Abstract: The invention includes novel methodology for diagnosing immunologic food or drug sensitivities. The method for diagnosing food sensitivities includes using diagnoses of other related disorders, such as microscopic colitis or other chronic immunologic/autoimmune syndromes, chronic diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and hepatitis C and other hepatic diseases, Crohn's disease, alcoholism, and other idiopathic neuropsychiatric and neurologic disorders, as indicators in the diagnosis of the food sensitivity. Additionally, failure to respond to or a relapse after treatment for microscopic colitis with bismuth subsalicylate is disclosed by the present invention as being a further indicator in the diagnosis of immunologic food sensitivity.

Abstract: An implantable infusion device (10) includes a lightweight, inert housing (12) which contains an infusate (18) for administration to a patient, and an enclosed, gas-impermeable variable volume chamber (30) which contains a pressure source, such as propellant, mechanical spring, or the like. The variable volume chamber may be in the form of a rigid-walled expandable bellows structure or a nonstretchable flexible bag and is attached to the housing so as not to obstruct the entry port for introduction of infusate. A recharging fluid flow path (31) is provided adjacent to where the variable volume chamber is attached to the housing. The infusate is delivered from the device via a catheter in response to expansion of the variable volume chamber against the volume of infusate in the housing. A separate bolus injection port (38) is provided which allows infusate to be safely introduced directly into the catheter and overrides the controlled pressure-driven delivery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition and method for the treatment and prevention of bad breath, halitosis, gingivitis, and/or periodontitis that contains one or more varieties of probiotic bacteria from the groups Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Bifidobacterium, and/or a species of the yeast genus Saccharomyces. The composition may be in a variety of forms, such as a toothpaste, mouthwash, oral spray, oral cream or gel, chewing gum, candy, lozenges, dissolvable pill or strip, or powder that may be sprinkled directly into the oral cavity.

Abstract: An implantable infusion device includes a lightweight, inert housing which contains an infusate for administration to a patient, and an enclosed, gas-impermeable variable volume chamber which contains a pressure source, such as propellant, mechanical spring, or the like. The variable volume chamber may be in the form of a rigid-walled expandable bellows structure or a nonstretchable flexible bag and is attached to the housing so as not to obstruct the entry port for introduction of infusate. The infusate is delivered from the device via a catheter in response to expansion of the variable volume chamber against the volume of infusate in the housing. A separate bolus injection port is provided which allows infusate to be safely introduced directly into the catheter and overrides the controlled pressure-driven delivery. The lightweight housing may include integrally formed needle stops and suture fastening loops.

Abstract: An implantable infusion device includes a lightweight, inert housing which contains an infusate for administration to a patient, and an enclosed, gas-impermeable variable volume chamber which contains a pressure source, such as propellant, mechanical spring, or the like. The variable volume chamber may be in the form of a rigid-walled expandable bellows structure or a nonstretchable flexible bag and is attached to the housing so as not to obstruct the entry port for introduction of infusate. The infusate is delivered from the device via a catheter in response to expansion of the variable volume chamber against the volume of infusate in the housing. A separate bolus injection port is provided which allows infusate to be safely introduced directly into the catheter and overrides the controlled pressure-driven delivery. The lightweight housing may include integrally formed needle stops and suture fastening loops.

Abstract: An electrodiffusion pump includes a housing having an inlet, drug reservoir, and outlet. A diffusion membrane is disposed between the reservoir and outlet for diffusing the drug outwardly therethrough. Internal and external electrodes are disposed on opposite sides of the membrane. The electrodes are porous, and the external electrode is additionally perforate to expose a portion of the membrane at the outlet. The electrodes are electrically powered for driving drug ions through the membrane under electrophoresis to complement diffusion thereof.