Abstract: A method is provided for modulating the rate of release of a therapeutic agent from a release region, which constitutes at least a portion of an implantable or insertable medical device and which controls the rate at which the therapeutic is released from the medical device. The method comprises: (a) providing a release region that comprises (i) a therapeutic agent and (ii) polymer composition comprising two or more immiscible phases; and (b) modulating the rate of release of the therapeutic agent by changing the volume that is occupied by at least one of the immiscible polymer phases relative to the total volume of the release region that is formed. The release region can be, for example, a carrier layer, which comprises the therapeutic agent, or a barrier layer, which is disposed over a region that contains the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A medical device with a therapeutic agent-releasing polymer coating. The medical device is provided by a method that comprises: (a) attaching at least one reactive species to a medical device surface, which reactive species leads to chain growth polymerization in the presence of monomer; (b) contacting the reactive species with at least one monomer species, thereby forming a polymer coating on the surface of the medical device; and (c) providing at least one therapeutic agent within the polymer coating. The therapeutic agent may be incorporated during formation of the polymer coating or after formation of the polymer coating. The at least one reactive species can comprise, for example, a free radical species, a carbanion species, a carbocation species, a Ziegler-Natta polymerization complex, a metallocene complex, and/or an atom transfer radical polymerization initiator.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, medical devices are provided which include (a) a substrate and (b) a coating that includes an antifouling copolymer, an adhesive copolymer, or both. Antifouling copolymers for use in conjunction with the present invention contain (i) at least one antifouling polymer block having multiple pendant alkoxy functional groups along the polymer backbone and (ii) at least one additional polymer block. Adhesive copolymers for use in conjunction with the present invention contain (i) at least one adhesive polymer block having multiple pendant ring-hydroxyl-substituted aromatic groups along the polymer backbone and (ii) at least one additional polymer block.

Abstract: A composition for delivery of a therapeutic agent is provided. The composition comprises: (a) a biocompatible block copolymer comprising one or more elastomeric blocks and one or more thermoplastic blocks and (b) a therapeutic agent, wherein the block copolymer is loaded with the therapeutic agent. The block copolymer is preferably of the formula X-(AB)n, where A is an elastomeric block, B is a thermoplastic block, n is a positive whole number and X is a seed molecule. The elastomeric blocks are preferably polyolefin blocks, and the thermoplastic blocks are preferably selected from vinyl aromatic blocks and methacrylate blocks. According to another aspect of the invention, a medical device is provided, at least a portion of which is insertable or implantable into the body of a patient. The medical device comprises (a) the above biocompatible block copolymer and (b) a therapeutic agent, wherein the block copolymer is loaded with the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and software for use within audio and video authoring software applications wherein the relationships between the source media files are saved and used as part of a media manager. The software allows the artist to efficiently recall which files were used together, as well as how they were used together musically or visually.

Abstract: According to one aspect, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain polymeric release regions that release one or more therapeutic agents. The polymeric release regions, in turn, contain the following: (i) a first bonding polymer having a first polymer block and a first bonding group and (ii) a second bonding polymer having a second polymer block and a second bonding group. A therapeutic agent is disposed beneath or within the polymeric release region. The first and second polymer blocks can be the same as or different from one another, as can the first and second bonding groups. The first and second bonding groups are bound to one another via non-covalent bonding, for example, via electrostatic interaction, coordinative bonds, ?-? stacking, or hydrogen bonding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a linear drive having a stationary active unit (1), a stationary return flow element (11), a movably mounted passive unit in the form of a thin tooth rack (10) and a bearing unit (15), which allows the relative movement between the active unit and the passive unit. A lateral guidance plate (30) is attached to the tooth rack (10), extends at an angle with respect to the plane of the tooth rack (10) into a guide gap (31) and is guided there, the guide map (31) running in the return flow element (11) or in the active unit (1).

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method of forming a medical device is provided, which includes: (a) contacting a substrate with a solution that contains (i) one or more types of polymers, (ii) a solvent that contains one or more types of solvent species, and (iii) one or more optional agents, for example, one or more therapeutic agents, among others; and (b) removing the solvent from the solution, thereby forming a polymeric layer on the substrate. The composition of the solution is changed over the course of forming the polymeric layer. In another aspect of the invention, a medical device is provided, which includes a substrate and a polymeric layer over the substrate. The polymeric layer contains a copolymer that contains differing first and second monomers. The lower surface of the polymeric layer contacting the substrate has a surface concentration of the first monomer relative to the second monomer that is higher than that of the upper surface of the polymeric layer opposite the substrate.

Abstract: An implantable or insertable medical device which comprises (a) a therapeutic agent and (b) a polymeric release region comprising a polymer. The polymeric release region is treated with a radiation dose that is effective to substantially increase the cumulative release of the therapeutic agent subsequent to administration to a patient. The polymeric release region can be, for example, (a) a carrier region that comprises the therapeutic agent or (b) a barrier region that is disposed over a therapeutic-agent-containing region that comprises the therapeutic agent. The present invention is further directed to methods of forming such medical devices, methods of releasing a therapeutic agent within a patient using such medical devices, and methods of modulating the release of a therapeutic agent from such medical devices.

Abstract: The semiconductor assembly includes a first subassembly having a heat sink. Solder material is disposed on the exposed portion of a first surface of heat sink. A power semiconductor die is located on the first surface of the heat sink and is thermally coupled thereto by the solder material. A packaging patterned polymer layer is disposed on a second surface of the heat sink opposing the first surface and defines an interior surface portion of the heat sink. A semiconductor package is provided in which the first subassembly, solder material and die are located such that the interior surface portion of the second surface of the heat sink is not enclosed by the semiconductor package.

Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the invention, implantable and insertable medical devices are provided, which contain one or more polymeric regions. In one aspect, the polymeric regions comprise (a) a block copolymer that comprises a polyaromatic block and a polyalkene block admixed with (b) a sulfonated high Tg polymer. In another aspect, the polymeric regions comprise a block copolymer that comprises (a) a sulfonated polymer block and (b) fluorinated polymer block.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, medical devices are provided that contain at least one polymeric region which contains (a) at least one block copolymer that contains at least at least three polymer blocks that differ from one another and (b) at least one therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The resorption of a medical implant can be controlled with the use of particles embedded in a resorbable bulk material forming the implant or portion thereof. The implant can be removed from a body of a mammal by natural biological mechanisms after use. The resorption of the implant can involve swelling and/or hydrolyzing of the particles within the implant upon contact with a body fluid such that porosity and flow of fluid within the bulk material of the implant is increased. Resorption of the implant may also involve the use of particles with magnetic properties embedded within the implant such that an applied magnetic field causes the particles to vibrate within the bulk material thereby increasing the porosity and thus the flow of fluid, hence facilitating resorption of the implant. The resorption rate of the implant can be controlled by modulating swelling, hydrolysis, or movement of the embedded particles.

Abstract: A method for producing a film of compound semiconductor includes providing a substrate and a compound bulk material having a first chemical composition that includes at least one first chemical element and a second chemical element. A film is deposited on the substrate using the compound bulk material as a single source of material. The deposited film has a composition substantially the same as the first chemical composition. A residual chemical reaction is induced in the deposited film using a source containing the second chemical element to thereby increase the content of the second chemical element in the deposited film so that the deposited film has a second chemical composition. The film may be employed in a photovoltaic device.

Abstract: An injectable or insertable dosage form comprising a biodisintegrable binder and an ablation agent in a concentration effective to cause tissue necrosis. The injectable dosage form is a solid or semi-solid dosage form. Due to the solid or semi-solid nature of the dosage form, retention at the site of injection or insertion is improved, thereby improving delivery efficiency of the ablation agents within the dosage form and/or reducing the nonspecific tissue damage associated with the dosage form.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, a medical article is provided which comprises a latex antimicrobial region. The latex antimicrobial region can constitute the entirety of the medical article, or it can constitute only a portion of the medical article. The latex antimicrobial region comprises release-modulating microparticles, which are dispersed within a latex polymer. The release-modulating microparticles further comprise an antimicrobial agent, and the microparticles are adapted to release the antimicrobial agent. Examples of medical articles that can be produced in accordance with the present invention are gloves, finger cots, supply and drainage tubes, catheters, condoms, and contraceptive diaphragms. Also described are methods for forming such articles.

Abstract: A smart docking system is provided by a portable electronic device that is adapted to dock with a media player shuttle. When docked, the media player shuttle adds the capability for rendering media content that is stored on the shuttle to the native functionality that is supported by the portable electronic device. The native functionality may vary, and may include that provided by a digital camera or handheld game device, for example. The media player shuttle includes storage for media content such as audio and video and a digital media processing system, but does not include a display screen or user controls. Instead, the display screen and user controls are provided by the portable electronic device when the shuttle is docked.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention a method is provided which a porous medical article is contacted with a solution that contains a therapeutic agent and a solvent in order to load the pores of the medical article, after which the solvent is sublimated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel implantable or insertable medical devices that provide controlled release of a therapeutic agent. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a therapeutic-agent-releasing medical device is provided, which comprises: (a) an implantable or insertable medical device; (b) a release layer disposed over at least a portion of the implantable or insertable medical device; and (c) a therapeutic agent. The release layer comprises a styrene copolymer and at least one additional polymer. The release layer regulates the rate of release of the therapeutic agent from the medical device upon implantation or insertion of the device into a patient. The present invention is also directed to methods of forming the above implantable or insertable medical devices, methods of administering a therapeutic agent to a patient using such devices, and methods of modulating the release of therapeutic agent from such devices.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided that contain at least one covalently crosslinked polymeric region, which contains at least one block copolymer comprising at least one low Tg block and at least one high Tg block.