Abstract: An apparatus having an adjustable ambient air-oxygen blender that adjustably mixes ambient air with an oxygen supply, especially where a size, diameter or flow rate of an orifice is mechanically adjustable so as to control a quantitative mixing function of the blender.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an apparatus having an adjustable ambient air-oxygen blender that adjustably mixes ambient air with an oxygen supply, especially where a size, diameter or flow rate of an orifice is mechanically adjustable so as to control a quantitative mixing function of the blender.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to an implantable medical device comprising a surface coated with a polyelectrolyte multilayer, wherein said surface is glass, metal, plastic, polymer, or fiberglass. Another aspect of the present invention involves a method of preparing a PEM-coated implantable medical device, comprising the step of applying a film to a surface of an implantable medical device, wherein said film comprises a polyelectrolyte multilayer and said surface is glass, metal, plastic, polymer, or fiberglass.

Abstract: Methods are described that include elongating, e.g., by stretching and/or compressing, a polymeric material, such as an ultra-high molecular weight polyolefin (e.g., an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)), below, or above a melt temperature of the polymeric material to disentangle polymeric chains of the polymeric material. The disentangled materials provided can be effectively and efficiently crosslinked, e.g., by using ionizing radiation (e.g., generated by a gamma radiation source and/or an electron beam source). Parts formed from the crosslinked polymeric materials have, e.g., high wear resistance, enhanced stiffness, as reflected in flexural and tensile moduli, a high level of fatigue and crack propagation resistance, and enhanced creep resistance. Some of the crosslinked polymeric materials have a low coefficient of friction. Prior to elongating, it can be desirable to slightly crosslink the polymeric material to impart shape memory into the polymeric material.

Abstract: Preforms are described, e.g., preforms in rod, sheet or medical device form, that have non-uniform properties in different regions of a single preform. These “engineered preforms” have predetermined properties that can allow, e.g., some regions of a single preform to be relatively stiff and resistant to wear, while other regions of the same preform are relatively flexible. Methods of making the anisotropic preforms are also described.

Abstract: Highly crystalline, oxidation resistant crosslinked polymeric materials such as crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylenes having high wear resistance, enhanced stiffness, enhanced tensile strength, a high level of fatigue and crack propagation resistance, and enhanced creep resistance can be manufactured by the new methods described herein.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to an implantable medical device comprising a surface coated with a polyelectrolyte multilayer, wherein said surface is glass, metal, plastic, polymer, or fiberglass. Another aspect of the present invention involves a method of preparing a PEM-coated implantable medical device, comprising the step of applying a film to a surface of an implantable medical device, wherein said film comprises a polyelectrolyte multilayer and said surface is glass, metal, plastic, polymer, or fiberglass.

Abstract: Nanocomposite surgical materials, such as cements, having very fine heterogenous structure are formed by incorporating into a polymeric matrix a well dispersed solid filler having an average mass diameter ranging from about 750 nanometers to about 1 nanometer. The average ligament thickness of the surgical composite cements ranges from about 750 nanometers to about 1 nanometer. Methods and apparatus for avoiding air contact during the preparation and transfer of a cement to an in vivo site are described.

Abstract: Highly crystalline, oxidation resistant crosslinked polymeric materials such as crosslinked ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylenes having high wear resistance, enhanced stiffness, enhanced tensile strength, a high level of fatigue and crack propagation resistance, and enhanced creep resistance can be manufactured by the new methods described herein.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to an implantable medical device comprising a surface coated with a polyelectrolyte multilayer, wherein said surface is glass, metal, plastic, polymer, or fiberglass. Another aspect of the present invention involves a method of preparing a PEM-coated implantable medical device, comprising the step of applying a film to a surface of an implantable medical device, wherein said film comprises a polyelectrolyte multilayer and said surface is glass, metal, plastic, polymer, or fiberglass.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to an implantable medical device comprising a surface coated with a polyelectrolyte multilayer, wherein said surface is glass, metal, plastic, polymer, or fiberglass. Another aspect of the present invention involves a method of preparing a PEM-coated implantable medical device, comprising the step of applying a film to a surface of an implantable medical device, wherein said film comprises a polyelectrolyte multilayer and said surface is glass, metal, plastic, polymer, or fiberglass.

Abstract: Nanocomposite surgical materials, such as cements, having very fine heterogenous structure are formed by incorporating into a polymeric matrix a well dispersed solid filler having an average mass diameter ranging from about 750 nanometers to about 1 nanometer. The average ligament thickness of the surgical composite cements ranges from about 750 nanometers to about 1 nanometer. Methods and apparatus for avoiding air contact during the preparation and transfer of a cement to an in vivo site are described.

Abstract: Nanocomposite surgical materials, such as cements, having very fine heterogenous structure are formed by incorporating into a polymeric matrix a well dispersed solid, liquid or gaseous filler having an average mass diameter ranging from about 750 nanometers to about 1 nanometer. The average ligament thickness of the surgical composite cements ranges from about 750 nanometers to about 1 nanometer. Methods and apparatus for avoiding air contact during the preparation and transfer of a cement to an in vivo site are described.