Abstract: A system and methods for the delivery of oxygen through a body cavity of a subject using oxygen microbubbles. Through circulation of oxygen microbubbles through the body cavity, oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange may occur. Overall improvement in extending survival rate time during emergency situations caused by pulmonary or similar oxygen-intake restricting injury and/or failure may be achieved through use of the invented system and methods.

Abstract: Implants having improved mechanical properties and/or degradation profiles, kits including such implants, and methods of producing and using the same.

Abstract: Gas-filled microbubbles can be synthesized using a continuous flow chamber and a sonicator. The resulting microbubble solution can be size-sorted for a particular application, such as injection into a patient for gas delivery thereto. The microbubble solution may be concentrated to have greater than 50% volume gas while maintaining microbubble sizes below 10 ?m. Control of the microbubble generation process can yield highly stable microbubbles. The microbubbles may retain over half of their original gas payload for over three weeks while exhibiting minimal change in microbubble size. The systems, methods, and devices described herein thus allow for continuous or batch-wise continuous production of gas-filled microbubbles that readily release their gas payload when introduced into an under-saturated or de-saturated solution.

Abstract: Acoustically activatable particles having low vaporization energy and methods for making and using same are disclosed. A particle of material includes a first substance that includes at least one component that is a gas 25° C. and atmospheric pressure. A second substance, different from the first substance, encapsulates the first substance to create a droplet or emulsion that is stable at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. At least some of the first substance exists in a gaseous phase at the time of encapsulation of the first substance within the second substance to form a bubble. After formation of the bubble, the bubble is condensed into a liquid phase, which causes the bubble to transform into the droplet or emulsion having a core consisting of a liquid. The droplet or emulsion is an activatable phase change agent that remains a droplet having a core consisting of a liquid at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure. The first substance has a boiling point below 25° C. at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Injectable or implantable drug delivery systems providing on-demand ultrasound-triggered drug release and methods for controlling the release of drug in a patient are provided herein. The on-demand drug delivery systems contain a drug depot and a drug encapsulated in an encapsulating material, where the encapsulating material is different from the depot. In the preferred embodiment, the depot also contains microbubbles that encapsulate one or more gases. The microbubbles enhance the drug release when ultrasound is applied compared to the same system in the absence of microbubbles. In a preferred embodiment, the drug delivery system, contains an encapsulating material, preferably liposomes, a drug to be delivered, microbubbles, and at least two hydrogel-forming precursor components. Following injection or implantation, the patient can control the time, location and dosage released by administering ultrasound.

Abstract: Implants having improved mechanical properties and/or degradation profiles, kits including such implants, and methods of producing and using the same.

Abstract: Acoustically activatable particles having low vaporization energy and methods for making and using same are disclosed. A particle of material includes a first substance that includes at least one component that is a gas 25° C. and atmospheric pressure. A second substance, different from the first substance, encapsulates the first substance to create a droplet or emulsion that is stable at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. At least some of the first substance exists in a gaseous phase at the time of encapsulation of the first substance within the second substance to form a bubble. After formation of the bubble, the bubble is condensed into a liquid phase, which causes the bubble to transform into the droplet or emulsion having a core consisting of a liquid. The droplet or emulsion is an activatable phase change agent that remains a droplet having a core consisting of a liquid at 25° C. and atmospheric pressure. The first substance has a boiling point below 25° C. at atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A hydrogel tissue engineering scaffold having microbubbles dispersed therein is disclosed. Also, a system for cell culturing including a controller and actuator to apply dynamic deformational loading to a hydrogel is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for producing hydrogels with microbubbles and for culturing cells using hydrogels with microbubbles.

Abstract: Inflatable multi-chambered devices are provided for repairing or replacing spinal discs and distracting neighboring vertebral elements. Also included are cushioning devices that may be used in a joint replacement device cushioning system. Further included are kits and systems that include such devices, methods for making such devices, and methods of treating patients in need of such devices. Examples further include cosmetic augmentation and restoration devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for opening a tissue to a target value are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, a region of the tissue is targeted for opening, a size range of microbubbles corresponding to the target value is determined, microbubbles of the size range are positioned in proximity to the targeted region, and an ultrasound beam is applied to the targeted region such that the tissue is opened with the assistance of the microbubbles to the target value.

Abstract: A method of producing particles of materials includes, with a first substance that includes at least one component that is a gas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, extruding or emulsifying the first substance into or in the presence of a second substance to create a bubble in which the first substance is encapsulated by the second substance and wherein at least some of the first substance is in a gaseous phase, and causing the first substance to condense to a liquid phase, which causes the bubble to transform into a droplet or emulsion. The droplet or emulsion so created is an activatable phase change agent that is stable at room temperature and pressure.

Abstract: Inflatable multi-chambered devices are provided for repairing or replacing spinal discs and distracting neighboring vertebral elements. Also included are cushioning devices that may be used in a joint replacement device cushioning system. Further included are kits and systems that include such devices, methods for making such devices, and methods of treating patients in need of such devices. Examples further include cosmetic augmentation and restoration devices.

Abstract: Implants having improved mechanical properties and/or degradation profiles, kits including such implants, and methods of producing and using the same.

Abstract: Implants having improved mechanical properties and/or degradation profiles, kits including such implants, and methods of producing and using the same.

Abstract: Systems and methods for opening a tissue to a target value are disclosed herein. In an exemplary method, a region of the tissue is targeted for opening, a size range of microbubbles corresponding to the target value is determined, microbubbles of the size range are positioned in proximity to the targeted region, and an ultrasound beam is applied to the targeted region such that the tissue is opened with the assistance of the microbubbles to the target value.

Abstract: Targeted microbubbles are generated by post-labeling buried ligand microbubbles. According to embodiments, buried ligand microbubbles are created with steric brushes protecting functionalized polymer tethers. Ligands were attached to the functionalized tethers by diffusion of ligands of a small size through the steric barrier. The steric barrier was substantially capable of hindering access to the tethers by larger molecules. The embodiments disclosed include methods for creating microbubble batches that can be loaded with selected ligands, for titrating the targeting ligands thereby to reduce waste and cost, and for using resulting buried ligand molecules for medical purposes.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for generating and using size-selected lanthanide-coated microbubbles for controlling an imaging signal via microbubble fragmentation and for magnetic resonance imaging guided focused ultrasound therapy.

Abstract: Composite materials having improved mechanical properties and/or degradation profiles, devices and implants, kits including such implants, and methods of producing and using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel methods of forming mineralized gelatin carriers from bone. The present invention further provides mineralized gelatin carriers themselves; bone products that include such mineralized gelatin carriers including DBM bone products; and kits that include mineralized gelatin carriers formed from bone. The present invention further provides methods for making DBM bone products, wherein both the DBM and a mineralized gelatin carrier for the DBM are derived independently from a bone lot.

Abstract: Implants having improved mechanical properties and/or degradation profiles, kits including such implants, and methods of producing and using the same.