Abstract: In various embodiments, a drug pump includes a housing and, within the housing, an expandable drug reservoir at least part of which is exposed to a pressurized propellant. The propellant exerts a substantially constant pressure on the drug reservoir. A flow restrictor significantly limits outflow from the pump, and preferably has both a small diameter and a long path length, which acts to control the outflow from the drug reservoir. As a result, the pump produces a substantially constant outflow.

Abstract: Permission control and management for messaging application bots is described. A method can include providing a messaging application, on a first computing device associated with a first user, to enable communication between the first user and another user, and detecting, at the messaging application, a user request. The method can also include programmatically determining that an action in response to the user request requires access to data associated with the first user, and causing a permission interface to be rendered in the messaging application, the permission interface enabling the first user to approve or prohibit access to the data associated with the first user. The method can include accessing the data associated with the first user and performing the action in response to the user request, upon receiving user input from the first user indicating approval of the access to the data associated with the first user.

Abstract: Permission control and management for messaging application bots is described. A method can include providing a messaging application, on a first computing device associated with a first user, to enable communication between the first user and another user, and detecting, at the messaging application, a user request. The method can also include programmatically determining that an action in response to the user request requires access to data associated with the first user, and causing a permission interface to be rendered in the messaging application, the permission interface enabling the first user to approve or prohibit access to the data associated with the first user. The method can include accessing the data associated with the first user and performing the action in response to the user request, upon receiving user input from the first user indicating approval of the access to the data associated with the first user.

Abstract: Permission control and management for messaging application bots is described. A method can include providing a messaging application, on a first computing device associated with a first user, to enable communication between the first user and another user, and detecting, at the messaging application, a user request. The method can also include programmatically determining that an action in response to the user request requires access to data associated with the first user, and causing a permission interface to be rendered in the messaging application, the permission interface enabling the first user to approve or prohibit access to the data associated with the first user. The method can include accessing the data associated with the first user and performing the action in response to the user request, upon receiving user input from the first user indicating approval of the access to the data associated with the first user.

Abstract: Permission control and management for messaging application bots is described. A method can include providing a messaging application, on a first computing device associated with a first user, to enable communication between the first user and another user, and detecting, at the messaging application, a user request. The method can also include programmatically determining that an action in response to the user request requires access to data associated with the first user, and causing a permission interface to be rendered in the messaging application, the permission interface enabling the first user to approve or prohibit access to the data associated with the first user. The method can include accessing the data associated with the first user and performing the action in response to the user request, upon receiving user input from the first user indicating approval of the access to the data associated with the first user.

Abstract: A hair brush which has a specific arrangement of rows of substantially elliptical (eg oval) cross-section shaped bristles. Each bristle resembles a blade which has a tendency to flex on its minor axis and resist flexing on its major axis. By arranging such bristles in rows, the direction of flex is controlled, and hair can be moved in different directions to promote detangling but not at the expense of the quality of brushing.

Abstract: Permission control and management for messaging application bots is described. A method can include providing a messaging application, on a first computing device associated with a first user, to enable communication between the first user and another user, and detecting, at the messaging application, a user request. The method can also include programmatically determining that an action in response to the user request requires access to data associated with the first user, and causing a permission interface to be rendered in the messaging application, the permission interface enabling the first user to approve or prohibit access to the data associated with the first user. The method can include accessing the data associated with the first user and performing the action in response to the user request, upon receiving user input from the first user indicating approval of the access to the data associated with the first user.

Abstract: Permission control and management for messaging application bots is described. A method can include providing a messaging application, on a first computing device associated with a first user, to enable communication between the first user and another user, and detecting, at the messaging application, a user request. The method can also include programmatically determining that an action in response to the user request requires access to data associated with the first user, and causing a permission interface to be rendered in the messaging application, the permission interface enabling the first user to approve or prohibit access to the data associated with the first user. The method can include accessing the data associated with the first user and performing the action in response to the user request, upon receiving user input from the first user indicating approval of the access to the data associated with the first user.

Abstract: A hair brush which has a specific arrangement of rows of substantially elliptical (eg oval) cross-section shaped bristles. Each bristle resembles a blade which has a tendency to flex on its minor axis and resist flexing on its major axis. By arranging such bristles in rows, the direction of flex is controlled, and hair can be moved in different directions to promote detangling but not at the expense of the quality of brushing.

Abstract: A steerable sheath for a catheter delivery system and associated devices and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the catheter delivery system includes a catheter sheath having a steerable distal portion and a flexible elongate member connecting to a steering unit. The flexible elongate member has a central lumen through which a therapeutic or diagnostic device of a first modality can be inserted, used to perform a procedure, and then removed and replaced by a different therapeutic or diagnostic device while the catheter sheath remains substantially at the same location within a patient.

Abstract: Permission control and management for messaging application bots is described. A method can include providing a messaging application, on a first computing device associated with a first user, to enable communication between the first user and another user, and detecting, at the messaging application, a user request. The method can also include programmatically determining that an action in response to the user request requires access to data associated with the first user, and causing a permission interface to be rendered in the messaging application, the permission interface enabling the first user to approve or prohibit access to the data associated with the first user. The method can include accessing the data associated with the first user and performing the action in response to the user request, upon receiving user input from the first user indicating approval of the access to the data associated with the first user.

Abstract: There is provided a fluid test strip, comprising a micro-sensor formed on a substrate surface and a reagent deposition site formed on the substrate surface, operate to control the size and location of a reagent deposition. There is also provided a method of forming fluid test strip, comprising forming a micro-sensor on a substrate surface and forming a reagent deposition site on the substrate surface, operable to control the size and location of a reagent deposition.

Abstract: There is provided a method of monitoring one or more specified reactions in a fluid medium sample using a thermal signature, comprising providing at least one micro-cantilever sensor, said micro-cantilever sensor comprising at least two materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, and having a heater and piezo-resistive sensor integrated therein, calibrating the at least one micro-cantilever response to thermal changes to form a calibrated micro-cantilever response characteristic, starting the specified reaction in the fluid medium sample, pulsing the heater with one or more electrical pulses to induce heat generation in the micro-cantilever, sampling the output of the integrated piezo-resistive sensor to characterize a response of the micro-cantilever during the specified reaction in the fluid medium, and subtracting the calibrated micro-cantilever response characteristic from the sampled output to determine a characteristic of the one or more specified reactions in the fluid medium sample.

Abstract: There is provided a method of monitoring one or more specified reactions in a fluid medium sample using a thermal signature, comprising providing at least one micro-cantilever sensor, said micro-cantilever sensor comprising at least two materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, and having a heater and piezo-resistive sensor integrated therein, calibrating the at least one micro-cantilever response to thermal changes to form a calibrated micro-cantilever response characteristic, starting the specified reaction in the fluid medium sample, pulsing the heater with one or more electrical pulses to induce heat generation in the micro-cantilever, sampling the output of the integrated piezo-resistive sensor to characterise a response of the micro-cantilever during the specified reaction in the fluid medium, and subtracting the calibrated micro-cantilever response characteristic from the sampled output to determine a characteristic of the one or more specified reactions in the fluid medium sample.

Abstract: Balloon systems for treating bifurcated lumens include desirable burst and folding characteristics. In some cases, the balloon systems can be formed by varying the wall thickness of a balloon parison.

Abstract: There is provided a fluid test strip, comprising a micro-sensor formed on a substrate surface and a reagent deposition site formed on the substrate surface, operate to control the size and location of a reagent deposition. There is also provided a method of forming fluid test strip, comprising forming a micro-sensor on a substrate surface and forming a reagent deposition site on the substrate surface, operable to control the size and location of a reagent deposition.