Abstract: An osmotic delivery system flow modulator assembly, an osmotic delivery system with a flow modulator assembly, and a method of assembling an osmotic delivery system. The osmotic delivery system flow modular assembly includes a body having a hole located through the body and communicating two opposing ends of the body. The use of the osmotic delivery system flow modulator assembly lessens the chance that air or gas pockets will form in the enclosure of the osmotic delivery system during assembly of the system. Because less air is within the osmotic delivery system, performance of the system is enhanced. Use of the flow modulator assembly also lessens the chance that beneficial agent will be wasted during assembly of the osmotic delivery system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reusable spring driven autoinjector. The drive mechanism of the autoinjector of the present invention includes one or more drive springs formed of a shape memory alloy. Therefore, by alternating the shape memory alloy forming the one or more drive springs between austenite phase before an injection and a martensite phase after injection, the reusable autoinjector of the present invention is capable of providing an injection force that is higher than the compressive force required to cock the drive mechanism in preparation for a subsequent injection operation.

Abstract: The present invention includes an expandable osmotic layer and a coating suspension for providing an expandable osmotic layer, both of which are useful for the manufacture of controlled release dosage forms. The expandable osmotic layer of the present invention may be produced using the coating suspension of the present invention. Advantageously, the coating suspension of the present invention can be used to coat expandable osmotic layers under both wet and dry process conditions without sacrificing the quality of the expandable osmotic layers produced, and therefore provides a relatively robust coating suspension that facilitates commercial production of controlled release dosage forms including a coated expandable osmotic layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compressed gas cylinder that is capable of storing a compressed fluid at high pressures. The cylinder of the present invention includes a body terminating in an inwardly domed cap. The dome included in the cap of the compressed gas cylinder of the present invention is formed such that the material near the tip of the dome is relatively thinner than the material near the base of the dome. The tip of the dome, therefore, creates a pierce region in the cap that can be pierced through the application of a relatively low pressure.

Abstract: The present invention includes an automatic injection device that reliably provides automatic needle retraction even when manufactured with part and assembly tolerances typical of low-cost and high-volume manufacturing processes. The injector of the present invention includes a body, a syringe cartridge, a drive mechanism, and a bias mechanism. The drive mechanism includes an energy source, a drive member, and a compound plunger with a releasable coupling. Significantly, the compound plunger included in the drive mechanism is designed to ensure needle retraction occurs after the automatic injection device has delivered the desired dose of medicament. Moreover, the design of the compound plunger included in the injector of the present invention can compensate for part and assembly tolerances typical of low-cost, high volume manufacturing processes, enabling the fabrication of a low cost automatic injection device providing reliable automatic needle retraction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a syringe cartridge that is sufficiently robust to be used in autoinjectors that generate injection forces sufficient to deliver viscous medicaments. The syringe cartridge of the present invention includes a syringe, a bias mechanism, and a casing. The casing of the syringe cartridge of the present invention includes a collapsible portion and a fixed portion. Advantageously, the collapsible portion of the casing collapses within the fixed portion of the casing as the syringe is driven through its stroke within the syringe cartridge. As the collapsible portion collapses within the fixed portion, the length of the syringe cartridge is effectively reduced, which, in turn, allows the use of a shorter plunger and thereby facilitates the construction of a more compact autoinjector.

Abstract: A dosage form for delivery of a therapeutic agent to a subject is described. The dosage form contains: (a) an outer wall defining an interior compartment; (b) within the interior compartment, a therapeutic agent; (c) at least one exit orifice formed by laser ablation of the outer wall for release of the agent therethrough, and (d) a barrier layer disposed between the outer wall and the interior compartment in at least a region corresponding to the exit orifice. The barrier layer comprises a material that allows the barrier layer to remain intact during laser-formation of the at least one exit orifice in the outer wall. Also disclosed is a method for controlling the depth of laser ablation of a dosage form during laser formation of an exit orifice in an outer wall of the dosage form.

Abstract: An osmotic delivery system flow modulator assembly, an osmotic delivery system with a flow modulator assembly, and a method of assembling an osmotic delivery system. The osmotic delivery system flow modular assembly includes a body having a hole located through the body and communicating two opposing ends of the body. The use of the osmotic delivery system flow modulator assembly lessens the chance that air or gas pockets will form in the enclosure of the osmotic delivery system during assembly of the system. Because less air is within the osmotic delivery system, performance of the system is enhanced. Use of the flow modulator assembly also lessens the chance that beneficial agent will be wasted during assembly of the osmotic delivery system.

Abstract: Polarized glass articles having a wavelength range that is broadened for high contrast-ratio applications. A method that imparts to a glass article a high contrast ratio of at least 40 dB for use as dichroic glass polarizers over a wavelength range of 880 nm to 1,690 nm while keeping a high transmission value. The method comprises the step of heating the glass article at a temperature ranging from 400 to 450° C. in a reducing atmosphere for a period of time ranging from 12 to 30 hours. Preferably, the reducing atmosphere is hydrogen at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A glass envelope for a light-emitting device, a device embodying the envelope, and the method of making the glass envelope by laminating two sheets of glass, one sheet having a continuous channel formed therein, and the other sheet having one or more optical elements formed therein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to chromophores having novel electron withdrawing groups and novel bivalent cyclic bridges and to optical waveguides and optical devices having polymeric thin films which contain the novel chromophores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to free radical captors, especially to radical polymerization inhibitors or retarders which, characteristically, are immobilized on a solid support. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing said immobilized captors, and to a method of stabilizing, at least temporarily, molecules or mixtures of molecules which makes use of said immobilized captors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compounds of the naphthopyran type which have an annelated carbocycle in position 5,6. These compounds are of formula (I) given below: in which A is an alicyclic ring which is optionally annelated with an aromatic ring and in which two adjacent R3 can together form at least one ring, for example a benzo group. These compounds (I) possess interesting photochromic properties. The invention also relates to the method of preparing these compounds (I), as well as their applications as photochromes and compositions and (co)polymer matrices comprising them.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel naphthopyran-type compounds, annelated in position C5-C6 by an indene- or dihydronaphthalene-type carbocycle, which are of the formulae (I) and (II) given below: These compounds (I) and (II) have interesting photochromic properties. The invention also relates to their preparation, to their applications as photochromes, as well as to the compositions and (co)polymer matrices containing them.

Abstract: The present invention deals with a novel photochromic organic material, the use of at least one plasticizer for the preparation of said novel material, said preparation and photochromic articles constituted wholly or in part of said novel material. The intervening plasticizer, advantageously a phthalate, is according to a variant simply dispersed in the polymer matrix, or, according to another variant, chemically bound to said polymer matrix. Said novel material possesses remarkable photochromic properties together with interesting optical and mechanical properties.

Abstract: A prism (13) for use in a projection system which employs a digital light panel (35) is provided. The prism includes first (19) and second (21) spaced part surfaces which are oriented such that: (a) light from a light source (33) will pass through the spaced apart surfaces to the digital light panel; (b) light from “on” pixels will undergo total internal reflection at the second surface (21) and be directed into the acceptance angle of a projection lens (39); and (c) light from “off” pixels which reflects from the second surface will be directed away from the lens' acceptance angle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to dicyanomethylenedihydrofuran-based electron acceptors which can be used in the preparation of polymeric thin films for waveguide media, and methods of making the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel naphthopyran- and phenanthropyran-type compounds having a carbobicycle annelated in 5,6- position. These compounds have formula (I) given below: These compounds (I) have interesting photochromic properties. The invention also relates to their preparation, to their applications as photochromes, as well as to the compositions and (co)polymer matrices containing them.

Abstract: The principal object of the present invention is organic lens molds, constituted wholly or in part of at least one specific inorganic glass, advantageously strengthened by a chemical tempering or a thermal tempering. Said glass has the following composition, expressed in percentages by weight: SiO2 56-66, Al2O3 2.5-10, B2O3 0.5-7, Li2O 0-3, Na2O 8-15, K2O 3-12, with Li2O+Na2O+K2O 12-20, ZnO 2-12, MgO 0-3, TiO2 0-0.5, ZrO2 1-9, CaO 0-1, BaO 0-2, SrO 0-2, with MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO 0-5, Cl 0-0.5, As2O3+sb2O3 0-1. The invention also deals with novel inorganic glasses which have the above composition with a single exception relative to the Al2O3 content: Al2O3 2.5-4.

Abstract: This invention provides a TIR (total internal reflecting) lens to capture and redirect light from multiple light sources, such as neon or fluorescent lamps, to generate a light of uniform brightness across the lens face.