Abstract: Methods for fabricating implantable cuff electrodes for contacting or at least partially surrounding internal body tissue such as, e.g., nerves, smooth muscles, striated muscles, arteries, veins, ligamental tissues, connective tissues, cartilage tissues, bones, or other similar body tissues, structures and organs are disclosed. An example method includes preparing a substrate including an implantable cuff electrode shape, applying a mold material to the substrate, curing the mold material to form a mold, releasing the mold from the substrate, inserting at least one conductor into the mold that penetrates through the channel of the mold, pressing a formable material into the channel of the mold to form a body of an implantable cuff electrode about the at least one conductor, curing the body of the implantable cuff electrode, and releasing the body of the implantable cuff electrode from the mold.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating implantable cuff electrodes for contacting or at least partially surrounding internal body tissue such as, e.g., nerves, smooth muscles, striated muscles, arteries, veins, ligamental tissues, connective tissues, cartilage tissues, bones, or other similar body tissues, structures and organs are disclosed. An example method includes preparing a substrate including an implantable cuff electrode shape, applying a mold material to the substrate, curing the mold material to form a mold, releasing the mold from the substrate, inserting at least one conductor into the mold that penetrates through the channel of the mold, pressing a formable material into the channel of the mold to form a body of an implantable cuff electrode about the at least one conductor, curing the body of the implantable cuff electrode, and releasing the body of the implantable cuff electrode from the mold.

Abstract: A method of determining cleanliness of a manufacturing area is disclosed. The method of determining cleanliness of a manufacturing area comprising swabbing at least one target area within the manufacturing area, placing the swab in a testing apparatus, analyzing for the presence of the at least one substance with the testing apparatus and determining in real time the cleanliness of the manufacturing area.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a composition includes an excitation source adapted to transmit incident energy, the excitation source comprising an array of energy emitting sources, and a plurality of photometric detectors adapted to receive radiation emitted from the composition when the incident radiation is transmitted thereto.

Abstract: An optical coherence tomographic analysis system for analyzing a pharmaceutical delivery system comprising manufacturing means for manufacturing the pharmaceutical delivery system, the manufacturing means including at least one manufacturing process, and an optical coherence tomographic system having a light source that is adapted to direct a radiation beam to the pharmaceutical delivery system, whereby the radiation beam interacts with the pharmaceutical delivery system, the interaction including the emission of emitted light by the pharmaceutical delivery system, the interferometer being adapted to receive the emitted light from the pharmaceutical delivery system and construct an optical image of the pharmaceutical delivery system from the emitted light in real-time during manufacturing of the pharmaceutical delivery system.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating gastrointestinal motility that can be effectively employed to acquire one or more signals associated with acoustic energy (i.e. sound) emanating from an abdominal region of a body and determine at least one gastrointestinal parameter based on the acoustic energy signal(s) is described. The gastrointestinal parameter can include a gastrointestinal event, including gastrointestinal mixing, emptying, contraction and propulsion, and gastrointestinal transit time.

Abstract: A system for use in analyzing a pharmaceutical composition having multiple constituents comprising a luminescence sensor, the sensor being adapted to direct a plurality of radiation pulses to the pharmaceutical composition and detect luminescence emitted from each composition constituent as a function of time, the sensor being further adapted to provide at least one luminescence signal corresponding to the detected luminescence of each constituent, and control means in communication with the sensor for controlling the sensor and analyzing the luminescence signal.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating gastrointestinal motility and, optionally, other physiological characteristics (e.g., pulse rate) that can be effectively employed to acquire one or more signals associated with acoustic energy (i.e. sound) emanating from an abdominal region of a body and determine at least one gastrointestinal parameter or event based on the acoustic energy signal(s) is described. The gastrointestinal parameter can include a gastrointestinal event, including gastrointestinal mixing, emptying, contraction and propulsion, and gastrointestinal transit time, or a gastrointestinal system disorder, including reflux disease, irritable bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, and a migrating motor complex disorder.

Abstract: A system for use in in-situ analysis of pharmaceutical samples, said system comprising means for holding a plurality of said samples, wherein said samples are present in the form of a powder formulation; means for moving said plurality of samples along a sample path; means for generating a plurality of incident radiation pulses of different wavelength; means for illuminating at least a respective one of said samples with at least a respective one of said radiation pulses during said movement of said samples, said radiation pulse having a suitable range of radiation wavelengths capable of inducing a fluorescent response; means for detecting a first resultant fluorescence emitted from each of said samples; first control means in communication with said moving means and said incident radiation generating means for synchronizing said means for illuminating each of said samples with said moving means.

Abstract: A remote sensor system (60) and method for passively sensing environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, uses a magnetic impulse from an AC interrogation coil (68) to stimulate a magnetoelastic sensor (62) to generate an acoustic signal (AE) at the resonant frequency of the magnetoelastic sensor (62). The acoustic signal (AE) is received by amplifier (74), detected and displayed (76). The systems and methods are particularly suited for detecting environmental conditions in commercial pharmaceutical packaging, such as blister packs.

Abstract: A system for real-time fluorescent determination of trace elements comprising transport means for moving a plurality of samples, means for generating a plurality of incident radiation pulses of different wavelength, means for illuminating at least a respective one of the samples with at least a respective one of the radiation pulses during the movement of the samples, means for detecting the resultant fluorescence emitted from each of the samples and control means for controlling the movement of the samples and the incident radiation.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining at least one environmental condition within pharmaceutical packaging comprising a base sheet with at least one pocket formed therein, a lid sheet having a pocket portion, the pocket portion being disposed proximate the pocket when the lid sheet is bonded to the base sheet; and a microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensor disposed proximate the pocket portion.

Abstract: A system and method for in vitro analysis of therapeutic agents comprising a reservoir adapted to hold a therapeutic agent, a first flow cell having a first cell chamber adapted to receive at least a first sample of the therapeutic agent, a second flow cell having a second cell chamber adapted to receive at least a second sample of the therapeutic agent, the first flow cell having a first path length (be?) and the second flow cell having a second path length (be?), the first path length being substantially equal to a sensitivity factor (f)×be?, a membrane chamber having a biological cell membrane therein adapted to receive at least a third sample of the therapeutic agent, the membrane chamber being further adapted to detect the membrane potential of the biological cell membrane; and spectroscopic detection means for detecting the spectral characteristics of the first and second therapeutic agent samples.

Abstract: A refractive index device (10) comprising a probe member (16) having a sensing region (24) and a length of optic fiber (40) having a refract region (44) and a reflecting surface (48) disposed proximate the distal end adapted to substantially redirect said light transmitted through the fiber, the fiber being substantially disposed in the probe member wherein the refract region (44) is disposed proximate the sensing region (24).

Abstract: A system and method for in vitro analysis of therapeutic agents comprising a reservoir adapted to hold a therapeutic agent, a first flow cell having a first cell chamber adapted to receive at least a first sample of the therapeutic agent, a second flow cell having a second cell chamber adapted to receive at least a second sample of the therapeutic agent, the first flow cell having a first path length (be′) and the second flow cell having a second path length (be″), the first path length being substantially equal to a sensitivity factor (f)×be″, a membrane chamber having a biological cell membrane therein adapted to receive at least a third sample of the therapeutic agent, the membrane chamber being further adapted to detect the membrane potential of the biological cell membrane; and spectroscopic detection means for detecting the spectral characteristics of the first and second therapeutic agent samples.

Abstract: A system for real-time fluorescent determination of trace elements comprising means for moving a plurality of samples having at least one trace element along a sample path; means for generating a plurality of incident radiation pulses of different wavelength; means for illuminating at least a respective one of the samples with at least a respective one of the radiation pulses during the movement of the samples, the radiation pulse having a suitable range of fluorescence radiation wavelengths; means for detecting the resultant fluorescence emitted from each of the samples; and first control means in communication with the moving means and the incident radiation generating means for synchronizing the means for illuminating each of the samples with the moving means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting on-line the homogeneity and constituent concentration of pharmaceutical compositions comprising a rotatable mixer, a plurality of spectroscopic detection means disposed on the mixer, and at least one control means for controlling the plurality of spectroscopic detection means.

Abstract: An apparatus for in-situ spectroscopic analysis comprising a flow cell having a region of reasonable flow, the region of reasonable flow having a flow rate less than approximately 20% of the maximum flow rate, and first and second probes having optic cable member ends with a path length in the range of 20 &mgr;m to 1 mm that are disposed in the region of reasonable flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for in-situ spectroscopic analysis of a flowable material comprising a flow cell having a flow passage and means for introducing the flowable material into the flow passage, first probe means for transmitting a given wavelength of light into the flow passage, second probe means for detecting the emission light from the flowable material, and control means for providing the light to the first probe means and analyzing the emission light detected by the second probe means. The first and second probe means include optic means that project into a region of reasonable flow in the flow passage. The first and second probe means also have a path length in the range of 1 &mgr;m to 10 mm.