Abstract: An urethral antimicrobial delivery device (1) comprising; a deformable reservoir (101) in fluid connection with an elongate member (102), the elongate member comprising a lumen, the elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate member having a plurality of pores (103) defined therein, said pores being distributed along a length of said elongate member, the elongate member being dimensioned for insertion through an external urethral orifice of a female subject, whereby the elongate member is insertable into a distal urethral cavity for delivery of at: antimicrobial in said distal urethral cavity, and wherein the device comprises a collar (105) to prevent said elongate member entering a proximal urethral cavity.

Abstract: An urethral antimicrobial delivery device (1) comprising; a deformable reservoir (101) in fluid connection with an elongate member (102), the elongate member comprising a lumen, the elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate member having a plurality of pores (103) defined therein, said pores being distributed along a length of said elongate member, the elongate member being dimensioned for insertion through an external urethral orifice of a female subject, whereby the elongate member is insertable into a distal urethral cavity for delivery of an antimicrobial in said distal urethral cavity, and wherein the device comprises a collar (105) to prevent said elongate member entering a proximal urethral cavity.

Abstract: Plasma systems for depositing biomolecules, pharmaceutical agents, and other therapeutic active agents onto surfaces are described. The systems may include a plasma device having one or more electrodes, a gas supply inlet, a plasma outlet exposed to ambient pressure, and an ignition system operatively connected to the electrodes for providing a non-thermal equilibrium plasma within the plasma chamber. A particulate delivery system may be used to introduce the active agent(s) as a dry powder into or downstream of the plasma, and to deposit the plasma-treated active agent(s) to produce a coating on a surface. The coating may retain the activity of the active agent(s).

Abstract: Methods for treating a bacterial infections, including drug-resistant bacterial infections, of a patient are described. The methods may include applying a non-thermal plasma and a liquid simultaneously to infected tissue of the patient, the liquid comprising at least one antibiotic and/or antiseptic and a penetration enhancing agent; wherein the non-thermal plasma has a frequency between 200 kHz and 600 kHz.

Abstract: Medical devices for generating an aerosol and plasma, e.g., for therapeutic treatment are described. The medical device may include a nebulizer, the nebulizer including an outer compartment, an inner compartment, and a needle radially inward of the inner and outer compartments. The medical device may include at least one electrode and a chamber, wherein a distal-facing surface of the chamber defines at least one plasma outlet and a nozzle in communication with the nebulizer, an end of the electrode being proximate the plasma outlet.

Abstract: A metal surface treatment method wherein the surface (10) is simultaneously bombarded with a mixture of abrasive particles (4) and dopant particles (6) which are delivered at a velocity in the range of 50-250 m/sec, and thereby depositing the dopant material on the surface. Also provided is an article (8) having a surface treated by such a method.

Abstract: This application is directed to dielectric isolation of fluid conveyance systems both Aerospace and Industrial. The dielectric isolator 5 serves to both prevent high voltage surges transitioning down the conveyance distribution system and second as a means to conduct fluid under pressure. This application address the limitations of current art by approaching the challenge as a pure electrical solution. High resistance precision electrical elements 10 are integrated into a one piece high dielectric material housing 15 which embodies the required end fitting interface. Conductive end collars 20 bonded in position to housing 15 and in contact with resistive elements 10, provides the means for conducting electrical energy to the system interface fitting, coupling or connection. The application provides precision resistance from one unit to the next with built in triple redundancy for high life expectation.

Abstract: Plasma systems for depositing biomolecules, pharmaceutical agents, and other therapeutic active agents onto surfaces are described. The systems may include a plasma device having one or more electrodes, a gas supply inlet, a plasma outlet exposed to ambient pressure, and an ignition system operatively connected to the electrodes for providing a non-thermal equilibrium plasma within the plasma chamber. A particulate delivery system may be used to introduce the active agent(s) as a dry powder into or downstream of the plasma, and to deposit the plasma-treated active agent(s) to produce a coating on a surface. The coating may retain the activity of the active agent(s).

Abstract: A plasma coating device for treating a wound comprises a plasma chamber having: one or more electrodes, a gas supply inlet, a plasma outlet exposed to ambient pressure, and an ignition system operatively connected to the electrodes for providing a non-thermal equilibrium plasma within the plasma chamber. An aerosol delivery system is operable to introduce a bioresorbable material as an aerosol into the plasma, to produce a coating on the wound surface.

Abstract: An urethral antimicrobial delivery device (1) comprising; a deformable reservoir (101) in fluid connection with an elongate member (102), the elongate member comprising a lumen, the elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate member having a plurality of pores (103) defined therein, said pores being distributed along a length of said elongate member, the elongate member being dimensioned for insertion through an external urethral orifice of a female subject, whereby the elongate member is insertable into a distal urethral cavity for delivery of an antimicrobial in said distal urethral cavity, and wherein the device comprises a collar (105) to prevent said elongate member entering a proximal urethral cavity.

Abstract: Methods for treating a bacterial infections, including drug-resistant bacterial infections, of a patient are described. The methods may include applying a non-thermal plasma and a liquid simultaneously to infected tissue of the patient, the liquid comprising at least one antibiotic and/or antiseptic and a penetration enhancing agent; wherein the non-thermal plasma has a frequency between 200 kHz and 600 kHz.

Abstract: A metal surface treatment method wherein the surface (10) is simultaneously bombarded with a mixture of abrasive particles (4) and dopant particles (6) which are delivered at a velocity in the range of 50-250 m/sec, and thereby depositing the dopant material on the surface. Also provided is an article (8) having a surface treated by such a method.

Abstract: A plasma coating device for treating a wound comprises a plasma chamber having: one or more electrodes, a gas supply inlet, a plasma outlet exposed to ambient pressure, and an ignition system operatively connected to the electrodes for providing a non-thermal equilibrium plasma within the plasma chamber. An aerosol delivery system is operable to introduce a bioresorbable material as an aerosol into the plasma, to produce a coating on the wound surface.

Abstract: A method of bonding an adherent to a substrate, wherein a primer is applied to the substrate by plasma deposition and the adherent is bonded to the primer treated surface of the substrate, and the primer contains functional groups which chemically bond to functional groups in the adherent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for producing a coated substrate, including dissolving at least one biomolecule to form a solution; nebulizing the solution to form a liquid aerosol; combining the liquid aerosol and a plasma to form a coating; and depositing, in the absence of reactive monomers, the coating onto a substrate surface. In an aspect, the substrate can be an implantable medical device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating an article surface. The method comprises delivering a polymer and drug to a medical implant having a porous surface and using at least one particle stream from at least one fluid jet to subsequently remove the polymer from the outer surface of the metal substrate, thereby retaining the therapeutic agent and polymer within the pores of the implant.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for producing a coated substrate, including dissolving at least one biomolecule to form a solution; nebulizing the solution to form a liquid aerosol; combining the liquid aerosol and a plasma to form a coating; and depositing, in the absence of reactive monomers, the coating onto a substrate surface. In an aspect, the substrate can be an implantable medical device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of treating an article surface. The method comprises delivering a polymer and drug to a medical implant having a porous surface and using at least one particle stream from at least one fluid jet to subsequently remove the polymer from the outer surface of the metal substrate, thereby retaining the therapeutic agent and polymer within the pores of the implant.

Abstract: A method for forming a polymeric coating on a substrate surface, by plasma treating a mixture comprising a free-radical initiated polymerisable monomer having one or more free-radical polymerisable groups in the presence of a free radical initiator, wherein said plasma treatment is a soft ionisation plasma process (a process wherein precursor molecules are not fragmented during the plasma process and as a consequence, the resulting polymeric coating has the physical properties of the precursor or bulk polymer) aid depositing the resulting polymeric coating material onto a substrate surface.

Abstract: A method for deposition of functional coatings comprises igniting a non-thermal equilibrium plasma within an ambient pressure plasma chamber having a gas supply inlet and a plasma outlet; and providing a substrate to be coated adjacent to the plasma outlet. A gas phase pre-cursor monomer is provided to the plasma chamber through the gas inlet. A specific energy is coupled into the plasma during the flow of the pre-cursor through the chamber sufficient to disassociate at least the weakest intra-molecular bond required to allow polymerisation of the pre-cursor when deposited on a surface of the substrate adjacent the plasma outlet, the coupled specific energy not exceeding a specific energy required break intra-molecular bonds required for the functionality of the monomer molecule.