Abstract: A pre-filled pharmaceutical package comprising a liquid formulation of a VEGF-antagonist, for example Ranibizumab, in a pre-filled pharmaceutical package, for example a syringe, cartridge, or vial, made in part or in whole of a thermoplastic polymer, coated on the interior with a tie coating or layer, a barrier coating or layer, a pH protective coating or layer, and optionally a lubricity coating or layer. Stability performance of the VEGF-antagonist packaged in the coated COP vessel comparable to or better than glass was obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed are plunger assemblies including various convertible plungers and methods of making the same. Each plunger assembly is configured for disposition within a barrel of a medical container, e.g., a syringe, and displaced within the barrel from an engagement position to a release position. The engagement position is configured to provide a compression seal between a storage sealing section of the plunger and an inner wall of the syringe barrel. In the release position, the compression seal is reduced or eliminated. Also disclosed are methods for making convertible plungers and assembling them into syringes, e.g., pre-filled syringes.

Abstract: An article or vessel is described including a vessel surface and a coating set comprising at least one tie coating, at least one barrier coating, and at least one pH protective coating. For example, the coating set can comprise a tie coating, a barrier coating, a pH protective coating and a second barrier coating; and in the presence of a fluid composition, the fluid contacting surface is the barrier coating or layer. The respective coatings can be applied by PECVD of a polysiloxane precursor. Such vessels can have a coated interior portion containing a fluid with a pH of 4 to 8. The barrier coating prevents oxygen from penetrating into the thermoplastic vessel, and the tie coating and pH protective coating together protect the barrier layer from the contents of the vessel. The second barrier coating is comparable to glass surface if needed.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a body, a needle, a cutter, an analysis area, a valve, and a tissue sample holder. The cutter is movable relative to the needle and in communication with the needle for transporting tissue samples. The analysis area is disposed proximally of the cutter and in communication with the needle to receive a tissue sample cut by the cutter for analysis by a user. The valve is disposed proximally of the analysis area and configured to alternate between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The tissue sample holder is disposed proximally of the valve and fixedly attached to the body. The valve is configured to permit analysis of the sample disposed in the analysis area when the valve is in the closed configuration and to permit the tissue sample to be passed into the tissue sample holder when the valve is in the open configuration configuration.

Abstract: A support system for positioning a patient in lateral position during surgery procedures with a removable, adjustable support pad assembly, comprising a first support unit arranged for attachment to side rail on a lateral edge of an operating table, and a second support unit comprising an arm connected movably by the using of a movable connection with a pad plate adapted to position a support pad connected by a biasing connector to a support plate with degrees of freedom of angular rotational movement of the support pad in relation to the patient. The biasing connector comprises a channel formed between a base plate support segment and a projection clamping the pad plate apart from the support plate to allow flow of air and/or fluids from the support pad.

Abstract: In the field of radioimmunoguided surgical system instrumentation there is described and claimed a hand-held probe with a disposable power source as well as a visually perceptible indicator of detected counts of radiation. Also disclosed is a system comprising the hand-held probe and an instrumentation console. The handle includes a probe link that transmits a message containing gamma data relating to the low-level electrical signal. The instrumentation console may include a housing, a console link to receive the message transmitted by the probe link, a receiver electrically coupled to the console link to convert the message to corresponding electrical display signals, and a visually perceivable display electrically coupled to the receiver to convert the electrical display signals to a visually perceivable display relating to the amount of radiation detected.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes a cutter defining a cutter lumen and a tissue sample holder for collecting tissue samples. In one example, the tissue sample holder includes a rotatable manifold, and has a plurality of chambers that are each configured to separately hold tissue samples. A tissue sample holder rotation mechanism is operable to rotate the manifold to successively align each of the chambers with the cutter lumen. A controller in communication with the rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the manifold to a presentation position to present a collected tissue sample within a chamber to a user (e.g., at an angular position approximately 90 degrees from the cutter lumen). The controller is further configured to rotate the manifold align the next, empty chamber with the cutter lumen in response to a user input instructing the biopsy device to obtain another tissue sample.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved system for use of eye tracking including spatial mapping percepts in a visual prosthesis by presenting an electrically induced precept through a visual prosthesis, requesting a subject look to the direction of the percept and tracking their eye movement. Eye movement is both faster and more accurate than asking a visual prosthesis user to point to the location of a percept. This method can be beneficial in a retinal prosthesis, but is particularly useful in a cortical visual prosthesis where visual cortex does not match the retinotopic map. Methods are presented for calibrating an eye tracker. Eye tracking hardware may also be used for blanking video information base on the subject's natural blink reflex.

Abstract: A process is provided for making a walled structure using an injection molding apparatus. The apparatus has a molding space formed between a mold cavity and an inner core disposed within the mold cavity. The molding space defines a shape of the structure. The process includes injecting molding material into the molding space, moving or retaining a portion of a movable impression member protruding from the inner core within a portion of the molding space so as to create a recess within an inner wall of the structure, and retracting the impression member into the inner core such that the impression member is cleared from the molding space. Precision control in forming the impression member is provided by a closed-loop configuration using a sensor that measures a molding space parameter (e.g., temperature), optionally in combination with a servo drive for activating the impression member.

Abstract: The present inventive subject matter describes a device and system for positioning, adjusting, and stretching a patient's extremity for surgical procedures where alignment is critical and minute adjustments may be required repeatedly. The device helps in maintaining the patient's extremity stationary, once the physician has selected the precise position for the elected procedure. The device uses using a combination of an articulating and a rotating frame, support plates and support rings that are attached to the extremity surgical positioning system. The system acts as a limb splint that is firmly attached to the surgical table. The support plates are attached to the patient via a series of adjustable straps preventing the extremity from moving independently of the support plate. A locking rack and gear configuration has adjustable locking pivot points that are positioned along and within the outer/inner proximal tube and outer/inner distal tube that lengthens or rotates various portions of the extremity.

Abstract: A marker delivery device comprises a marker deployer cannula, a push rod, a biopsy site marker, and a ramped tip. The marker deployer cannula may have a marker exit in communication with an interior lumen of the cannula. The marker exit may comprise a distal end with a ramped surface. The biopsy site marker may be configured with a plurality of edges. The plurality of edges may be configured to engage at least a portion of the interior lumen of the cannula. The ramped tip may comprise a first ramped surface and a second ramped surface, the second ramped surface may align with the ramped surface of the distal end of the marker exit. The push rod may be used to push the biopsy site marker up the ramped tip and through the marker exit.

Abstract: A biopsy device including a body, a needle, a cutter, and a tissue sample holder. The needle extends distally from the body. The cutter is longitudinally translatable relative to the needle and defines a cutter lumen. The tissue sample holder includes an outer cup or cover, a rotatable member, a tissue receiving tray, and a bulk cup assembly. The rotatable member defines a plurality of passages and a first cylindrical portion. Each strip of the plurality of strips are insertable into a corresponding passage of the plurality of passages. The bulk cup assembly is insertable into the first cylindrical portion of the rotatable member.

Abstract: A tissue acquisition and handling system includes a biopsy device, a tray, and a container. The biopsy device includes a needle and a tissue sample holder assembly. The needle is configured to acquire tissue samples and communicate tissue samples to the tissue sample holder assembly. The tray includes a plurality of strips. The tray is configured to be receiving within the tissue sample holder assembly of the biopsy device. The container includes a plurality of tray receiving portions. Each tray receiving portion includes a distal end, a proximal end, and a tray chamber, the tray chamber extends between the proximal end and the distal end. The tray chamber is configured to receive at least a portion of the tray through a tray opening of the proximal end.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying a model of a television set is presented. The system may include a user interaction device including a first communication port configured to transmit operational codes to the television set via a control link, and a second communication port configured to detect audio signals from the television set via a feedback link. The user interaction device may be configured to transmit volume-down codes for television models to the television set to program a volume level of the television set to 0. The user interaction device may be configured to transmit a volume-up code for a first television model. The user interaction device may be configured to identify a model of the television set as the first television model if the user interaction device detects an audio signal on the feedback link following the transmission of the volume-up code for the first television model.

Abstract: A three-position plunger is provided including a sleeve having an opening at a distal end, a pre-load cavity proximal to and in communication with the opening, a first cavity proximal to and in communication with the pre-load cavity, a second cavity proximal to and in communication with the pre-load cavity, and at least one rib. The rib(s) is generally aligned with the first cavity. The plunger further includes an insert configured to be displaced from the pre-load cavity to the first cavity and from the first cavity to the second cavity. The insert is configured to provide support for the compression of the rib(s) when the insert is positioned in the first cavity.

Abstract: An expandable plate configured to expand and to hold, move and maintain a body part in a specific position as needed in orthopedic surgery. The expandable plate has a bed with a guide assembly formed in a top surface configured to fit to cavity assembly of a track so as to slide in relation thereto. A carriage unit can be positioned on the track to hold a body part in a specific position, whereby when an additional linear dimension is required for a surgical procedure, the track can be expanded to extend the body part to the predetermined position using the same positioner device.

Abstract: The invention is a patient positioner assembly, system, article of manufacture, kit, and method of a positioning a patient useful in surgical procedures to secure and hold a patient on a support table. The patient positioner comprises a sheet assembly, a pad assembly, a film for protecting a patient-facing surface of the pad assembly, and straps for a patient's limb(s) that operably connects to a support table pad having hook portions configured to operably connect to a loop base of the sheet assembly thereby operably connecting the support table pad to the sheet assembly. The sheet assembly can be configured as a cover, sheet and/or drape from suitable materials impermeable or that otherwise do not permit the passage of a fluid through its substance to the table pad and/or the split-pad assembly.