Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for thermal therapy, especially to detection-guided, -controlled, and temperature-modulated interstitial thermal therapy. Thermal therapy may be used to treat the tissues of a patient. In the case of interstitial thermal therapy, energy is applied to generate heating of the tissue to affect treatment, such as, for example, thermally inducing tissue damage (e.g. thermally-induced tissue necrosis), which may be useful in treating tumors and/or other diseased tissues. Since targets for thermal therapy are internal to the patient, the use of detection guidance may be useful in locating and monitoring treatment of a target tissue.

Abstract: This invention is directed to devices and methods for stereotactic access, and particularly to a frameless stereotactic access device for accessing a body cavity and methods therefor. In general, a stereotactic device may include portions or features for fixing the device to a portion of a patient's body, such as, for example, a skull, such that the device may be generally spatially fixed in relation to the patient's body or part thereof. The stereotactic device may also generally include portions or features for guiding a medical device or other device at a particular trajectory in relation to the patient's body or part thereof.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is a system, a device and a method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix. The analyte may be glucose or any other chemical of interest. The fluid or matrix may be, for example, the fluid in a bioreactor, a food or agricultural product, any fluid or matrix in the body of an animal, or any other fluid or matrix whose concentration of an analyte is under investigation. In one embodiment, the analyte sensing device includes a housing having an interior space. Contained within the housing and in the interior space is one or more analyte sensing component(s). The analyte sensing component, in one embodiment, includes one or more radiation converting element(s), for example, converting chromophores. The radiation converting element(s) are capable of converting or modifying radiation of one or more wavelengths into radiation of one or more different wavelengths.

Abstract: This invention is directed to devices and methods for stereotactic access, and particularly to a frameless stereotactic access device for accessing a body cavity and methods therefor. In general, a stereotactic device may include portions or features for fixing the device to a portion of a patient's body, such as, for example, a skull, such that the device may be generally spatially fixed in relation to the patient's body or part thereof. The stereotactic device may also generally include portions or features for guiding a medical device or other device at a particular trajectory in relation to the patient's body or part thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, device and method for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix. A thermodynamically stabilized analyte binding ligand for use in the system, device and method is disclosed. The thermodynamically stabilized analyte binding ligand is resistant to degradation at physiological temperatures and its use within the device provides a minimally invasive sensor for monitoring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix as are present in the body of an animal.

Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is a system, a device and a method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a fluid (for example, a fluid sample) or matrix. The analyte may be glucose or other chemical of interest. The fluid or matrix may be, for example, the fluid or matrix in the body of an animal (for example, human), or any other suitable fluid or matrix in which it is desired to know the concentration of an analyte. In one embodiment, the invention is a system and/or device that includes one or more layers having a plurality of analyte-equivalents and mobile or fixed receptor molecules with specific binding sites for the analyte-equivalents and analytes under analysis (for example, glucose). The receptor molecules, when exposed to or in the presence of analyte (that resides, for example, in a fluid in an animal), bind with the analyte (or vice versa).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, device and method for measuring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix. A thermodynamically stabilized analyte binding ligand for use in the system, device and method is disclosed. The thermodynamically stabilized analyte binding ligand is resistant to degradation at physiological temperatures and its use within the device provides a minimally invasive sensor for monitoring the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix as are present in the body of an animal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the disclosure is directed to an integrated apparatus for delivering energy to a tissue. The integrated apparatus included a housing having a distal end and a tubular structure located within the housing forming a first annulus between the tubular structure and the housing. The tubular structure is configured to accept an energy delivery component and is configured to form a second annulus between the tubular structure and the energy delivery component. The first annulus and the second annulus are configured to communicate with each other proximate to the distal end of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices and methods for molecular association, particularly to devices and methods for hybridization of nucleic acids utilizing temperature gradients and imaging thereof. In one aspect, a molecular hybridization system generally includes a substrate having a plurality of molecular probes attached thereto, the plurality of probes being generally present in multiple copies arranged in localized formations on the surface of the substrate. The molecular hybridization system further generally includes a chamber that encloses the plurality of molecular probes such that a fluid containing sample may be applied and kept in contact with the substrate having the probes thereon. The molecular hybridization system also includes a temperature affecting system that generally produces at least one desired temperature on the surface of the substrate and in the adjacent fluid within the chamber.

Abstract: A light diffusing tip is provided. The light diffusing tip comprises a housing and a monolithic light scattering medium disposed within the housing. The monolithic light scattering medium comprises a first scattering region at a first position, the scattering region having a first scattering property and a second scattering region at a second position, the second scattering region having a second scattering property different from the first scattering property, wherein the first scattering region and the second scattering region are coextensive along a substantial portion of a length of the housing. A light diffusing applicator also is provided. The light diffusing applicator comprises at least one optical waveguide, a first termination coupled to a first end of the at least one optical waveguide, the first termination to couple to a light source and a light diffusing tip coupled to a second end of the at least one optical waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of generating amounts of selective nucleic acids. The present invention further relates to selective nucleic acids incorporated within non-coding nucleic acids, capable of binding to or altering a target molecule. Selective nucleic acids may generally refer to, but are not limited to, deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs), ribonucleic acids (RNAs), artificially modified nucleic acids, combinations or modifications thereof. Selective nucleic acids may also generally refer to, but are not limited to, nucleic acid aptamers, aptazymes, ribozymes, deoxyribozymes, nucleic acid probes, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), micro RNAs (miRNAs), short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), antisense nucleic acids, diagnostic probes or probe libraries, aptamer inhibitors, precursors of any of the above and/or combinations or modifications thereof. In one aspect, a method for generating amounts of selective nucleic acids includes incorporating a selective nucleic acid sequence into a carrier nucleic acid.

Abstract: A light diffusing tip is provided. The light diffusing tip comprises a housing and a monolithic light scattering medium disposed within the housing. The monolithic light scattering medium comprises a first scattering region at a first position, the scattering region having a first scattering property and a second scattering region at a second position, the second scattering region having a second scattering property different from the first scattering property, wherein the first scattering region and the second scattering region are coextensive along a substantial portion of a length of the housing. A light diffusing applicator also is provided. The light diffusing applicator comprises at least one optical waveguide, a first termination coupled to a first end of the at least one optical waveguide, the first termination to couple to a light source and a light diffusing tip coupled to a second end of the at least one optical waveguide.

Abstract: A light diffusing tip is provided. The light diffusing tip comprises a housing and a monolithic light scattering medium disposed within the housing. The monolithic light scattering medium comprises a first scattering region at a first position, the scattering region having a first scattering property and a second scattering region at a second position, the second scattering region having a second scattering property different from the first scattering property, wherein the first scattering region and the second scattering region are coextensive along a substantial portion of a length of the housing. A light diffusing applicator also is provided. The light diffusing applicator comprises at least one optical waveguide, a first termination coupled to a first end of the at least one optical waveguide, the first termination to couple to a light source and a light diffusing tip coupled to a second end of the at least one optical waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods for thermal therapy, especially to detection-guided, -controlled, and temperature-modulated interstitial thermal therapy. Thermal therapy may be used to treat the tissues of a patient. In the case of interstitial thermal therapy, energy is applied to generate heating of the tissue to affect treatment, such as, for example, thermally inducing tissue damage (e.g. thermally-induced tissue necrosis), which may be useful in treating tumors and/or other diseased tissues. Since targets for thermal therapy are internal to the patient, the use of detection guidance may be useful in locating and monitoring treatment of a target tissue.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices and methods for molecular association, particularly to devices and methods for hybridization of nucleic acids utilizing temperature gradients and imaging thereof. In one aspect, a molecular hybridization system generally includes a substrate having a plurality of molecular probes attached thereto, the plurality of probes being generally present in multiple copies arranged in localized formations on the surface of the substrate. The molecular hybridization system further generally includes a chamber that encloses the plurality of molecular probes such that a fluid containing sample may be applied and kept in contact with the substrate having the probes thereon. The molecular hybridization system also includes a temperature affecting system that generally produces at least one desired temperature on the surface of the substrate and in the adjacent fluid within the chamber.

Abstract: A light diffusing tip is provided The light diffusing tip comprises a housing and a monolithic light scattering medium disposed within the housing. The monolithic light scattering medium comprises a first scattering region at a first position, the scattering region having a first scattering property and a second scattering region at a second position, the second scattering region having a second scattering property different from the first scattering property, wherein the first scattering region and the second scattering region are coextensive along a substantial portion of a length of the housing A light diffusing applicator also is provided. The light diffusing applicator comprises at least one optical waveguide, a first termination coupled to a first end of the at least one optical waveguide, the first termination to couple to a light source and a light diffusing tip coupled to a second end of the at least one optical waveguide.

Abstract: A device includes an outer layer formed of a fluid impermeable polymer film. The outer layer forms an outer major surface of the device. The device also includes a reinforcement layer underlying the outer layer and an adhesive underlying the outer layer. The adhesive forms an annular adhesive surface wherein the device is configured to form a cavity between an inner surface of the device and a dermal surface when the annular adhesive surface is attached to the dermal surface. The device further includes a fluid conduit operable to provide fluid access to the cavity through the outer layer and the reinforcement layer.

Abstract: A light diffusing tip is provided The light diff-using tip comprises a housing and a monolithic light scattering medium disposed within the housing The monolithic light scattering medium comprises a first scattering region at a first position, the scattering region having a first scattering property and a second scattering region at a second position, the second scattering region having a second scattering property different from the first scattering property, wherein the first scattering region and the second scattering region are coextensive along a substantial portion of a length of the housing A light diff-using applicator also is provided The light diffusing applicator comprises at least one optical waveguide, a first termination coupled to a first end of the at least one optical waveguide, the first termination to couple to a light source and a light diff-using tip coupled to a second end of the at least one optical waveguide.

Abstract: There are many inventions described and illustrated herein. In one aspect, the present invention is a system, a device and a method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a fluid (for example, a fluid sample) or matrix. The analyte may be glucose or other chemical of interest. The fluid or matrix may be, for example, the fluid or matrix in the body of an animal (for example, human), or any other suitable fluid or matrix in which it is desired to know the concentration of an analyte. In one embodiment, the invention is a system and/or device that includes one or more layers having a plurality of analyte-equivalents and mobile or fixed receptor molecules with specific binding sites for the analyte-equivalents and analytes under analysis (for example, glucose). The receptor molecules, when exposed to or in the presence of analyte (that resides, for example, in a fluid in an animal), bind with the analyte (or vice versa).

Abstract: A light diffusing tip is provided. The light diffusing tip comprises a housing and a monolithic light scattering medium disposed within the housing. The monolithic light scattering medium comprises a first scattering region at a first position, the scattering region having a first scattering property and a second scattering region at a second position, the second scattering region having a second scattering property different from the first scattering property, wherein the first scattering region and the second scattering region are coextensive along a substantial portion of a length of the housing. A light diffusing applicator also is provided. The light diffusing applicator comprises at least one optical waveguide, a first termination coupled to a first end of the at least one optical waveguide, the first termination to couple to a light source and a light diffusing tip coupled to a second end of the at least one optical waveguide.