Abstract: The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions of effective amounts of NMDA receptor antagonists and preservative for the administration to a patient in need of effective analgesia and anesthesia. The compositions of the invention advantageously do not cause any significant neurotoxicity. The preferred NMDA receptor antagonist is ketamine. The preferred preservative is benzalkonium chloride.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions of effective amounts of NMDA receptor antagonists and non-neurotoxic compounds having preservative activity for the administration to a patient in need of effective analgesia and anesthesia. The compositions of the invention advantageously do not cause any significant neurotoxicity. The preferred NMDA receptor antagonist is ketamine. The non-neurotoxic compound is selected from one of the following groups including organic acids, esters thereof, and salts thereof; alcohols, polyols, and phenols; alkyl parabens; cresols; benzalkonium chloride quaternary ammonium salts; chlorhexidine, imidurea, alpha tocopherol, and EDTA. Preferably, the nonneurotoxic compound is benzalkonium chloride, benzyl alcohol or phenol.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions of effective amounts of NMDA receptor antagonists and preservative for the administration to a patient in need of effective analgesia and anesthesia. The compositions of the invention advantageously do not cause any significant neurotoxicity. The preferred NMDA receptor antagonist is ketamine. The preferred preservative is benzalkonium chloride.

Abstract: A vacuum control system for a jet injector includes a power source and vacuum pump for creating suction at the injector tip. The injector includes a drive bar to expel medicament into the patient. Before injection the drive bar and an inner barrel are separated from each other, and at the end of the injection the drive bar contacts the inner barrel. A user operable switch that is moveable between an ON position and an OFF position is also provided. The power source, vacuum pump, drive bar, inner barrel and user operable switch are all electrically connected via an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit is configured to activate the vacuum pump when the user operable switch is in the ON position and the drive bar is separated from the inner barrel, and to deactivate the vacuum pump when the drive bar contacts the inner barrel.

Abstract: A device for providing medication for injection by a jet injector includes a cassette which connects an injector system to a reservoir. The cassette forms a fluid pathway at an interface of a cassette lower body and a cassette upper body. The cassette also forms an impulse chamber with a nozzle leading therefrom. The fluid pathway interconnects the reservoir with the impulse chamber. The medication flows from the reservoir along the fluid pathway and into the impulse chamber. Force from an impulse generator drives the fluid medicament from the impulse chamber through the nozzle, out an orifice in a tip of the nozzle, and into the skin of a patient. To prevent the pressure waves generated by the jet injector from breaking a glass cartridge in the reservoir, the fluid pathway is blocked, using a series of right angles or valves.

Abstract: A method for injecting a fluid medicament into a patient uses a syringe having a plunger that can be advanced into the syringe chamber. As the plunger is advanced, the medicament is expelled from the chamber through an injection tube that extends from the chamber. Preferably, the injection tube is formed as a cone-shaped funnel with a taper of generally decreasing radius in a distal direction. The steps for the method include creating a gas pocket in the distal portion of the injection tube. Then, as the plunger is advanced into the chamber to accelerate the fluid medicament through the injection tube, the gas pocket allows the accelerating fluid medicament to gain momentum. The change in this momentum as the fluid medicament collides with the skin will generate an impulse force that is manifested as an initial pressure spike. This pressure spike creates a hole in the skin of the patient as the fluid medicament exits the tube.

Abstract: Microcoils can be used in medical devices to enhance RF response signals and to create fields to enhance imaging capability in MRI imaging systems. An improved microcoil design includes a device to be inserted into a patient comprising a solid body having at least one pair of radially opposed microcoils physically associated with the solid body, each microcoil having an outside microcoil diameter of 6 mm or less, individual windings of each microcoil together defining a geometric plane for each microcoil, and the plane of each microcoil being parallel to the plane of another microcoil in the pair of radially opposed microcoils.

Abstract: Microcoil designs are provided that enable unique RF response Field profiles that are particularly useful in MRI imaging procedures, particularly where fields of view outside of the medical device are desirable. These devices are particulatly for use within an organism, the device comprising an element having at least one RF receiver, the coils of said microcoils defining a cross-section that lies in a plane oriented at 0 to 90 (or 0 to 80) degrees to the longest axis of the device. Another way of describing the device is as a device for use in an organism, the device comprising an element having at least one wound microcoil with at least three windings on the microcoil. Each winding has an aspect ratio of greater than one. The aspect ratio of each winding is measured as the ratio of longest to shortest dimension in a cross section situated approximately transverse to the winding axis of the coil windings, the winding axis also being transverse to the longest axis of said device.

Abstract: An injector for the intra-muscular, subcutaneous, or intra-dermal delivery of a fluid medicament to a patient includes a cylindrical member which has a closed end and an open end, and which is formed with a compartment between these two ends. An injection tube extends from the closed end through the cylindrical member and into the compartment. A suction pump is connected in fluid communication with the compartment to create a partial vacuum in the compartment when the open end of the cylindrical member is held against the skin of the patient. Due to this vacuum, skin of the patient is drawn into the compartment to position the tip of the injection tube against the skin. Also, skin that is adjacent the tip is drawn by the vacuum into the compartment. This stabilizes the skin around the injection tube tip and thereby minimizes any movement of skin relative to the tip during an injection of fluid medicament into the patient.

Abstract: A transdermal drug applicator comprising at least two flexible drug reservoir units each having ends and being of a predetermined depth, and at least one medicament in at least one of the at least two reservoir units. Peripheral means are disposed entirely about the ends of the reservoir units for separating and insulating the reservoir units from each other along their predetermined depth to thereby preclude shorting out between the at least two reservoir units. Circuit means including battery means for electrically connecting the battery means to the at least two reservoir units, and means for covering the applicator including the at least two reservoir units leaving sides of the at least two reservoir units exposed for contacting the skin.

Abstract: An iontophoretic drug delivery device comprising a flexible reservoir sandwiched between a flexible printed circuit board and a pair of flexible electrodes. A rigid top cover is mounted on a spine on the reservoir by means of snap-fit connections. The rigid cover protects the device from damage while the flexible reservoir, circuit board and electrodes can conform to the skin of a subject. The configuration of the flexible elements allows the manufacturing process to be simplified considerably, resulting in a less expensive device with ease of fabrication.

Abstract: An electrically/battery powered transdermal drug applicator comprising a flexible non-conductive substrate with a plurality of conductive coated areas, the conductive coated areas forming drug reservoir electrodes, and a plurality of drug reservoirs separated by occlusive adhesive dams and in electrical contact with said drug reservoir electrodes. The battery is connected to the electrodes of the drug reservoirs and said applicator including electrical current conditioning means, with a conformal cover adhesively secured to said transdermal drug applicator and with a release liner covering and protecting said plurality of drug reservoirs until use.

Abstract: The use of devices in procedures, especially medical procedures where the events take place under view of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems is becoming more important. Although some general and specific structures have been discussed in the literature and commercialized, little has been done effectively to design devices for MRI procedures for specific tasks. The present invention describes a device for use within an organism, said device comprising an element having at least one pair of opposed RF receiver microcoils having a space between each microcoil of said pair of microcoils, the coils of said microcoils may have diameters of less than 2.4 mm.

Abstract: An improved transdermal drug applicator for application to a living body for the migration of at least one medicament through the skin into the blood stream embodying at least two electrode elements forming the applicator and with the electrodes separated from each other by insulating means. A reservoir means, in at least one of said electrode elements of said applicator, containing said medicament; and a circuit, including a power source, for supplying electric power to said electrodes and such reservoir means. Suitable cover means partially enclosed at least said reservoir means, and adhesive means affixes the applicator to the skin, so as to complete an electrical circuit through the skin when the applicator is affixed thereto, thus creating at least one physico/chemical mass transfer phenomenon which causes said medicament to migrate through the skin.

Abstract: A jet injector, and a method, for injecting fluid medicament into a patient in a two-stage process. During the first stage fluid is expelled from the injector under relatively high pressure, to create a hole through the skin of the patient. During the second stage, fluid is infused through the hole into the patient at a much lower pressure, and for a much longer period of time. The jet injector includes a syringe unit, and a drive mechanism which is selectively connectable with the syringe unit. Specifically, the drive mechanism includes two springs which are positioned to urge against a push rod as they elongate. When the drive mechanism is engaged with the syringe unit, the push rod is positioned longitudinally co-linear with a plunger in the chamber. When the springs are released, they push the push rod which, in turn, pushes the plunger, causing the fluid to be expelled through an injection tube connected to the chamber.

Abstract: A transdermal drug applicator (100) for application to a living body for the delivery of at least one drug through the skin (144) into the bloodstream comprising an applicator (100) including at least one drug reservoir (182A,182B) containing the drug for delivering same through the skin (144) by physico/chemical mass transfer. A mounting structure (138,140) is removably mounted to the body for holding the applicator (100) to the skin (144), with the applicator (100) removably connected to the mounting structure (138,140). A power supply (166) for the applicator (100) and a circuit transmitting electrical power from the power supply (166) to the applicator (100) is disclosed, wherein an electric circuit is created between the applicator (100) and the skin (144).

Abstract: A transdermal drug applicator (100) for application to a living body for the delivery of at least one drug through the skin (144) into the bloodstream comprising an applicator (100) including at least one drug reservoir (182A,182B) containing the drug for delivering same through the skin (144) by physico/chemical mass transfer. A mounting structure (138, 140) is removably mounted to the body for holding the applicator (100) to the skin (144), with the applicator (100) removably connected to the mounting structure (138,140). A power supply (166) for the applicator (100) and a circuit transmitting electrical power from the power supply (166) to the applicator (100) is disclosed, wherein an electric circuit is created between the applicator (100) and the skin (144).

Abstract: An electrically/battery powered transdermal drug applicator comprising a flexible non-conductive substrate with a plurality of conductive coated areas, the conductive coated areas forming drug reservoir electrodes, and a plurality of drug reservoirs separated by occlusive adhesive dams and in electrical contact with said drug reservoir electrodes. The battery is connected to the electrodes of the drug reservoirs and said applicator including electrical current conditioning means, with a conformal cover adhesively secured to said transdermal drug applicator and with a release liner covering and protecting said plurality of drug reservoirs until use.

Abstract: An improved transdermal drug applicator for application to a living body for the migration of at least one medicament through the skin into the blood stream embodying at least two electrode elements forming the applicator and with the electrodes separated from each other by insulating means. A reservoir means, in at least one of said electrode elements of said applicator, containing said medicament; and a circuit, including a power source, for supplying electric power to said electrodes and such reservoir means. Suitable cover means partially enclosed at least said reservoir means, and adhesive means affixes the applicator to the skin, so as to complete an electrical circuit through the skin when the applicator is affixed thereto, thus creating at least one physico/chemical mass transfer phenomenon which causes said medicament to migrate through the skin.

Abstract: An improved transdermal drug applicator for application to a living body for the migration of at least one medicament through the skin into the blood stream embodying at least two electrode elements forming the applicator and with the electrodes separated from each other by insulating means. A reservoir means, in at least one of said electrode elements of said applicator, containing said medicament; and a circuit, including a power source, for supplying electric power to said electrodes and such reservoir means. Suitable cover means partially enclosed at least said reservoir means, and adhesive means affixes the applicator to the skin, so as to complete an electrical circuit through the skin when the applicator is affixed thereto, thus creating at least one physico/chemical mass transfer phenomenon which causes said medicament to migrate through the skin.