Abstract: A hydrophilic biocompatible sustained-release material is disclosed. The material comprises amounts of an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer, HPMC, and water, effective to produce a composition of sufficiently low viscosity at room temperature to be injectable into an internal body cavity via a tube inserted within a urinary catheter. At body temperature, the material exhibits a much higher viscosity and will stably adhere to the internal surface of a body cavity. As the material dissolves, a therapeutic agent incorporated therein is slowly released to the body cavity, while the material itself is excreted from the body.

Abstract: A hydrophilic biocompatible sustained-release material is disclosed. The material comprises amounts of an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer, HPMC, and water, effective to produce a composition of sufficiently low viscosity at room temperature to be injectable into an internal body cavity via a tube inserted within a urinary catheter. At body temperature, the material exhibits a much higher viscosity and will stably adhere to the internal surface of a body cavity. As the material dissolves, a therapeutic agent incorporated therein is slowly released to the body cavity, while the material itself is excreted from the body.

Abstract: A method of providing sustained-release topical treatment of a condition affecting an internal body cavity is provided. The method comprises administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a thermoreversible hydrogel and an active pharmaceutical ingredient to an internal body cavity of the urinary tract. After administration, the concentration of the active pharmaceutical ingredient in urothelium of the internal body cavity is increased when compared to the concentration of the active pharmaceutical ingredient in urothelium of the internal body cavity following administration of a control composition comprising the same dose and concentration of active pharmaceutical ingredient in water.

Abstract: A hydrophilic biocompatible sustained-release material is disclosed. The material comprises amounts of Pluronic F-127, PEG-400, HPMC and water, effective to produce a composition of sufficiently low viscosity at room temperature to be injectable into an internal body cavity via a tube inserted within a urinary catheter. At body temperature, the material exhibits a much higher viscosity and will stably adhere to the internal surface of a body cavity. As the material dissolves, a therapeutic agent incorporated therein is slowly released to the body cavity, while the material itself is excreted from the body.

Abstract: A hydrophilic biocompatible sustained-release material is disclosed. The material comprises amounts of Pluronic F-127, PEG-400, HPMC and water, effective to produce a composition of sufficiently low viscosity at room temperature to be injectable into an internal body cavity via a tube inserted within a urinary catheter. At body temperature, the material exhibits a much higher viscosity and will stably adhere to the internal surface of a body cavity. As the material dissolves, a therapeutic agent incorporated therein is slowly released to the body cavity, while the material itself is excreted from the body.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for production of a sterile thermoreversible hydrogel characterized by a known temperature Tmin at which the viscosity reaches at least a local minimum. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises dissolving the components in water within ±4° C. of Tmin; forming the thermoreversible hydrogel; and filtering the thermoreversible hydrogel at Tmin. The final sterilization can be obtained by filtering under aseptic conditions or by autoclaving or irradiation of the final product. In other embodiments, the components of the gel are dissolved in a sufficiently large quantity of water that reduces the gel viscosity or precludes formation of a thermoreversible hydrogel, and sufficient water is then removed under vacuum to produce the final thermoreversible hydrogel.

Abstract: A hydrophilic biocompatible sustained-release material is disclosed. The material comprises amounts of Pluronic F-127, PEG-400, HPMC and water, effective to produce a composition of sufficiently low viscosity at room temperature to be injectable into an internal body cavity via a tube inserted within a urinary catheter. At body temperature, the material exhibits a much higher viscosity and will stably adhere to the internal surface of a body cavity. As the material dissolves, a therapeutic agent incorporated therein is slowly released to the body cavity, while the material itself is excreted from the body.

Abstract: A hydrophilic biocompatible sustained-release material is disclosed. The material comprises amounts of Pluronic F-127, PEG-400, HPMC and water, effective to produce a composition of sufficiently low viscosity at room temperature to be injectable into an internal body cavity via a tube inserted within a urinary catheter. At body temperature, the material exhibits a much higher viscosity and will stably adhere to the internal surface of a body cavity. As the material dissolves, a therapeutic agent incorporated therein is slowly released to the body cavity, while the material itself is excreted from the body.

Abstract: A hydrophilic biocompatible sustained-release material is disclosed. The material comprises amounts of Pluronic F-127, PEG-400, HPMC and water, effective to produce a composition of sufficiently low viscosity at room temperature to be injectable into an internal body cavity via a tube inserted within a urinary catheter. At body temperature, the material exhibits a much higher viscosity and will stably adhere to the internal surface of a body cavity. As the material dissolves, a therapeutic agent incorporated therein is slowly released to the body cavity, while the material itself is excreted from the body.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for production of a sterile thermoreversible hydrogel characterized by a known temperature Tmin at which the viscosity reaches at least a local minimum. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises dissolving the components in water within ±4° C. of Tmin; forming the thermoreversible hydrogel; and filtering the thermoreversible hydrogel at Tmin. The final sterilization can be obtained by filtering under aseptic conditions or by autoclaving or irradiation of the final product. In other embodiments, the components of the gel are dissolved in a sufficiently large quantity of water that reduces the gel viscosity or precludes formation of a thermoreversible hydrogel, and sufficient water is then removed under vacuum to produce the final thermoreversible hydrogel.

Abstract: A hydrophilic biocompatible sustained-release material is disclosed. The material comprises amounts of Pluronic F-127, PEG-400, HPMC and water, effective to produce a composition of sufficiently low viscosity at room temperature to be injectable into an internal body cavity via a tube inserted within a urinary catheter. At body temperature, the material exhibits a much higher viscosity and will stably adhere to the internal surface of a body cavity. As the material dissolves, a therapeutic agent incorporated therein is slowly released to the body cavity, while the material itself is excreted from the body.

Abstract: A method for detecting and counting particles suspended in fluids, such as bacteria suspended in urine, utilizing dynamic features of the suspended particles and employing light scattering measurements. The disclosed method is suitable for determining the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. A cuvette for detecting bacteria in fluids, which is especially suited for the light scattering measurements, is provided.

Abstract: System and method for detecting and counting bacteria suspended in a biological fluid by means of light scattering measurements is provided. In accordance with the method of the invention the level of signal to noise of the measured intensities of light scattered by a sample of the biological fluid is significantly enhanced for forwardly scattered light within a range of scattering angles which are smaller compared to a predefined maximal scattering angle. The system of the invention includes a cuvette adapted to contain a sample of the biological fluid whose sidewalls and windows are suitably constructed and arranged to significantly reduce the level of reflected light obscuring the scattering patterns measured within the range of scattering angles considered.

Abstract: System and method for detecting and counting bacteria suspended in a biological fluid by means of light scattering measurements is provided. In accordance with the method of the invention the level of signal to noise of the measured intensities of light scattered by a sample of the biological fluid is significantly enhanced for forwardly scattered light within a range of scattering angles which are smaller compared to a predefined maximal scattering angle. The system of the invention includes a cuvette adapted to contain a sample of the biological fluid whose sidewalls and windows are suitably constructed and arranged to significantly reduce the level of reflected light obscuring the scattering patterns measured within the range of scattering angles considered.

Abstract: A method for detecting and counting particles suspended in fluids, such as bacteria suspended in urine, utilizing dynamic features of the suspended particles and employing light scattering measurements. The disclosed method is suitable for determining the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. A cuvette for detecting bacteria in fluids, which is especially suited for the light scattering measurements, is provided.

Abstract: System and method for detecting and counting bacteria suspended in a biological fluid by means of light scattering measurements is provided. In accordance with the method of the invention the level of signal to noise of the measured intensities of light scattered by a sample of the biological fluid is significantly enhanced for forwardly scattered light within a range of scattering angles which are smaller compared to a predefined maximal scattering angle. The system of the invention includes a cuvette adapted to contain a sample of the biological fluid whose sidewalls and windows are suitably constructed and arranged to significantly reduce the level of reflected light obscuring the scattering patterns measured within the range of scattering angles considered.