Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

The General Hospital Corporation

Brigham Young University

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Erik Bassett

Robert Samuel Langer

Omid C Farokhzad

Jeffrey Michael Karp

Alexander H Slocum, Jr

Larry L Howell

Joseph P Vacanti

Spencer P Magleby

Alexander H Slocum

Cathryn Sundback

Allen Boyd Mackay

Theresa A Hadlock

Mark Randolph

Brian Geoffrey Winder

Irina Pomerantseva

Mack Cheney

An apparatus provides feedback regarding the material in which tip of the apparatus is located as the tip is advanced into matter of varying resistances. The apparatus responds to a change in pressure, force, or other parameter such that when the tip reaches matter of a certain resistance, a change in the parameter is sensed. The apparatus provides a driving force to a penetrating medical device, such as a needle, when the apparatus tip encounters material of high resistance. When the apparatus tip encounters a low resistance material, no further driving force is applied to the apparatus. An inner core may be advanced into the low resistance material for deployment of a gas or a liquid as desired.

Methods and devices for sensing tissues and tissue compartments

The present invention provides for compositions and constructs for craniofacial reconstruction implants, and methods for making and using same. Specific embodiments provide for a biocompatible scaffold having an auricular shape and a permanent bendable framework within the scaffold, wherein the permanent bendable framework allows deformation and return to pre-deformation shape, and thus maintains the auricular shape of the scaffold.

Engineered craniofacial constructs with composite scaffold

An apparatus provides feedback regarding the material in which tip of the apparatus is located as the tip is advance into matter of varying resistances. The apparatus responds to a change in pressure, force, or other parameter such that when the tip reaches matter of a certain resistance, a change in the parameter is sensed. The apparatus provides a driving force to a penetrating medical device, such as a needle, when the apparatus tip encounters material of high resistance. When the apparatus tip encounters a low resistance material, no further driving force is applied to the apparatus. An inner core may be advanced into the low resistance material for deployment of a gas or a liquid as desired.

Configuration-adjusting mechanisms include linkages interconnecting first and second layers of a sheet material. The linkages have hinges positioned and oriented to cause motion of at least a portion of the linkages out of a plane of the first and second layers when the mechanisms are actuated. An apparatus, system, and method include one or more of the mechanisms for changing a contour of a surface provided by a cover overlying the mechanisms. An array of mechanisms or mechanisms corresponding to an array of positions on the surface may be selectively actuated to change the contour or texture of the surface. The array of mechanisms for changing the contour can provide user interface buttons selectively actuated by the mechanisms, which cause the buttons to emerge from the surface. A reconfigurable contour may be provided by selectable sets of the buttons associated with respective functions of a control panel, for example.

Out-of-plane configuration-adjusting mechanism, system, and method

Growing community of inventors

Watertown, MA, United States of America

Erik Bassett