| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090277056 | Large Format Microfluidic Digital Display - Microfluidic pixels are utilized to produce large format displays (billboards) that are both digitally controllable and are light weight. Each microfluidic pixel includes a wall having a front (display) surface, and a microfluidic system including a reservoir disposed behind the wall, a colorant fluid, a transparent display chamber disposed in front of the wall, a conduit, and a two-way pump. In the absence of colorant fluid in display chamber, the pixel has a background appearance determined by the color (e.g., white) of the front wall surface. The pump receives a digital control signal from a digital control circuit to transfer colorant fluid from the reservoir to the display chamber by way of the conduit, whereby the pixel's appearance changes to a “colored” appearance determined by the color and amount of the colorant fluid in the display chamber. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090279158 | Fluid Actuator For Digitally Controllable Microfluidic Display - Microfluidic pixels are utilized to produce large format displays (billboards) that are both digitally controllable and are light weight. Each pixel includes a wall having a front (display) surface, and a microfluidic system including a reservoir disposed behind the wall, a colorant fluid, a transparent display chamber disposed in front of the wall, a conduit, and a fluid actuator. The reservoir includes a reservoir chamber including a deformable wall, and the fluid actuator includes a mechanism for selectively displacing the deformable wall such that a portion of the first colorant fluid is transferred between the first reservoir and the first display chamber through the first conduit, whereby the pixel's appearance changes between a background appearance determined by the color (e.g., white) of the front wall surface, and a “colored” appearance determined by the amount and color of the colorant fluid disposed in the display chamber. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20100059122 | Controlling Fluid Through an Array Of Fluid Flow Paths - A method of controlling fluid through a layer of a soft compressible (e.g., gel) material including an array of fluid flow paths. The fluid flow paths are normally open, allowing fluid flow. An electric field is applied in regions where fluid flow is undesirable. The electric field compresses the material closing the flow path thereby preventing further fluid flow. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100185037 | DRUG DEACTIVATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DEACTIVATING A DRUG USING THE SAME - A drug deactivation system according to some embodiments includes at least one drug-retaining region of a drug delivery device and at least one energy source coupled to the at least one drug-retaining region. The at least one drug-retaining region may be configured to retain a drug. The at least one energy source may be configured to transmit energy to the drug. The drug is capable of being rendered ineffective in the presence of the transmitted energy. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100185038 | DRUG DEACTIVATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DEACTIVATING A DRUG USING THE SAME - A drug deactivation system according to some embodiments includes at least one degradable capsule exposed to at least one drug-retaining region of a drug delivery device and an agent. The agent is configured to render a drug ineffective upon degradation of the at least one capsule. The at least one drug-retaining region is configured to retain one of the drug and the agent and the at least one capsule is configured to retain the other of the drug and the agent. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100185143 | SENSOR SYSTEM FOR DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE, DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE HAVING THE SAME AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME - A system for use with a drug delivery device includes a sensor unit and a deactivation unit operatively coupled to an output of the sensor unit and to a drug-retaining region of the drug delivery device, wherein the drug-retaining region contains a drug. The sensor unit is configured to detect a characteristic of a local environment and generate an output corresponding to a value of the detected characteristic. The deactivation unit is configured to render the drug ineffective when the output of the sensor unit satisfies a predetermined condition. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100252117 | Novel Electrostatically Addressable Microvalves - A method of controlling a main fluid in a conduit using a microvalve is described. The microvalve includes a corresponding actuation aperture in an actuation aperture layer. A control fluid flows through the actuation aperture in response to an electric field applied via a charge distribution near an actuation aperture layer. In one embodiment, the electric field may adjust the opening and closing of the actuation aperture thereby controlling the flow of the control fluid. In a second embodiment, the control fluid is an electrorheological fluid where the electric field controls the viscosity of the ER fluid, thereby controlling fluid flow through the actuation aperture. In both embodiments the flow of the control fluid controls stretching of a flexible membrane into and out of the conduit, thereby controlling the flow of the main fluid by opening or closing the conduit. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20110012980 | LATENT RESISTIVE IMAGE LAYER FOR HIGH SPEED THERMAL PRINTING APPLICATIONS - An imaging system including an image receiving structure including a tunable-resistivity material; and an energy source to emit an energy beam at the image receiving structure to pattern-wise program the tunable-resistivity material. A resistivity can be pattern-wise changed. Marking material can be pattern-wise adhered in response to the pattern-wise changed resistivity. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110087155 | TRANSMUCOSAL DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD INCLUDING ELECTRICALLY-ACTUATED PERMEATION ENHANCEMENT - Intralumenal devices and methods are provided for transmucosal drug delivery. The device may comprise a housing configured for intralumenal deployment into a human or animal subject; a drug-dispensing portion which contains at least one drug; and an electrically-actuatable portion configured to disrupt at least one region of a mucosal barrier adjacent to the housing at a selected time while intralumenally deployed in the human or animal subject. The device may be operable to dispense the drug from the housing to a region of the mucosal barrier disrupted by the electrically-actuatable portion. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110087192 | TRANSMUCOSAL DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD INCLUDING CHEMICAL PERMEATION ENHANCERS - Devices and methods are provided for transmucosal drug delivery. The transmucosal drug delivery device may include a housing configured for intralumenal deployment, such as intravaginally, into a human or animal subject; a drug-dispensing portion which contains at least one drug, the drug-dispensing portion being configured to dispense the drug from the housing by positive displacement; and a permeability enhancer-dispensing portion configured to release or generate a permeability enhancing substance to disrupt at least one region of a mucosal barrier adjacent to the housing at a selected time while intralumenally deployed in the human or animal subject. The device may be operable to dispense the drug from the housing to a region of the mucosal barrier disrupted by the permeability enhancing substance. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110087195 | TRANSMUCOSAL DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD INCLUDING MICRONEEDLES - Devices and methods for transmucosal drug delivery are provided. A device includes a housing configured for intralumenal deployment into a human or animal subject; a drug-dispensing portion which contains at least one drug; and a plurality of microneedles extending, or being extendable from, the housing, the plurality of microneedles being configured to disrupt at least one region of a mucosal barrier adjacent the housing at a selected time after being intralumenally deployed in the human or animal subject. The device is operable to dispense the drug from the housing to a region of the mucosal barrier disrupted by the plurality of microneedles. | 04-14-2011 |
