Abstract: A structural lattice includes a rectangular base defined by four periphery beams, and two non-diagonal beams that divide the rectangular base in four quadrants. The structural lattice further includes a diagonal reinforcement strut system overlaid on the rectangular base and having at least two intersecting sets of diagonal beams forming an open-and-closed cell architecture.

Abstract: A structural lattice includes a rectangular base defined by four periphery beams, and two non-diagonal beams that divide the rectangular base in four quadrants. The structural lattice further includes a diagonal reinforcement strut system overlaid on the rectangular base and having at least two intersecting sets of diagonal beams forming an open-and-closed cell architecture.

Abstract: The invention encompasses a method of inducing a high permeability state in a cell membrane and a method for ablating a target tissue wherein the method comprises applying an electroporation pulse to a cell, wherein at a time after the electroporation pulse is applied, a plurality of long lived pores (LLPs) are formed in the cell membrane and the presence of the LLPs causes a change in the cell osmotic pressure difference. The invention also encompasses a method for ablating a target tissue using an electrical pulse regime that induces cell permeabilization and cell death, wherein the primary mechanism of cell death is as a result of electroporation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microscission methods and devices used for the manipulation or modification of the body tissue by the formation of microconduits in a tissue. The term “microconduit” refers to a small opening, channel, or hole into, or through, a tissue, that allows transfer of materials by liquid flow, and by electrophoresis, the microconduit being formed upon impact of a plurality of accelerated microparticles with the surface of the tissue. This process of “microscission” comprises forming at least one microconduit in tissue including the steps of: accelerating a plurality of microparticles to a velocity that causes the microparticles to penetrate a region of tissue surface upon impingement of the microparticles on the tissue surface; and directing the microparticle towards the region of tissue surface, thereby causing the microparticles to penetrate the tissue and form a microconduit in the tissue.

Abstract: Provided are methods for selecting parameters of an electrical pulse for electroporation to induce apoptosis in a tissue in need of therapeutic removal in a patient. Also provided are methods and apparatuses for treating a disease by inducing apoptosis in a tissue in need of therapeutic removal in a patient. Further provided are computer-readable media having instructions for selecting parameters of an electrical pulse for electroporation to induce apoptosis in a tissue in need of therapeutic removal in a patient.

Abstract: Transdermal transport of molecules during sonophoresis (delivery or extraction) can be further enhanced by application of an electric field, for example, electroporation or iontophoresis. In a preferred embodiment the ultrasound is low frequency ultrasound which induces cavitation of the lipid layers of the stratum corneum (SC). This method provides higher drug transdermal fluxes, allows rapid control of transdermal fluxes, and allows drug delivery or analyte extraction at lower ultrasound intensities than when ultrasound is applied in the absence of an electric field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microscission methods and devices used for the manipulation or modification of the body tissue by the formation of microconduits in a tissue. The term “microconduit” refers to a small opening, channel, or hole into, or through, a tissue, that allows transfer of materials by liquid flow, and by electrophoresis, the microconduit being formed upon impact of a plurality of accelerated microparticles with the surface of the tissue. This process of “microscission” comprises forming at least one microconduit in tissue including the steps of: accelerating a plurality of microparticles to a velocity that causes the microparticles to penetrate a region of tissue surface upon impingement of the microparticles on the tissue surface; and directing the microparticle towards the region of tissue surface, thereby causing the microparticles to penetrate the tissue and form a microconduit in the tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices used for the formation of microconduits in a tissue. The term “microconduit” refers to a small opening, channel, or hole into, or through, a tissue, that allows transfer of materials by liquid flow, and by electrophoresis, the microconduit being formed upon impact of a plurality of accelerated microparticles with the surface of the tissue. A method is described for forming at least one microconduit in tissue including the steps of: accelerating a plurality of microparticles to a velocity that causes the microparticles to penetrate a region of tissue surface upon impingement of the microparticles on the tissue surface; and directing the microparticle towards the region of tissue surface, thereby causing the microparticles to penetrate the tissue and form a microconduit in the tissue. According to an embodiment, microparticles are accelerated by being hit with a moving, solid surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for modeling multidimensional physical systems, including biological and chemical systems. A system to be treated as a model is represented by a geometrical structure. The geometry is superposed onto a lattice template. Functional elements are obtained to express relationships between portions of the system to be modeled. The functional elements are assigned to lattice regions. The initial conditions, boundary conditions and constraints on the model are specified. The lattice is solved using a circuit simulation package. The quantities determined for the circuit are used to compute system quantities. Optionally the computer information is displayed. Optionally, the system is modeled as multiple lattices, which can be solved either serially (iteratively) or in parallel, to obtain a consistent solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices used for the formation of microconduits in a tissue. The term “microconduit” refers to a small opening, channel, or hole into, or through, a tissue, that allows transfer of materials by liquid flow, and by electrophoresis, the microconduit being formed upon impact of a plurality of accelerated microparticles with the surface of the tissue. A method is described for forming at least one microconduit in tissue including the steps of: accelerating a plurality of microparticles to a velocity that causes the microparticles to penetrate a region of tissue surface upon impingement of the microparticles on the tissue surface; and directing the microparticle towards the region of tissue surface, thereby causing the microparticles to penetrate the tissue and form a microconduit in the tissue. According to an embodiment, microparticles are accelerated by being hit with a moving, solid surface.

Abstract: Transdermal transport of molecules during sonophoresis (delivery or extraction) can be further enhanced by application of an electric field, for example, electroporation or iontophoresis. In a preferred embodiment the ultrasound is low frequency ultrasound which induces cavitation of the lipid layers of the stratum corneum (SC). This method provides higher drug transdermal fluxes, allows rapid control of transdermal fluxes, and allows drug delivery or analyte extraction at lower ultrasound intensities than when ultrasound is applied in the absence of an electric field.

Abstract: A method for measuring biopotential of an organism includes electroporating a portion of a tissue surface of the organism. The biopotential of the organism is then measured with electrodes at the electroporated portion of the organism. The portion of the organism that is electroporated can be, for example, a skin surface of the organism. A resistance-decreasing agent, such as heparin, sodium thiosulfate, thioglycolic acid solution and dithioglycolic acid can be applied to the tissue surface to facilitate reduction in electrical resistance. Another example of a resistance-decreasing agent is a keratin-disrupting agent, such as sulforhodamine. Examples of suitable biopotential measurements include electrocardiographic, electroencephalographic, electromyographic, electrohysterographic and elctrokymographic measurements. The method decreases skin resistance to diminish unwanted electrical voltages that compete with biopotential measurements, thereby significantly improving the biopotential measurement.

Abstract: A method of forming metallization layers and vias as part of an interconnect structure within an integrated circuit ("IC") is disclosed. The metallization layers and vias are formed of an alloy consisting of tungsten and one or more other materials such as aluminum, gold, copper, cobalt, titanium, molybdenum or platinum. In the alternative, the alloy may include aluminum and exclude tungsten. The alloy that forms the metallization layers and vias is deposited onto the IC substrate using ionized cluster beam ("ICB") apparatus. The IC substrate is an "in-process" IC in that various active devices (e.g., bipolar and/or MOS transistors), resistors and capacitors are formed in the substrate using conventional techniques prior to the ICB deposition of the alloy layers. Intermediate IC substrate processing steps (e.g., patterning and etching to form the vias) may take place in-between ICB deposition steps.

Abstract: Transdermal transport of molecules during sonophoresis (delivery or extraction) can be further enhanced by application of an electric field, for example, electroporation or iontophoresis. In a preferred embodiment the ultrasound is low frequency ultrasound which induces cavitation of the lipid layers of the stratum corneum (SC). This method provides higher drug transdermal fluxes, allows rapid control of transdermal fluxes, and allows drug delivery or analyte extraction at lower ultrasound intensities than when ultrasound is applied in the absence of an electric field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for localized electroporation of tissue. An apparatus includes a perforate electrically insulating layer, a first electrode at a first side of the perforate electrically insulating layer and a second electrode at a second side of the perforate electrically insulating layer. An electric field extending between the first and second electrodes will preferentially extend through perforations of the electrically insulating layer. The electric field thereby causes electroporation of tissue that is proximate to the first electrode and is partitioned from the electrically insulating layer and the second electrode by the first electrode. The apparatus controllably limits the depth of the electric field within a tissue, such as skin, thereby electroporating a surface layer, such as a stratum corneum layer of the skin, without stimulating submerged nerve endings within the skin.

Abstract: A method of modifying epidermis for transport of a material by electroporation includes applying to epidermis an agent that, upon entry into the epidermis, will modify the epidermis to thereby cause and altered rate of transport of a material across the epidermis. Typically, the altered rate will be an increased rate of transport. The epidermis is electroporated, whereby at least a portion of the modifying agent enters the electroporated epidermis, thereby modifying the epidermis to cause an altered rate of transport of a material across the epidermis. In another embodiment, the modifying agent can modify the epidermis to enable measurement and/or monitoring of physiological conditions or change within or beneath the epidermis. The modifying agents can also be employed to facilitate discharge of fluids from within an organism, such as by providing pathways for discharge of fluids from a tumor.

Abstract: A method for delivering a nucleotide into an organism includes applying a composition which includes a nucleotide component to epidermis of the organism. The epidermis is electroporated, whereby at least a portion of the composition enters or passes across the epidermis, thereby delivering the nucleotide into the organism. An example of a suitable nucleotide which can be delivered by the method of the invention includes antisense oligodeoxynucleotides for treatment of melanomas.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating tissue in response to a stimulus generated by the tissue. In one embodiment, the method transdermally treats an organism in response to a stimulus. In this embodiment, the medication is applied to epidermis of the organism, and the epidermis is electroporated in response to a stimulus, whereby the medication passes through the epidermis at a rate sufficient to alter the stimulus, thereby transdermally treating the organism. In another embodiment, the method measures a blood component content of blood. A portion of epidermis is electroporated to cause an aqueous fluid to be directed through an electroporated epidermis to a surface of the epidermis. Thereafter, the blood component content of the aqueous fluid is measured for correlation with a known aqueous fluid blood component content associated with a known concentration of blood component in the blood. The blood component concentration of the blood can thereby be measured.

Abstract: Antiviral compositions useful for the inhibition of HIV include various azo dye compounds which have the ability of inhibiting the binding of HIV rgp120 to CD4 cells on peripheral blood lymphocytes and affecting HIV replication. Also disclosed are methods for treating HIV viral infections with these compositions.

Abstract: A protected antenna apparatus including an elongated tube; a cable having an upper end with a pair of separate bare leads extending therefrom, a lower end with a connector secured thereto, and an intermediate portion extended between the ends; a twin-lead transmission line having a central axis, a free upper end, a lower end with the bare leads extending therefrom and interconnected together, an intermediate location therebetween wherein each lead is connected with one of the bare leads of the cable, and a notch formed on an upper extent of the line at a location between the intermediate location and the upper end to thereby divide one of the leads into two different pieces and thus create a J-pole antenna having a short leg, a long leg, and an impedance matching stub portion therebetween, and wherein the antenna transmits radio signals of a characteristic frequency as a function of the lengths of the legs and the stub portion; and a coupling mechanism for securing the antenna within the tube and along a long