Abstract: The present technology relates to depots for the treatment of postoperative pain via sustained, controlled release of a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the depot may comprise a therapeutic region comprising an analgesic, and a control region comprising a bioresorbable polymer and a releasing agent mixed with the polymer. The releasing agent may be configured to dissolve when the depot is placed in vivo to form diffusion openings in the control region. The depot may be configured to be implanted at a treatment site in vivo and, while implanted, release the therapeutic agent at the treatment site for no less than 3 days.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for applying 3 or 4 point bending to a specimen of a material. The apparatus comprises bending members to contact the specimen, a drive system coupled to at least one of the bending members to cause relative vertical movement between the bending members to deflect the specimen, and a microprocessor interfaced with the drive system to control the operation of the drive system in accordance with a computer programm. The method is characterized by controlled monitoring of the actual experimental conditions applied to the specimen and varying of the operation of the drive system when the actual experimental conditions diverge from the required experimental conditions.