The Automated Prototyping of Nasoalveolar Molding Appliance Used in Restorative Dentistry and Treatment of Cleft Palate

Cleft lip and cleft palate, which occur in one in 600-800 births, are variations of a type of clefting congenital deformity caused by abnormal facial development during gestation. A cleft is a sub-division in the body's natural structure, regularly formed before birth. A cleft palate can be successfully treated with surgery soon after birth, however the current treatments include numerous surgeries as the patient grows. 

This novel invention uses computer software to fabricate a molding appliance for cleft palate babies.  It is expected that this invention will save time, reduce the number of surgeries and potentially allow for this operation to be performed in remote locations.

Expandable Intragastric Device For Obesity

The present invention provides an expandable, intragastric device that can be used for gastrointestional therapeutic, preventative and/or palliative purposes.  The applications of this device include the induction of satiety or physical fullness of the stomach.  The device is delivered to the stomach using instruments such as an endoscope, laparoscope, etc.

 

***Detailed drawings are available with execution of a confidentiality agreement***

A Novel Percutaneous Gastro-Jejunal Feeding Tube

Many hospitalized patients who are not able to eat by mouth safely, require gastric tube feeds.  Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina have developed a novel therapeutic device which will facilitate the initial placement and reduction of subsequent movement of the port from the desired location and use in patients who cannot tolerate gastric tube feeds.  The catheter consists of four ports, includes a simple mechanism to prevent unwanted movement, creates a seal at the gastric stoma and a perfect seal from preventing air from entering the stomach and gastric contents from leaking out. 

 

***Detailed drawings are available with execution of a confidentiality agreement***

A Novel Intussusception Catheter

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina have developed a novel catheter which will improve the overall outcome of reduction of intussusceptions, CT colonoscopies, barium enema procedures, and various other procedures.  This molded, soft, flexible, non-latex device will decrease radiation exposure to medical staff, reduce the procedure time and increase the reduction of difficult intussusceptions reductions, improve CT colonoscopy and barium enema results.  It will also be instrumental in various other interventional procedures.

 

***Detailed drawings are available with execution of a confidentiality agreement***

A Novel Percutaneous Feeding Catheter Placement Device

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina have developed a novel device used to obtain percutaneous access to the stomach.  The device allows for simultaneous access for the feeding tube and anchoring devices.  This device will assist in decreasing the time required to place the feeding tube and decrease potential complications of a misplaced tube in the stomach.

 

***Detailed drawings are available with execution of a confidentiality agreement***

Modified Aneurysm Clip

A common problem for the surgeon placing an aneurysm clip is that the clip tends to slide off of the aneurysm due both to the anatomy of the aneurysm and the pumping force coming from within the blood vessel. The present invention provides a modification designed to minimize this problem by causing the clip to remain in place more reliably. The new design functions in exactly the same way and does not introduce any additional complexity into the surgical procedure.

Complete Arch Intra-Oral vibrating Device

A patented device composed of a fixed and a disposable element that can be used for the long-term management of pain and discomfort associated with oral surgery or the general discomfort associated with some oral prosthetics. Simple. Inexpensive. Majority of end users would be oral surgery and oral prosthetic patients, although orthodontal professionals could be another market.

Modified Introducer Sheaths with Infusion Ports, Multiple Hubs, Oval Configuration, and Splittable Sheath with Hemostatic Valve

Disclosed is a design for catheter introducer sheaths which adds several new features. Detailed drawings are on file. The new design allows perfusion of fluids during total obstruction of the lumen by the introducer or a catheter with the designated sheath size. The new introducer is particularly useful for thrombolytic infusions and longterm use to reduce thrombosis. Also disclosed is a multi-port introducer sheath used for multicatheter placement. A larger version may be used for stent graft placement. Multiple ports will allow the use of catheter and guide wire simultaneously or the technique of kissing balloons angioplasty with a single arterial/venous access.

Percutaneous Cervical Spinal Foraminotome

The device is an instrument (instrument complex, actually) which should permit the percutaneous treatment of cervical spondylosis (arthritis of the cervical spine) under local anesthesia. This disease causes a large amount of morbidity in this and other countries. At present, it is treated by open surgery, requires general anesthesia and hospitalization, and has a variable recovery time, almost never less than a week.

The device should enable the operator to perform a foraminotomy through a very small anterolateral neck incision. The device can be made of metal, plastic, other composite, or a combination of these. Schematic drawing on file.

Nanostructered Surfaces As a Dual Ionization LDI-DESI Platform for Increased Peptide Coverage In Shotgun Proteomic Analysis

Provided is a method and apparatus for obtaining complementary data from using two different ionization methods (laser desorption ionization (LDI) and desorption electrospray ionization (DESI)) from the same sample. Both methods observe different subsets of peptides within a complex mixture. Using both methods allows more complete observation of both components in proteomic analysis.

The method involves the use of porous alumina thin films, which allows for both DESI and LDI mass spectrometry from the same sample on a common platform. Porous alumina surfaces are prepared by a relatively simple method and could provide a useful low cost alternative to conventional substrates.

Pivoting Pad Base of Skull Head Support For fMRI

Disclosed is a device designed to improve head support and stabilization during fMRI studies, though it might be used in other MR or CT imaging as well. This novel device supports the head at the base of the skull to allow for accessibility to the cortex in TMS, TES and interventional MR and CT surgical procedures. Furthermore, the extremely small size of this stabilization device allows for minimal room requirements. Finally, the device features the ability to lock onto the scanner bed while adjusting for different patient height or neck length. ***Note: Pictures and blueprints of functional device available upon completion of Confidentiality Agreement.

Quantification of Local Convectional Cooling During Cardiac Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation

Embodiments of the invention present two methods to quantify convective cooling at the ablation site before cardiac RF catheter ablation is performed. These methods can be used to directly predict lesion size at the ablation site. Quantitative data on convective cooling can also be used as input parameters for computer models in order to more-accurately estimate lesion size and include this information in treatment planning.

Miniature Balloon Catheter Device for Recording of Intraventricular Pressures of Heart

Measurement of ventricular pressures of the heart is of interest to both clinicians and researchers. Such pressure measurements obtained from laboratory animals can provide valuable information with regard to the physiological response to pharmacological agents, toxicity of chemicals and can lead to a better understanding of cardiac physiology. Currently commercially available balloons are rigid and have poor pressure transmission.

The Medical University of South Carolina has developed a catheter balloon that is small in size, slippery for initial installation, strong for deployment and sensitive for reliable transmission of pressure to the sensing device. A balloon catheter of with these properties is anticipated to be particularly useful for reliable recording of ventricular pressures of isolated perfused hearts. Additional utility may include the measurement of blood pressure, intracranial pressure, intrapleural pressure and pressure within the gastrointestinal system.

Real-time In vivo Measurement of Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) play an important role in regulating Extracellular Matrix (ECM) degradation. Discordance between MMPs and TIMPs can lead to increased ECM degradation and pathological conditions such as inflammation, tumor invasion, arthritis and cardiovascular disease.

The primary approaches used in the past for measuring MMP activation have been through collection of myocardial samples and the use of in vitro assay systems. These systems, however, do not provide a comprehensive measurement of MMP activity since endogenous regulatory mechanisms are removed. This invention provides for a microdialysis methods and system provide a reliable way to interrogate the interstitium. This approach provides a relative index ofMMP activity within the interstitial space in vivo. The systems and methods can be used to determine the in vivo presence and/or activity and/or quantity of one or more enzymes, including, but not limited to, MMPs, in a subject's tissue by detecting activity ofthe one or more enzyme on a substrate introduced into the extracellular tissue of the subject.

Balloon occlusion device for vascular anastomosis during coronary artery or other vascular surgery

Available for licensing and commercial development is an invention from the Medical University of South Carolina providing for an intravascular device that can be used when making a graft to the aorta during heart surgery.

During a coronary artery bypass surgery, side clamping of the aorta may produce particles from the inside aorta lining to release. These particles (emboli) can travel through the blood stream to the brain, kidneys and other organs and cause injuries such as stroke and renal failure. Existing technology to accomplish a proximal aortic anastomosis without aortic clamping may be difficult to remove and may still risk the release of emboli from the aorta lining.

This novel device consists of a balloon that can be inserted into an incision in the aorta. Once inflated, the balloon is shaped in the form of an umbrella (see Figure).

 

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