Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device includes an improved plug that is configured to be positioned adjacent to the hole in the vasculature. The plug may be shaped to prevent the plug from moving away from the hole in the blood vessel due to pulsatile pressure from the blood. In one embodiment, the plug may include a plurality of projections that extend outward from the plug and contact surrounding tissue in the tissue puncture tract to prevent the plug from moving away from the hole in the blood vessel.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device includes an improved plug that is configured to be positioned adjacent to the hole in the vasculature. The plug may be shaped to prevent the plug from moving away from the hole in the blood vessel due to pulsatile pressure from the blood. In one embodiment, the plug may include a plurality of projections that extend outward from the plug and contact surrounding tissue in the tissue puncture tract to prevent the plug from moving away from the hole in the blood vessel.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device are shown and disclosed for closing a vascular access puncture site following percutaneous diagnostic or therapeutic interventional procedures. The vascular closure device is configured to safely and accurately deploy a sealing material that undergoes a phase change when deployed inside the tissue tract. The sealing material may be a solid at room temperature and a liquid or gel at body temperature. Also, the sealing material may change from a liquid or gel to a cubic phase when it comes into contact with bodily fluids.

Abstract: A hydrogel wound dressing which is highly absorptive, contours to a wound site, and maintains the wound in a moist state to promote healing thereof. The hydrogel wound dressing may also contain additives to prevent bacterial and fungal infections and to control wound odor.

Abstract: A hydrogel wound dressing which is highly absorptive, contours to a wound site, and maintains the wound in a moist state to promote healing thereof. The hydrogel wound dressing may also contain additives to prevent bacterial and fungal infections and to control wound odor.

Abstract: A method of dispensing gel for separation of the serum and coagulum portions of a blood sample in a blood collection tube is provided. The present disclosure of dispensing the gel comprises utilizing a gel dispensing apparatus with a nozzle head having a plurality of openings. The gel dispensing apparatus dispenses either a continuous band of gel around the central portion of the collection tube or a plurality of discrete stripes that form a circumferential pattern thereto. Once the gel is dispensed, the tube is ready for accepting a blood sample for eventual separation in a centrifuge where the dispensed gel will form a barrier that exhibits strong adhesive properties after separation of the blood sample has occurred.

Abstract: A method of dispensing gel for separation of the serum and coagulum portions of a blood sample in a blood collection tube is disclosed. The present invention of dispensing the gel preferably comprises utilizing a gel dispensing apparatus with a nozzle head having a plurality of openings. The gel dispensing apparatus dispenses either a continuous band of gel around the central portion of the collection tube or a plurality of discrete stripes that forms a circumferential pattern thereto. Once the gel is dispensed, the tube is ready for accepting a blood sample for eventual separation in a centrifuge where the dispensed gel will form a barrier that exhibits strong adhesive properties after separation of the blood sample has occurred.

Abstract: A hydrogel wound dressing which is highly absorptive, contours to a wound site and maintains the wound in a moist state to promote healing thereof.

Abstract: A process and method for preventing a separated material from interfering with the portion of a fluid to be sampled for use in a serum or plasma collection device including a gel material for partitioning and separating heavier and lighter phases of a fluid sample such as a blood sample. The device preferably includes a member such as a disc-shaped or ring-shaped member or a combination thereof to prevent the separated material from interfering with the sampling of the separated fluid sample. The member is preferably formed of hydrophobic and/or non-wetted material and has a specific gravity different from the specific gravity of the lighter phase. The process may also include a member which physically separates the separated material from the fluid to be sampled to allow the user to obtain an uncontaminated fluid sample.

Abstract: A serum or plasma collection device including a gel material for partitioning and separating heavier and lighter phases of a fluid sample such as a blood sample. The device preferably includes a member such as a disc-shaped or ring-shaped member or a combination thereof to prevent the separated material from interfering with the sampling of the separated fluid sample. The member is preferably formed of hydrophobic and/or non-wetted material and has a specific gravity different than the specific gravity of the lighter phase. The member also physically separates the separated material from the fluid to be sampled to allow the user to obtain an uncontaminated fluid sample.

Abstract: A serum or plasma collection device including a gel material for partitioning and separating heavier and lighter phases of a fluid sample such as a blood sample. The device preferably includes an affinity member such as a disc-shaped or ring-shaped member or a coating on the collection tube which has an affinity for the separated oil or degradation material from the gel material to prevent the separated material from interfering with the sampling of the separated fluid sample. The affinity member is preferably formed of hydrophobic and/or non-wetted material and has a specific gravity different than the specific gravity of the lighter phase.

Abstract: A stopper for medical containers such as blood collection tubes having integral flange and plug portions, the flange portion being substantially larger in diameter than the plug portion, which plug portion is sized to sealably close the container. The stopper has opposed wells formed in the flange and plug portions, the well in the flange portion having a relatively flat bottom surface at least as large in diameter as the diameter of the opposed well in the plug portion. The flange portion is constructed to be guided into a tube holder into which it is inserted such that one end of a needle projecting into the interior of the tube holder will penetrate the stopper in the area of the opposed wells so as to avoid otherwise contacting the stopper. The enlarged flange portion also serves to facilitate removal of the stopper from the container without contaminating a handler.

Abstract: In a blood serum separator tube for separating blood into a lighter phase and a heavier phase, the thixotropic gel material initially disposed in the container lower end of the tube is protected from contact with any atmosphere contained in the tube, thus preventing separation of silicone oil from the silica-silicone fluid gel material during manufacture or storage. The gel material may be microencapsulated, or contained in a smaller number of larger capsules, or a single capsule. Alternatively, the gel material may be sealed in the tube under a curable elastomeric material, or under a water soluble material which dissolves upon contact with the blood being separated.

Abstract: A stopper for medical containers such as blood collection tubes having integral flange and plug portions, the flange portion being substantially larger in diameter than the plug portion, which plug portion is sized to sealably close the container. The stopper has opposed wells formed in the flange and plug portions, the well in the flange portion having a relatively flat bottom surface at least as large in diameter as the diameter of the opposed well in the plug portion. The flange portion is constructed to be guided into a tube holder into which it is inserted such that one end of a needle projecting into the interior of the tube holder will penetrate the stopper in the area of the opposed wells so as to avoid otherwise contacting the stopper. The enlarged flange portion also serves to facilitate removal of the stopper from the container without contaminating a handler.

Abstract: A silica-silicone fluid gel, the properties of which are not significantly affected by sterilizing doses of radiation, is prepared by reaction of a silicone fluid having a narrow viscosity distribution with a filler material and a network former at or below about 120.degree. C.