Abstract: Percutaneous therapy or drug delivery devices are described herein. The device can include one or multiple lumens inside a cannula or catheter body. The device can include features for reducing or preventing backflow or reflux of infusate along the device insertion track, such as one or more bullet noses, over tubes, and/or micro-tips. The device can be used in any of a variety of treatment methods, including to inject cancer therapy medicinal products directly into pulmonary tumors or tumors located in other regions of the body. The device can include features to keep the distal tip secure during patient respiration or during other patient movement, and can reduce the incidence of reflux during therapy delivery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering a drug or other therapy over an extended period of time (e.g., several hours, days, weeks, months, years, and so forth) are disclosed herein, as are systems and methods for monitoring various parameters associated with the treatment of a patient. Systems and methods are also disclosed herein that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow.

Abstract: The methods, systems, and devices disclosed herein generally involve convection-enhanced delivery of drugs to a target region within a patient. Microfluidic catheter devices are disclosed that are particularly suitable for targeted delivery of drugs via convection, including devices capable of multi-directional drug delivery, devices that control fluid pressure and velocity using the venturi effect, and devices that include conformable balloons. Methods of treating various diseases using such devices are also disclosed, including methods of treating cerebral and spinal cavernous malformations, cavernomas, and hemangiomas, methods of treating neurological diseases, methods of treatment using multiple microfluidic delivery devices, methods of treating hearing disorders, methods of spinal drug delivery using microfluidic devices, and methods of delivering stem cells and therapeutics during fetal surgery. Methods of manufacturing such devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Drug delivery systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to deliver a drug to a patient in coordination with a physiological parameter of the patient (e.g., the patient's natural cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation or the patient's heart or respiration rate). In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to use a combination of infusion and aspiration to control delivery of a drug to a patient. Catheters, controllers, and other components for use in the above systems are also disclosed, as are various methods of using such systems.

Abstract: Catheters, catheter ports, connectors, and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for drug delivery to a subject. The catheters and catheter ports can include various features to facilitate dosing protocols that require multiple injections, and/or for reducing or eliminating damage that may occur to the catheter, port, or patient tissue as a result of multiple injections.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow. In some embodiments, CED devices include a tissue-receiving space disposed proximal to a distal fluid outlet. Tissue can be compressed into or pinched/pinned by the tissue-receiving space as the device is inserted into a target region of a patient, thereby forming a seal that reduces or prevents proximal backflow of fluid ejected from the outlet beyond the tissue-receiving space. In some embodiments, CED devices include a bullet-shaped nose proximal to a distal fluid outlet. The bullet-shaped nose forms a good seal with surrounding tissue and helps reduce or prevent backflow of infused fluid.

Abstract: Drug delivery systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to deliver a drug to a patient in coordination with a physiological parameter of the patient (e.g., the patient's natural cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation or the patient's heart or respiration rate). In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to use a combination of infusion and aspiration to control delivery of a drug to a patient. Catheters, controllers, and other components for use in the above systems are also disclosed, as are various methods of using such systems.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a patterned structure, the structure comprising: i) a substrate, ii) a first layer on top of the substrate, comprising a filler material and a guiding material, wherein at least a top surface of the first layer comprises one or more zones of filler material and one or more zones of guiding material, and iii) a second layer on top of the first layer comprising a pattern of a first material, the pattern being either aligned or anti-aligned with the underlying one or more zones of guiding material; wherein the first material comprises a metal or a ceramic material and wherein the guiding material and the filler material either both comprise or both do not comprise the metal or ceramic material.

Abstract: A method for forming a film with an annealing step and a deposition step is disclosed. The method comprises an annealing step for inducing self-assembly or alignment within a polymer. The method also comprises a selective deposition step in order to enable selective deposition on a polymer.

Abstract: A therapy specific, pre-programmed, hand-held auto-injection device for delivering a drug to a patient includes a housing, a plurality of syringes carried by the housing, at least one actuator disposed within the housing coupled to the plurality of syringes, and a controller disposed within the housing and communicatively coupled to the at least one actuator. The controller is configured to receive an infusion and aspiration profile, which includes an infusion and aspiration protocol for controlling at least one of the plurality of syringes. The controller is also configured to operate the at least one actuator based on the infusion and aspiration protocol by either expelling a fluid from a respective barrel of the plurality of syringes into the infusion and aspiration location or drawing a fluid from the infusion and aspiration location into a respectively barrel of the plurality of syringes.

Abstract: A method of delivering a drug to a patient using a therapy specific, pre-programmed auto-injection device includes positioning the hand-held device proximate to an infusion and aspiration location of the patient, and receiving, at a controller disposed within the housing, an infusion and aspiration profile. The infusion and aspiration profile including an infusion and aspiration protocol for controlling at least one of a plurality of syringes partially disposed within the housing. The method also includes operating at least one actuator coupled to the plurality of syringes according to the infusion and aspiration protocol, causing the syringes to expel a fluid from a respective barrel of the plurality of syringe into the infusion and aspiration location or causing the syringes to draw a fluid from the infusion and aspiration location into a respective barrel of the plurality of syringes.

Abstract: A method for forming a film with an annealing step and a deposition step is disclosed. The method comprises an annealing step for inducing self-assembly or alignment within a polymer. The method also comprises a selective deposition step in order to enable selective deposition on a polymer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow. In some embodiments, CED devices include a tissue-receiving space disposed proximal to a distal fluid outlet. Tissue can be compressed into or pinched/pinned by the tissue-receiving space as the device is inserted into a target region of a patient, thereby forming a seal that reduces or prevents proximal backflow of fluid ejected from the outlet beyond the tissue-receiving space. In some embodiments, CED devices include a bullet-shaped nose proximal to a distal fluid outlet. The bullet-shaped nose forms a good seal with surrounding tissue and helps reduce or prevent backflow of infused fluid.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate assembly includes a tailgate adapted to pivotally latch to a vehicle cargo box. A hinge pivot is coupled to the tailgate and includes an electromagnetic cylinder and a vane hub positioned within the cylinder and coupled to at least one of the tailgate and the cargo box. The vane hub is configured to rotate within the cylinder. A vane is coupled to the vane hub. A magnetorheological fluid is positioned around the vane.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for pattern formation on a substrate. An example embodiment includes a method for pattern formation. The method includes providing a photoresist layer on a composite substrate. The method also includes patterning the photoresist layer by lithography to define a plurality of parallel stripe photoresist structures. The method further includes providing a block copolymer on and along the composite substrate, in between the parallel stripe photoresist structures. The block copolymer includes a first component and a second component. The method additionally includes subjecting the block copolymer to predetermined conditions to cause phase separation of the first component and the second component. In addition, the method includes performing a sequential infiltration synthesis process. Still further, the method includes selectively removing the parallel stripe photoresist structures. Additionally, the method includes defining a core stripe structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow. In some embodiments, CED devices include a tissue-receiving space disposed proximal to a distal fluid outlet. Tissue can be compressed into or pinched/pinned by the tissue-receiving space as the device is inserted into a target region of a patient, thereby forming a seal that reduces or prevents proximal backflow of fluid ejected from the outlet beyond the tissue-receiving space. In some embodiments, CED devices include a bullet-shaped nose proximal to a distal fluid outlet. The bullet-shaped nose forms a good seal with surrounding tissue and helps reduce or prevent backflow of infused fluid.

Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences encoding chimeric polypeptides that exhibit enhanced cellulase activities are disclosed herein. These nucleic acids may be expressed in hosts such as fungi, which in turn may be cultured to produce chimeric polypeptides. Also disclosed are chimeric polypeptides and their use in the degradation of cellulosic materials.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that generally involve CED devices with various features for reducing or preventing backflow. In some embodiments, CED devices include a tissue-receiving space disposed proximal to a distal fluid outlet. Tissue can be compressed into or pinched/pinned by the tissue-receiving space as the device is inserted into a target region of a patient, thereby forming a seal that reduces or prevents proximal backflow of fluid ejected from the outlet beyond the tissue-receiving space. In some embodiments, CED devices include a bullet-shaped nose proximal to a distal fluid outlet. The bullet-shaped nose forms a good seal with surrounding tissue and helps reduce or prevent backflow of infused fluid.

Abstract: Drug delivery systems and methods are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to deliver a drug to a patient in coordination with a physiological parameter of the patient (e.g., the patient's natural cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsation or the patient's heart or respiration rate). In some embodiments, a drug delivery system can be configured to use a combination of infusion and aspiration to control delivery of a drug to a patient. Catheters, controllers, and other components for use in the above systems are also disclosed, as are various methods of using such systems.

Abstract: An example embodiment relates to a method for making a mask layer. The method may include providing a patterned layer on a substrate, the patterned layer including at least a first set of lines of an organic material of a first nature, the lines having a line height, a first line width roughness, and being separated either by voids or by a material of a second nature. The method may further include infiltrating at least a top portion of the first set of lines with a metal or ceramic material. The method may further include removing the organic material by oxidative plasma etching, thereby forming a second set of lines of metal or ceramic material on the substrate, the second set of lines having a second line width roughness, smaller than the first line width roughness.