Abstract: Pharmaceutically acceptable hydrogel polymers of natural, recombinant or synthetic origin, or hybrids thereof, are introduced in a dry, less hydrated, or substantially deswollen state and rehydrate in a physiological environment to undergo a volumetric expansion and to affect sealing, plugging, or augmentation of tissue, defects in tissue, or of organs. The hydrogel polymers may deliver therapeutic entities by controlled release at the site. Methods to form useful devices from such polymers, and to implant the devices are provided.

Abstract: Improved tools and procedures relate to the immobilization of the sacroiliac joint for the treatment of pain associated with the joint. Kits comprise, for example, a guide element and an immobilization element of a biocompatible material with a size and shape suitable for placement within the sacroiliac joint. Suitable immobilization elements include, for example, pins, nails, screws, darts, wedges, shims and hardening material. A bioactive agent can be delivered into the joint to compliment the immobilization and promote healing. Suitable procedures can be done in a less invasive procedure through a cannula or the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling waveguide birefringence by selection of a waveguide core width for a tuned top clad is described herein. In one example, a dopant concentration within a top cladding material is between 3-6% (wt.). Given a tuned top cladding composition, a width of the waveguide core is pre-selected such that birefringence is minimized, i.e., a zero, or near zero. The desirable width of the waveguide core is determined by calculating the distribution of stress in the top cladding over a change in temperature. From this distribution of stress, a relationship between the polarization dependent wavelength and variable widths of the waveguide in the arrayed waveguide grating are determined. This relationship determines a zero value, or near zero value, of polarization dependent wavelength for a given range of waveguide widths. Accordingly, the width of the waveguide may be selected such that the polarization dependent wavelength is minimized.

Abstract: A method of concentrating proteins from whole blood comprising exposing whole blood to covalently crosslinked hydrogel to remove water from the blood into the hydrogel to thereby concentrate the proteins in the whole blood. The hydrogel may absorb, for example, 50% or 90% of the water from the blood while excluding proteins with a weight of more than about 15,000 Daltons. In some embodiment, the hydrogels are dry, sterile, and spherical.

Abstract: Some aspects of this disclosure relate to a method for crosslinking a biological fluid comprising combining a biological fluid with a crosslinker to covalently crosslink proteins endogenous to the biological fluid to form a crosslinked gel. Examples of a biological fluid are blood, plasma, or serum.

Abstract: A device for displaying a disability parking certificate placard in a vehicle, with the device being movable from a storage position to a display position.

Abstract: Ligands that specifically bind to articular cartilage tissues are disclosed, including uses for targeting therapeutics towards articular cartilage tissue and new materials for articular cartilage. The ligands are effective in vivo to target therapeutic materials to articular cartilage.

Abstract: Biocompatible crosslinked polymers, and methods for their preparation and use, are disclosed in which the biocompatible crosslinked polymers are formed from water soluble precursors having electrophilic and nucleophilic functional groups capable of reacting and crosslinking in situ. Methods for making the resulting biocompatible crosslinked polymers biodegradable or not are provided, as are methods for controlling the rate of degradation. The crosslinking reactions may be carried out in situ on organs or tissues or outside the body. Applications for such biocompatible crosslinked polymers and their precursors include controlled delivery of drugs, prevention of post-operative adhesions, coating of medical devices such as vascular grafts, wound dressings and surgical sealants. Visualization agents may be included with the crosslinked polymers.

Abstract: Light reactive deposition uses an intense light beam to form particles that are directly coated onto a substrate surface. In preferred embodiments, a coating apparatus comprising a noncircular reactant inlet, optical elements forming a light path, a first substrate, and a motor connected to the apparatus. The reactant inlet defines a reactant stream path. The light path intersects the reactant stream path at a reaction zone with a product stream path continuing from the reaction zone. The substrate intersects the product stream path. Also, operation of the motor moves the first substrate relative to the product stream. Various broad methods are described for using light driven chemical reactions to produce efficiently highly uniform coatings.

Abstract: A tilting mirror MEMS variable optical attenuator attenuates light over a band of wavelengths with minimum wavelength dependent loss. The attenuator includes a lens that has a wedged input face and is made from a material that has high dispersion. The lens design causes different wavelengths to travel different paths through the attenuator such that wavelength dependent loss is reduced. The attenuator may be designed to have minimum wavelength dependent loss at a specified attenuation greater than zero.

Abstract: An improved electro-optical system has a planar waveguide coupled to a photodetector through a transparent substrate. The planar waveguide is within a planar optical structure that can be part of optical communication network. The photodetector is positioned to receive light that passes from the waveguide through the transparent substrate. The photodetector can be electrically coupled to electrical circuitry along the transparent substrate for connection to a electrical apparatus. Corresponding methods for forming the electro-optical structure are described. These improved electro-optical systems can be used for terminating an optical transmission system at an end user or a local network associated with a group of end users.

Abstract: A method for the production of fungus resistant transgenic plants, plant cells or plant tissue comprising the introduction of an Ab, rAb, rAb fragment or fusion or vector of the invention or the vectors of the composition of the invention into the genome of a plant, plant cell or plant cell tissue and a transgenic plant cell comprising stably integrated into the genome a polynucleotide or vector of the invention or the vectors of the composition of the invention.

Abstract: A 1×N wavelength selective switch which can function as a dynamic channel equalizer when N=1. In an exemplary arrangement, the present invention is a free-space device that includes a linear array of micromachined reflective elements for beam steering of individual wavelength channels. In at least some embodiments the array of reflective elements of the present invention provides a substantially seamless design such that the optical spectrum appears flat across the transition between actuators. Various embodiments provide high channel bandwidth with flat-top channel performance, low polarization dependence loss, low vibration sensitivity, extinction ratios greater than 40 dB over all temperatures, and very low levels of electrical and optical channel cross-talk.

Abstract: Light reactive deposition can be adapted effectively for the deposition of one or more electrochemical cell components. In particular, electrodes, electrolytes, electrical interconnects can be deposited form a reactive flow. In some embodiments, the reactive flow comprises a reactant stream that intersects a light beam to drive a reaction within a light reactive zone to produce product that is deposited on a substrate. The approach is extremely versatile for the production of a range of compositions that are useful in electrochemical cells and fuel cell, in particular. The properties of the materials, including the density and porosity can be adjusted based on the deposition properties and any subsequent processing including, for example, heat treatments.

Abstract: A collection of zinc oxide nanoparticles have been produced by laser pyrolysis. The zinc oxide nanoparticles have average particle diameters of less than about 95 nm and a very narrow particle size distribution. The laser pyrolysis process is characterized by the production of a reactant stream within the reaction chamber, where the reactant stream includes a zinc precursor and other reactants. The zinc precursor can be delivered as an aerosol.

Abstract: Methods for forming coated substrates can be based on depositing material from a flow onto a substrate in which the coating material is formed by a reaction within the flow. In some embodiments, the product materials are formed in a reaction driven by photon energy absorbed from a radiation beam. In additional or alternative embodiments, the flow with the product stream is directed at the substrate. The substrate may be moved relative to the flow. Coating materials can be formed with densities of 65 percent to 95 percent of the fully densified coating material with a very high level of coating uniformity.

Abstract: A method for the crystallization of macromolecules in a three-phase system using a vessel containing a lower aqueous phase, a middle phase and an upper hydrophobic phase having a lower density than that of the lower aqueous phase, wherein an aqueous solution of the macromolecules is added to the middle phase to form a fourth phase, followed by incubation.

Abstract: An ambulatory spinal unloading method and apparatus are implemented to achieve a desired minimum level of residual cushioning in response to a biasing force applied to the associated apparatus tensioning and/or compression mechanism(s). The ambulatory spinal unloading apparatus may further include a treatment system to provide desired levels of nerve and/or muscle stimulation in addition to hot and/or cold elements to provide further therapeutic effects as desired or necessary.

Abstract: Photosensitive optical materials are used for establishing more versatile approaches for optical device formation. In some embodiments, unpatterned light is used to shift the index-of-refraction of planar optical structures to shift the index-of-refraction of the photosensitive material to a desired value. This approach can be effective to produce cladding material with a selected index-of-refraction. In additional embodiments gradients in index-of-refraction are formed using photosensitive materials. In further embodiments, the photosensitive materials are patterned within the planar optical structure. Irradiation of the photosensitive material can selectively shift the index-of-refraction of the patterned photosensitive material. By patterning the light used to irradiate the patterned photosensitive material, different optical devices can be selectively activated within the optical structure.

Abstract: A collection of zinc oxide nanoparticles have been produced by laser pyrolysis. The zinc oxide nanoparticles have average particle diameters of less than about 95 nm and a very narrow particle size distribution. The laser pyrolysis process is characterized by the production of a reactant stream within the reaction chamber, where the reactant stream includes a zinc precursor and other reactants. The zinc precursor can be delivered as an aerosol.