Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080208325 | Medical articles for long term implantation - According to an aspect of the present invention, long term medical articles are provided which include the following: (a) first and second body contacting (e.g., tissue and/or body-fluid contacting) porous polymeric layers; (b) a polymeric barrier layer disposed between the first and second porous polymer layers; and (c) a reinforcement element. According to another aspect of the present invention, tubular medical articles for long term implantation are provided, which comprise: (a) a reinforcement element; (b) a blood contacting porous polymeric layer having a surface energy ranging between 20 and 30 dynes/cm disposed over an inner surface of the reinforcement element; and (c) an additional porous polymeric layer formed over an outer surface of the reinforcement element. | 08-28-2008 |
20090156772 | Melt processed materials for medical articles - In accordance with an aspect of the invention, methods of forming medical articles are provided, which comprise (a) preparing a melt phase that comprises a molten polymer and a supercritical fluid, (b) forming a polymeric region from the melt phase, and (c) cooling the polymeric region. In certain embodiments, the supercritical fluid is formed from chemical species (e.g., CO | 06-18-2009 |
20100233238 | Medical Devices Having Nanoporous Coatings for Controlled Therapeutic Agent Delivery - According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided which contain (a) one or more depressions that contain at least one therapeutic agent, and (b) a nanoporous coating, disposed over the therapeutic-agent-containing depressions, which regulate transport of species between the therapeutic-agent-containing depressions and the exterior of the device. The implantable or insertable devices are configured to preform a role beyond mere drug delivery, for example, providing mechanical and/or electrical functions within the body, among other functions. An advantage of the present invention is that medical devices may be provided, which release therapeutic agents in quantities far exceeding the void volume within the nanoporous coating, while at the same time providing functionality that extends beyond drug delivery. Such release may further approach or achieve a zero order kinetic drug release profile. | 09-16-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090090416 | FLUID LEVEL REGULATOR - A biological specimen collection and transfer system, including a biological sample container configured for storing a biological fluid sample, a vacuum source, a specimen filter having an interior chamber and an opening in communication with the chamber, and a fluid level regulator configured to determine a fluid level in the biological sample container and to dispense a fluid into the container if the determined fluid level is less than a desired fluid level. The fluid level regulator includes a fluid level monitor, a fluid dispenser, and a controller in communication with the fluid level monitor and the fluid dispenser, wherein the fluid level monitor includes a sound source configured to emit sound towards a surface of the fluid sample, and a sound detector configured to measure sound reflected from the surface of the fluid sample, wherein the controller determines the fluid level based at least in part on a measurement of reflected sound emitted from the sound source. | 04-09-2009 |
20090141278 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMING WHETHER A BIOLOGICAL SPECIMEN CARRIER IS PROPERLY ORIENTED - Systems and methods for determining whether a biological specimen carrier, such as a specimen slide, is arranged in its proper orientation. An optically absorptive element is associated with a surface of the biological specimen carrier. Light emitted from a light source is incident on a surface of the carrier. A slide is properly oriented when the incident light is substantially absorbed by the absorptive element. One or more sensors are positioned to detect light that is not absorbed by the absorptive element. An output of a sensor indicates whether the biological specimen slide is properly oriented and may drive indicator directly or through a controller or other system component to indicate whether the slide is properly oriented. | 06-04-2009 |
20090168160 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLABLY SCANNING A CYTOLOGICAL SPECIMEN - Methods and systems for scanning a cytological specimen carried by a slide. Movement or positioning of a motorized stage of an automated screening system may be controlled manually by a user such that the user controls movement, e.g., controlling speed, position, and/or timing, of the motorized stage along a first scan line to controllably scan a first portion of the specimen along the scan line. The user may then index the motorized stage from the first scan line to the next scan line and manually control movement of the stage along the second scan line to controllably scan another portion of the specimen. Stage indexing may also be automatic such that the user does not control or initiate indexing. | 07-02-2009 |