摘要:
Provided herein is a wound closure device comprising a plug adaptable to be inserted into an opening formed in two or more tissue layers, one tissue layer transposable relative to a second layer, the plug comprising a material having a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the plug is adaptable to be inserted into the opening in the first configuration and further adaptable to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration after being inserted into the opening. The wound closure device can be used in cases where ocular surgery has been preformed.
摘要:
Solvent bonding by exposure to a solvent vapor is provided. Vapor phase solvent bonding provides accurate and precise control of the amount of solvent provided to the polymer bodies or objects being bonded. Such precision control of solvent quantity enables solvent bonding to be performed in a manner that does not damage or destroy micro-patterns present in the polymer bodies being bonded. Vapor solvent bonding can be performed in two regimes: saturated and linear. In the saturated regime, the temperature of a polymer body surface is less than the condensation temperature of a polymer vapor. Thus, a liquid condensate will tend to form in this regime. In the linear regime, the temperature of a polymer body surface is greater than the condensation temperature of the polymer vapor. Although a liquid condensate will not form, bonding can still be performed.
摘要:
Improved controlled therapy is provided with a polymer multi-layer structure having a predetermined micro-fabricated spatial pattern (e.g., reservoirs and channels). More specifically, all geometrical details of the spatial pattern are substantially predetermined. The increased control of pattern geometry provided by the invention allows for improved control of therapy. In preferred embodiments, the polymer multi-layer structure of the invention is biodegradable, but has an in vivo lifetime that is greater than the duration of the therapy being provided. Thus, the geometrical pattern of the polymer structure that controls delivery of the therapy persists without significant change during therapy, and the structure degrades after completion of therapy. In this manner, possible interference of degradation by-products with therapy is minimized, and delivery of therapy does not depend on details of how degradation proceeds.
摘要:
Methods for compression molding through holes in polymer layers are provided, as are the resulting patterned polymer layers. Two key aspects of the invention are provision of a mold and substrate having different mechanical hardness, and provision of room for local flow of material. These aspects of the invention facilitate formation of through holes by compression molding that are not blocked or partially blocked by undesirable material. These polymer layers can be formed into three dimensional patterned structures by bonding patterned layers together. Since the layers include through holes, a three-dimensional polymer pattern can be formed. These patterned polymer layers and three dimensionally patterned polymer constructs have a wide variety of applications. For example, these constructs can be used for fabrication of micro-fluidic devices, and/or can be used for various medical and biological applications including drug delivery devices and tissue engineering devices.
摘要:
Methods for compression molding through holes in polymer layers are provided, as are the resulting patterned polymer layers. Two key aspects of the invention are provision of a mold and substrate having different mechanical hardness, and provision of room for local flow of material. These aspects of the invention facilitate formation of through holes by compression molding that are not blocked or partially blocked by undesirable material. These polymer layers can be formed into three dimensional patterned structures by bonding patterned layers together. Since the layers include through holes, a three-dimensional polymer pattern can be formed. These patterned polymer layers and three dimensionally patterned polymer constructs have a wide variety of applications. For example, these constructs can be used for fabrication of micro-fluidic devices, and/or can be used for various medical and biological applications including drug delivery devices and tissue engineering devices.
摘要:
Multi-layered polymer devices having three-dimensional containers for holding a therapeutic and/or imaging agent are provided. The devices have a high loading ratio of agent to polymer material for effective treatment. Delivery wings or regions with channels connected to the containers are also incorporated in the devices. The delivery wings can be flexible and insertable into hollow instruments, such as a needle. Anchoring structures are also provided for fixing the position of the device after injection into a subject. The polymer layers of the device can be biodegradable. Biodegradable materials can also be used to provide controlled release of agents, such as for immunizations and other therapeutic or non-therapeutic applications.
摘要:
A chemical hydride liquid reactant distribution mixture is provided. The mixture includes a fuel mixture having at least one hydride and at least one activating agent. The invention further includes a liquid-distributing agent (LDA), a form-stabilizing agent, and at least one anti-caking agent. The liquid reactant distribution mixture reduces caking and precipitation while promoting liquid reactant distribution, where the chemical hydride liquid reactant distribution mixture generates hydrogen via hydrolysis.
摘要:
A bistable minivalve includes a movable component, an actuator that is electrostatically, magnetically, or mechanically coupled to the movable component for controllably switching the movable component between open and closed states, and a casing providing structural support. The movable component has an actuation surface [300] movably positioned in the valve conduit and a bistable element attached to the actuation surface providing mechanical stability to the open and closed states of the movable component. The bistable element may be realized as a pair of elastic buckling beams [302, 304] attached at their midpoints to opposite sides of the actuation surface. Optionally, there may also be elastic support beams [306, 308] attached at their endpoints to the actuation surface and attached at their midpoints to the elastic buckling beams.
摘要:
A bistable minivalve includes a movable component, an actuator that is electrostatically, magnetically, or mechanically coupled to the movable component for controllably switching the movable component between open and closed states, and a casing providing structural support. The movable component has an actuation surface [300] movably positioned in the valve conduit and a bistable element attached to the actuation surface providing mechanical stability to the open and closed states of the movable component. The bistable element may be realized as a pair of elastic buckling beams [302, 304] attached at their midpoints to opposite sides of the actuation surface. Optionally, there may also be elastic support beams [306, 308] attached at their endpoints to the actuation surface and attached at their midpoints to the elastic buckling beams.