Abstract: A method and apparatus can separate and concentrate a selected component from a multi-component material. The multi-component material may include a whole sample such as adipose tissue, whole blood, or the like. The apparatus generally includes a moveable piston positioned within a separation container and a withdrawal tube that is operable to interact with a distal end of the collection container past the piston. Material can be withdrawn through the withdrawal tube.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing an engineered wood product are disclosed. The method includes contacting at least part of a first set of wood pieces with a first resin; contacting at least part of a second set of wood pieces with a second resin, wherein the second resin is more washout resistant than the first resin; orienting the first and second set of wood pieces to provide a blanket of oriented pieces, the blanket of oriented pieces including a core layer formed of the second set of wood pieces sandwiched between a pair of face layers formed of the first set of wood pieces; steam preheating at least a portion of the blanket of oriented pieces; and curing the first and second resins by exposing at least a part of the blanket of oriented pieces to at least one of an elevated temperature, an elevated pressure, and radiant energy.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing an engineered wood product are disclosed. The method includes orienting two or more sets of wood pieces to provide a blanket of oriented pieces, the blanket of oriented pieces including two or more layers, wherein at least one of the sets of wood pieces includes a first resin and at least the other of the sets of wood pieces includes a second resin, and wherein the second resin is more washout resistant than the first resin; preheating at least a portion of the blanket of oriented pieces; and curing the first and second resins by exposing at least a part of the blanket of oriented pieces to at least one of an elevated temperature, an elevated pressure, and radiant energy. At least one of the blanket of oriented pieces and the preheating is configured to at least substantially minimize washout of the first resin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating and concentrating a selected component from a multi-component material. The multi-component material may include a whole sample such as adipose tissue, whole blood, or the like. The apparatus generally includes a moveable piston positioned within a separation container and a withdrawal tube that is operable to interact with a distal end of the collection container past the piston. Material can be withdrawn through the withdrawal tube.

Abstract: An apparatus that allows for separating and collecting a concentrated fraction of a fluid, such as a whole blood sample, adipose tissue, or a bone marrow sample. The apparatus, when used with a centrifuge, allows for the creation of at least three fractions in the apparatus. It also provides for a new method of extracting the buffy coat phase from a whole blood sample. The apparatus includes a container to be placed to a centrifuge after being filled with a whole blood sample. A buoy or fraction separator, which has a density less than that of red blood cells of a whole blood sample, is disposed in the container. During the centrifuge process the buoy separates the red blood cells from another fraction of the whole blood. After the centrifuge process is finished a plunger is used to produce at least two other fractions, including a plasma fraction and a buffy coat. Then, the buffy coat may be removed from the container without commingling the fractions of the sample.

Abstract: A system and method employing optical disc drives for quantitative analysis of physical, chemical and biochemical parameters are provided. The system including a disc drive for supporting and rotating an optical disc including at least one sensor spot; a light source for directing light onto the sensor spot; at least one optical pickup for detecting light transmitted from the sensor spot, the transmitted light being indicative of a concentration of a compound; and an analog-to-digital converter for quantifying an intensity of the transmitted light. The method comprising the steps of preparing the optical disc with a plurality of sensor spots, the sensor spots being responsive to a compound; exposing the optical disc to a fluid; measuring intensity of transmitted light from at least one of the plurality of sensor spots; and correlating the measured intensity of transmitted light to an amount of compound exposed to the optical disc.

Abstract: Formed compositions for application to a bone surface of a human or animal subject, comprising: a bone material; and a carrier comprising denatured demineralized bone, where the composition is formed into a shape suitable for administration to the bone. Methods are provided for making formed compositions for application to a bone surface of a human or animal subject comprise mixing a demineralized bone and water; heating the mixture to form a carrier; mixing the carrier with bone to form a moldable composition; and molding the moldable composition to produce a formed composition. Several apparatuses are provided in which to hydrate the formed bone composition. Methods of hydrating a formed bone composition are also provided.

Abstract: A method of conducting biological materials to soft tissue. The method includes loading a conduit device onto a delivery shaft of an inserter, inserting at least a portion of the delivery shaft into soft tissue, expelling the conduit device from the delivery shaft into the tissue, and delivering biological material through an access port of the inserter into at least one outer longitudinal channel of the conduit device.

Abstract: An apparatus that allows for separating and collecting a fraction of a sample. The apparatus, when used with a centrifuge, allows for the creation of at least three fractions in the apparatus. It also provides for a new method of extracting the buffy coat phase from a whole blood sample and mesenchymal stem cells from bone reaming material. A buoy system that may include a first buoy portion and a second buoy member operably interconnected may be used to form at least three fractions from a sample during a substantially single centrifugation process. Therefore, the separation of various fractions may be substantially quick and efficient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining various components of a multi-component material. Generally, a component of a whole blood sample may be concentrated from a patient and re-introduced to the same patient. For example, a clotting component, such as thrombin, from a whole blood sample may be extracted and concentrated in an apparatus and collection to be reapplied or reintroduced into a patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separation, concentration, and/or applying a biological or bio-engineered fluid. Generally, the fluid application device includes a sprayer body to enable the application of the fluid and a container adaptable to enable the separation of the fluid into at least a first component and a second component. The container is releasably coupled to the nozzle. The nozzle is adapted to withdraw at least one of the first component or the second component from the container after the fluid has been separated to apply the fluid to a selected site.

Abstract: The PRP separator-concentrator of this invention is suitable for office use or emergency use for trauma victims. The PRP separator comprises a motorized centrifugal separation assembly, and a concentrator assembly. The centrifugal separator assembly comprises a centrifugal drum separator that includes an erythrocyte capture module and a motor having a drive axis connected to the centrifugal drum separator. The concentrator assembly comprises a water-removal module for preparing PRP concentrate. The centrifugal drum separator has an erythrocyte trap. The water removal module can be a syringe device with water absorbing beads or it can be a pump-hollow fiber cartridge assembly. The hollow fibers are membranes with pores that allow the flow of water through the fiber membrane while excluding flow of clotting factors useful for sealing and adhering tissue and growth factors helpful for healing while avoiding activation of platelets and disruption of any trace erythrocytes present in the PRP.

Abstract: A plasma concentrator of this invention having a concentrator chamber, concentrator gel beads, a filter, and an agitator. The agitator has agitator blades extending outwardly from the lower end. The agitator end is positioned in the concentrator chamber and supported for rotation about its central axis and for reciprocal movement along its central axis. The concentrator has a top with an upper opening through which the upper end of the actuator stem extends, and a lower opening in which the filter is positioned. The concentrator chamber can have a cylindrical inner wall, and the agitator blades can have an outer edge in close proximity to the inner wall with the space between the outer edge and the inner wall being less than the diameter of the gel beads. The filter is selected to block effective flow of plasma therethrough under ambient gravity conditions and permit plasma and plasma concentrate flow therethrough under centrifugal forces of the separation gravity.

Abstract: A PRP separator-concentrator comprising a housing, a separation assembly, and a concentration assembly. The concentration assembly has a concentration sump. An axially concentric rigid stationary outlet tube is secured to the housing and extends through the separation assembly to the sump. The separation assembly is attached to and positioned above the concentration assembly to form a combined separator-concentrator assemblage that is rotatable about the outlet tube. The separation assembly includes a separation chamber lined with a depth filter having pores and passageways that are sized to receive and entrap erythrocytes during centrifuging. The concentration chamber has a floor for supporting desiccated beads and a wall with at least one opening closed with a screen. The concentrator can have a distribution of upright screen supports, the upright screen supports having an inner surface and an outer surface, the cylindrical screen being supported on the outer surface of the upright screen supports.

Abstract: Formed compositions for application to a bone surface of a human or animal subject, comprising: a bone material; and a carrier comprising denatured demineralized bone, where the composition is formed into a shape suitable for administration to the bone. Methods are provided for making formed compositions for application to a bone surface of a human or animal subject comprise mixing a demineralized bone and water; heating the mixture to form a carrier; mixing the carrier with bone to form a moldable composition; and molding the moldable composition to produce a formed composition. Apparatus are provided comprising a retaining tube and a hydrating tube. Methods of hydrating a formed bone composition are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of isolating cells from adipose tissue that have potential to differentiate into cells of mesenchymal origin, including cells of chondrogenic, osteogenic, adipogenic, and/or myogenic origin, comprising: (a) subjecting adipose tissue to an electromagnetic, sonic, or other wave energy source; and (b) centrifuging the tissue to form a pellet comprising stem cells. In various embodiments, the method is carried out without any enzymatic digestion of the adipose tissue. In other embodiments, the method additionally comprises enzymatically digesting the tissue. In various embodiments, methods comprise subjecting the tissue to ultrasonic energy. In some embodiments, the method does not comprise enzymatic digestion of the adipose tissue. In other embodiments, the method additionally comprises enzymatically digesting the tissue. Methods are also provided for intraoperative harvest and delivery of autologous stem cells to the site of acute or chronic wounds.

Abstract: Methods for making multifunctional microfluidic systems, and apparatuses prepared thereby are disclosed comprising an environmentally responsive component integrated into the substrate and exposed to the channels of a microfluidic chip.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, setting an operating (control) voltage of a voltage controllable optical component, such as a Mach-Zehnder optical modulator, having a periodic voltage/optical parameter (optical power) characteristic include an up/down counter and a digital to analog converter operable to set the voltage applied to the component to a predetermined initial value, a device for measuring the optical parameter, and another device for sequentially progressively increasing and decreasing the voltage (incrementing/decrementing the counter) with respect to the predetermined value, and for determining respective voltage values which produce maximum and minimum values of the optical parameter. The voltage is set to a value intermediate the maximum and minimum voltage values. Further, the apparatus determines the sense of the slope of that portion of the periodic characteristic lying between the maximum and minimum values for use by a control loop during subsequent operation of the optical component.

Abstract: An apparatus that allows for separating and collecting a fraction of a sample. The apparatus, when used with a centrifuge, allows for the creation of at least three fractions in the apparatus. It also provides for a new method of extracting the buffy coat phase from a whole blood sample. A buoy system that may include a first buoy portion and a second buoy member operably interconnected may be used to form at least three fractions from a sample during a substantially single centrifugation process. Therefore, the separation of various fractions may be substantially quick and efficient.

Abstract: A diversity switch combiner for use in systems for receiving multi-carrier wideband signals is arranged to determine, during a guard interval, which antenna provides the strongest carrier, for each of a plurality of carrier frequencies. A switch is then operated to select, for the subsequent symbol, that antenna which provides the greatest number of strongest carriers.