Abstract: An exercise device includes a jug including a first external cutout portion and a second external cutout portion together forming an external cutout having a cross shape in the outer surface of the jug. The jug also includes a first, second, and third handle. The exercise device is configured to allow a user's wrist and forearm to enter the cutout portions.

Abstract: An exercise device includes a jug including cutouts forming a cross shape therein, wherein the exercise device is configured to allow a user's wrist and forearm to enter the cutouts.

Abstract: A polymer fiber is formed by hydrodynamic spinning. Fluids are forced to flow through a conduit to form a laminar flow comprising three or more layers of generally coaxial fluid flows, at respective flow rates selected to define a cross-section of a tubular middle layer of the fluid flows. The middle layer comprises a cross-linkable polymer precursor. Another layer of the fluid flows comprise a cross-linking agent. The polymer precursor, cross-linking agent and fluids are selected to prevent substantial diffusion of the polymer precursor away from the middle layer, and to allow a portion of the cross-linking agent to diffuse from the another layer into the middle layer to facilitate cross-linking of the polymer precursor in the middle layer to form a tubular polymer layer in a polymer fiber. The polymer layer thus has a cross-section generally corresponding to the cross-section of the middle layer.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to improved bioartificial kidneys (BAKs), and in certain embodiments to improved bioartificial kidneys that are portable and/or wearable by a user. In some embodiments, the BAKs may comprise an ultrafiltration unit and a reabsorption unit. The reabsorption unit may contain a reabsorption membrane having a layer of renal proximal tubule cells disposed thereon, where the renal proximal tubule cells selectively allow solutes to pass through the reabsorption membrane. In some embodiments, at least the reabsorption unit may be configured as a substantially flat-plate filtration device, which can impart advantageous properties such as improved maintenance of the renal proximal tubule cell layer, more facile monitoring of the renal proximal tubule cell layer as well as enhanced profile for wearability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articles and methods involving porous materials (e.g., membranes) which may interact with species, such as biological molecules, cells, etc., whereby the species may adhere to or become immobilized with respect to a surface of the porous material or an adhesion layer coating the porous surface. The porous material may be capable of attaching species with control over the positioning and spatial distribution of the species across the surface of the material. Such articles and methods may be useful in, for example, biological assays, biological sensors, or in the culturing of biological cells.

Abstract: Porous polymeric articles, and more specifically, porous polymeric articles for tissue engineering and organ replacement, are described. In some embodiments, methods described herein include use of a polymer-solvent system (e.g., phase inversion) to generate porosity in a structure. The process may include formation of a structure precursor material including a first crosslinkable component and a second component that can be precipitated in a precipitation medium. The structure precursor material may be shaped into a three-dimensional shape by a suitable technique such as three-dimensional printing. Upon shaping of the structure precursor material, at least a portion of the first component may be crosslinked. The structure may then be contacted with a precipitation medium to remove the precursor solvent from the structure, which can cause the second polymer component to precipitate and form a porous structure containing a network of uniform pores.

Abstract: A polymer fiber is formed by hydrodynamic spinning. Fluids are forced to flow through a conduit to form a laminar flow comprising three or more layers of generally coaxial fluid flows, at respective flow rates selected to define a cross-section of a tubular middle layer of the fluid flows. The middle layer comprises a cross-linkable polymer precursor. Another layer of the fluid flows comprise a cross-linking agent. The polymer precursor, cross-linking agent and fluids are selected to prevent substantial diffusion of the polymer precursor away from the middle layer, and to allow a portion of the cross-linking agent to diffuse from the another layer into the middle layer to facilitate cross-linking of the polymer precursor in the middle layer to form a tubular polymer layer in a polymer fiber. The polymer layer thus has a cross-section generally corresponding to the cross-section of the middle layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses involving biocompatible structures for tissue engineering and organ replacement and, more specifically, biocompatible structures formed by three-dimensional fabrication, are described. In some embodiments, the biocompatible structures are scaffolds for cells that can be used as tissue engineering templates and/or as artificial organs. The structures may be three-dimensional and can mimic the shapes and dimensions of tissues and/or organs, including the microarchitecture and porosities of the tissues and organs. Pores in the structure may allow delivery of molecules across the structure, and may facilitate cell migration and/or generation of connective tissue between the structure and its host environment. Structures of the invention can be implanted into a mammal and/or may be used ex vivo as bioartificial assist devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses involving biocompatible structures for tissue engineering and organ replacement and, more specifically, biocompatible structures formed by three-dimensional fabrication, are described. In some embodiments, the biocompatible structures are scaffolds for cells that can be used as tissue engineering templates and/or as artificial organs. The structures may be three-dimensional and can mimic the shapes and dimensions of tissues and/or organs, including the microarchitecture and porosities of the tissues and organs. Pores in the structure may allow delivery of molecules across the structure, and may facilitate cell migration and/or generation of connective tissue between the structure and its host environment. Structures of the invention can be implanted into a mammal and/or may be used ex vivo as bioartificial assist devices.

Abstract: A wafer exposure device includes a wafer stage. An optical exposure system exposes a wafer on the wafer stage. A sensor block measures a distance to a wafer provided on the wafer stage. The sensor block includes a plurality of height level sensors. Each height level sensor measures and outputs height level values. The wafer exposure device compares with one another the measured height level values outputted by respective height level sensors. The wafer exposure device calculates individual sensor position offset values to be attributed to the individual height level sensors. The wafer exposure device corrects the measured height level values output by the respective height level sensors using the calculated sensor position offset values of the respective height level sensor.

Abstract: The mutually associated structure patterns, which are provided on one mask, or a plurality of masks for a double or multiple exposure can be received by the mask substrate holder. The mask substrate holder has two receiving stations one for each of the masks. Alternatively, both structure patterns for the double exposure are formed on one mask. The substrate holder has one receiving station. The substrate holder, is displaced from the section including first structure pattern to the second, between the two exposure operations, without the masks having to be loaded or unloaded, and realigned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses involving biocompatible structures for tissue engineering and organ replacement and, more specifically, to methods and apparatuses involving biocompatible structures formed by three-dimensional fabrication for tissue engineering and organ replacement. In some embodiments, the biocompatible structures are scaffolds for cells that can be used as tissue engineering templates and/or as artificial organs. The structures may be three-dimensional and can mimic the shapes and dimensions of tissues and/or organs, including the microarchitecture and porosities of the tissues and organs. In some cases, a structure formed by three-dimensional fabrication comprises a wall defining a cavity and a plurality of pores in at least a portion of the wall. The pores may permeate the wall and enable exchange of a component (e.g., a molecule and/or a cell) between a portion interior to the cavity and a portion exterior to the cavity.

Abstract: An inspection system includes an illumination source configured to illuminate a blazed phase grating sample, image collection pathways and an imaging system configured to capture an image of a sample point of the blazed phase grating sample, and a controller configured to adjust the illumination source in response to an analysis of the image of the sample point to determine illumination uniformity of the inspection system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articles and methods involving porous materials (e.g., membranes) which may interact with species, such as biological molecules, cells, etc., whereby the species may adhere to or become immobilized with respect to a surface of the porous material or an adhesion layer coating the porous surface. The porous material may be capable of attaching species with control over the positioning and spatial distribution of the species across the surface of the material. Such articles and methods may be useful in, for example, biological assays, biological sensors, or in the culturing of biological cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for manipulating chemical and/or biological species (e.g., cells) and, more specifically, to methods and apparatus for manipulating chemical and/or biological species using magnetic fields. In one embodiment, a method of manipulating cells involves the patterning of cells using a magnetic field modulator, which can modulate the magnetic field created by a magnetic field source. The cells may be magnetically susceptible in some cases; for instance, they may be tagged with magnetic particles. When a fluid containing cells is brought in contact with a surface, and the magnetic field modulator is positioned proximate the surface, the cells may form a pattern proximate the surface by aligning with portions of the modulated magnetic field. The position of the pattern of cells may be at least partially determined by the position of the magnetic field modulator in relation to the surface.

Abstract: A system for analyzing images of a blazed phase grating sample includes an interface configured to receive images of sample points of a blazed phase grating sample obtained by an inspection system, a memory for storing the images, and a processor. Each image is named according to a sequential naming protocol that associates each image to a location on the blazed phase grating sample. The processor is configured to load the images from the memory, convert image data for each sample point to intensity values by pixel, determine a best focus by azimuth for each sample point based on the intensity values, and calculate parameters from the blazed phase grating sample based on the best focus by azimuth for each sample point.

Abstract: An exposure tool includes an illumination source, a blazed phase grating reticle, a reticle stage holding the blazed phase grating reticle, a lens system including at least one adjustable lens element, a wafer stage holding a sample, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the illumination source and the position of the blazed phase grating reticle and the lens system relative to the wafer stage to expose the sample to generate a blazed phase grating sample. The controller is configured to adjust the at least one adjustable lens element to compensate for aberrations of the lens system based on feedback generated from analyzing images of the blazed phase grating sample.

Abstract: An inspection system includes an illumination source configured to illuminate a blazed phase grating sample, image collection pathways and an imaging system configured to capture an image of a sample point of the blazed phase grating sample, and a controller configured to adjust the illumination source in response to an analysis of the image of the sample point to determine illumination uniformity of the inspection system.

Abstract: An exposure tool includes an illumination source, a blazed phase grating reticle, a lens system, a focus sensor configured for maintaining a focus of the lens system, a stage holding a sample, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the illumination source and a position of the blazed phase grating reticle and the lens system relative to the stage to expose the sample according to a product shot map to generate a blazed phase grating sample. The controller is configured to adjust a focus offset of the exposure tool by product shot to improve focal plane fitting based on feedback generated from an analysis of images of the blazed phase grating sample.

Abstract: The mutually associated structure patterns, which are provided on one mask, or a plurality of masks for a double or multiple exposure can be received by the mask substrate holder. The mask substrate holder has two receiving stations one for each of the masks. Alternatively, both structure patterns for the double exposure are formed on one mask. The substrate holder has one receiving station. The substrate holder, is displaced from the section including first structure pattern to the second, between the two exposure operations, without the masks having to be loaded or unloaded, and realigned.