Abstract: Hair coloring appliances include an elongate handle and a consumable assembly removably couplable to the handle. The consumable assembly has a manifold chamber with a fluid inlet in selective fluid communication with a first formulation fluid source, a plurality of outlet nozzles configured to discharge a first formulation from the manifold chamber, and a distribution protrusion extending into the manifold chamber and configured to direct the flow of the first formulation from the fluid inlet to each of the plurality of outlet nozzles.

Abstract: A catheter and handle assembly for use in treating tissue. More specifically, the invention relates to a catheter assembly having an elongate shaft, ablation assembly coupled to one end of the shaft, and a handle coupled to the other end of the shaft. The handle facilitates both axial and circumferential positioning of the ablation assembly via the shaft in an airway, conduit, or vessel for treatment of the tissue. Embodiments include the use of a handle to facilitate the axial and circumferential positioning of the shaft and ablation assembly through and independent of a working channel of a bronchoscope during treatment for pulmonary disease like COPD and asthma.

Abstract: A non-shortening catheter balloon having a longitudinal axis and an inflatable balloon able to be affixed to a catheter shaft is provided. The balloon has an uninflated length which remains relatively unchanged upon inflation and is formed of least two helically oriented wrapped passes of balloon materials at a balanced force angle. Methods of making this balloon are also provided.

Abstract: A fluid-management system for selectively draining fluid from a body cavity includes a valve assembly and a tube for carrying fluid from a body cavity of a person to the valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured to be positioned external to the person's body and comprises (i) an inlet, (ii) an outlet, (iii) a pumping chamber between the inlet and outlet and configured to be compressed and decompressed to pump fluid, (iv) a first one-way valve positioned on a first side of the pumping chamber, (v) a second one-way valve positioned on a second side of the pumping chamber, and (vi) an adjustable inlet lock configured to selectively prevent fluid movement through the inlet, and wherein the tube is configured to extend from the inlet of the valve assembly to the person's body cavity.

Abstract: A fluid-management system for selectively draining fluid from a body cavity includes a valve assembly and a tube for carrying fluid from a body cavity of a person to the valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured to be positioned external to the person's body and comprises (i) an inlet, (ii) an outlet, (iii) one or more one-way valves positioned between the inlet and outlet that are each configured to open and close based on fluctuations in pressure between the person's body cavity and the one-way valve, and (iv) an adjustable outlet lock configured to selectively prevent fluid movement through the outlet.

Abstract: A fluid-management system for selectively draining fluid from a body cavity includes a valve assembly and a tube for carrying fluid from a body cavity of a person to the valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured to be positioned external to the person's body and comprises (i) an inlet, (ii) an outlet, (iii) one or more one-way valves positioned between the inlet and outlet that are each configured to open and close based on fluctuations in pressure between the person's body cavity and the one-way valve, and (iv) an adjustable outlet lock configured to selectively prevent fluid movement through the outlet.

Abstract: A fluid-management system for selectively draining fluid from a body cavity includes a valve assembly and a tube for carrying fluid from a body cavity of a person to the valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured to be positioned external to the person's body and comprises (i) an inlet, (ii) an outlet, (iii) a pumping chamber between the inlet and outlet and configured to be compressed and decompressed to pump fluid, (iv) a first one-way valve positioned on a first side of the pumping chamber, (v) a second one-way valve positioned on a second side of the pumping chamber, and (vi) an adjustable inlet lock configured to selectively prevent fluid movement through the inlet, and wherein the tube is configured to extend from the inlet of the valve assembly to the person's body cavity.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods that learn a loss function that, when (approximately) minimized over the training data, produces a model that performs well on test data according to some error metric. The error metric need not be differentiable and may be only loosely related to the loss function. In particular, the present disclosure presents a convex-programming-based algorithm that takes as input observed data from training a small number of models and produces as output a loss function. This algorithm can be used to tune loss function hyperparameters and/or to adjust the loss function on-the-fly during training.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes at least one nebulizer that includes a mesh material having a plurality of pores, a vibrating actuator coupled to the nebulizer and configured to produce ultrasonic vibration when energized according to a set energy profile, and a reservoir receiver configured to receive a reservoir that holds a topical formulation, the reservoir being coupled to the nebulizer when received. When the nebulizer is placed in contact with the topical formulation, vibration of the mesh nebulizer by the vibrating actuator, according to the set energy profile, ejects droplets of the topical formulation from the plurality of pores, forming a spray.

Abstract: A fluid-management system for selectively draining fluid from a body cavity includes a valve assembly and a tube for carrying fluid from a body cavity of a person to the valve assembly. The valve assembly is configured to be positioned external to the person's body and comprises (i) an inlet, (ii) an outlet, (iii) one or more one-way valves positioned between the inlet and outlet that are each configured to open and close based on fluctuations in pressure between the person's body cavity and the one-way valve, and (iv) an adjustable outlet lock configured to selectively prevent fluid movement through the outlet.

Abstract: A formula delivery system can be used in conjunction with hair and scalp treatment appliances to supply a hair treatment formulation to the appliance. In one aspect, the formula delivery system delivers hair coloring formulation to the appliance. Formula delivery systems of the present disclosure generally include at least one fluid container configured to retain a volume of formulation for delivery of the formulation to a hair coloring appliance. In this regard, the formula delivery system may be configured to removably couple to an inlet member of the appliance that allows the appliance to draw the formulation from the fluid container for use within the appliance.

Abstract: An applicator device includes a photo-active formulation assembly and a photo-dose assembly operably coupled to the photo-active formulation assembly. The photo-active formulation assembly includes one or a plurality of dispenser portions and one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs. The photo-active formulation assembly is operable to dispense a photo-activatable formulation from the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs onto one or more regions of a biological surface. The photo-dose assembly includes at least one illuminator oriented to focus electromagnetic energy onto one or more focal regions of a biological surface. The focused electromagnetic energy is of a character and for a duration sufficient to photo-activate the photo-activatable formulation dispensed from the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs.

Abstract: Hair coloring appliances include an elongate handle and a consumable assembly removably couplable to the handle. The consumable assembly has a manifold chamber with a fluid inlet in selective fluid communication with a first formulation fluid source, a plurality of outlet nozzles configured to discharge a first formulation from the manifold chamber, and a distribution protrusion extending into the manifold chamber and configured to direct the flow of the first formulation from the fluid inlet to each of the plurality of outlet nozzles.

Abstract: A sprayer that senses the presence or character of a surface to be sprayed includes one or more sensors configured to detect a presence or character of a surface to be sprayed; and a dispenser assembly including one or more components configured to modify at least one spray characteristic of a formulation based on an input from at least one of the one or more sensors indicative of the presence or character of the surface to be sprayed.

Abstract: A formula delivery appliance can be used for treatment of the hair and scalp, such as an appliance used to color hair. The appliance may include a consumable assembly incorporating various components of the hair and scalp treatment appliance, a portion of which may be consumed and then replaced by a user. In this regard, the consumable assembly may include one or more formulation delivery packets, nozzles, manifold chambers, distribution protrusions, and the like. The hair treatment appliance may also include a rotatable coupling having a driven gear and a drive gear, where the driven gear may selectively engage the drive gear. In another aspect, the hair treatment appliance may also include a fluid container to retain a volume of formulation for delivery to the appliance.

Abstract: Low-profile fluid injection systems and methods for injecting fluid into a tumor within a body comprising an elongate member, a plurality of fluid delivery members, and a plurality of fluid reservoirs. Each of the plurality of fluid reservoirs may be fluidly coupled to a single of fluid delivery lumen of a single fluid delivery member such that each of the fluid delivery members is fluidly independent of every other fluid delivery member. The plurality of fluid delivery members may be configured to extend out of a distal end of the elongate member into the tumor when the system is positioned in the body of a patient. A fluid delivery mechanism may be operably coupled to the plurality of fluid reservoirs in order to deliver fluids from the plurality of fluid reservoirs to the plurality of fluid delivery members and inject the fluids into the tumor.

Abstract: An adjustable misting system and method for treating a region of a biological surface is presented. In an embodiment, a reconfigurable misting nebulizer includes a first misting panel having a plurality of apertures configured to atomize a formulation, and a second misting panel coupled to the first misting panel having a plurality of apertures configured to atomize the formulation. In some embodiments, a relative position of the first misting panel with respect to the second misting panel is adjustable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stretchable material suitable for use in an inflatable medical device. The stretchable material has at least one reinforcing polymer layer with a top and bottom side forming a porous matrix which is imbibed with a sealing material to infiltrate and substantially seal spaces of the porous matrix and extend beyond the reinforcing polymer layer to form a surface coating.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods that learn a loss function that, when (approximately) minimized over the training data, produces a model that performs well on test data according to some error metric. The error metric need not be differentiable and may be only loosely related to the loss function. In particular, the present disclosure presents a convex-programming-based algorithm that takes as input observed data from training a small number of models and produces as output a loss function. This algorithm can be used to tune loss function hyperparameters and/or to adjust the loss function on-the-fly during training.

Abstract: A non-shortening catheter balloon having a longitudinal axis and an inflatable balloon able to be affixed to a catheter shaft is provided. The balloon has an uninflated length which remains relatively unchanged upon inflation and is formed of least two helically oriented wrapped passes of balloon materials at a balanced force angle. Methods of making this balloon are also provided.