Embodiments of the present invention relate generally the use of certain compositions, e.g., compositions comprising a glutathione precursor and a selenium source, in the therapy of viral diseases and/or reducing the incidence of viral diseases. Related embodiments of the present invention relate to treatment and/or reducing the incidence of respiratory ailments caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or hemorrhagic fever (EHF) caused by Ebola viruses (EBV) or Marburg virus. Yet in other embodiments, the invention relates to reducing metal toxicity in a biological system, which involves contacting the biological system with a composition comprising a glutathione precursor and a selenium source, optionally together with a chelating agent, an antioxidant, a metallothionein protein or a fragment of metallothionein.

A device is provided for sterile coupling of a percutaneous surgical instrument to a rotary drive tool (5). The device has a flexible envelope (1) confining the drive tool (5), a connector piece (3) coupling to the percutaneous surgical instrument via one end, and to the drive tool (5) via its other end, by passing through the envelope via an opening (12) A tubular ring (2) is positioned on the inner surface of the envelope (1) in the area of the opening (12) and is configured to rigidly connect the envelope (1) to the body of the drive tool (5). The connector piece (3) passes through the ring and turns freely inside the ring when driven by the rotary drive tool (5). The connector piece (3), the ring, and the envelope interact in order to form a leaktight barrier between the inside and the outside of the envelope (1) in the area of the opening (12).

An apparatus for accessing bone marrow inside a bone is provided. The apparatus may include a penetrator assembly having a tissue penetrator and a hub. The tissue penetrator my have a hollow cannula disposed in fixed relation to the hub. The apparatus may also have a driver configured to insert a portion of the tissue penetrator into the bone and bone marrow, and a depth control mechanism configured to control the depth of penetration of the tissue penetrator into the bone and bone marrow. The depth control mechanism may have a sensor configured to detect a position of the bone and bone marrow. The depth control mechanism may also have a mechanical stop.

An apparatus and method for penetrating bone marrow is provided. The apparatus may include a housing such as a handheld body, a penetrator assembly, a connector that releasably attaches the penetrator assembly to a drill shaft, a gear mechanism, a motor and a power supply and associated circuitry operable to power the motor. The penetrator assembly may include a removable inner trocar and an outer penetrator or needle. It may also include a grooved trocar that allows bone chips to be expelled as the apparatus is inserted into bone marrow. Various connectors are provided to attach the penetrator assembly to the drill shaft.

Provided herein are methods and devices for the detection of conditions or disorders by detecting altered levels of stress response pathway biomarkers. Also provided are methods and reagents for identifying panels of biomarkers associated with a condition or disorder.

A bone marrow aspiration device and related method includes an introducer assembly and an aspiration assembly to couple to the introducer assembly. The introducer assembly includes an introducer cannula having a proximal end and a distal end. The introducer cannula defines a lumen between the distal and proximal ends, the distal end being configured to penetrate bone of a patient. The aspiration assembly includes an aspiration cannula that is receivable in the lumen of the introducer cannula and that extends beyond the distal end of the introducer cannula. The aspiration cannula includes a port to aspirate bone marrow, the port being distal to the distal end of the introducer cannula. The aspiration device further includes a mechanism at the introducer assembly to move the introducer cannula and the aspiration cannula in tandem relative to a distal end of the mechanism when the aspiration cannula is positioned within bone.

Powered drivers (10) for inserting an intraosseous device (160) into a bone and associated bone marrow are disclosed. Some of the powered drivers (10) may include a housing (12) having a distal end (14) and a proximal end (16); a motor (18) disposed in the housing (12); a driveshaft (34) extending outward from the distal end (14) of the housing in a direction away from the proximal end (16); a gearbox (32) coupled to the motor (18) and to the driveshaft (34) such that activation of the motor (18) causes the driveshaft (34) to rotate; and a power source (40) configured to power the motor (18). A guard member (50) may be pivotably connected to the housing (12) and movable between a protective position and a non-protective position. The guard member (50) may be configured to cover the intraosseous (10) needle assembly in the protective position and to expose the intraosseous (10) needle assembly in the non-protective position. A biasing member (70) may be configured to urge the guard member (50) toward the non-protective position.

The invention relates to a trajectory guidance instrument that is securable to a surgical tool for use in conjunction with X-ray machines. More particularly, the device includes a radiolucent outrigger having radiodense indicia disposed on the outrigger so that the radiodense indicia is visible via an X-ray machine to provide an angular trajectory for the instrument. The outrigger is securable to various surgical tools for the purpose of providing real time trajectory guidance to surgeons during a procedure. In general, the precision trajectory guidance instrument comprises a substantially rigid outrigger device which it securable to a portion of the surgical tool for trajectory guidance. The trajectory guidance instrument may be attached with clips, fasteners, adhesives, hook and loop or the like.

A device for drilling into bone includes a luer portion having a luer thread. A bit portion is rigidly coupled to the luer portion, the bit portion configured to be detachably coupled to a bit driver. An adapter portion is rigidly coupled to the bit portion. A drilling portion is rigidly coupled to the adapter portion, the drilling portion comprising a flute configured to create a hole in the bone. A channel extends through the luer portion, the bit portion, the adapter portion, and the drilling portion.

Systems and methods for attaching a reference marker to a patient in a computer-assisted image-guided surgery system. An apparatus for attaching a reference marker to a patient includes an elongated member extending between a first end and a second end, a sharp tip located proximate to the first end of the elongated member that is configured to break through a cortical surface of a bone of the patient to enable the elongated member to be advanced into the bone, an anchoring device that is extendable from the elongated member in order to anchor the apparatus within the bone and inhibit relative movement of the apparatus and the bone, and a reference marker device comprising at least one optical marker configured to enable the apparatus to be tracked using a motion tracking system.