Abstract: A method of applying a ceramic coating to a substrate comprises laminating one or more layers of a green ceramic tape to a rigid substrate using a tackifying resin to adhere the tape to the substrate. Upon firing, the tackifying resin ensures near zero shrinkage of the tape in the XY plane without usage of elevated pressures or temperatures during lamination of green tape to the substrate. The thermal degradation completion temperature of the tackifying resin is lower than that of the resin binder used in the green tape.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are provided to apply barrier and/or lubricant materials onto the interior surface of a container, such systems including a container having a chamber; a gas supply source for supplying monomer gas through a gas inlet duct having a portion extending into the chamber; a photolysis source and/or pyrolyzing surface for photolyzing and/or pyrolyzing at least a portion of the monomer gas to form a reactive gas comprising at least one reactive moiety; optionally a temperature controller for maintaining the interior surface of the container at a temperature which is less than the temperature of the pyrolyzing surface to facilitate deposition and polymerization of the reactive moiety on the interior surface of the container; and an outlet duct at the open end or a second end of the container for removing excess reactive gas from the chamber.

Abstract: Hot-melt sealing glass compositions that include one or more glass frits dispersed in a polymeric binder system. The polymeric binder system is a solid at room temperature, but melts at a temperature of from about 35° C. to about 90° C., thereby forming a flowable liquid dispersion that can be applied to a substrate (e.g., a cap wafer and/or a device wafer of a MEMS device) by screen printing. Hot-melt sealing glass compositions according to the invention rapidly re-solidify and adhere to the substrate after being deposited by screen printing. Thus, they do not tend to spread out as much as conventional solvent-based glass frit bonding pastes after screen printing. And, because hot-melt sealing glass compositions according to the invention are not solvent-based systems, they do not need to be force dried after deposition.

Abstract: Embodiments include an infusion-occlusion system having a delivery catheter, a guide catheter adapted to receive the delivery catheter, and a guidewire with an occlusion device adapted to be received within the guide catheter. The guide catheter of the catheter kit may be provided with an occlusion device at the distal end of the guide catheter. The delivery catheter may have an accessory lumen, coaxial or co-linear lumen, a supporting mandrel, or an occlusion device at its distal end. Moreover, according to some embodiments, occlusion devices may be a single material or a composite balloon having an inner liner and an outer layer of different materials, a high compliance low pressure balloon, or a filter device that restricts particles from passing through but does not restrict fluid, such as blood. An inflation device with a large volume and low volume syringe can be used to inflate the balloon.

Abstract: Polymeric composite stents reinforced with fibers for implantation into a bodily lumen are disclosed.

Abstract: Formulations and methods of making semiconductor devices and solar cell contacts are disclosed. The invention provides a method of making a semiconductor device or solar cell contact including ink-jet printing onto a silicon wafer an ink composition, typically including a high solids loading (20-80 wt %) of glass fit and preferably a conductive metal such as silver. The wafer is then fired such that the glass frit fuses to form a glass, thereby forming a contact layer to silicon.

Abstract: Formulations and methods of making solar cells and solar cell contacts are disclosed. In general, the invention presents a solar cell contact made from a mixture wherein the mixture comprises a metal portion, which, prior to firing, comprises nickel and silver.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic device having a lead-free and cadmium-free glass composition applied thereto and fired to form an acid resistant overglaze, and a method of overglazing an electronic device using the lead-free and cadmium-free glass composition. The lead-free and cadmium-free glass composition fuses at low firing temperatures and is particularly suitable for use in thick film pastes. The glass composition forms predominantly bismuth titanate and/or zinc titanate crystals upon firing. Preferably, glass compositions include by weight from about 11% to about 52% SiO2, from 3.4% to about 40% TiO2, up to about 75% Bi2O3, up to about 40% by weight ZnO, where the sum of Bi2O3 and ZnO comprises from about 15% to about 85% of the glass composition by weight.

Abstract: Methods, devices, kits and compositions to treat a myocardial infarction. In one embodiment, the method includes the prevention of remodeling of the infarct zone of the ventricle. In other embodiments, the method includes the introduction of structurally reinforcing agents. In other embodiments, agents are introduced into a ventricle to increase compliance of the ventricle. In an alternative embodiment, the prevention of remodeling includes the prevention of thinning of the ventricular infarct zone. In another embodiment, the prevention of remodeling and thinning of the infarct zone involves the cross-linking of collagen and prevention of collagen slipping. In other embodiments, the structurally reinforcing agent may be accompanied by other therapeutic agents. These agents may include but are not limited to pro-fibroblastic and angiogenic agents.

Abstract: Formulations and methods of making solar cells are disclosed. In general, the invention presents a solar cell contact made from a mixture wherein the mixture comprises a solids portion and an organics portion, wherein the solids portion comprises from about 85 to about 99 wt % of silver, and from about 1 to about 15 wt % of a glass component wherein the glass component comprises from about 15 to about 75 mol % PbO, and from about 5 to about 50 mol % SiO2, and preferably with no B2O3.

Abstract: A hybrid stent is formed which exhibits both high flexibility and high radial strength. The expandable hybrid stent for implantation in a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, consists of radially expandable cylindrical rings generally aligned on a common longitudinal axis and interconnected by one or more links. In one embodiment, a dip-coated covered stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer material. In other embodiments, at least some of the rings and links are formed of a polymer material which provides longitudinal and flexural flexibility to the stent. These polymer rings and links are alternated with metallic rings and links in various configurations to attain sufficient column strength along with the requisite flexibility in holding open the target site within the body lumen. Alternatively, a laminated, linkless hybrid stent is formed by encapsulating cylindrical rings within a polymer tube.

Abstract: A mask for masking a stent during a coating procedure may include a mask body that has a negative pattern or an approximate negative pattern of a stent pattern being masked by the mask body. An apparatus for selectively coating a predetermined portion of a medical article may include a dispenser of a coating composition, a mask, a device for creating a relative movement between the mask and the medical article.

Abstract: Methods of coating a stent subsequent to mounting or crimping of the stent on a balloon of a catheter assembly are disclosed. One method includes forming a sacrificial layer on a balloon of a catheter assembly; followed by mounting a stent on the balloon, the stent including struts separated by gaps; followed by forming a stent coating on the stent; and followed by removal of the sacrificial layer. Another method includes mounting a stent on a balloon, the stent including struts separated by gaps; followed by forming a sacrificial layer on the balloon in the areas of the gaps between struts of the stent; followed by forming a coating on the stent; and followed by removing the sacrificial layer, wherein the coating remains on an outer surface of the stent.

Abstract: Methods, devices, kits and compositions to treat a myocardial infarction. In one embodiment, the method includes the prevention of remodeling of the infarct zone of the ventricle. In other embodiments, the method includes the introduction of structurally reinforcing agents. In other embodiments, agents are introduced into a ventricle to increase compliance of the ventricle. In an alternative embodiment, the prevention of remodeling includes the prevention of thinning of the ventricular infarct zone. In another embodiment, the prevention of remodeling and thinning of the infarct zone involves the cross-linking of collagen and prevention of collagen slipping. In other embodiments, the structurally reinforcing agent may be accompanied by other therapeutic agents. These agents may include but are not limited to pro-fibroblastic and angiogenic agents.

Abstract: Masking apparatus and methods of masking a medical article, such as stent, for selective application of a coating composition on the article are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of making a sterilized biosensor, where the biosensor comprises at least one binding reagent, which comprises at least one non-enzyme proteinaceous binding domain. Certain embodiments of the methods described herein comprise partially assembling the components of the biosensor, except for the binding reagent, and separately sterilizing this partial assemblage and the binding reagent. The sterilized binding reagent and the sterilized partial assemblage are then aseptically assembled to produce the sterilized biosensor. Other embodiments of the methods described herein comprise assembling substantially all of the components of the biosensor, including the binding reagent, and sterilizing the assembled biosensor to produce a sterilized biosensor.

Abstract: A method of applying a ceramic coating to a substrate comprises laminating one or more layers of a green ceramic tape to a rigid substrate using a tackifying resin to adhere the tape to the substrate. Upon firing, the tackifying resin ensures near zero shrinkage of the tape in the XY plane without usage of elevated pressures or temperatures during lamination of green tape to the substrate. The thermal degradation completion temperature of the tackifying resin is lower than that of the resin binder used in the green tape.

Abstract: A method of applying a ceramic coating to a substrate comprises laminating one or more layers of a green ceramic tape to a rigid substrate using a tackifying resin to adhere the tape to the substrate. Upon firing, the tackifying resin ensures near zero shrinkage of the tape in the XY plane without usage of elevated pressures or temperatures during lamination of green tape to the substrate. The thermal degradation completion temperature of the tackifying resin is lower than that of the resin binder used in the green tape.

Abstract: Formulations and methods of making solar cell contacts and cells therewith are disclosed. In general, the invention provides a solar cell comprising a contact made from a mixture wherein, prior to firing, the mixture comprises at least one aluminum source, at least one source of a metal including one or more of boron, titanium, nickel, tin, gallium zinc, indium, and copper, and about 0.1 to about 10 wt % of a glass component. Within the mixture, the overall content of aluminum is about 50 wt % to about 85 wt % of the mixture, and the overall combined content of boron, nickel, tin, silver, gallium, zinc, indium, copper, is about 0.05 to about 40 wt % of the mixture.

Abstract: Thick film conductive copper pastes that are lead-free and cadmium-free. The inventive copper pastes possess desirable characteristics, including good solderability, good wire bondability, a low firing temperature, and a wide temperature processing window, and provide excellent adhesion to a variety of substrates, including alumina and glass coated stainless steel substrates, as well as low resistivity, and a microstructure after firing that is dense and substantially free of pores.