Abstract: A two phase method for reducing the formation of biofilm includes an evacuation of ambient air from a region about the surgical or treatment site, to extract airborne or aerosolized bacteria ejected from the site by the treatment. The extracted bacteria are prevented from settling back onto the cleansed tissue surface, thus at least reducing colonial bacteriological growth and concomitantly exuded biofilm material. A second phase involves the attachment of one or more ultrasonic transducers to the patient over or near a surgical treatment site after the surgery is terminated. Each applied ultrasonic transducer is used to vibrate the patient's tissues at the treatment site to disrupt biofilm formation.

Abstract: A system for applying negative pressure to a joint positioned in a treatment area. The system includes a negative pressure dressing. The negative pressure dressing includes a compressive layer and a sealing layer. The compressive layer includes a first surface and a second, treatment area-facing. The compressive layer further includes a first elongated portion configured to be positioned proximate the joint. The first elongated portion includes a first end and a second end. The compressive layer further includes a second elongated portion spaced from the first elongated portion and configured to be positioned proximate the joint. The second elongated portion includes a first end and a second end. The compressive layer further includes an interconnecting portion extending between the first elongated portion and the second elongated portion. The interconnecting portion is configured to overlie at least a portion of the joint.

Abstract: A vial adaptor (1010) may comprise a body portion (1020). The body portion includes a vial connection port (1022), a syringe connection port (1024), an access passageway (1026) between the vial connection port and the syringe connection port, and a regulation passageway (1028). The vial adaptor may further comprise an expandable and/or contractible chamber (1040) impermeable to gas and/or liquid, the regulation passageway being between the vial connection port and the chamber, and an expandable housing (1050) casing the chamber. Such a vial adaptor constitutes an improved vial adaptor.

Abstract: A super-absorbent dressing assembly for use with a reduced-pressure wound treatment system includes a breathable, fluid restricted dry layer for placement against a wound, a super-absorbent layer, and a non-breathable layer, and a drape extending over the non-breathable layer. A reduced-pressure interface is available to fluidly couple the super-absorbent layer to a reduced-pressure subsystem. The super-absorbent dressing assembly preferably supplies a compressive force when placed under reduced pressure. A reduced-pressure treatment system uses a super-absorbent bolster to treat wounds, e.g., linear wounds.

Abstract: A method includes inserting a flexible cannula between a sclera and a choroid of an eye. The needle is advanced from a distal end of the flexible cannula, such that the needle pierces the choroid to access a subretinal space of the eye. The needle is used to deliver a first volume of leading bleb fluid to the subretinal space. The delivery of leading bleb fluid is ceased for a duration of time. After expiration of the duration of time, the needle is used to deliver a second volume of the leading bleb fluid to the subretinal space. The combination of the delivered first and second volumes of the leading bleb fluid causes a substantial portion of the retina to detach from the choroid. A therapeutic agent may then be delivered to the subretinal space in the region where the retina is detached from the choroid.

Abstract: A combination bioactive silicate (e.g., bioactive glass) medicine carrier and shunt of one embodiment includes a shunt which is a tubular member made of bioactive silicate or glass being adapted to be bioresorbable and water soluble, or fiber bundle, the shunt including an insertion end at a first end. Gaps in the bioactive silicate or gaps in the glass adapted to be bioresorbable and water soluble are served as at least one storage for storing medicines.

Abstract: A device for performing an ophthalmic procedure in an eye including a hand-held portion; an elongate member extending from a distal end region of the hand-held portion; and an aspiration pump within the hand-held portion. The elongate member includes a lumen and an opening near a distal end region of the elongate member. The aspiration pump is in fluid communication with the opening of the elongate member. The aspiration pump includes a camshaft extending along a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of lobed cams; tubing extending parallel to the longitudinal axis; and a plurality of cam followers driven by the cams of the camshaft to move in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to sequentially compress the tubing. Related devices, systems, methods are provided.

Abstract: A vial adaptor and needle assembly are disclosed for use with a vial containing a medication, such as insulin. The vial adaptor may include a needle opening configured to receive a needle of a geometrically corresponding needle assembly to withdraw the medication from the vial in a secured manner. The vial adaptor may also include a cleaning passageway configured to receive a cleaning device to clean the vial.

Abstract: An improved packaging assembly for storing, distributing, treating, mixing, and dispensing tissue and/or cellular material and/or implantable material. The packaging assembly may include pouches, tubes, and a bag made of a sealable, flexible polymeric material that is open at one end and a needle-free swabable connector attached to the pouch at the other end and acting as a port to allow for the introduction or discharge of biological solutions, rinsing solution, and/or preservation solutions into the packaging assembly. The designed thickness of the wall of the packaging assembly facilitates efficient heat/cold transfer, which is useful for successful controlled rate freezing, quick thawing, and resuscitation of viable cells or tissue. The packaging assembly is also useful for combining additional biological fluids with the cellular material or tissue, and for efficient mixing of the biological fluids with the tissue and/or cellular material in the assembly.

Abstract: An implantable device for treatment of glaucoma of the eye. In one aspect, the device includes an elongate duct for diverting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye, the elongate duct having a central axis with a proximal end and distal end opposite one another. A least one element is spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end of said elongate duct and extends radially outward beyond an outer surface of said elongate duct in at least two directions transverse to the central axis of said elongate duct, wherein the at least one element has a distal portion with a tapered profile facing the distal end of said elongate duct. The at least one element is configured to deform in a tissue passage leading into the anterior chamber of the eye as it is inserted into the tissue passage in response to forces applied by surrounding ocular tissue of the tissue passage. Other aspects are also described and claimed.

Abstract: In one example, a system includes an elongated body defining a lumen where the elongated body includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. An anchoring member may be positioned on the proximal portion of the elongated body. The system further includes a sensor located on the elongated body where the sensor may be configured to sense at least one flow parameter of a fluid within the lumen. In some examples, the system includes processing circuitry configured to determine at least one of a density parameter or a temperature parameter of the fluid in the lumen based on the sensed at least one flow parameter of the fluid.

Abstract: An ocular drainage system is provided for treating diseases that produce elevated intraocular pressures, such as glaucoma, wherein the system includes an implantable device and an external control unit, the implantable device includes a non-invasively adjustable valve featuring at least one deformable tube and a disk rotatably mounted within a housing, such that rotation of the disk using the external control unit causes the disk to apply a selected amount of compression to the deformable tube, thereby adjusting the fluidic resistance of the deformable tube and regulating the intraocular pressure.

Abstract: Pump cassettes, wound-treatment apparatuses and methods. In some embodiments, a pump cassette comprises: a pump body having a pump chamber, an inlet valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber, and an outlet valve in fluid communication with the pump chamber; a diaphragm coupled to the pump body such that the diaphragm is movable to vary a volume in the pump chamber; and an identifier configured to store one or more properties of the pump cassette such that the identifier is readable by an automated reader to determine the one or more properties. In some embodiments, the pump cassette is configured to be removably coupled to a wound-treatment apparatus having an actuator such that the actuator can be activated to move the diaphragm.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing device includes a light source, and a nozzle spaced from the light source. The device also includes a membrane positioned within a beam path of the light source, where the membrane is configured to allow a portion of light from the light source through to the nozzle. The device also includes a fluid chamber positioned between the membrane and the nozzle, where the nozzle is configured to allow a beam of the portion of light to pass through along the beam path, and where the nozzle is further configured to form a stream of fluid expelled from the fluid chamber along the beam path.

Abstract: A catheter system includes an indwelling, hollow catheter having a tip inserted into a person's bladder. The tip has an opening through which urine from the bladder passes into the catheter. A flexible reservoir extends around the person's ankle and has walls bounding an interior compartment. A flexible, elongated tube has one end connected to the catheter and an opposite end connected to the reservoir. The tube is hollow for conducting urine in the catheter through the tube into the compartment of the reservoir. One of the walls of the reservoir is a bottom wall that engages and rests on a top of the person's foot in use to resist downward movement of the reservoir as the reservoir is filled with urine. A freely manipulated drain pipe is in fluid communication with the reservoir.

Abstract: A system including a flow control assembly. The system may include a flow regulating shunt system, for various purposes such as a use as a hydrocephalus shunt. The flow control assembly may be controlled according to selected parameters and methods. These include controlling microelectromechanical (MEMS) system to control a pressure in the flow control assembly.

Abstract: A long-lasting, wireless, biocompatible pressure sensor device is integrated within a hydrocephalus shunt, either within the shunt's reservoir/anchor or as an inline or pigtailed connector. When integrated within a typical reservoir, the device can sit within the reservoir's hollow frustum area covered by the resilient silicone dome of the reservoir. When integrated as an inline connector, the device can sit at any point on the peritoneal catheter or ventricular catheter, including between the VP shut's valve and reservoir. The pressure sensor device includes electronics that can be powered wirelessly by a reader held to a patient's scalp, and so no battery may be required. The reader can transmit an ambient, atmospheric pressure reading from outside the skull to the implanted device so that its electronics can calculate a calibrated gauge pressure internally and then relay it to a patient's smart phone.

Abstract: A method for improving a flow condition through a catheter inserting a distal end of a sheath within the vasculature of a subject, placing the aspiration catheter through the sheath and advancing the aspiration catheter such that an open distal end of the aspiration lumen is distal to a distal end of the sheath and is in proximity to a thrombus within a blood vessel of a subject, coupling an extension conduit in fluid communication with a lumen of the sheath to a second fluid source, and activating a pump such that pressurized fluid from the first fluid source is applied to the supply lumen of the aspiration catheter, wherein when an active flowing condition is not present, fluid from the second fluid source is caused to flow through the lumen of the sheath.

Abstract: Preparation of a product comprising stromal vascular fraction cells includes washing human biological material comprising adipose in a container apparatus having an internal filter, which divides an internal containment volume of the container apparatus into a tissue retention volume on one side of the filter and a filtrate volume on an opposite side of the filter, and a mixing device with at least one rotatable mixing member disposed in the tissue retention volume. The washing includes operation of the mixing device to rotate the mixing member through the human biological material within the tissue retention volume, and the washing is followed by digesting washed material within the internal containment volume with added enzyme, centrifuging of the container apparatus to prepare a centrifuged pellet in the filtrate volume, selectively removing material of the pellet and preparing a product with a mixture of stromal vascular fraction cells of removed pellet material and an aqueous suspension liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to surgical or laparoscopic method of creating and maintaining an opening in the thoracic diaphragm of a patient. In said method, an incision in the thoracic diaphragm is created, thereby creating an opening in the thoracic diaphragm. Further a diaphragm passing part is placed in said opening created in the thoracic diaphragm, passing from the abdomen, through the thoracic diaphragm at the pericardial contacting section, into the pericardium; When placing the diaphragm passing part a force transferring part of the diaphragm passing part is placed in contact with the thoracic diaphragm, the force transferring part being adapted to, by motion of the force transferring part, transfer force between the abdominal side of the thoracic diaphragm and the thoracic side of the thoracic diaphragm or the pericardium while sliding against the thoracic diaphragm.