Abstract: A device for heating or cooling medical fluids to be administered to a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a hollow, cylindrical heat/cold exchanging body having external grooves for receiving flexible tubing, the body comprising conductive material for transferring heat or cold from the medical fluid flowing to the patient. A method of using the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A water-dissolvable drug delivery device designed so as to reliably maintain a drug or active agent within a defined region against a mucosal surface. The drug delivery device comprises a water-dissolvable backing layer, an adhesive layer adjacent to at least a portion of the backing layer, and an active layer that is circumscribed by the backing layer and adhesive layer. The backing layer may optionally include a water-dissolvable hydrophilic region and a non-hydrophilic region at least partially encapsulated within the hydrophilic region that inhibits migration of water, drugs, or other active agents through the backing layer. The adhesive layer may be water-activated or it may have a peelable cover layer that, when removed, exposes the adhesive material.

Abstract: Dosage regimens of buprenorphine achieving rapid pain relief without increasing nausea, vomiting, or other adverse effects, are described. Also described are buprenorphine dosage regimens for treating chronic pain comprising administering to the patient (1) a first buprenorphine-containing transdermal dosage form for a first dosing period that is no more than about 5 days; (2) a second buprenorphine-containing transdermal dosage form for a second dosing period that is no more than 5 days, the second dosage form comprising the same dosage of buprenorphine as, or a greater dosage of buprenorphine than, the first dosage form; and (3) a third buprenorphine-containing transdermal dosage form for a third dosing period, the third dosage form comprising a greater dosage of buprenorphine than the second dosage form.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the preparation of bone-polymer composites wherein the mineral portion of the bone is treated with a coupling agent before being incorporated into a biocompatible polymeric matrix. The resulting composites may be used as such or be further processed to form an osteoimplant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a topical composition for application to the lips comprising a reaction product of a silica dioxide, or a derivative thereof, with a dimethylsiloxy resin having a viscosity of about 1000 to about 200,000 cs, in combination with a volatile carrier.

Abstract: Method for producing a syringe with a glued cannula, in which a syringe body is provided with a lubricant internally at high temperature, and either the lubricant is prevented from penetrating into a cannula receptacle of the syringe body, or the lubricant is cleared from the cannula receptacle of the syringe body afterward, and a cannula is glued into the cannula receptacle; and a syringe with a body comprising a cylinder portion and a narrowed cannula receptacle portion, whereby the cylinder portion is provided internally with a lubricant—this being deposited at high temperature—a cannula receptacle of the receptacle portion is cleared of lubricant, and a cannula is glued into the cannula receptacle.

Abstract: The invention provides surgical needles with a porous distal portion from which a liquid injectate will weep or ooze multidirectionally under injection pressure while the porous distal portion of the needle is inserted into a body surface. The porous distal portion of the needle can be fabricated from a porous carbon, metal, ceramic or polymer and preferably has a decreasing gradient of impedance to fluid flowing to the point of the needle to compensate for the falling off of injection pressure as fluid moves towards the point, thereby ensuring uniform weeping of the injectate along the injection course. The needle is adapted for attachment to a catheter or syringe. In another embodiment, a surgical assemblage is provided wherein a porous distal portion having similar fluid flow characteristics is located along the distal end of a catheter, and a needle point is attached to the distal end of the catheter (e.g., a steerable catheter) for piercing tissue.

Abstract: A coated stent or intra-luminal prosthesis containing a MAP kinase inhibitor controls, reduces, or prevents restenosis, inflammation, and complications associated with stent or intra-luminal prosthesis implantation and/or cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting restenosis is disclosed. The method includes reducing contaminants during manufacturing of angioplasty devices and during angioplasty procedures. An angioplasty device is preferably examined for contaminants prior to the angioplasty procedure, and the contaminants are reduce if present.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an osmotic pump that automatically provides an ascending release rate of active agent as the osmotic pump functions in an environment of operation and may be designed for implantation within a desired animal or human subject. An osmotic pump according to the present invention includes a reservoir, a rate controlling membrane, an expandable osmotic composition, an active agent formulation and an exit orifice. Once administered to an environment of operation, water passes through the rate controlling membrane and into the osmotic composition, which causes the osmotic composition to expand and expel the active agent formulation through the exit orifice at a rate that is directly proportional to the rate at which water passes through the rate controlling membrane.

Abstract: An implantable or insertable medical device which comprises (a) a therapeutic agent and (b) a polymeric release region that controls the release of the therapeutic agent upon administration to a patient. The polymeric release region comprises a radiation-crosslinked polymer, and the polymeric release region is crosslinked with a radiation dose of at least 10,000 rads. The radiation-crosslinked polymer can be, for example, a radiation-crosslinked methylene-containing polymer. 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: An osmotic delivery system having a space-efficient piston is provided. The enclosure has an interior holding the piston, a protein or peptide, and an osmotic agent. The piston is movable with respect to an interior surface of the capsule, and defines a movable seal with the interior surface of the capsule. The movable seal separates the osmopolymer from the protein or peptide. The piston has a recess that receives at least a portion of the osmotic agent. The osmotic agent imbibes liquid from a surrounding environment to cause the piston to move and, in turn, cause delivery of the beneficial agent from the capsule.

Abstract: A coating for a medical device, particularly for a drug eluting stent, is described. The coating includes a self-assembled monolayer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of stabilizing immunoglobulins in a solution having a pH below 4 by adding cereals or hydrolysed cereal products in an amount sufficient to prevent degradation. The present invention also provides a health drink or sports drink comprising immunoglobulins in a solution having a pH of 2.7–3.8 containing cereals or hydrolysed cereal products in an amount sufficient to prevent degradation of the immunoglobulins.

Abstract: A needle shield assembly and method of manufacturing a needle shield are provided. The needle shield assembly includes a needle hub having a needle cannula extending therefrom. A needle shield base is pivotably coupled to the needle hub. A locking assembly including a needle engagement member is coupled to the needle shield base. One or both of the needle shield base and the locking assembly include a cavity for receiving the needle cannula. The needle shield is manufactured by providing a needle shield base and a separate locking assembly including a needle engagement member, and connecting the locking assembly to the distal end portion of the needle shield base.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device which employs a chemically sensitive cantilever hingably attached to a capsule. The cantilever functions as a switch which regulates the flow of particles into and/or out of the capsule.

Abstract: A thermosetting-resin-based coating that is capable of forming a substantially flame-resistant barrier upon being exposed to heat. The coating includes a thermoset resin, an acid catalyst having a pKa value of less than 2, a filler selected from glass, mica, talc, perlite, vermiculite and combinations thereof, and an organic-intumescent material. The thermoset coating is at least 75% of the total weight of the coating.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a cap suitable for injection devices having an exchangeable needle assembly, which serves as a mounting/demounting tool of the said needle assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a stent for treatment and prevention of arterial stenosis and re-stenosis. The stent for intraluminal placement within an artery and subsequent expansion for implantation in a patient comprises of a main body portion having a first end and a second end, for defining a passage for flow of blood there-through, the main body portion having an inner lumen surface and an outer lumen surface, the outer lumen surface coming into contact with the endothelium and delivering a drug composition on the outer lumen surface directly only to the endothelium for providing cell surface antithrombotic activity, wherein the anticoagulation activity in the blood plasma of a patient is not appreciably increased.

Abstract: An infusion device, including: a housing; an infusion cannula extending downwardly away from the housing and capable of receiving an insertion needle; a septum disposed in the housing; a passageway under said septum and in fluid communication with said cannula; and, an infusion needle insertable through the septum, the infusion needle capable of penetrating the septum and entering said passageway thereby forming a flow path between the infusion needle and the infusion cannula and wherein the ion cannula and the infusion needle are aligned on separate non identical axes.