Abstract: An apparatus and method for expanding a box blank into a box, the apparatus comprising an arm assembly, a controller, a camera and a box blank conveyor. The arm assembly includes a folding arm having a position in a first direction and a rotational angle controlled by the controller based on a position of a feature of the box blank in the field of view of the camera. The camera captures images of the box blank which are used to position the arm assembly and to evaluate the need to reject a box blank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for expanding a box blank into a box, the apparatus comprising an arm assembly, a controller, a camera and a box blank conveyor. The arm assembly includes a folding arm having a position in a first direction and a rotational angle controlled by the controller based on a position of a feature of the box blank in the field of view of the camera. The camera captures images of the box blank which are used to position the arm assembly and to evaluate the need to reject a box blank.

Abstract: This application relates to a microdevice for delivering drugs to a target location. The microdevice comprises a plurality of nanocapsules assembled together, each having an outer hydrophobic shell and an inner liquid core contained within the shell. At least one drug is dissolved within the inner liquid core. The liquid core comprises a mixture of solvents including at least one solvent for maintaining the hydrophilicity of the inner core (and hence the phase difference between the polymeric shell and the liquid core) and at least one second solvent for enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of the drug. For example, the second solvent may be selected to enable a hydrophobic drug to dissolve within the hydrophilic inner core environment. The inner core may also include a small amount of water-soluble polymer.

Abstract: This application relates to a thin foam coating comprising discrete, closed-cell capsules. The coating may be applied to an implantable medical device, such as a stent. The closed-cell capsules each having an outer polymeric shell and an inner liquid core containing the drug. The polymeric shells degrade in vivo to achieve controlled elution of the drug.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel calcium phosphate-coated implantable medical devices and processes of making same. The calcium-phosphate coatings are designed to minimize the immune response to the implant (e.g. restenosis in stenting procedures) and can be used to store and release a medicinally active agent in a controlled manner. Such coatings can be applied to any implantable medical devices and are useful for a number of medical procedures including (but not limited to) balloon angioplasty in cardiovascular stenting, ureteral stenting and catheterisation. The calcium phosphate coatings can be applied to a substrate as one or more coatings by a sol-gel deposition process, an aerosol-gel deposition process, a biomimetic deposition process, a calcium phosphate cement deposition process, an electro-phoretic deposition process or an electrochemical deposition process. The coating can contain and elude a drug in an engineered manner.

Abstract: This application relates to a multi-layer drug delivery device and a method of manufacture. The device comprises a substrate; at least one first layer on the substrate containing the drug and a first solvent; and at least one second layer applied to the first layer to regulate release of the drug from the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a polymer. The first solvent substantially prevents direct contact between the drug and the polymer. When applied to the first layer, the polymer is preferably dissolved in a second solvent which is immiscible with the first solvent to substantially prevent inter-diffusion between the first and second layers. In one application the substrate is a medical device, such as an implantable stent, having a biocompatible outer surface. The second layer is preferably biodegradable, bioabsorbable and/or bioresolvable in vivo to permit gradual exposure of the first layer and elution of the drug therefrom.