Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating diabetes comprising methods and devices for reducing the levels of glucagon found in diabetic patients. Disclosed is a stent comprising a biocompatible polymer containing at least one glucagon suppressing drug, the stent is inserted into an artery or vein supplying the pancreas and as the drug is eluted it reduces the level of glucagon. In another embodiment, the method of treating diabetes comprises providing a pump having a catheter and a reservoir containing at least one glucagon suppressing drug, inserting the catheter into an artery supplying blood to the pancreas, and infusing the glucagon suppressing drug into the arterial supply.

Abstract: An implantable multi-lumen access port including indicators for ascertaining characteristics of the port is disclosed. In one embodiment, the access port comprises a housing that defines a first reservoir and a second reservoir. A first septum and second septum are respectively coupled with the housing to provide selective access to the first and second reservoirs. Each septum includes a plurality of protrusions defined about a periphery thereof that are palpable after implantation of the port in a patient to determine a relative position of the first septum with respect to the second septum. A radiographically observable indicator is also included on a base of the housing, so as to provide information relating to a characteristic of the dual-lumen port, such as suitability for power injection of fluids. The indicator in one embodiment includes a substantially rigid radiopaque component.

Abstract: A multi-lumen catheter configured for insertion into the vasculature of a patient for fluid infusion into or fluid aspiration from the patient is disclosed. The multi-lumen catheter includes one or more cross sectionally variable lumens, wherein the cross sectional area of the lumen(s) may be selectively increased, particularly during fluid infusion, in order to enable relatively greater fluid flow rate therethrough. In one embodiment, the multi-lumen catheter includes a deformable first septum for providing an increased cross sectional area for a lumen under high flow rate pressurization, such as power injection. A deformable second septum also deforms to allow for first septum deformation and additionally provides an urging force to restore the first septum to an un-deformed state once lumen pressurization has ceased. In another embodiment, a bi-positional septum is used to selectively increase the cross sectional area of a lumen of the catheter during power injection.

Abstract: An improved combination non-luminescent microporous membrane and solid support for use in micro-analytical diagnostic applications is disclosed. Specifically, composite microarray non-luminescent slides having a microporous membrane effectively attached by covalent bonding through a surface treatment to a substrate that prepares the substrate to sufficiently, covalently bond to the non-luminescent microporous membrane formed by a phase inversion process such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications and wherein the porous non-luminescent nylon composite microarray slides are covalently bonded to a solid base member, such as, for example, a glass or Mylar microscope slide, such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications. Apparatus and methods for fabricating the non-luminescent composite microarray slides are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved combination non-luminescent microporous membrane and solid support for use in micro-analytical diagnostic applications is disclosed. Specifically, composite microarray non-luminescent slides having a microporous membrane effectively attached by covalent bonding through a surface treatment to a substrate that prepares the substrate to sufficiently, covalently bond to the non-luminescent microporous membrane formed by a phase inversion process such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications and wherein the porous non-luminescent nylon composite microarray slides are covalently bonded to a solid base member, such as, for example, a glass or Mylar microscope slide, such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications. Apparatus and methods for fabricating lithe non-luminescent composite microarray slides are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved combination non-luminescent microporous membrane and solid support for use in micro-analytical diagnostic applications is disclosed. Specifically, a multi-cell non-luminescent substrate having a porous membrane formed by a phase inversion process effectively attached by covalent bonding through a surface treatment to a substrate that prepares the substrate to sufficiently, covalently bond to the non-luminescent microporous membrane formed by a phase inversion process such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications and wherein the porous non-luminescent nylon multi-cell substrate is covalently bonded to a solid base member, such as, for example, a glass or Mylar microscope slide, such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications. Apparatus and methods for fabricating the non-luminescent multi-cell substrate are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved combination microporous membrane and solid support for use in micro-analytical diagnostic applications is disclosed. Specifically, a multi-cell substrate useful for carrying a microarray of biological polymers on the surface thereof including a multi-cell substrate having a porous membrane formed by a phase inversion process effectively attached by covalent bonding through a surface treatment to a substrate that prepares the substrate to sufficiently, covalently bond to the microporous membrane formed by a phase inversion process such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications and wherein the porous nylon multi-cell substrate is covalently bonded to a solid base member, such as, for example, a glass or Mylar microscope slide, such that the combination produced thereby is useful in microarray applications. Apparatus for fabricating a multi-cell substrate is also disclosed.