatin due to their critical roles in transcriptional regulation.

This technology includes design enhancements to transcatheter mitral cerclage annuloplasty. They include a device to convert from crossing guidewire to tension element, refinements to the tension element which incorporates a coronary artery protection device, a target/capture/snare device, a wishbone locking device, and a cutting device.

This technology includes a family of transcatheter endovenous intramyocardial tether (MIRTH) procedures to impose myocardial constraint on the LV (MIRTH), LV and RV (SCIMITAR), and cardiac resynchronization procedures. Included is a set of advanced cardiac treatment technologies that focus on minimally invasive procedures for heart patients. The main technology is the transcatheter endovenous intramyocardial tether (MIRTH) procedure, which is designed to apply physical constraint to the left ventricle (LV) of the heart.

This technology includes a novel transcatheter repair for functional mitral valve regurgitation, called mitral cerclage annuloplasty. This includes coronary artery protection for mitral cerclage annuloplasty against inside-out compression from subsequent transcatheter valve-in-ring mitral valve implantation, wherein the ring is created by the cerclage annuloplasty. Cerclage annuloplasty is to create a semi-rigid ring at the level of the mitral annulus.

This technology includes a metallic guidewire that is suitable for MRI catheterization, because it is mechanically long but electrically consists of short conductive segments that cannot resonate during MRI. The invention consists of stiffness-matched non-conductive connectors or connections that are used along with short metallic segments. The embodiment reduced to practice has torquability and flexibility comparable to marketed metallic guidewires, yet is free from MRI heating.

This technology includes a device to close a hole in the wall of a large blood vessel or cardiac chamber from the inside out, delivered over a guidewire and through a catheter or sheath. First, the proximal portion deploys within the vessel or chamber and is advanced over a guidewire to oppose the wall and seal the hole. Second, the distal portion self-assembles outside the vessel or chamber upon withdrawal of the guidewire. Deployment of the distal portion anchors the device securely in place.

This technology includes a catheter design to be used for cardiovascular procedures. This catheter has intrinsic freedom from MRI heating by segmenting and insulating the braiding material, yet that retains most of the mechanical properties of a braided catheter aligning the segment interruptions out-of-phase with each other.

This technology includes a method which enables high-speed, super-resolution microscopy at a very high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), for biological applications within ~200 nm (the evanescent wave decay length) of a coverslip surface. Instant TIRF/SIM may be implemented simply by modifying and adding to the excitation optics that are already present within a conventional instant SIM design. We enforce TIRF excitation by removing all wave vectors that propagate into the objective lens at sub-critical angles.

This technology includes a procedure for novel virus identification in a variety of human specimens by solexa high-throughput sequencing, which allows for the screening a large number of clinical specimens for novel virus discovery in a highly efficient and relatively economical method. By using this technique, we have successfully identified a novel parvovirus from samples of seronegative hepatitis patients.