Abstract: A method for fabricating an elongate concrete article including introducing a concrete mix having a relatively high water to cement ratio into a fabrication assembly, the fabrication assembly including a core assembly and an outer mould. The method then involves dewatering in a first stage the concrete mix as it is pumped into a mould cavity formed between the core assembly and the fabrication assembly to reduce the water to cement ratio and then dewatering in a second stage the concrete mix after the mould assembly has been filled to further reduce the water to cement ratio.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filtration devices and related methods of use. In particular, the present invention relates to implantable filtration devices used, for example, for filtering impurities from a body fluid of a subject.

Abstract: Extracorporeal cell-based therapeutic devices and delivery systems are disclosed which provide a method for therapeutic delivery of biologically active molecules produced by living cells in response to a dynamic physiologic environment. Exemplary designs are disclosed. In a first exemplary embodiment the device includes long hollow fibers in which a layer of cells are grown within the intraluminal volume or within a double hollow-filled chamber. In another exemplary embodiment the device includes a wafer or a series of wafers forms a substrate onto which cells are grown. The wafer(s) are then inserted into a device. The devices are intended to be extracorporeal. Disclosed is a device for delivering a pre-selected molecule, for example, a hormone, into a mammal's systemic circulation. The device may also deliver a member of different cell products. The device comprises an anchoring element that can be anchored to an inner wall of an extracorporeal tube for blood.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient with cardiorenal syndrome and hepatorenal syndrome are provided in which a portion of the body fluid of the patient is exposed to renal epithelial cells, outside of the kidney of the patient, whereby the body fluid is in fluid communication with renal epithelial cells and is modified by renal epithelial cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ultrafiltration. In particular, the present invention provides a compact ultrafiltration device and methods for generating an ultrafiltrate, both of which can be used for a variety of applications, including, but not limited to filtering blood, diagnostic applications, and as a bioreactor.

Abstract: Disclosed is an implantable, intravascular device for treating a medical disorder associated with the presence of a particular molecule in the systemic circulation of a mammal. When implanted, the device removes or reduces the concentration of the molecule in the blood stream thereby conditioning the blood. The device includes an anchor component immobilizable to an inner wall of an intact blood vessel and a cartridge component that is retained in place within the blood vessel by the immobilized anchor. The cartridge contains a converting agent, for example, viable cells or enzyme preparations, that catabolize or convert the molecule of interest into one or more other molecules that are not associated with the disorder. The invention also provides a minimally or non-invasive method for introducing into and, optionally, removing from the blood vessel the device of the invention.

Abstract: A novel cell seeded hollow fiber bioreactor is described as a potential bioartificial kidney. Endothelial cells along with pericyte, vascular smooth muscle, and/or mesangial cells or any mesenchymally derived support cells are seeded along a hollow fiber in a perfused bioreactor to reproduce the ultrafiltration function and transport function of the kidney. Maintenance of tissue specific function and ultrastructure suggest that this bioreactor provides an economical device for treating renal failure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an implantable device for delivering a preselected molecule, for example, a hormone, into a mammal's systemic circulation. The device comprises a blood permeable element that can be anchored to an inner wall of an intact blood vessel. The device also comprises a capsule that is held in place within the blood vessel by the anchored blood permeable element. The capsule encloses viable cells which produce and secrete the pre-selected molecule into blood passing the capsule. The invention also provides a minimally invasive method for percutaneously introducing into a preselected blood vessel the device of the invention.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and plant for cleaning unwashed clay/sand or oil sands in which a vessel having a false floor of permeable material contains a column of liquid and sand to be cleaned in which an air and liquid mix is injected through the permeable material at a controlled pressure so that the air, water and sand clay mixture will mix together to fluidise the sand with the presence of small bubbles of air to create a turbulence and abrasion of the particles and to clean the sand.

Abstract: A space particle collector for recording the time specific particles are captured, and its direction at the time of capture, utilizes an array of targets, each comprised of an MOS capacitor on a chip charged from an external source and discharged upon impact by a particle through a tab on the chip that serves as a fuse. Any impacting particle creates a crater, but only the first will cause a discharge of the capacitor. A substantial part of the metal film around the first crater is burned off by the discharge current. The time of the impulse which burns the tab, and the identification of the target, is recorded together with data from flight instruments. The metal film is partitioned into pie sections to provide a plurality of targets on each of an array of silicon wafers, thus increasing the total number of identified particles that can be collected. It is thus certain which particles have been captured at what specific times.