Abstract: A method of making a ready-to-use catheter assembly is provided, which can be immediately used by a patient. The ready-to-use catheter assembly ensures that the catheter does not suffer from a loss of quality during its shelf life and a wetting medium are provided. The method comprises: placing a catheter with an inactivated hydrophilic outer surface at least along its insertable length and a wetting medium in a catheter package; treating the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting medium with electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation while at least initially the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter remains inactivated; and activating the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter with the wetting medium during and/or after the radiation treatment and wherein the wetting medium decreases in viscosity when submitted to electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation.

Abstract: A method of making a ready-to-use catheter assembly is provided, which can be immediately used by a patient. The ready-to-use catheter assembly ensures that the catheter does not suffer from a loss of quality during its shelf life and a wetting medium are provided. The method comprises: placing a catheter with an inactivated hydrophilic outer surface at least along its insertable length and a wetting medium in a catheter package; treating the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting medium with electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation while at least initially the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter remains inactivated; and activating the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter with the wetting medium during and/or after the radiation treatment and wherein the wetting medium decreases in viscosity when submitted to electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation.

Abstract: A tracheostomy dilator may include a distal portion, a handle portion, a lumen, and a proximal portion. The distal portion may have a curve extending to a distal opening and be configured to dilate a tracheostomy. The handle portion may be proximal of the distal portion and be configured to be grasped by a user. The lumen may be configured to receive a guidewire. The proximal portion may be proximal of the handle portion and have a proximal opening in communication with the lumen. The proximal portion may be configured to deflect the guidewire at an angle of at least 30 degrees from a longitudinal axis of the handle portion.

Abstract: The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to assay feline tissue samples is described. Methods of analyzing a tissue sample may generally comprise generating sample ions directly from the tissue sample using a MALDI ionization source, receiving the ions into a mass spectrometer, identifying at least one inflammatory bowel disease and/or lymphoma related compound in the sample from results from the mass spectrometer, comparing the at least one identified related compound in the sample to one or more known inflammatory bowel disease and/or lymphoma profiles, and identifying at least one condition related to the sample from the comparison of the at least one identified related compound to the one or more known inflammatory bowel disease and/or lymphoma profiles. The mass spectrometer may be a quadrupole mass spectrometer, a time of flight mass spectrometer, an Orbitrap mass spectrometer, or an ion trap mass spectrometer.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the use of Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to assay tissue samples. Methods of analyzing a tissue sample may generally comprise generating sample ions directly from the tissue sample using a MALDI ionization source, receiving the ions into a mass spectrometer, identifying at least one esophageal tumor related compound in the sample from results from the mass spectrometer, comparing the at least one identified esophageal tumor related compound in the sample to one or more known esophageal tumor profiles, and identifying at least one condition related to the sample from the comparison of the at least one identified esophageal tumor related compound to the one or more known esophageal tumor profiles. The mass spectrometer may be a quadrupole mass spectrometer, a time of flight mass spectrometer, an Orbitrap mass spectrometer, or an ion trap mass spectrometer.

Abstract: A method of differentiating benign melanocytic nevi from malignant melanomas is disclosed. The method generally includes treating and subjecting a skin lesion sample from a patient to mass spectrometry to obtain a mass spectrometry proteomic profile. This profile is compared to mass spectrometry proteomic profiles of reference samples, which include benign melanocytic nevi and/or malignant melanomas. Classification of the skin lesion sample as a benign melanocytic nevus or a malignant melanoma is based on similarities and/or difference between the mass spectrometry proteomic profiles.

Abstract: A method of making a ready-to-use catheter assembly is provided, which can be immediately used by a patient. The ready-to-use catheter assembly ensures that the catheter does not suffer from a loss of quality during its shelf life and a wetting medium are provided. The method comprises: placing a catheter with an inactivated hydrophilic outer surface at least along its insertable length and a wetting medium in a catheter package; treating the catheter package with the catheter and the wetting medium with electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation while at least initially the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter remains inactivated; and activating the hydrophilic outer surface at least along the insertable length of the catheter with the wetting medium during and/or after the radiation treatment and wherein the wetting medium decreases in viscosity when submitted to electro-magnetic and/or particle radiation.