Abstract: A method for determining positions and offsets in a plasma processing system, the plasma processing system including at least a chuck and an upper electrode is provided. The method including moving a traversing assembly along a first plurality of paths to generate a first plurality of data sets, the traversing assembly including at least a light source, the light source providing a light beam, moving the traversing assembly along each path of the first plurality of paths causing the light beam to traverse the chuck and resulting in one or more data sets of the first plurality of data sets. The method also including receiving the first plurality of data sets and analyzing the first plurality of data sets to identify a first set of at least three discontinuities, wherein the first set of at least three discontinuities are related to three or more reflected light signals generated when the light beam encounters an edge of the chuck.

Abstract: A method for calibrating alignment of an end effector with respect to a chuck in a plasma processing system is provided. The method including positioning the end effector over the chuck and taking a still image of the chuck and the end effector. The method including processing the still image to ascertain the center of the chuck and the end effector-defined center defined by the end effector. The method including determining a positional difference between the end effector-defined center and the center of the chuck.

Abstract: A method for performing DA (Dynamic Alignment) beam calibration in a plasma processing system is provided. The method including acquiring a positional difference, the positional difference is acquired using an optical imaging approach. The optical imaging approach comprising of positioning the wafer on the end effector, taking a still image of the wafer on the end effector, processing the still image to ascertain the center of the wafer and an end effector-defined center defined by the end effector, and determining the positional difference between the center of the wafer and the end effector-defined center defined by the end effector. The method also includes centering a wafer with respect to an end effector by compensating for a positional difference between the wafer and the end effector with robot movement compensation. The method including moving the wafer and the end effector through DA beams associated with a plasma processing module.

Abstract: An injectable polymer-lipid blend is provided as a localized drug delivery system for a pharmaceutically active agent. The blend may be prepared from a chitosan-based material, fatty acid and phospholipid. The chitosan-based material may be a water soluble chitosan derivative. The fatty acid may be a fatty acid or a fatty aldehyde, such as laurinaldehyde, having an acyl chain length of C8-C16. The rheological properties of the blend relates to the ratio of the components and to the acyl chain length of the fatty acid.

Abstract: An injectable polymer-lipid blend is provided. The blend may provide a localized drug delivery system for a pharmaceutically active agent. The blend may be prepared from a chitosan-based material, fatty acid and phospholipid. The chitosan-based material may be a water soluble chitosan derivative. The fatty acid may be a fatty acid or a fatty aldehyde, such as laurinaldehyde, having an acyl chain length of C8-C16. The rheological properties of the blend relates to the ratio of the components and to the acyl chain length of the fatty acid. The injectable system is well suited for the delayed release of pharmaceutically active agents in the treatment of cancer and other diseases requiring localized drug delivery.

Abstract: An injectable polymer-lipid blend is provided as a localized drug delivery system for a pharmaceutically active agent. The blend may be prepared from a chitosan-based material, fatty acid and phospholipid. The chitosan-based material may be a water soluble chitosan derivative. The fatty acid may be a fatty acid or a fatty aldehyde, such as laurinaldehyde, having an acyl chain length of C8-C16. The rheological properties of the blend relates to the ratio of the components and to the acyl chain length of the fatty acid. The injectable system is well suited for the delayed release of pharmaceutically active agents in the treatment of cancer and other diseases requiring localized drug delivery.

Abstract: Provided are signal modifying compositions for medical imaging comprising a carrier and two or more signal modifying agents specific for two or more imaging modalities. The compositions are characterized by retention efficiency, with respect to the signal modifying agents, which enables prolonged contrast imaging without significant depletion of the signal modifying agents from the carrier. The carriers of the present invention are lipid based or polymer based, the physico-chemical properties of which can be modified to entrap or chelate different signal modifying agents and mixtures thereof and to target specific organs or tumors or tissues within a mammal.

Abstract: Delivery vehicles comprising nanoparticles which are composed of: (a) a biodegradable hydrophobic polymer forming a core, and; (b) an outer amphiphilic layer surrounding the polymer core containing a stabilizing lipid are suitable for delivering active agents.

Abstract: Formulations or delivery systems are provided for controlled release of therapeutically active agents. The delivery systems are composed of polymer and lipid materials and may be prepared as a gel, paste, solution, film, implant or barrier depending on the intended application. The polymer component of the matrix is the naturally occurring biomaterial, chitosan, or a mixture of chitin and chitosan. The lipid component may include phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidyl or a mixture thereof. The delivery system may be used for delivery of hydrophilic agents, hydrophobic agents or combinations thereof. The therapeutically active agents may be formulated within the matrix as free agents or incorporated into particles. In a preferred embodiment the agents are incorporated into polymeric particles that are dispersed throughout the matrix.

Abstract: Delivery vehicles comprising nanoparticles which are composed of: (a) a biodegradable hydrophobic polymer forming a core, and; (b) an outer amphiphilic layer surrounding the polymer core containing a stabilizing lipid are suitable for delivering active agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to non-cross-linked micelles as delivery vehicles for steroid compounds and more particularly to a polycaprolactone-b-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer micelle as a delivery vehicle for steroids. The delivery system comprises a population of diblock copolymer non-cross-linked micelles, each micelle defining a non-cross-linked core for containing the steroid compound. The delivery system of the present invention maintains the release of the steroid compound in a patient having a deficient steroid level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diblock copolymers and more particularly to polycaprolactone-b-polyethylene oxide (PCL-b-PEO) diblock copolymers used in micellar systems, for delivering a biologically active agent to a site There is provided a diblock copolymer compound comprising a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, the hydrophilic block comprising a polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer, the hydrophobic block comprising a polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer, the PCL polymer comprising a number of caprolactone monomers selected from 5 to 150, the PEO polymer comprising a number of ethylene oxide monomers selected from 30 to 100. The diblock copolymer compound of the present invention may be used to form a micellar delivery system for delivering biologically active agents such as lipophilic drugs to sites such as the central nervous system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to diblock copolymers and more particularly to polycaprolactone-b-polyethylene oxide (PCL-b-PEO) diblock copolymers used in micellar systems, for delivering a biologically active agent to a site. There is provided a diblock copolymer compound comprising a hydrophilic block and a hydrophobic block, the hydrophilic block comprising a polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer, the hydrophobic block comprising a polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer, the PCL polymer comprising a number of caprolactone monomers selected from 5 to 150, the PEO polymer comprising a number of ethylene oxide monomers selected from 30 to 100. The diblock copolymer compound of the present invention may be used to form a micellar delivery system for delivering biologically active agents such as lipophilic drugs to sites such as the central nervous system.