Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for loading a therapeutic substance or drug within a lumenal space of a hollow wire having a plurality of side openings along a length thereof that forms a hollow drug-eluting stent with a plurality of side drug delivery openings. Loading a drug within the lumenal space of the hollow stent includes a drug filling step, in which the drug is mixed with a solvent or dispersion medium. The lumenal space may be filled with the drug solution or suspension in a reverse fill process and/or a forward fill process. After the drug filling step, a solvent or dispersion medium extracting step is performed to extract the solvent or dispersion medium from within the lumenal space such that only the drug remains within the hollow stent. A stent cleaning step may be performed to an exterior surface of the hollow stent.

Abstract: An aboveground sprinkling device for a spinkling system for lawns and gardens. The device has a sprinkler head at the center of its upper surface and has four sockets spaced at ninety-degree intervals around its side edge, all leading in to a central chamber immediately below the sprinkler head. An integral holding spike extends down from the bottom of the sprinkler head, preferably at the center, for holding the sprinkling device in a selected location. The spike is shaped to resist rotation. A set of plugs is provided to close the sockets that are not to be used. A hose or hoses can be secured to any one of the sockets or to several of them or to all of them to incorporate the device in a continuous sprinkler system employing a plurality of these sprinkling devices. The sockets not connected to hoses are plugged.