Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TE/RM) represents a broad spectrum of cell and biomaterial based approaches aiming to repair, augment and regenerate diseased tissues and organs. The successful recent clinical implantation of tissue engineered trachea, bladder and bladder derivative (Neo-Urinary ConduitTM) has highlighted the emergence of common methodological frameworks for the de...

This paper describes a general-purpose system for computing registered stereoscopic video overlays of pre-operative imagery during minimally invasive surgery. There are three key elements to our approach. The first element is a real-time computer vision system that operates on stereoscopic video acquired during minimally invasive surgery to extract geometric information. We present two variatio...

l 5,358 kidney transplant operations were performed, according to information reported to the Health Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services. Of these, 3,681 involved cadaveric donors. l Approximately 100 patients underwent cardiac transplantation, in&ding 7 patients who had heartlung transplant procedures. l The pioneering transplant team at the University of Pit...

The increased need for organs has led to greater acceptance of stranger or unrelated kidney donation. This broadening of the donor pool introduces challenges to the evaluation of such donors. Questions are raised regarding the obligation of an evaluator to explore the depth of the donor's intentions. The concept of altruism is explored as well as its impact on the consent process.