Hologic, Inc.

Zymequest, Inc.

Depuy Mitek, Inc.

Medicept, Inc.

Donald Barry

John P O'Brien

Jay A Stein

Glen E Jorgensen

Kevin E Wilson

Dennis G Lamser

Richard E Cabral

Mark Susser

Bruce H Edwards

Benjamin Cleveland

John R Cournoyer

Marc R Helmick

Tracy L Ramsdell

Joel B Weinstein

Michael Defusco

Daniel W Hawkins

Jeremy Fennelly

Victor Sacco

Thomas L Kelly

Howard P Weiss

Russell J Gershman

Eric Von Stetten

Noah Berger

Tom Richardson

Tina LeFebvre

Steven Teta

Roy E Martin, Iii

Glen Jorgenson

Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for removing abnormalities from bone. In general, the methods and devices can be used to allow excess bone to be scraped from a bone surface. In an exemplary embodiment, a scraper tool is provided that includes an elongate shaft having a plurality of blades movably disposed therein. The blades can be configured to move as a unit between a retracted configuration, in which the blades can be entirely disposed within the elongate shaft, and an advanced configuration, in which at least a portion of the blades can extend distally from the elongate shaft and/or flare away from one another. A distal portion of each of the blades can have a radius of curvature corresponding to a radius of curvature of the bone to be scraped.

Methods and devices for removing abnormalities from bone

The invention provides an improved rotating seal apparatus including a plurality of concentrically spaced annular rotating seals. The invention also provides a rotating seal apparatus including a pressurized annular chamber surrounding an annular rotating seal.

Rotating seals for cell processing systems

A method and apparatus for selectively expressing one or more selected fluid materials out of a fluid container, including a centrifuge rotor having a round centrifuge chamber of selected volume, a round expandable enclosure disposed within the centrifuge chamber having a rotation axis coincident with the central rotation axis and a flexible wall, a pump for controllably pumping a selected volume of expressor fluid into and out of the expandable enclosure wherein the fluid container is receivable with the centrifuge chamber, and a retaining mechanism for holding the fluid container within the centrifuge chamber in a coaxial position. The flexible wall of the fluid container is in contact with the flexible wall of the expandable enclosure.

Apparatus for method for expressing fluid materials

A method and apparatus for selectively expressing one or more selected fluid materials out of a fluid container, including a centrifuge rotor having a round centrifuge chamber of selected volume, a round expandable enclosure disposed within the centrifuge chamber having a rotation axis coincident with the central rotation axis and a flexible wall, a pump for controllably pumping a selected volume of expresser fluid into and out of the expandable enclosure wherein the fluid container is receivable within the centrifuge chamber, and a retaining mechanism for holding the fluid container within the centrifuge chamber in a coaxial position. The flexible wall of the fluid container is in contact with the flexible wall of the expandable enclosure.

Biological processing apparatus for expressing fluid material

An automated blood separation method and apparatus is described that allows for the separation of multiple units of blood simultaneously. The method and apparatus reliably and quickly separates blood into its components. An auto-balancing feature within the apparatus automatically preferably compensates for the changing state of imbalance, thereby eliminating the need for additional balancing steps during the separation process. The apparatus has a rotor into which a plurality of cassettes can be inserted. The cassettes have a number of sections for the containment of the whole blood and for the separated blood components, which are contained in disposable bags. The rotor is placed into a centrifuge assembly, and the blood components are then separated and transferred to the bags in the individual sections of the cassettes. Means for including secondary separation devices such as filters is included. The manufacturing information regarding the lot identities used and the conditions under which each unit was processed is also included.

Blood component preparation (BCP) device and method of use thereof

A device is provided for distributing a fluids from different sources to different destinations. The device receives fluids from a plurality of different sources and distributes the fluids out of a port to a destination. The device also receives fluid from the destination and transfers the fluid to another port out to another destination.

Fluid management systems

A method of calibrating an ultrasound bone analysis apparatus having a pair of transducer assemblies. Each transducer assembly has a transducer and a coupling pad, and is movable relative to the other so that a face of each pad can be moved to a position in which they mutually contact at a first compression and to a position where the faces contact body parts at a second compression different than the first compression. The method according to the present application includes transmitting an ultrasound signal from one transducer and receiving a signal corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound signal through the other transducer when the transducer assemblies are in the first position and the second position. A time for the ultrasound signal to pass through the body part is determined, and a width of the body part based on positions of the transducers is determined. Then, using the time and width values a speed of sound of the ultrasound signal passing through the body part with squish compensation is calculated.

Bone analysis apparatus and method for calibration and quality assurance of an ultrasonic bone analysis apparatus

An optical sensor is disclosed for use in an interactive cell processing system that includes a plurality of sensors arranged for monitoring and providing sensor data to a control module that directs processing of biological cells. The sensors including an optical sensor for characterizing a fluid transferred in a sterile manner during the processing. The optical sensor includes a light source, a light detector, a cuvette and a control circuit. The light source is connected to a control circuit and is constructed and arranged to emit light of at least one selected wavelength directed toward the fluid. The cuvette is constructed as a part of a fluid distribution manifold that includes several conduits for transferring the sterile fluid during the processing, wherein the cuvette is constructed and arranged to convey the fluid. The light detector is connected to the control circuit and is constructed and arranged to detect light that was emitted from the source and has interacted with the fluid flowing inside the cuvette. The control circuit is constructed and arranged to characterize the fluid in the cuvette based on the detected light.

Optical sensors for cell processing systems

An ultrasonic bone testing apparatus has a foot well assembly and a shin guide assembly which are mechanically coupled to secure a foot and lower leg of patient during the measurement process. The shin guide assembly includes a molded form which has a shin restraint section, an instep guide section and a foot restraint section. An instep support guide having sliding blocks is mounted on the molded form. The sliding blocks are inserted into respective channels of respective bridge brackets of the foot well assembly to attach the shin guide assembly to the foot well assembly. The apparatus further includes a transducer drive mechanism for positioning a pair of transducer assemblies. A controller automatically modifies the positioning of the transducer assemblies until ultrasonic coupling is achieved and a receiving transducer receives a signal of a predetermined quality. A coupling pad and acoustical delay line of the transducer assembly provide a waveguide function to collimate an acoustical beam a sufficient distance along a propagation axis to allow wavefronts to evolve onto a more uniform intensity pattern. The elastomer coupling pad has an angled surface which expels air bubbles from a contact area when pressure is applied to the pad.

Ultrasonic bone testing apparatus with repeatable positioning and

A system and method for determining bone characteristic data is provided. The system combines a biochemical bone measuring unit with a densitometric bone measuring unit to determine the bone characteristic data. Once the bone characteristic data is ascertained, a determination of whether bone formation or bone resorption is occurring is made and future bone characteristics can be projected.

System for assessing bone characteristics

A method of calibrating an ultrasound bone analysis apparatus having a pair of transducer assemblies. Each transducer assembly has a transducer and a coupling pad, and is movable relative to the other so that a face of each pad can be moved to a position in which they mutually contact and to a position where the faces contact body parts. The method according to the present application includes transmitting an ultrasound signal from one transducer and receiving a signal corresponding to the transmitted ultrasound signal through the other transducer when the transducer assemblies are in the first position and the second position. A time for the ultrasound signal to pass through the body part is determined, and a width of the body part based on positions of the transducers is determined. Then, using the time and width values a speed of sound of the ultrasound signal passing through the body part with squish compensation is calculated.

X-ray bone densitometry

An ultrasonic bone testing apparatus has a foot well assembly and a shin guide assembly which are mechanically coupled to secure a foot and lower leg of patient. The shin guide assembly includes a molded form lined with contoured foam lining. An instep support guide having sliding blocks is mounted on the molded form. The sliding blocks attach the shin guide assembly to the foot well assembly. The apparatus further includes a transducer drive mechanism for positioning a pair of transducer assemblies. A controller automatically modifies the positioning of the transducer assemblies until ultrasonic coupling is achieved and a receiving transducer receives a signal of a predetermined quality. The distance between the transducers is continuously measured by a position encoder. The controller uses temperature readings from a temperature sensor to improve the accuracy of the position encoder measurements and correct for temperature dependent inaccuracy in the ultrasound measurement. A coupling pad and acoustical delay line of the transducer assembly provide a waveguide function to collimate an acoustical beam. The elastomer coupling pad has an angled surface which expels air bubbles from a contact area when pressure is applied to the pad.

Growing community of inventors

Norwood, MA, United States of America

Donald Barry