Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for stabilizing enzymes. Also provided are systems, compositions and methods for using the stabilized enzymes to produce a desired compound.

Abstract: A drug delivery system for injecting a medicament may include a housing defining a cavity, a container received within the cavity and configured to receive a medicament with the container including a closure, a valve assembly received within the cavity and including a piercing member configured to pierce the closure of the container, and a connector arrangement provided between the container and the valve assembly, the connector arrangement movable between a first, pre-use position maintaining sterility between the closure of the container and the valve assembly and a second, use position permitting fluid communication between the container and the valve assembly.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a medical fluid to a patient has a housing configured for receiving a container at least partially filled with the medical fluid. The delivery device further has a drive mechanism associated with the housing configured for delivering the medical fluid from the container to the patient in a dosing procedure. The delivery device further has a module configured for detecting at least one of a property of the dosing procedure and a property of the medical fluid. The module has at least one dose detection sensor configured for detecting an initiation, progression, and completion of the dosing procedure based on a position of a stopper within the container. The module further has at least one temperature sensor configured for measuring a temperature of the medical fluid within the container based on a temperature of the container.

Abstract: A drug delivery system for injecting a medicament may include a housing defining a cavity, a container received within the cavity and configured to receive a medicament with the container including a closure, a valve assembly received within the cavity and including a piercing member configured to pierce the closure of the container, and a connector arrangement provided between the container and the valve assembly, the connector arrangement movable between a first, pre-use position maintaining sterility between the closure of the container and the valve assembly and a second, use position permitting fluid communication between the container and the valve assembly.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a medical fluid to a patient has a housing configured for receiving a container at least partially filled with the medical fluid. The delivery device further has a drive mechanism associated with the housing configured for delivering the medical fluid from the container to the patient in a dosing procedure. The delivery device further has a module configured for detecting at least one of a property of the dosing procedure and a property of the medical fluid. The module has at least one dose detection sensor configured for detecting an initiation, progression, and completion of the dosing procedure based on a position of a stopper within the container. The module further has at least one temperature sensor configured for measuring a temperature of the medical fluid within the container based on a temperature of the container.

Abstract: A drug delivery system having an end-of-dose detection arrangement for injecting a medicament. The system including a container configured to receive a medicament, a drive assembly which, upon actuation, is configured to expel the medicament from the container, a needle for injecting the medicament to a patient, a needle actuator assembly comprising a movable portion biased by a biasing member and configured to move the needle between a pre-use position, a use positon for delivery of the medicament to the patient, and a post-use position after delivery of the medicament is completed, and a tube in fluid communication with the container and the needle, the tube comprising an expandable portion having an expanded state and a non-expanded state, wherein the expandable portion is configured to be in the expanded state upon actuation of the drive assembly and a non-expanded state when the needle is in the post-use positon.

Abstract: A drug delivery system having an end-of-dose detection arrangement for injecting a medicament. The system including a container configured to receive a medicament, a drive assembly which, upon actuation, is configured to expel the medicament from the container, a needle for injecting the medicament to a patient, a needle actuator assembly comprising a movable portion biased by a biasing member and configured to move the needle between a pre-use position, a use positon for delivery of the medicament to the patient, and a post-use position after delivery of the medicament is completed, and a tube in fluid communication with the container and the needle, the tube comprising an expandable portion having an expanded state and a non-expanded state, wherein the expandable portion is configured to be in the expanded state upon actuation of the drive assembly and a non-expanded state when the needle is in the post-use positon.

Abstract: A drug delivery system having an end-of-dose detection arrangement for injecting a medicament. The system including a container configured to receive a medicament, a drive assembly which, upon actuation, is configured to expel the medicament from the container, a needle for injecting the medicament to a patient, a needle actuator assembly comprising a movable portion biased by a biasing member and configured to move the needle between a pre-use position, a use positon for delivery of the medicament to the patient, and a post-use position after delivery of the medicament is completed, and a tube in fluid communication with the container and the needle, the tube comprising an expandable portion having an expanded state and a non-expanded state, wherein the expandable portion is configured to be in the expanded state upon actuation of the drive assembly and a non-expanded state when the needle is in the post-use positon.

Abstract: A drug delivery system for injecting a medicament may include a housing defining a cavity, a container received within the cavity and configured to receive a medicament with the container including a closure, a valve assembly received within the cavity and including a piercing member configured to pierce the closure of the container, and a connector arrangement provided between the container and the valve assembly, the connector arrangement movable between a first, pre-use position maintaining sterility between the closure of the container and the valve assembly and a second, use position permitting fluid communication between the container and the valve assembly.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering a medical fluid to a patient has a housing configured for receiving a container at least partially filled with the medical fluid. The delivery device further has a drive mechanism associated with the housing configured for delivering the medical fluid from the container to the patient in a dosing procedure. The delivery device further has a module configured for detecting at least one of a property of the dosing procedure and a property of the medical fluid. The module has at least one dose detection sensor configured for detecting an initiation, progression, and completion of the dosing procedure based on a position of a stopper within the container. The module further has at least one temperature sensor configured for measuring a temperature of the medical fluid within the container based on a temperature of the container.

Abstract: A medical device is provided having reduced penetration force. The device includes a body having a central hollow channel and a piezoelectric transducer received within and secured to the body. The piezoelectric transducer has a hollow portion concentric with the central hollow channel. A tubular member is associated with and in communication with the piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer is adapted for vibrating at a frequency to produce an oscillating displacement of the tubular member against or within surrounding tissue. The tubular member may be a hypodermic needle.

Abstract: A medical device is provided having reduced penetration force. The device includes a body having a central hollow channel and a piezoelectric transducer received within and secured to the body. The piezoelectric transducer has a hollow portion concentric with the central hollow channel. A tubular member is associated with and in communication with the piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer is adapted for vibrating at a frequency to produce an oscillating displacement of the tubular member against or within surrounding tissue. The tubular member may be a trocar needle.

Abstract: A medical device is provided having reduced penetration. The device includes a body having a central hollow channel and a piezoelectric transducer received within and secured to the body. The piezoelectric transducer has a hollow portion concentric with the central hollow channel. A tubular member is associated with and in communication with the piezoelectric transducer. The piezoelectric transducer is adapted for vibrating at a frequency to produce an oscillating displacement of the tubular member against or within surrounding tissue. The tubular member may be a hypodermic needle, a trocar needle, or a catheterization needle.

Abstract: A medical device is provided having reduced penetration force. The device includes a body having a central hollow channel and a piezoelectric transducer received within and secured to the body. The piezoelectric transducer has a hollow portion concentric with the central hollow channel. A tubular member is associated with and in communication with the piezoelectric transducer. The tubular member has at least one open end formed concentric with the central hollow channel and the hollow portion of the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the transducer is adapted for vibrating at a frequency to produce an oscillating displacement of the tubular member.

Abstract: A surgical instrument for easy use of an operative tool. The surgical instrument includes a handle, a bushing tubing assembly, a pressure plate assembly, a cap, a ball ring assembly, and the operative tool. The bushing tubing assembly is connected to a distal end of the handle, while the pressure plate assembly is positioned at a proximal end of the handle and extends to a clamp disposed within the handle. The cap is positioned across from a proximal end of the pressure plate assembly. The ball ring assembly includes a plurality of balls and positioned between the pressure plate assembly and the cap. The operative tool is inserted through the bushing tubing assembly and the guide tube and then connects to the cap.

Abstract: A surgical tool that is self sealing. The surgical tool includes a body and a sealing disc. The body includes a tube positioned at a distal end and a hub at a proximal end. Furthermore, the body includes a sealing disc receiving space positioned through a sidewall of the hub. The sealing disc is securable within the sealing disc receiving space.

Abstract: A medical device is provided having reduced penetration force. The device includes a body having a central hollow channel and a piezoelectric transducer received within and secured to the body. The piezoelectric transducer has a hollow portion concentric with the central hollow channel. A tubular member is associated with and in communication with the piezoelectric transducer. The tubular member has at least one open end formed concentric with the central hollow channel and the hollow portion of the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the transducer is adapted for vibrating at a frequency to produce an oscillating displacement of the tubular member.

Abstract: A medical device is provided having reduced penetration force. The device includes a body having a central hollow channel and a piezoelectric transducer received within and secured to the body. The piezoelectric transducer has a hollow portion concentric with the central hollow channel. A tubular member is associated with and in communication with the piezoelectric transducer. The tubular member has at least one open end formed concentric with the central hollow channel and the hollow portion of the piezoelectric transducer, wherein the transducer is adapted for vibrating at a frequency to produce an oscillating displacement of the tubular member.

Abstract: A knife having a blade tip configuration that reduces incisional force by providing a more efficient distribution of tissue piercing and cutting forces over the cutting edges. The distal tip of the blade has a profile in plan view that may be described as bounded by the following equations w=5.886(d)0.663 and w=1.561(d)0.820 where w is the distance in microns from the blade's longitudinal axis to the blade's cutting edge and d is the distance in microns along the blade's longitudinal axis from the extreme distal point of the blade tip. The extreme distal point of the tip has a slightly rounded, rather than pointed, profile, with a tip radius of approximately 40 microns or less.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a surgical cutting device having a body, a piezoelectric actuator received within and secured to the body and a blade associated with and in communication with the actuator. The actuator is adapted for vibrating at a frequency to produce an oscillating displacement of the blade. A method of operating the surgical cutting device is also provided wherein the cutting device includes an actuator which is adapted for vibrating at a frequency to produce a sinusoidal displacement of the blade in the range of 250-500 ?m.