A sizing composition for insulating products based on mineral wool, in particular on glass or on rock, includes at least one monosaccharide and/or at lest one polysaccharide, and at least one organic polycarboxylic acid having a molar mass of less than or equal to 1000. Another subject-matter of the present invention is the insulating products based on mineral fibres thus obtained and the process for the manufacture thereof.

A cellulose resin produced by binding cardanol or a derivative thereof and abietic acid or a derivative thereof to cellulose or a derivative thereof.

Biomaterials that support cell attachment and growth are provided. In one aspect, biomaterials are provided comprising a first polymer matrix comprising reactive amino moieties and a second polymer matrix that interpenetrates with the first polymer matrix, where the second polymer matrix comprises a poly(alkylene oxide) comprising two or more alkylene oxide oligomers joined by gamma-thioether carbonyl linkages. In another aspect, biomaterials are provided comprising at least one biopolymer comprising amino groups, thiol groups, and bifunctional modifiers connecting at least some of the amino groups to at least some of the thiol groups; and at least one poly(alkylene oxide) cross-linked to at least two thiol groups of the biopolymer. The biomaterials may further comprise a pharmacologically active agent or cells. Methods of administering such biomaterials to a patient in need thereof are also provided.

A polyester resin is a polycondensate obtained by reacting a divalent alcohol, a divalent carboxylic acid, and a mono- or divalent rosin by the use of a zinc compound as a reaction catalyst.

The present invention is directed to a PLA-graft-lignin polymers and copolymers and methods of making the same. As the lignocellulosic biorefining industry emerges as a viable fuels technology, the availability of the assortment of lignins will also expand. The use of lignins as a copolymer is one area where lignin may be utilized.

Water based lignoepoxy resins, and methods for their preparation and use are provided. Methods of making lignoepoxy resins without the use of volatile organic compounds are also provided.

This invention refers to photo-crosslinked hydrogel materials based in gellan gum suitable for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications or as drug delivery systems. Formulations of gellan gum with different degrees of acylation serve as precursor material for insertion of a polymerizable moiety. The materials are capable of free radical polymerization with a photo-initiator at mild temperatures and exposure to ultraviolet light, enabling control of reticulation and withstanding the encapsulation of human and animal cells and/or drugs, and any combination thereof. The physicochemical and biological properties can be adjusted by combining different formulations of gellan gum and reaction conditions. The matrix can be used either as an acellular or cellular system, dispensed manually or automatically by injection and crosslinked directly at the site of application, and can be processed using manual or automated systems in different types of scaffolds, such as hydrogels, fibers, 3D structures and micro- or nanoparticles.

Devices and methods for gastrointestinal bypass are described. A gastrointestinal bypass device includes a gastrointestinal cuff and a gastrointestinal sleeve. The cuff may be configured to be attached in the esophagus, and may be sufficiently flexible to expand and collapse to conform with the inside of the esophagus to allow the esophagus to function substantially normally. The sleeve is configured to be coupled to the cuff, and may be made of a material that is floppy or flaccid but does not substantially expand radially.

An ocular implant having an inlet portion and a Schlemm's canal portion distal to the inlet portion, the inlet portion being disposed at a proximal end of the implant and sized and configured to be placed within an anterior chamber of a human eye, the Schlemm's canal portion being arranged and configured to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of the eye when the inlet portion is disposed in the anterior chamber.

A method for securing an implantable medical device onto a balloon which includes applying a coating, which includes a film-forming polymer and at least one solvent, to the outer surface of the balloon. The solvents can include alcohol, water, ether and combinations thereof. The film-forming polymer can include a zwitterionic polymer, such as, for example a phosphorylcholine polymer. The coating can be applied to the entire balloon surface or a portion of the surface. The implantable medical device is then positioned on the outer surface of the balloon and secured. The film-forming polymer is then allowed to cure in order to define an adhesive layer between an inner surface of the implantable medical device and the outer surface of the balloon. This method prevents or reduces the leaching or redistribution of any therapeutic agents dispersed within or on the surface of the implantable medical device.

A control system for controlling movement of a medical device delivery system, a stent delivery system and a method for controlling movement of a medical device delivery system are provided. The control system includes a rotatable gear operably connected to a first movable member and a second movable member movable by the rotatable gear. The first movable member is operably connected to the first shaft and the second movable member operably connected to the second shaft. The first movable member moves the first shaft and the second movable member moves the second shaft to change a position of the first shaft relative to the second shaft and to change a configuration of a medical device operably connected to the first shaft and the second shaft.

A device and method for delivering a vascular device to a target site is provided that maintains a proximal portion of the vascular device within a tubular sleeve by positioning a stop of an inner member at a distal opening of the tubular sleeve to block the opening. Once the stop has been moved distally via movement of the inner member to clear the opening, a band of increased thickness on the inner member can urge the proximal portion of the vascular device out of the tubular sleeve to deploy the vascular device. The vascular device may be recaptured within a delivery sheath prior to the full deployment of the proximal portion of the vascular device from the tubular sleeve by re-positioning the stop at the distal opening to hold the vascular device within the tubular sleeve as the delivery device is retracted with respect to the delivery sheath.

A vascular bypass graft having a primary member and a secondary member is disclosed. The secondary member extends from a distal second end of the primary member and has a common fluid pathway there between. The secondary member may have a flared or diffused proximal first end that facilitates low pressure fluid return and may be integrally formed with the primary member. An adjustable or fixed stenosis is provided in the secondary member which allows the fluid flow through the vascular bypass graft to be modified. The stenosis may be adjusted either manually or by way of a controller. The primary member is surgically connected to a patient's vascular system to provide an alternate route for blood flow around a vascular occlusion. The secondary member is surgically connected to another point in the vascular system to allow continuous circulation of blood through the graft thereby preventing clotting and graft failure.

A collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a stent and a valve assembly. The stent has an annulus section with a relatively small cross-section, and an aortic section with a relatively large cross-section. The valve assembly, including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, is secured to the stent in the annulus section such that the valve assembly can be entirely deployed in the native valve annulus and function as intended while at least a portion of the aortic section is held by the delivery device in a manner that allows for resheathing. The configuration of the prosthetic valve is such that the valve leaflets can fully coapt and the valve can function properly even when the stent and/or valve assembly become distorted upon deployment or use.

An intraocular lens is disclosed with an optic that changes shape in response to forces exerted by the zonules of the eye. A haptic with an inner and outer ring couples the optic to the capsular bag of the eye. The haptic stresses the optic when the intraocular lens is in a natural state such that the internal stress is present throughout the accommodation range in order to prevent ripples and/or waves in the optic.

An accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) includes an optic adapted to produce a trapezoidal phase shift and a plurality of haptics. Each haptic extends from a haptic-optic junction to at least one transverse arm contacting a capsular bag of the eye, and each haptic has sufficient length and rigidity to stretch a capsular bag of the eye to contact ciliary muscles of the eye. The haptic-optic junctions vault the optic forward relative to the haptics and compression of the haptics by the ciliary muscles moves the anterior optic forward. A combined accommodative power produced by the motion of the anterior optic and the trapezoidal phase shift is at least 0.5 Diopters.

The invention discloses a novel method of controlling the open circuit potential (OCP) of a medical implant by coupling it with small amounts of metals having a lower OCP than the implant. Coupling of Mg to less than 1% of the surface area of a titanium implant is shown to induce cathodic polarization of the titanium that inhibits cell proliferation at the surface of the implant. Mg—Ti coupling in medical devices promises to attenuate or eliminate potential complications of surgery such as peri-implantitis and bacterial infections at the site of implantation.

A sacro-iliac implant includes a body extending from a first portion having an outer surface configured for fixation with a sacrum to a second portion having an outer surface being spaced apart and non-continuous with the outer surface of the first portion. A sleeve is disposed about the body and configured for implantation within at least an ilium. The sleeve extends from a first portion to a second portion having an inner surface and a flange disposed to engage an outer non-articular surface of the ilium. The inner surface of the second portion of the sleeve is engageable with the outer surface of the second portion of the body to cause axial translation of the body relative to the sleeve such that naturally separated articular surfaces of the sacrum and ilium are drawn into fixation to immobilize the SI joint. Methods of use are disclosed.

A spinal implant includes a wave spring configured to surround a nucleus. The spring may be formed from a shape memory material. The implant may further include an artificial nucleus configured to simulate a disc nucleus.

The invention encompasses devices and methods for treating one or more damaged, diseased, or traumatized intervertebral discs to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. Specifically, the invention encompasses intervertebral nucleus and annulus implants that are resistant to migration in and/or expulsion from an intervertebral disc space. The invention further encompasses kits including the implantable devices of the invention and associated delivery tools to treat annular and nuclear tissue.

A spinal fixation device includes a housing and a plurality of blades. Each blade includes a body having a central opening configured to rotate on a shaft within the housing. Control openings on opposing sides of the central opening are sized to engage prongs of a rotating tool. At least one cutting extension with a sharp leading edge extends from the body in an orientation about an axis of the shaft. Upon rotation of the blade by the rotating tool about the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension is oriented, the at least one cutting extension will break an endplate of a vertebra and hook into the vertebra.

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.

The present invention relates to an image-based, patient-specific medical spinal surgery technique and to a spinal prosthesis used in the surgery, and particularly, to an image-based, patient-specific medical spinal surgery technique and to a spinal prosthesis which are intended to solve a problem of damage to a spine caused by installing a spinal prosthesis used in spinal surgery, by introducing an image of a patient to manufacture an insertable spinal prosthesis that is customized for a shape of a spine of an individual patient in a polymer-based material.

Implants, tools and methods for performing unilateral posterior lumbar interbody fusion are provided. An interbody implant includes a body having a top and bottom surface extending along a length thereof; and first and second side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces on opposite sides of the body. The height of the first side surface is greater than the height of the second side surface.

Spinal fixation plates for maintaining adjacent vertebrae in and fixed position are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the plate includes opposed superior and inferior portions that are angled in a direction anterior to an anterior face of a mid-portion of the plate. The plate also includes a curvature formed therein about a longitudinal axis in a sagittal plane thereof. In use, when the plate is attached to adjacent vertebrae, the angle of the superior and inferior portions and the curvature in the plate are effective to position one or more thru-bores formed in the superior and inferior portions at the anterior rims of the adjacent vertebrae. In another embodiment, a spinal fixation plate is provided that is adapted to engage and mate to a fusion cage or other vertebral implant disposed between adjacent vertebra. The present invention also provides spinal fixation kits or assemblies, and methods for implanting the same.

A method of forming an orthopedic implant, the method comprising the steps of providing a first implant component and a second implant component, the first implant component having a stem and a second implant component including a head defining a female taper sized to receive the stem; coupling the stem to the female taper of the head; forming a modular injunction between the stem and head; applying a seal to the modular injunction to limit bodily fluid from contacting the modular injunction; and forming the orthopedic implant.

The present invention comprises devices, systems, and methods for elongating bone using an extension implant having a first end and a second end. The first end of the extension implant is inserted into an opening in the live bone and the second end of the extension implant is combined with an enlarged implant. A plurality of channels extend through the components to serve as conduits for delivering fluids and physiological signals which induce bone formation. Some embodiments include a subcutaneous cage assembly for helping to support the implant as the bone heals around it.

The invention pertains to methods of producing artificial composite tissue constructs that permit coordinated motion. Biocompatable structural matrices having sufficient rigidity to provide structural support for cartilage-forming cells and bone-forming cells are used. Biocompatable flexible matrices seeded with muscle cells are joined to the structural matrices to produce artificial composite tissue constructs that are capable of coordinated motion.

The present invention provides a method of fixating a mesh implant to a tissue of a subject comprising attaching said mesh implant to said tissue, covering said mesh implant by an antiadhesive barrier, wherein said antiadhesive barrier is attached to said mesh implant by a biocompatible adhesive.

The present disclosure relates to methods of facilitating bone growth. The method may include positioning a device around at least a portion of a bone exhibiting a defect, the device capable of retaining bone segments and micro-structured particles. The method may also include applying micro-structure particles within the device to the defect, wherein each of the micro-structure particles include at least one pore therein. In addition, the method may include aligning at least a portion of the micro-structure particles and applying a polymer to the particles and solidifying the polymer.

A method of making a stent, including preparing a solution containing a composition, the composition comprising a biodegradable polymer and a vascular intimal hyperplasia inhibitor of a kind, including argatroban, which does not inhibit proliferation of endothelial cells, the weight compositional ratio of the polymer to the vascular intimal hyperplasia inhibitor being within the range of 8:2 to 3:7, the composition dissolved in a solvent selected from the group consisting of a mixture of a lower alkyl ketone and methanol, a mixture of a lower alkyl ester and methanol or a mixture of a lower halogenated hydrocarbon and methanol; coating at least an outer surface of a stent body of a cylindrical configuration having outer and inner surfaces with a diamond-like thin film coated on the surfaces; and after the coating, removing the solvent to complete a first coated layer.

A stent graft (1) including a tubular wall (3) with at least one fenestration (40) including a peripheral (37) reinforcement around at least part of the fenestration. There can also be a tubular extension (15). The side arm includes a stent (19) and a cover (17) and extends from and is in fluid communication with the fenestration and the stent graft. The stent may be a self expanding stent. The ring and/or tubular extension provides better support and sealing for an extension arm. The fenestration (40) can be circular or if towards the ends of the stent graft may be in the form of a U-shape (50) with an open end.

A device for improving the function of a heart valve comprises a first loop-shaped support, which is configured to abut a first side of the heart valve, and a second loop-shaped support, which is configured to abut a second side of the heart valve opposite to said first side, whereby a portion of the valve tissue is trapped between the first and second supports. An outer boundary of the second support is greater than an outer boundary of the first support.

Fluoroaryl Grignard reagents are produced from a hydrocarbyl Grignard reagent and fluoroaromatic compounds via separate additions of different fluoroaromatic compounds, such that the conversion of hydrocarbyl Grignard reagent to the desired fluoroaryl Grignard reagent is essentially complete, and thus the reaction product is free or essentially free of agents that may negatively affect subsequent reactions. The fluoroaryl Grignard reagents may be further reacted with boron trihalides in order to obtain tris(fluoroaryl)boranes or tetrakis(fluoroaryl)borates.

A mixture comprising a molecule of formula (I); in which A1, A2, A3, A4, A5 and A6, which may be the same or different, are each N or —CH; Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6, which may be the same or different, are each hydrogen or C1 to C12 alkoxy; X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6, which may be the same or different, are each hydrogen, C1 to C12 alkoxy or alkyl C1 to C12; and R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 are each hydrogen, or each of R7 and R8, R9 and R10 and R11 and R12 may form a bond; and a molecule of formula (II); in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6, which may be the same or different, are each alkyl or substituted (and/or chiral) alkyl C1 to C16, acyl C1 to C16, polyethyleneoxy, a flexible connection to a polymer backbone or part of a polymer backbone in homopolymers, copolymers or block copolymers; and B1, B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6a, which may be the same or different, are each, hydrogen, alkyl C1 to C16, alkoxy C1 to C16, nitro, halogeno, cyano, amido, diazo or ester, e.g. alkyl C1 to C16 ester.

The present invention relates to a rapid, sensitive, simple, and cost-effective spectrophotometric method of detecting and quantifying mycolic acid in a mycolic acid-fuschin dye complex with absorbance maxima ranging between 490-500 nm in the presence of various test compounds, for screening mycolic acid biosynthesis inhibitors useful as anti-microbial agents and a diagnostic kit thereof comprising basic fuschin dye in the concentration ranging between 0.1-1.0 gm/100 ml, phenol and 95% ethanol in the ratio ranging between 1:4 to 2:1 (v/v), and phenol and distilled water in the ratio ranging between 1:14 to 1:25.

The invention describes the finding that 4-(4-dimethylaminostyrl)-N-methylpyridinium or ASP+ is a fluorescent substrate that is transported by several neurotransmitter transporters. Provided are methods for the analysis of neurotransmitter transport and binding using ASP+. The invention also provides rapid methods for screening for modulators of neurotransmitter transport. As neurotransmitter transporter defects are associated with numerous neurological disorders, the invention also provides methods for treating neurotransmitter transport-associated defects/conditions using the modulators identified by the screening methods of the invention.

Thermoplastic composition and articles containing UV absorbers that protect the articles contents from harmful UV radiation are disclosed as well as methods for making the thermoplastic articles and methods for using the articles to contain and protect materials sensitive to UV radiation. The UV absorbers contain oxazolone and/or azine functional groups that absorb UV radiation and prevent its transmission into the article. Many of the compounds are novel compositions of matter. The generally clear thermoplastic articles of this disclosure are particularly useful for containing a variety of UV sensitive consumer products that would otherwise have to be packaged in opaque containers.

A universal linker structure is provided, in which a functional group and activating leaving group are placed on a tether, allowing the placement of an electrophile at the end of any nucleic acid sequence. The electrophile on the tether can react with a second nucleic acid carrying a nucleophile when the two nucleic acids are hybridized near one another, resulting in release of the leaving group, and creation of a functional change. The linker can be designed to destabilize the ligation product without slowing the rate of reaction. This lowers product inhibition, and the target DNA or RNA can become a catalyst for isothermally generating multiple signals for detection. This enhanced signal is demonstrated in solution experiments and in solid supported assays. The universal linkers of the present invention are simple and inexpensive to prepare, and can be appended to any polynucleotide in automated steps on a standard DNA synthesizer.

There is provided a novel, useful dehydroxyfluorination agent containing sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2) and an organic base that is free from a free hydroxyl group in the molecule. According to the present dehydroxyfluorination agent, it is not necessary to use perfluoroalkanesulfonyl fluoride, which is not preferable in large-scale use, and it is possible to advantageously produce optically-active fluoro derivatives, which are important intermediates of medicines, agricultural chemicals and optical materials, for example, 4-fluoroproline derivatives, 2'-deoxy-2'-fluorouridine derivatives, optically-active α-fluorocarboxylate derivatives, and monofluoromethyl derivatives, even in large scale.

An azaindenofluorenedione derivative shown by the following formula (I), (IIa) or (IIb):

A method for preparing a composition that includes selecting a pH of the composition; selecting a first buffer with a negative temperature coefficient; selecting a second buffer with a positive temperature coefficient; and forming the composition comprising the first buffer and the second buffer. The composition has an average temperature coefficient, ΔpH/ΔT(Ta,Tb)≦1×10−3 pH-unit/K and a ΔpH(Ta,Tb)≦0.31 pH-unit for Ta=4 K and Tb=313 K.

A method for the elimination of carbon dioxide from waste gases includes the following steps. First, waste gases, which include carbon dioxide, are provided from a source for waste gases. Next, the waste gases are contacted with an absorbent composition that includes perfluorodecalin solution. The waste gases, especially the carbon dioxide, are then absorbed by the absorbent composition. The absorbent composition thereby absorbs the waste gases to eliminate the carbon dioxide.

Esters of 4,5-disubstituted-oxy-2-methyl-3,6-dioxo-cyclohexa-1,4-dienyl alkyl acids were prepared chemically and/or enzymatically. Depending upon the ester, improved melanocyte cytotoxicity was achieved. Improved cytotoxicity characteristics are consistent with ester analogs being more physiologically compatible and less irritating to skin than their corresponding acids.

The present invention provides a method for producing a sulfonate ester efficiently and in high yield. The present invention is an invention of a method for producing a sulfonate ester compound, which comprising reacting: (a) a compound having a sulfo group (—SO3H); and(b) a compound having a group represented by the general formula [1]: —OR1 [1] [wherein, R1 represents a sulfonyl group represented by the general formula [2]: —SO2—R2 [2] (wherein, R2 represents a halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, or an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group) or an acyl group represented by the general formula [3]: (wherein, R3 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group)]; in the presence of an organic base which is capable of forming a salt with said sulfo group.

Provided is a catalyst material comprising aggregates of nanoneedles of mainly R-type manganese dioxide and having a mesoporous structure. With this, water can be oxidatively decomposed under visible light at room temperature to produce oxygen gas, proton and electron. Also provided is a catalyst material comprising aggregates of nanoparticles of mainly hydrogenated manganese dioxide. With this, acetic acid or an inorganic substance can be synthesized from carbon dioxide gas.

A ligand design allows compact nanoparticle materials, such as quantum dots (QDs), with excellent colloidal stability over a wide range of pH and under high salt concentrations. Self-assembled biomolecular conjugates with QDs can be obtained which are stable in biological environments. Energy transfer with these ligands is maximized by minimizing distances between QDs/nanoparticles and donors/acceptors directly attached to the ligands or assembled on their surfaces.

The present invention discloses metal (III) complex of a biuret-amide based macrocyclic ligand as green catalysts that exhibit both excellent reactivity for the activation of H2O2 and high stability at low pH and high ionic strength. The invention also provides macrocyclic biuret amide based ligand for designing of functional peroxidase mimics. Further, the present invention discloses synthesis of said metal (III) complex of a biuret-amide based macrocyclic ligand.

Compositions and methods for improved delivery of macromolecules into eukaryotic cells are provided. Fusogenic peptides from fusion proteins of non-enveloped viruses enhance the efficiency of transfection of eukaryotic cells mediated by transfection agents such as cationic lipids, polycationic polymers such as PEI and dendrimers. These fusogenic peptides are used as part of a transfection complex that efficiently delivers a macromolecule, for example, a nucleic acid, into a eukaryotic cell. Novel cationic lipids and compositions of cationic lipids also are provided that may be used for the introduction of macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins and peptides into a variety of cells and tissues. The lipids can be used alone, in combination with other lipids and/or in combination with fusogenic peptides to prepare transfection complexes.

The present invention relates to methods for synthesizing compounds of formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: I wherein each of X, Alk1, Alk2, and W are as defined and described herein.