Abstract: An implantable or insertable medical device is provided which comprises (a) a superoxide dismutase mimic and (b) a polymeric release region. Upon administration to a patient, the polymeric release region controls the release of the superoxide dismutase mimic, which is beneficially selected from a metal-chelate superoxide dismutase mimic and a nitroxide superoxide dismutase mimic. Also provided is a method of making an implantable or insertable medical device.

Abstract: An organic electronic device structure, according to a first aspect of the invention, includes: (a) a substrate layer; (b) an organic electronic region disposed over the substrate layer; (c) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed over the organic electronic device; and (d) a barrier layer disposed over the adhesive layer. According to a second aspect of the present invention, an organic electronic device structure includes: (a) a substrate layer; (b) an organic electronic region disposed over the substrate layer; (c) a barrier layer disposed over the organic electronic region; (d) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed over the substrate layer and over the barrier layer; and (e) an additional layer disposed over the adhesive layer. In many preferred embodiments, the organic electronic device region is an OLED region.

Abstract: An endoscope is provided which comprises an elongated body adapted for insertion into a body lumen, and a plurality of electrically controlled actuators associated with the body which are controllable to impart an orientation to the body that is complimentary to the natural orientation of the lumen into which the endoscope is inserted.

Abstract: An implantable composite device for regulated delivery of bioactive agents to the site of implantation includes at least two zones of distinct porosities through its cross-section. One zone is of a sufficient porosity to permit regulated transport of bioactive agents associated with the device to an area of the body in need of treatment. The bioactive agent associated with the device can be either a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the device includes a tubular body consisting of a first luminal layer of ePTFE having a porosity sufficient to promote cell endothelization along the luminal surface; and a second polymeric layer disposed on the first layer of a porosity permitting regulated transport of the bioactive agents.

Abstract: A trench MOSFET transistor device and a method of making the same.

Abstract: A trench DMOS transistor structure having a low resistance path to a drain contact located on an upper surface and methods of making the same.

Abstract: Many conventional pharmaceutical articles contain seemingly inert components that come into contact with a pharmaceutically active material during use, which contact substantially reduces the pharmaceutical effectiveness of the pharmaceutically active material. The invention described herein concerns various modifications to these incompatible components, which are effective to diminish the reduction in pharmaceutical effectiveness.

Abstract: The use of an intravascular cooling element to induce hypothermia in connection with a medical procedure. According to a first aspect of the present, invention, a coronary bypass procedure is conducted in which a patient's blood is oxygenated with the patient's lungs and in which blood is circulated using the patient's heart or using an intracorporeal pump. The procedure preferably comprises: (a) positioning a heat transfer element in a blood vessel of a patient; (b) cooling the body of the patient to less than 35° C., more preferably 32±2° C., using the heat transfer element; and (c) forming a fluid communicating graft between an arterial blood supply and the coronary artery. The body of the patient is preferably heated to about 37° C. using the heat transfer element subsequent to the step of forming the fluid communicating graft.

Abstract: Novel nitric-oxide releasing lipid molecules are provided which comprise a lipid molecule selected from (a) phosphoglycerides, (b) lipids having a sphingosine base as a backbone, (c) monoacylglyerols, (d) diacylglycerols, (e) glycosylacylglycerols, wherein the lipid molecole is provided with a nitric-oxide contianing group which comprises a (a) a —S—N═O moiety, (b) a —O—N═O moiety, or (c) a moiety. Also provided are methods of forming such nitric oxide releasing lipid molecules. Various pharmaceutical compositions, topical liquids and drug delivery systems comprising the ntric-oxide releasing lipid molecules are also described. Further provided are methods for therapeutically administering nitric oxide to patients, methods for treating or preventing various conditions, methods for promoting wound healing and methods for reducing the cells present in an atherosclerotic lesion which methods utilize the nitric-oxide releasing lipid molecules.

Abstract: A trench MOSFET transistor device and method of making the same are provided. The trench MOSFET transistor device comprises: (a) a drain region of first conductivity type; (b) a body region of a second conductivity type provided over the drain region, such that the drain region and the body region form a first junction; (c) a source region of the first conductivity type provided over the body region, such that the source region and the body region form a second junction; (d) source metal disposed on an upper surface of the source region; (e) a trench extending through the source region, through the body region and into the drain region; and (f) a gate region comprising (i) an insulating layer, which lines at least a portion of the trench and (ii) a conductive region, which is disposed within the trench adjacent the insulating layer. The body region in this device is separated from the source metal.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus and method of operating the same. The endoscope apparatus comprises an endoscope portion and a control and display unit. The endoscope portion preferably comprises: (i) a sensor disposed at a distal end of the endoscope portion and providing endoscope data; (ii) one or more electronically controlled actuators (e.g., electroactive polymer actuators) controlling the operation of the endoscope portion based on received control signals; (iii) a first wireless transceiver coupled to the sensor and the one or more electronically controlled actuators, transmitting received endoscope data from the sensor and forwarding received control signals to the one or more electronically controlled actuators; and (iv) a portable power source (e.g., a battery) coupled to the sensor, the first wireless transceiver, and the one or more electronically controller actuators.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an organic optoelectronic device, such as an OLED device, provided with a vacuum deposited conformal composite coating for protecting the device from environmental elements such as moisture and oxygen. The present invention is also directed to a method for vacuum depositing a conformal composite coating directly onto an organic optoelectronic device, such as an OLED device, on a substrate. According to one embodiment, the invention provides a protected OLED device comprising a substrate; an active region positioned on said substrate; a first protective layer disposed over the active region; and a second protective layer disposed over the first protective layer, wherein said second protective layer comprises multiple sub-layers that further comprise an alternating series of two or more first polymeric sub-layers and two or more first high density sub-layers.

Abstract: An integrated circuit having a plurality of trench Schottky barrier rectifiers within one or more rectifier regions and a plurality of trench DMOS transistors within one or more transistor regions.

Abstract: A method for producing a S-nitrosylated species is provided. The method comprises: (a) providing a deoxygenated, alkaline aqueous solution comprising a thiol and a nitrite-bearing species; (b) acidifying the solution by adding acid to the solution while concurrently mixing the solution (e.g., by vigorously stirring the solution) to produce the S-nitrosylated species; and (c) isolating the S-nitrosylated species. The nitrite-bearing species can be, for example, an inorganic nitrite, such as an alkali metal nitrite, or an organic nitrite, such as an alkyl nitrite (e.g., ethyl nitrite, amyl nitrite, isobutyl nitrite or t-butyl nitrite). The thiol is preferably a thiol-containing polysaccharide, a thiol-containing lipoprotein, a thiol-containing amino acid or a thiol-containing protein, and more preferably a thiol-containing polysaccharide such as thiolated cyclodextrin. In many preferred embodiments, the S-nitrosylated species is insoluble in the acidified solution, precipitating upon formation.

Abstract: Provided are artificial muscle patches, which are adapted to be implanted adjacent a patient's heart, and artificial sphincter cuffs, which are adapted to be implanted around a body lumen, such as the urethra, the anal canal, or the lower esophagus. The devices of the present invention comprise: (a) one or more electroactive polymer actuators; and (b) a control unit for electrically controlling the one or more electroactive polymer actuators to expand or contract the devices.

Abstract: A MOSFET device design is provided that effectively addresses the problems arising from the parasitic bipolar transistor that is intrinsic to the device. The MOSFET device comprises: (a) a body region; (b) a plurality of body contact regions; (c) a plurality of source regions; (d) a plurality of drain regions; and (d) a gate region. In plan view, the source regions and the drain regions are arranged in orthogonal rows and columns, and at least a portion of the body contact regions are bordered by four of the source and drain regions, preferably two source regions and two drain regions.

Abstract: A trench MOSFET includes a plurality of trench segments in an upper surface of an epitaxial layer, extending through a second conductivity type region into a first conductivity type epitaxial region, segment at least partially separated from an adjacent segment by a terminating region, and the trench segments defining a plurality of polygonal body regions within the second conductivity type. A first insulating layer at least partially lines each trench and a plurality of first conductive regions are provided within the trench segments adjacent to the first layer. Each of the conductive regions is connected to an adjacent first conductive region by a connecting conductive region, overlying the terminating region, that bridges at least one of the terminating regions and a plurality of first conductivity type source regions are within upper portions of the polygonal body regions and adjacent the trench segments, the source regions positioned outside the terminating regions.

Abstract: This invention relates to devices and methods for the local, differential delivery of nitric oxide within the body. The devices include devices having at least two differing nitric oxide donor compounds, such as nitric oxide donor compounds having differing half-lives and nitric oxide donor compounds having different release mechanisms. The devices also include devices having at least two chemically distinct compositions to which nitric oxide donor compounds are adsorbed or attached or within which the donor compounds are disposed. The devices are typically used to increase local nitric oxide concentration in the body upon placement of the medical article at a delivery position on or within a patient.

Abstract: A modified medical device for delivery of a pharmaceutically active material is described. The present inventors have found that many conventional medical devices contain a metallic or polymeric component that comes into contact with a pharmaceutically active material during use, and that the contact substantially reduce the pharmaceutical effectiveness of the pharmaceutically active material. The invention described herein concerns various modifications to the metallic or polymeric component that are effective to diminish such a substantial reduction in pharmaceutical effectiveness.

Abstract: A trench DMOS transistor device that comprises: (a) a substrate of a first conductivity type; (b) an epitaxial layer of first conductivity type over the substrate, wherein the epitaxial layer has a lower majority carrier concentration than the substrate; (c) a trench extending into the epitaxial layer from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer; (d) an insulating layer lining at least a portion of the trench; (e) a conductive region within the trench adjacent the insulating layer; (f) a body region of a second conductivity type provided within an upper portion of the epitaxial layer and adjacent the trench; (g) a source region of first conductivity type within an upper portion of the body region and adjacent the trench; and (h) one or more low resistivity deep regions extending into the device from an upper surface of the epitaxial layer. The low resistivity deep region acts to provide electrical contact with the substrate, which is a common drain region for the device.