Abstract: A cartridge, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a body at least partially defining an interior for containing fluid for being delivered by the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The body may also at least partially define first and second openings to the interior of the body, wherein the first and second openings are respectively proximate opposite first and second ends of the body. The cartridge may also include a self-sealing member at least partially closing the first opening, and a movable member at least partially closing the second opening, wherein at least a portion of the movable member is for being urged into the interior of the body for increasing pressure within the interior of the body.

Abstract: A cartridge, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a body at least partially defining an interior for containing fluid for being delivered by the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The body may also at least partially define first and second openings to the interior of the body, wherein the first and second openings are respectively proximate opposite first and second ends of the body. The cartridge may also include a self-sealing member at least partially closing the first opening, and a movable member at least partially closing the second opening, wherein at least a portion of the movable member is for being urged into the interior of the body for increasing pressure within the interior of the body.

Abstract: The configuration of an elongate aperture in a membrane draped over a microneedle assembly may be controlled by controlling the manner in which the aperture is formed and/or by controlling the manner in which the membrane is draped. At least a portion of the membrane may be spaced apart from a microneedle so that a gap is defined between the membrane and the microneedle. The gap may be configured for at least partially controlling the formation of the elongate aperture. The shape of the gap may optionally be at least partially defined by a pleat in the membrane. Any pleats may be aligned in a predetermined manner. The elongate aperture may be formed by a piercing member that is passed through a hole in the microneedle assembly prior to piercing the membrane. The piercing member may be a laser beam.

Abstract: A cleaning article includes a cleaning article sheet comprising a fabric substrate, wherein the fabric substrate includes pores therein, and wherein the fabric substrate has a background moisture percentage by weight, and liquid water disposed substantially and disconnectedly within the pores, wherein the liquid water is at moisture percentage by weight that is 5 to 150 percentage points higher than the background moisture percentage. The nonwoven substrate can include pores formed between and/or within the fibers and can have a background moisture percentage by weight. The substrate can include a treatment to increase the dielectric constant from the dielectric constant of the substrate without the treatment. The moisture of the article can be configured to exhibit a dielectric constant of at least 50% and up to 600% higher than the dielectric constant of the same article with only background moisture.

Abstract: A transdermal drug delivery apparatus includes a housing for being fastened to a user, a microneedle assembly for being engaged against the skin of the user, a first force provider for providing a first force for forcing the microneedle assembly outwardly from the housing and against the skin, a reservoir movably carried by the housing for containing the fluid and for being in fluid communication with the microneedle assembly, and a second force provider for providing a second force for causing at least some of the fluid to flow from the reservoir to the microneedle assembly after the reservoir has moved into fluid communication with the microneedle assembly.

Abstract: A receptacle, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a housing for being fastened to the user, a force provider that is elastic, at least one deformable component, and a microneedle assembly movably mounted to the housing for moving inwardly and outwardly relative to the housing. The force provider may be positioned between the housing and the microneedle assembly for forcing the microneedle assembly outwardly relative to the housing and against the skin of the user. The at least one deformable component may be connected between the microneedle assembly and the housing for both allowing relative movement between the microneedle assembly and the housing, and at least partially restricting the microneedle assembly from falling away from the housing.

Abstract: A controller, which may be used in a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, includes a housing, a pushing mechanism mounted for moving relative to the housing, a force provider positioned between the housing and the pushing mechanism for moving the pushing mechanism relative to the housing, and a latching mechanism for selectively restricting and allowing relative movement between the housing and the pushing mechanism. The pushing mechanism may be configured for pushing against a reservoir of the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The latching mechanism may include flexible arms extending between the opposite ends of the latching mechanism, and the latching mechanism may be configured so that the arms release the pushing mechanism in response to the opposite ends being forced toward one another.

Abstract: The configuration of an elongate aperture in a membrane draped over a microneedle assembly may be controlled by controlling the manner in which the aperture is formed and/or by controlling the manner in which the membrane is draped. At least a portion of the membrane may be spaced apart from a microneedle so that a gap is defined between the membrane and the microneedle. The gap may be configured for at least partially controlling the formation of the elongate aperture. The shape of the gap may optionally be at least partially defined by a pleat in the membrane. Any pleats may be aligned in a predetermined manner. The elongate aperture may be formed by a piercing member that is passed through a hole in the microneedle assembly prior to piercing the membrane. The piercing member may be a laser beam.

Abstract: A cartridge, which may be suitable for use as a portion of a transdermal drug delivery apparatus, may include a body at least partially defining an interior for containing fluid for being delivered by the transdermal drug delivery apparatus. The body may also at least partially define first and second openings to the interior of the body, wherein the first and second openings are respectively proximate opposite first and second ends of the body. The cartridge may also include a self-sealing member at least partially closing the first opening, and a movable member at least partially closing the second opening, wherein at least a portion of the movable member is for being urged into the interior of the body for increasing pressure within the interior of the body.

Abstract: A configurable percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube includes a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end. The shaft defines a lumen therethrough for passage of a feeding solution or medicine. An expandable retainer is located on the shaft, the retainer having a deployed position and an insertion position. The tube includes a releasable lock for maintaining the expandable retainer in its deployed position, the releasable lock located on the shaft proximal to the expandable retainer. A flexible sheath surrounds the expandable retainer, the sheath being generally loose around the retainer when the retainer is in an insertion position and the sheath being generally snug against an exterior surface of the retainer when the retainer is in a deployed position.

Abstract: An indicator assembly for use with a non-vascular catheter device. The indicator assembly includes: a first retainer secured to a catheter tube, the first retainer being an indwelling retainer which is deployed within a non-vascular lumen or cavity of the body; a second retainer secured to the catheter tube, the second retainer deployed outside the human body; and an indicator located outside the body on the catheter tube between the first retainer and the second retainer. The first retainer and the second retainer are configured to maintain substantially the same position with respect to each other on the tube and the indicator is configured to signal a change in position with respect to either the first or the second retainer, thereby indicating a change in the length of a stoma.

Abstract: A cleaning article includes a cleaning article sheet comprising a fabric substrate, wherein the fabric substrate includes pores therein, and wherein the fabric substrate has a background moisture percentage by weight, and liquid water disposed substantially and disconnectedly within the pores, wherein the liquid water is at moisture percentage by weight that is 5 to 150 percentage points higher than the background moisture percentage. The nonwoven substrate can include pores formed between and/or within the fibers and can have a background moisture percentage by weight. The substrate can include a treatment to increase the dielectric constant from the dielectric constant of the substrate without the treatment. The moisture of the article can be configured to exhibit a dielectric constant of at least 50% and up to 600% higher than the dielectric constant of the same article with only background moisture.

Abstract: There is provided a device for sampling bodily fluids. Some embodiments have a handle, a lumen, and a diverter valve. The distal end of the handle is adapted to connect with a sampling device and is in fluid communication with the lumen. There is a vacuum connection on the proximal end of the handle that is also in fluid communication with the lumen. A suction valve may desirably be located in the lumen to control the application of vacuum from the vacuum connection to the sampling device. The diverter valve directs the flow through the lumen such that a sample from the patient goes into a sputum trap when the trap is connected. The device may further have a saline port in fluid communication with the lumen, located distal to the suction valve, for rinsing the tube and diluting secretions.

Abstract: There is provided a device for sampling bodily fluids. Some embodiments have a handle, a lumen, and a diverter valve. The distal end of the handle is adapted to connect with a sampling device and is in fluid communication with the lumen. There is a vacuum connection on the proximal end of the handle that is also in fluid communication with the lumen. A suction valve may desirably be located in the lumen to control the application of vacuum from the vacuum connection to the sampling device. The diverter valve directs the flow through the lumen such that a sample from the patient goes into a sputum trap when the trap is connected. The device may further have a saline port in fluid communication with the lumen, located distal to the suction valve, for rinsing the tube and diluting secretions.