Abstract: Apparatus for transdermal delivery of a powdered agent to a patient, the apparatus comprising a fluid source comprising a fluid; a nozzle extending distally from the fluid source, the nozzle comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a blister containing a powdered agent disposed within the lumen of the nozzle; and an actuation element for releasing the fluid from the fluid source, wherein the actuation element causes the released fluid to be propelled through the blister with sufficient pressure to entrain the powdered agent into the released fluid and move the entrained powdered agent through the lumen of the nozzle and out the distal end of the nozzle.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy bandage for applying negative pressure to a wound, the bandage comprising: a membrane configured for disposition over a wound so as to form a wound chamber between the membrane and the wound, the membrane comprising a wound-side surface, an atmosphere-side surface, and an opening extending through the membrane from the wound-side surface to the atmosphere-side surface; and a pump assembly carried by the membrane, the pump assembly comprising: a pump body comprising a wall structure disposed about a pump chamber, wherein at least a portion of the wall structure is resilient, and further wherein the pump chamber communicates with the wound chamber through the opening formed in the membrane; and an atmosphere-side passageway extending through the wall structure so as to fluidically connect the pump chamber to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A mechanical vacuum dressing comprising: a first valve layer comprising a first one-way valve; a second valve layer comprising a second one-way valve; the first valve layer being joined to the second valve layer so as to define a chamber therebetween; the first one-way valve being configured to admit fluid into the chamber through the first one-way valve but prevent fluid from exiting the chamber through the first one-way valve; the second one-way valve being configured to exhaust fluid from the chamber through the second one-way valve but prevent fluid from entering the chamber through the second one-way valve; and the second valve layer comprising an elastomeric material such that (i) when the second valve layer is moved away from the first valve layer, the volume of the chamber is increased, and (ii) when the second valve layer is thereafter released, the second valve layer moves back towards the first valve layer and the volume of the chamber is decreased.

Abstract: A negative pressure wound therapy bandage for applying negative pressure to a wound, the bandage comprising: a membrane configured for disposition over a wound so as to form a wound chamber between the membrane and the wound, the membrane comprising a wound-side surface, an atmosphere-side surface, and an opening extending through the membrane from the wound-side surface to the atmosphere-side surface; and a pump assembly carried by the membrane, the pump assembly comprising: a pump body comprising a wall structure disposed about a pump chamber, wherein at least a portion of the wall structure is resilient, and further wherein the pump chamber communicates with the wound chamber through the opening formed in the membrane; and an atmosphere-side passageway extending through the wall structure so as to fluidically connect the pump chamber to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A mechanical vacuum dressing comprising: a first valve layer comprising a first one-way valve; a second valve layer comprising a second one-way valve; the first valve layer being joined to the second valve layer so as to define a chamber therebetween; the first one-way valve being configured to admit fluid into the chamber through the first one-way valve but prevent fluid from exiting the chamber through the first one-way valve; the second one-way valve being configured to exhaust fluid from the chamber through the second one-way valve but prevent fluid from entering the chamber through the second one-way valve; and the second valve layer comprising an elastomeric material such that (i) when the second valve layer is moved away from the first valve layer, the volume of the chamber is increased, and (ii) when the second valve layer is thereafter released, the second valve layer moves back towards the first valve layer and the volume of the chamber is decreased.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; an aft balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the aft balloon; a pair of hollow push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve, the pair of hollow push tubes being connected to one another at their distal ends with a raised push tube bridge, the raised push tube bridge being configured to nest an endoscope therein; and a fore balloon secured to the distal ends of the pair of hollow push tubes, the interior of the fore balloon being in fluid communication with the interiors of the pair of hollow push tubes, wherein the fore balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein (i) when the fore balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and (ii) when the fore balloon is in its inflated condition, the ax

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; a proximal balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the proximal balloon; a push tube slidably mounted to the sleeve; and a distal balloon secured to the distal end of the push tube, the interior of the distal balloon being in fluid communication with the push tube, wherein the distal balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein when the distal balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and when the distal balloon is in its inflated condition, the axial opening is closed down.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; an aft balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the aft balloon; a pair of hollow push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve, the pair of hollow push tubes being connected to one another at their distal ends with a raised push tube bridge, the raised push tube bridge being configured to nest an endoscope therein; and a fore balloon secured to the distal ends of the pair of hollow push tubes, the interior of the fore balloon being in fluid communication with the interiors of the pair of hollow push tubes, wherein the fore balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein (i) when the fore balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and (ii) when the fore balloon is in its inflated condition, the ax

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; a proximal balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the proximal balloon; a push tube slidably mounted to the sleeve; and a distal balloon secured to the distal end of the push tube, the interior of the distal balloon being in fluid communication with the push tube, wherein the distal balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein when the distal balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and when the distal balloon is in its inflated condition, the axial opening is closed down.

Abstract: A mechanical vacuum dressing comprising: a first valve layer comprising a first one-way valve; a second valve layer comprising a second one-way valve; the first valve layer being joined to the second valve layer so as to define a chamber therebetween; the first one-way valve being configured to admit fluid into the chamber through the first one-way valve but prevent fluid from exiting the chamber through the first one-way valve; the second one-way valve being configured to exhaust fluid from the chamber through the second one-way valve but prevent fluid from entering the chamber through the second one-way valve; and the second valve layer comprising an elastomeric material such that (i) when the second valve layer is moved away from the first valve layer, the volume of the chamber is increased, and (ii) when the second valve layer is thereafter released, the second valve layer moves back towards the first valve layer and the volume of the chamber is decreased.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; an aft balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the aft balloon; a pair of hollow push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve, the pair of hollow push tubes being connected to one another at their distal ends with a raised push tube bridge, the raised push tube bridge being configured to nest an endoscope therein; and a fore balloon secured to the distal ends of the pair of hollow push tubes, the interior of the fore balloon being in fluid communication with the interiors of the pair of hollow push tubes, wherein the fore balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein (i) when the fore balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and (ii) when the fore balloon is in its inflated condition, the ax

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; a proximal balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the proximal balloon; a push tube slidably mounted to the sleeve; and a distal balloon secured to the distal end of the push tube, the interior of the distal balloon being in fluid communication with the push tube, wherein the distal balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein when the distal balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and when the distal balloon is in its inflated condition, the axial opening is closed down.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; an aft balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the aft balloon; a pair of hollow push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve, the pair of hollow push tubes being connected to one another at their distal ends with a raised push tube bridge, the raised push tube bridge being configured to nest an endoscope therein; and a fore balloon secured to the distal ends of the pair of hollow push tubes, the interior of the fore balloon being in fluid communication with the interiors of the pair of hollow push tubes, wherein the fore balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein (i) when the fore balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and (ii) when the fore balloon is in its inflated condition, the ax

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; a proximal balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the proximal balloon; a push tube slidably mounted to the sleeve; and a distal balloon secured to the distal end of the push tube, the interior of the distal balloon being in fluid communication with the push tube, wherein the distal balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein when the distal balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and when the distal balloon is in its inflated condition, the axial opening is closed down.

Abstract: Apparatus for straightening and flattening a side wall of a body lumen or body cavity so as to provide three dimensional exposure of a lesion or abnormality within the body lumen or body cavity, and simultaneously providing for the stabilization or docking of the working end of an endoscope or surgical tool, the apparatus comprising: a deployable hoop expander comprising a structure defining a volume; the deployable hoop expander being configured so as to be transitionable between (i) a reduced cross-sectional configuration, and (ii) an expanded cross-sectional configuration, whereby the deployable hoop expander can be configured in its reduced cross-sectional configuration for easy insertion into a body lumen, and it can thereafter be re-configured into its expanded cross-sectional configuration so as to engage, straighten and flatten the side wall of the body lumen, whereby to provide three dimensional exposure of the lesion or abnormality within the body lumen or body cavity, the deployable hoop expande

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; an aft balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the aft balloon; a pair of hollow push tubes slidably mounted to the sleeve, the pair of hollow push tubes being connected to one another at their distal ends with a raised push tube bridge, the raised push tube bridge being configured to nest an endoscope therein; and a fore balloon secured to the distal ends of the pair of hollow push tubes, the interior of the fore balloon being in fluid communication with the interiors of the pair of hollow push tubes, wherein the fore balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein (i) when the fore balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and (ii) when the fore balloon is in its inflated condition, the ax

Abstract: Apparatus comprising: a sleeve adapted to be slid over the exterior of an endoscope; a proximal balloon secured to the sleeve; an inflation/deflation tube carried by the sleeve and in fluid communication with the interior of the proximal balloon; a push tube slidably mounted to the sleeve; and a distal balloon secured to the distal end of the push tube, the interior of the distal balloon being in fluid communication with the push tube, wherein the distal balloon is capable of assuming a deflated condition and an inflated condition, and further wherein when the distal balloon is in its deflated condition, an axial opening extends therethrough, the axial opening being sized to receive the endoscope therein, and when the distal balloon is in its inflated condition, the axial opening is closed down.