Abstract: A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.

Abstract: An energized assembly to enhance efficacy of a treatment agent in a local environment. The assembly includes an emanator or holder element to hold treatment agent, and a flameless energizing source to energize the treatment agent and thereby, place the treatment agent into an enhanced operational state. Preferred embodiments operate for a period of time of between about 4 and 8 hours, and can then be discarded. Typically, a housing associates the treatment agent and the energizing source. Embodiments may sometimes include one or more of: a gas-tight boundary element, a thermal transfer element, a trigger mechanism, a safety mechanism, a termination mechanism, a time-delay mechanism, solidized treatment agent to avoid spills, and a sequestering arrangement to avoid premature combination of reactants.

Abstract: A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.

Abstract: A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to treat skin defects include a pump with reservoirs for a pressurization gas and a fluid. Upon activation, the pump generates a gas introduced into the gas reservoir, a movable wall of which displaces a movable wall of a fluid source, thus dispensing the fluid into the dressing to spread throughout irrespective of orientation of the dressing, maintaining a transport fluid (e.g. carrier) in the dressing and in contact with a skin defect being treated. The dressing may have a distribution network, and multiple members, dispensing the fluid into the dressing and in contact with a skin defect being treated.

Abstract: An apparatus including a heat source coupled with a container of volatile substance to enhance broadcast of the volatile substance in vapor phase from an emanator element into a local gas environment. A heat source non-exclusively includes any combustible arrangement to produce a flame. Volatile substance may be associated with the emanator element in liquid or a non-spillable solid or solidified phase. Heat may be directed toward the volatile substance using any of convection, radiation, and conduction. A chimney may focus a convective draft to increase draft air speed, and/or orient the draft in a desired (e.g., non-vertical) direction. A mechanism may permit adjustment in spacing between volatile substance and the flame. A seal may resist undesired discharge of volatile substance (in liquid and/or vapor phase), prior to use.

Abstract: An energized assembly to disseminate a treatment agent in vapor phase to a local environment. The assembly includes an emanator element to hold treatment agent, and a flameless energizing source to facilitate volatization of the treatment agent. Preferred embodiments operate for a period of time of between about 4 and 8 hours, and can then be discarded. Typically, a housing associates the treatment agent and the energizing source. Embodiments may sometimes include one or more of: a gas-tight boundary element, a thermal transfer element, a trigger mechanism, a safety mechanism, a termination mechanism, a time-delay mechanism, solidized treatment agent to avoid spills, and a sequestering arrangement.

Abstract: An energized assembly to disseminate a treatment agent in vapor phase to a local environment. The assembly includes an emanator element to hold treatment agent, and a flameless energizing source to facilitate volatization of the treatment agent. Preferred embodiments operate for a period of time of between about 4 and 8 hours, and can then be discarded. Typically, a housing associates the treatment agent and the energizing source. Embodiments may sometimes include one or more of: a gas-tight boundary element, a thermal transfer element, a trigger mechanism, a safety mechanism, a termination mechanism, a time-delay mechanism, solidized treatment agent to avoid spills, and a sequestering arrangement.

Abstract: A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.

Abstract: An automatic dispensing device for volatile fluid operable to apply one or more agent to a local environment for more than 14 days. A dispensing device may nonexclusively operate by evaporation of volatile fluid from a carrier material that is somehow infused with the volatile fluid; gravity-induced drip from a bulk supply of volatile fluid through a small orifice onto an emanator; osmotic transfer of volatile fluid through the emanator from a bulk supply; gas-pump drive of volatile fluid to the emanator at controlled pressure or volume; or diffusion of volatile fluid through a wall of a container of bulk volatile fluid; and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A container to hold a quantity of high surface area material. High surface area material has a surface area of greater than about 20 m2/g. The container may be structured in various ways to dispose the high surface area material in the vicinity of a local environment to cause a beneficial effect on that environment. The container may include a moisture permeable wall. The high surface area material may adsorb moisture, and contain and/or emit or off-gas one or more active agent. An exemplary beneficial container may be used for one or more of the following: to control moisture; regulate temperature (e.g., provide either heating or cooling from ambient); promote tissue healing in a human by application of a medicine or treatment agent in vapor phase; destroy microbes and/or bacteria; and destroy or sequester a ripening agent associated with a foodstuff.

Abstract: An automatic dispensing device for volatile fluid operable to apply one or more agent to a local environment for more than 14 days. Preferred devices dispense a first agent for air freshening, and may optionally dispense a second agent, such as a drain cleaner. A workable drain cleaner is structured to permit a slow release of drain cleaning agent. A dispensing device may nonexclusively operate by evaporation of volatile fluid from a carrier material that is infused with the volatile fluid; gravity-induced drip from a bulk supply of volatile fluid through a small orifice onto an emanator; osmotic transfer of volatile fluid from a bulk supply; gas-pump drive of volatile fluid at controlled pressure; or diffusion of volatile fluid through a wall of a container of bulk volatile fluid; and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A multi-stage sodium heat engine is provided to convert thermal energy to electrical energy, the multi-stage sodium heat engine including at least a first stage, a second stage, and an electrical circuit operatively connecting the first stage and the second stage with an electrical load. One or more methods of powering an electrical load using a multi-stage sodium heat engine are also described.

Abstract: A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.

Abstract: A wipe that can be used deodorize, disinfect, and/or sterilize an object. A wipe manipulator may be used with a wipe to create, energize, or enhance one or more treatment agent in a wipe to improve its efficacy. Desirably, a wipe manipulator is flexible to accommodate to curved surfaces. A wipe includes a flexible membrane or cloth-like element that may apply, distribute, and/or remove a treatment agent to, over, or from a surface of the object. An enhanced treatment agent, such as peracetic acid, may be applied to the surface subsequent to being formed in the wipe as a result of installation of the wipe onto a manipulator, or otherwise activating the wipe. A wipe manipulator may include one or more rechargeable reservoir to contain and apply a synergistic treatment agent to the wipe to create the enhanced treatment agent.

Abstract: A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.

Abstract: An automatic dispensing device for volatile fluid operable to apply one or more agent to a local environment for more than 14 days. A dispensing device may nonexclusively operate by evaporation of volatile fluid from a carrier material that is somehow infused with the volatile fluid; gravity-induced drip from a bulk supply of volatile fluid through a small orifice onto an emanator; osmotic transfer of volatile fluid through the emanator from a bulk supply; gas-pump drive of volatile fluid to the emanator at controlled pressure or volume; or diffusion of volatile fluid through a wall of a container of bulk volatile fluid; and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An orientation independent delivery device including a replaceable cartridge that may be installed on a foundation. A cartridge includes a gas chamber, a delivery chamber, a gas cell, and a delivery aperture. The gas chamber includes a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier. The gas-side flexible barrier is sealed to the gas-side rigid portion. The delivery chamber includes a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier. The delivery-side flexible barrier is sealed to the delivery-side rigid portion and is oriented adjacent to the gas-side flexible barrier. The gas cell is coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber. The gas cell increases a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier. Expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier allowing a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber.

Abstract: A disposable, single-use wipe that can be used deodorize, disinfect, and/or sterilize an object. A wipe includes a flexible membrane or cloth-like element that may apply, distribute, and/or remove a treatment agent to, over, or from a surface of the object. A treatment agent, such as micron-, or nano-sized particles of a disinfectant or sterilant chemical, Ozone, negative ions, Hydroxyl radicals, or alcohol, etc., may be applied to the surface by the wipe or another applicator. An additional treatment agent (e.g., Triclosan, Chlorine dioxide, Hydroxyl radicals, etc.), may be associated with a wipe to enhance biocidal activity. The wipe may be used alone, in combination with a holder, or in combination with an applicator of energized treatment agent. An applicator and/or a holder may be used to energize one or more treatment agent to improve its efficacy.

Abstract: A wound therapy device is disclosed. The wound therapy device may include a housing for covering at least a portion of a wound and for sealing to a body surface of a patient. The housing may also include a liquid collector for retaining liquid therein and a vacuum connection for coupling to a vacuum source. The vacuum connection may be in gaseous communication with the liquid collector. The vacuum connection may be separated from the liquid collector by a liquid barrier.