Abstract:
The present invention relates to processes for forming particles including drugs in a solution, changing the bulk or surface properties of a drug particle, and/or microencapsulation drug particles, and compositions produced thereby. In some embodiments, the process described utilized mechanical agitation, more specifically low-frequency sonication, under controlled conditions, which provides mild shear forces during forming and/or precipitation to control the particle growth and mixing properties. Particle size can range from less than about 200 nanometers to greater than about one millimeter, depending on the processing conditions and application. The process described can be used to form a drug particle suspension, dry a wet powder slurry or suspension, as well as to improve the surface properties of the particle through conditioning the structure of the particle or particle surface and/or annealing the particle or particle surface. Annealing or conditioning drug particles may be used to force an amorphous to crystalline transition, creating a more stable powder, or smooth a particle surface. In addition, the process can be used to microencapsulate particles by suspending the microparticles in a non-solvent including a coating material (such as a biodegradable polymer) under controlled process conditions. The powder compositions produced thereby possess improved properties including, but not limited to, improved flow and dispersibility, controlled bioadhesion, stability, resistance to moisture, dissolution/release profiles, and/or bioavailabilities. This process, and the compositions produced, provide significant advantages in the manufacture of pharmaceutical particulate formulations, as well as biomedical, diagnostic, and chromatography particulate compositions, where sensitive macromolecules, such as proteins or DNA, are involved that would be degraded using more rigorous processing conditions or temperatures.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods of collecting and detecting compounds in a human breath sample, comprising: exhaling into a handheld sample collector to absorb at least one breath compound in an exhaled breath collector of said collector; connecting the handheld sample collector to a breath analyzer; transferring the breath compounds from the exhaled breath collector of the sample collector into the breath analyzer; and detecting breath compounds using two or more sensors. The method may be performed to detect breath compounds for determining health or disease diagnosis, or for drug monitoring.
Abstract:
This invention relates to an improved method of preparing an implantable gel or paste for placement between injured bones or placement in bony voids to induce regeneration, and the compositions produced thereby. Specifically, mineral, ceramic, or processed bone particles are coated with a high molecular weight polymer capable of forming a viscous gel when reconstituted with water, saline, autologous blood, sera, or other medically acceptable solution. This high molecular weight polymer coating material may be a natural or synthetic polymeric material, producing a wettable gel upon exposure to water, saline, or another solution. In storage, the composition will be granular and dry but easily wetted. In use, the material is reconstituted to a viscous malleable paste by the simple addition of water or other medically acceptable solution without the need for aggressive mixing. The paste may be delivered by syringe or manually deposited yet will be resistant to lavage or to displacement by gravity induced flow.
Abstract:
A method comprising providing a target material (115), providing a substrate (107), ablating the target material (115) to form ablated target particulate material (117), directing the ablated particulate material (117) toward the substrate (107) with a gas flow, and coating the substrate surface (107).
Abstract:
This invention relates to an improved method of preparing an implantable gel or paste for placement between injured bones or placement in bony voids to induce regeneration, and the compositions produced thereby. Specifically, mineral, ceramic, or processed bone particles are coated with a high molecular weight polymer capable of forming a viscous gel when reconstituted with water, saline, autologous blood, sera, or other medically acceptable solution. This high molecular weight polymer coating material may be a natural or synthetic polymeric material, producing a wettable gel upon exposure to water, saline, or another solution. In storage, the composition will be granular and dry but easily wetted. In use, the material is reconstituted to a viscous malleable paste by the simple addition of water or other medically acceptable solution without the need for aggressive mixing. The paste may be delivered by syringe or manually deposited yet will be resistant to lavage or to displacement by gravity induced flow.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a device (such as, e.g., a syringe) for reconstituting a material to be reconstituted, comprising (a) a first structure having at least one first inner portion configured to receive at least a portion of a material to be reconstituted, comprising a first proximal opening and a first distal opening, wherein the first distal opening has a first mating structure, and a first movable member selectively inserted into said first inner portion to urge out the material to be reconstituted, (b) a second structure having at least one second inner portion configured to receive at least a portion of a reconstituting material, comprising a second proximal opening and a second distal opening, wherein the second distal opening has a second mating structure, and a second movable member selectively inserted into said second inner portion to urge out the reconstituting material, and (c) a connector device, comprising a first mating portion configured to mate with the first mating structure, a second mating portion configured to mate with the second mating structure, and a lumen extending between the first and second mating portions and configured to permit communication between the materials in said first and second structures. The disclosure further relates to methods for reconstituting a material to be reconstituted.
Abstract:
This invention relates to an improved method of preparing an implantable gel or paste for placement between injured bones or placement in bony voids to induce regeneration, and the compositions produced thereby. Specifically, mineral, ceramic, or processed bone particles are coated with a high molecular weight polymer capable of forming a viscous gel when reconstituted with water, saline, autologous blood, sera, or other medically acceptable solution. This high molecular weight polymer coating material may be a natural or synthetic polymeric material, producing a wettable gel upon exposure to water, saline, or another solution. In storage, the composition will be granular and dry but easily wetted. In use, the material is reconstituted to a viscous malleable paste by the simple addition of water or other medically acceptable solution without the need for aggressive mixing. The paste may be delivered by syringe or manually deposited yet will be resistant to lavage or to displacement by gravity induced flow.
Abstract:
The present invention provides methods of collecting and detecting compounds in a human breath sample, comprising : exhaling into a handheld sample collector to absorb at least one breath compound in an exhaled breath collector of said collector; connecting the handheld sample collector to a breath analyzer; transferring the breath compounds from the exhaled breath collector of the sample collector into the breath analyzer; and detecting breath compounds using two or more sensors. The method may be performed to detect breath compounds for determining health or disease diagnosis, or for drug monitoring.