Abstract: Medical devices and methods of use thereof are described. The device may include a body having a housing that defines a lumen, a piston within the housing, and an actuator operably coupled to the piston, wherein the piston is movable along the lumen by operating the actuator. The device also may include a cartridge insertable into the body and/or a flexible fitting configured for direct application to an eye of a subject.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods of treating subjects using such medical devices are described. The medical device may include a housing with at least two chambers including a first chamber adjacent to a second chamber; a barrier between the first chamber and the second chamber; and a soft, flexible base. The first and second chambers may be airtight, the barrier configured to establish fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber upon an application of force to the barrier.

Abstract: Compositions of proteoglycans and core proteins thereof and related methods of treating subjects, e.g., patients, are described. The method may include applying a composition to an eye of a subject before, during, and/or after an intraocular medical procedure. The composition may comprise a proteoglycan or core protein thereof, such as decorin proteoglycan or decorin core protein, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt. The composition may be in the form of an aqueous solution, viscoelastic gel, or viscoelastic film, for example. Further methods are described that include treating donor corneal tissue with a composition comprising a proteoglycan or core protein thereof. The treated donor corneal tissue may be used as or in a corneal graft, such as during endothelial keratoplasty.

Abstract: Compositions of proteoglycans and core proteins thereof and related methods of treating subjects, e.g., patients, are described. The method may include applying a composition to an eye of a subject before, during, and/or after an intraocular medical procedure. The composition may comprise a proteoglycan or core protein thereof, such as decorin proteoglycan or decorin core protein, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt. The composition may be in the form of an aqueous solution, viscoelastic gel, or viscoelastic film, for example. Further methods are described that include treating donor corneal tissue with a composition comprising a proteoglycan or core protein thereof. The treated donor corneal tissue may be used as or in a corneal graft, such as during endothelial keratoplasty.

Abstract: A protective helmet. The protective helmet includes an outer layer and an inner layer, each formed of a hard material. The outer layer and the inner layer each further include a concave interior surface and a convex exterior surface. A flexible connector connects the concave interior surface of the outer layer to the convex exterior surface of the inner layer. The flexible connector is configured to allow the outer layer to laterally shift relative to the inner layer upon impact to the protective helmet. Upon impact, the convex surface moves along the inclined planed of the concave surface in a direction opposite of the impact, while the stretched flexible connector provides a restoring force pulling the inner and outer layers back to their original positions.

Abstract: A protective helmet. The protective helmet includes an outer layer and an inner layer, each formed of a hard material. The outer layer and the inner layer each further include a concave interior surface and a convex exterior surface. A flexible connector connects the concave interior surface of the outer layer to the convex exterior surface of the inner layer. The flexible connector is configured to allow the outer layer to laterally shift relative to the inner layer upon impact to the protective helmet. Upon impact, the convex surface moves along the inclined planed of the concave surface in a direction opposite of the impact, while the stretched flexible connector provides a restoring force pulling the inner and outer layers back to their original positions.

Abstract: A protective helmet. The protective helmet includes an outer layer and an inner layer, each formed of a hard material. The outer layer and the inner layer each further include a concave interior surface and a convex exterior surface. A flexible connector connects the concave interior surface of the outer layer to the convex exterior surface of the inner layer. The flexible connector is configured to allow the outer layer to laterally shift relative to the inner layer upon impact to the protective helmet. Upon impact, the convex surface moves along the inclined planed of the concave surface in a direction opposite of the impact, while the stretched flexible connector provides a restoring force pulling the inner and outer layers back to their original positions.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an injector device for delivering an ophthalmic solution to a cornea of an eye. The device may include a base configured to contact part of the eye, and a needle connected to the base, wherein needle may deliver the ophthalmic solution to the cornea.

Abstract: The disclosure provides collagen-based constructs for use in drug delivery.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an injector device for delivering an ophthalmic solution to a cornea of an eye. The device may include a base configured to contact part of the eye, and a needle connected to the base, wherein needle may deliver the ophthalmic solution to the cornea.

Abstract: The disclosure provides collagen-based constructs for use in drug delivery.

Abstract: Methods of stabilizing and organizing collagen fibrils in extracellular matrix of retinal tissues, particularly Bruch's membranes, and stabilizing retinal pigment epithelial layers lining Bruch's membrane are disclosed. The stabilization and organization may be effected by treating retinal tissues with a protein that crosslinks and organizes collagen fibrils, such as decorin. The stabilization and organization methods include treatment of retinal tissues before, during, or after diagnosis of dry macular degeneration, diagnosis of early stages of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema to prevent, retard, or limit progression of disorganization of Bruch's membrane and disorganization of retinal pigment epithelial cells lining Bruch's membrane.

Abstract: Methods of treating a refractive error of the eye are disclosed comprising applying a treatment that induces swelling of the corneal tissue and applying an orthokeratology lens configured to correct the refractive error that provides a controlled distribution of the corneal tissue.

Abstract: An orthokeratological procedure is provided that prevents or retards relaxation of corneal tissue back to the original anterior curvature of the cornea. The procedure comprises applying a stabilizing agent that comprises fibril associated collagens with interrupted triple helices (FACITs) and/or small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans (SLRPs) to the stabilize corneal tissue in a preselected shape.

Abstract: Two types of compositions having an eye-drop delivery system are used during or after an orthokeratology procedure to prevent or retard relaxation of corneal tissue back to the original anterior curvature of the cornea. Each composition functions independently from the others and is a different approach of preparing a stabilizing agent. The first composition is directed to a biologically compatible composition comprising fibril associated collagens with interrupted triple helices (FACITs) and/or small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans (SLRPs). The fibril associated collagen family includes various types of collagens, such as type VI, type XX, type XII, and type XIV. The small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans family includes decorin, keratocan, biglycan, epiphycan, lumican, mimecan, and fibromodulin. The second composition includes the enzyme found as a normal component of tissues, plasma, or epidermis, such as transglutaminase.

Abstract: An acceptance assembly for a commodity collection, densification, and storage device includes a frame, an insert tube disposed in the frame defining an inlet for receiving a commodity and an outlet, a sensor disposed in the frame proximate the outlet for sensing a feature of the commodity, and an iris device disposed in the frame between the outlet and the sensor. The iris device includes a base secured to the frame and defining an opening therethrough adjacent the outlet, and further includes three plates swingably secured to the base, the plates being pivotable between a first position covering the opening and the outlet, and a second position uncovering the opening and the outlet. The iris device precludes access to the sensor via the inlet of the insert tube when the iris device is in the first position.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for densifying and distributing recycled commodities, such as aluminum cans, glass bottles, and PET bottles. A sensor senses a feature of the commodity, including material of composition and color. Based on the sensed material of composition, the commodity is either shredded (aluminum and PET) or crushed (glass) into densified material. A distribution device receives the densified material and, according to its sensed material of composition and color, distributes it to the proper storage path for storage in one of a plurality of segregated storage bins.

Abstract: A method of collecting a plurality of commodities includes the steps of densifying each of the pluralities of commodities into a plurality of densified materials, collecting the plurality of densified materials into at least one of a plurality of segregated temporary storage bins, and transferring at least one of the plurality of densified materials to at least one of a plurality of segregated storage compartments on a mobile multi-compartment storage vehicle.

Abstract: A commodity collection, densification and storage assembly comprises a housing, an insert port in the housing for receiving a commodity, a gate mechanism adjacent the insert port movable between an open and closed position for allowing the commodity to pass therethrough into the housing, an intake device for drawing the commodity from the insert port through the gate mechanism, a first sensor device for sensing the presence of an object in the gate mechanism, a second sensor for verifying whether the inserted commodity is a participating commodity and for determining a composition of the commodity, a densification assembly for densifying the commodity, a storage compartment for storing the densified commodity according to its composition, a removal device for removing the densified commodity from the densifier to the storage compartment, and a timing device for coordinating a sequential operation of the intake device, gate mechanism, second sensor, densification assembly and removal device.

Abstract: A multiple use commodity collection and storage system, comprises a plurality of collection stations remotely located, each for receiving a plurality of different predetermined post-consumer recyclable commodities.