Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090277056 | Large Format Microfluidic Digital Display - Microfluidic pixels are utilized to produce large format displays (billboards) that are both digitally controllable and are light weight. Each microfluidic pixel includes a wall having a front (display) surface, and a microfluidic system including a reservoir disposed behind the wall, a colorant fluid, a transparent display chamber disposed in front of the wall, a conduit, and a two-way pump. In the absence of colorant fluid in display chamber, the pixel has a background appearance determined by the color (e.g., white) of the front wall surface. The pump receives a digital control signal from a digital control circuit to transfer colorant fluid from the reservoir to the display chamber by way of the conduit, whereby the pixel's appearance changes to a “colored” appearance determined by the color and amount of the colorant fluid in the display chamber. | 11-12-2009 |
20090279158 | Fluid Actuator For Digitally Controllable Microfluidic Display - Microfluidic pixels are utilized to produce large format displays (billboards) that are both digitally controllable and are light weight. Each pixel includes a wall having a front (display) surface, and a microfluidic system including a reservoir disposed behind the wall, a colorant fluid, a transparent display chamber disposed in front of the wall, a conduit, and a fluid actuator. The reservoir includes a reservoir chamber including a deformable wall, and the fluid actuator includes a mechanism for selectively displacing the deformable wall such that a portion of the first colorant fluid is transferred between the first reservoir and the first display chamber through the first conduit, whereby the pixel's appearance changes between a background appearance determined by the color (e.g., white) of the front wall surface, and a “colored” appearance determined by the amount and color of the colorant fluid disposed in the display chamber. | 11-12-2009 |
20100059122 | Controlling Fluid Through an Array Of Fluid Flow Paths - A method of controlling fluid through a layer of a soft compressible (e.g., gel) material including an array of fluid flow paths. The fluid flow paths are normally open, allowing fluid flow. An electric field is applied in regions where fluid flow is undesirable. The electric field compresses the material closing the flow path thereby preventing further fluid flow. | 03-11-2010 |
20100185037 | DRUG DEACTIVATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DEACTIVATING A DRUG USING THE SAME - A drug deactivation system according to some embodiments includes at least one drug-retaining region of a drug delivery device and at least one energy source coupled to the at least one drug-retaining region. The at least one drug-retaining region may be configured to retain a drug. The at least one energy source may be configured to transmit energy to the drug. The drug is capable of being rendered ineffective in the presence of the transmitted energy. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185038 | DRUG DEACTIVATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DEACTIVATING A DRUG USING THE SAME - A drug deactivation system according to some embodiments includes at least one degradable capsule exposed to at least one drug-retaining region of a drug delivery device and an agent. The agent is configured to render a drug ineffective upon degradation of the at least one capsule. The at least one drug-retaining region is configured to retain one of the drug and the agent and the at least one capsule is configured to retain the other of the drug and the agent. | 07-22-2010 |
20100185143 | SENSOR SYSTEM FOR DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE, DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE HAVING THE SAME AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME - A system for use with a drug delivery device includes a sensor unit and a deactivation unit operatively coupled to an output of the sensor unit and to a drug-retaining region of the drug delivery device, wherein the drug-retaining region contains a drug. The sensor unit is configured to detect a characteristic of a local environment and generate an output corresponding to a value of the detected characteristic. The deactivation unit is configured to render the drug ineffective when the output of the sensor unit satisfies a predetermined condition. | 07-22-2010 |
20100252117 | Novel Electrostatically Addressable Microvalves - A method of controlling a main fluid in a conduit using a microvalve is described. The microvalve includes a corresponding actuation aperture in an actuation aperture layer. A control fluid flows through the actuation aperture in response to an electric field applied via a charge distribution near an actuation aperture layer. In one embodiment, the electric field may adjust the opening and closing of the actuation aperture thereby controlling the flow of the control fluid. In a second embodiment, the control fluid is an electrorheological fluid where the electric field controls the viscosity of the ER fluid, thereby controlling fluid flow through the actuation aperture. In both embodiments the flow of the control fluid controls stretching of a flexible membrane into and out of the conduit, thereby controlling the flow of the main fluid by opening or closing the conduit. | 10-07-2010 |
20110012980 | LATENT RESISTIVE IMAGE LAYER FOR HIGH SPEED THERMAL PRINTING APPLICATIONS - An imaging system including an image receiving structure including a tunable-resistivity material; and an energy source to emit an energy beam at the image receiving structure to pattern-wise program the tunable-resistivity material. A resistivity can be pattern-wise changed. Marking material can be pattern-wise adhered in response to the pattern-wise changed resistivity. | 01-20-2011 |
20110087155 | TRANSMUCOSAL DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD INCLUDING ELECTRICALLY-ACTUATED PERMEATION ENHANCEMENT - Intralumenal devices and methods are provided for transmucosal drug delivery. The device may comprise a housing configured for intralumenal deployment into a human or animal subject; a drug-dispensing portion which contains at least one drug; and an electrically-actuatable portion configured to disrupt at least one region of a mucosal barrier adjacent to the housing at a selected time while intralumenally deployed in the human or animal subject. The device may be operable to dispense the drug from the housing to a region of the mucosal barrier disrupted by the electrically-actuatable portion. | 04-14-2011 |
20110087192 | TRANSMUCOSAL DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD INCLUDING CHEMICAL PERMEATION ENHANCERS - Devices and methods are provided for transmucosal drug delivery. The transmucosal drug delivery device may include a housing configured for intralumenal deployment, such as intravaginally, into a human or animal subject; a drug-dispensing portion which contains at least one drug, the drug-dispensing portion being configured to dispense the drug from the housing by positive displacement; and a permeability enhancer-dispensing portion configured to release or generate a permeability enhancing substance to disrupt at least one region of a mucosal barrier adjacent to the housing at a selected time while intralumenally deployed in the human or animal subject. The device may be operable to dispense the drug from the housing to a region of the mucosal barrier disrupted by the permeability enhancing substance. | 04-14-2011 |
20110087195 | TRANSMUCOSAL DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD INCLUDING MICRONEEDLES - Devices and methods for transmucosal drug delivery are provided. A device includes a housing configured for intralumenal deployment into a human or animal subject; a drug-dispensing portion which contains at least one drug; and a plurality of microneedles extending, or being extendable from, the housing, the plurality of microneedles being configured to disrupt at least one region of a mucosal barrier adjacent the housing at a selected time after being intralumenally deployed in the human or animal subject. The device is operable to dispense the drug from the housing to a region of the mucosal barrier disrupted by the plurality of microneedles. | 04-14-2011 |
20120038726 | THERMAL INK TRANSFER USING ENDLESS BELT - An embodiment is a method and apparatus for thermal ink transfer. An endless belt having a thin thickness transfers ink from an ink donor roll to an image substrate based on a pattern on the belt. A heating unit heats the belt locally as needed in vicinity of contact between the belt and the ink donor roll. | 02-16-2012 |
20120068331 | Microsprings Partially Embedded In A Laminate Structure And Methods For Producing Same - At least one microspring has applied thereover a laminate structure to provide: mechanical protection during handling and wafer processing, a spring spacer layer, strengthening of the anchor between spring and substrate, provision of a gap stop during spring deflection, and moisture and contaminant protection. A fully-formed laminate structure may be applied over the microspring structure or a partly-formed laminate structure may be applied over the microspring structure then cured or hardened. The tip portion of the microspring may protrude through the laminate structure and be exposed for contact or may be buried within the contact structure. The laminate structure may remain in place in the final microspring structure or be removed in whole or in part. The laminate structure may be photolithographically patternable material, patterned and etched to remove some or all of the structure, forming for example additional structural elements such as a gap stop for the microspring. | 03-22-2012 |
20120103212 | Variable Data Lithography System - A variable data lithography system includes an improved imaging member, a dampening solution subsystem, a patterning subsystem, an inking subsystem, and an image transfer subsystem. The imaging member comprises a reimageable surface layer comprising a polymer, the reimageable surface having a surface roughness Ra in the range of 0.10-4.0 μm peak-to-valley, and peak-to-valley nearest neighbor average distances finer than 20 μm. A structural mounting layer may be provided to which the reimageable surface layer is attached, either directly or with intermediate layers therebetween. The relatively rough surface facilitates retention of dampening solution and improves inking uniformity and transfer. The reimageable surface layer may be comprised of polydimethylsiloxane (silicone), and may optionally have particulate radiation sensitive material disbursed therein to promote absorption, and hence heating, from an optical source. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103213 | Ink Rheology Control Subsystem for a Variable Data Lithography System - A subsystem for controlling the rheology of ink applied to an imaging surface of a variable data lithography system comprises an ink reservoir, an ink application subsystem for applying ink from the ink reservoir over the imaging surface at a first ink temperature, and an ink complex viscoelastic modulus control subsystem for modifying the complex viscoelastic modulus of the ink from a first value at the ink reservoir to a second value prior to transfer of the ink from the imaging surface to a substrate. The ink complex viscoelastic modulus control subsystem may comprise a partial curing stage, such as a photo-curing stage. The ink may optionally include photoinitiators to assist with the partial curing. Alternatively, the ink complex viscoelastic modulus control subsystem may consist of an ink pre-heating subsystem and/or a post-application cooling system. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103214 | Heated Inking Roller for a Variable Data Lithography System - An inking subsystem for a variable data digital lithography system comprises a first ink roller disposed to receive ink on a surface thereof, the ink being provided from an ink reservoir such that it may be provided by the first ink roller to a reimageable surface of said variable data digital lithography system, and a heating apparatus disposed proximate the first ink roller to provide heating of the first ink roller preferentially at the point of application of the ink by the first ink roller to the reimageable surface. Various methods and apparatus for heating the first ink roller are disclosed. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103217 | Cleaning Subsystem for a Variable Data Lithography System - An cleaning subsystem for a variable data lithography system includes a first cleaning member having a conformable adhesive surface disposed for physical contact with an imaging member such that residual ink remaining on the imaging member, such as following transfer of an inked latent image from the imaging member to a substrate, adheres to the conformable adhesive surface and is thereby removed from the imaging member. The cleaning subsystem may further include a second cleaning member, in physical contact with the first cleaning member, having a relatively hard, smooth surface such that residual ink removed from the imaging member and adhering to the adhesive surface of the first cleaning member may split onto the second cleaning member. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103218 | Method of Ink Rheology Control in a Variable Data Lithography System - Methods for controlling the rheology of ink applied to an imaging surface of a variable data lithography system include applying ink in a layer with a first complex viscoelastic modulus such that said ink layer readily separates in regions over the imaging surface covered by a dampening solution and into regions over the imaging surface at which dampening solution has been removed, increasing the complex viscoelastic modulus of the ink to a second complex viscoelastic modulus while the ink is over the imaging surface, thereby increasing the level of at least one of ink cohesive energy and ink tack prior to the transfer of said ink to said substrate at said image transfer subsystem. | 05-03-2012 |
20120103221 | Cleaning Method for a Variable Data Lithography System - An cleaning method for a variable data lithography system employs a first cleaning member having a conformable adhesive surface disposed for physical contact with an imaging member such that residual ink remaining on the imaging member, such as following transfer of an inked latent image from the imaging member to a substrate, adheres to the conformable adhesive surface and is thereby removed from the imaging member. The cleaning method may further employ a second cleaning member, in physical contact with the first cleaning member, having a relatively hard, smooth surface such that residual ink removed from the imaging member and adhering to the adhesive surface of the first cleaning member may split onto the second cleaning member. | 05-03-2012 |
20120236098 | THERMAL INK TRANSFER USING ENDLESS BELT - An embodiment is a method and apparatus for thermal ink transfer. An endless belt having a thin thickness transfers ink from an ink donor roll to an image substrate based on a pattern on the belt. A heating unit heats the belt locally as needed in vicinity of contact between the belt and the ink donor roll. | 09-20-2012 |
20120271218 | DRUG DELIVERY DEVICES AND METHODS WITH COLLIMATED GAS STREAM AND RELEASE-ACTIVATABLE TAPE - Drug delivery devices and methods are provided for delivering a substance into a human or animal tissue. The device includes a gas source comprising a gas or capable of selectively producing a gas. The device also includes a drug source positioned and configured to release a drug into the gas. The drug source includes a release-activatable tape having the drug disposed thereon. The device also includes a first collimator fluidly connected with the gas source. The first collimator, which has an inlet end and an outlet end, is adapted to form a collimated gas stream comprising the drug in the gas. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271221 | DELIVERY DEVICES AND METHODS WITH COLLIMATED GAS STREAM AND PARTICLE SOURCE - Delivery devices, methods and systems are provided for the delivery of particles into a biological tissue. The device includes a gas source comprising a gas or capable of selectively producing a gas; a first particle source comprising a first plurality of particles; a first collimator fluidly connected with the gas source and adapted to form a collimated stream of the first plurality of particles entrained in the gas. The device also includes a tissue-interfacing surface adapted to interface with a surface of the tissue and orient the first collimator with the tissue such that the collimated stream of the first plurality of particles will penetrate the tissue in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the tissue. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271224 | DRUG DELIVERY DEVICES AND METHODS WITH COLLIMATED GAS STREAM AND DRUG RESERVOIR - Drug delivery device and methods are provided for transdermal drug delivery through a skin. The device includes a gas source comprising a gas or capable of selectively producing a gas. The device also includes a first collimator fluidly connected with the gas source adapted to form a first plurality of collimated gas streams comprising the gas. The first collimator has an inlet end and an outlet end. The device further includes a first drug source comprising a drug. The first drug source is configured to release the drug into the first plurality of collimated gas streams between the inlet end and outlet end of the first collimator. | 10-25-2012 |
20120277514 | DRUG DEACTIVATION SYSTEM - A drug deactivation system according to some embodiments includes at least one drug-retaining region of a drug delivery device and at least one energy source coupled to the at least one drug-retaining region. The at least one drug-retaining region may be configured to retain a drug. The at least one energy source may be configured to transmit energy to the drug. The drug is capable of being rendered ineffective in the presence of the transmitted energy. | 11-01-2012 |
20120285550 | Novel Electrostatically Addressable Microvalves - A method of controlling a main fluid in a conduit using a microvalve is described. The microvalve includes a corresponding actuation aperture in an actuation aperture layer. A control fluid flows through the actuation aperture in response to an electric field applied via a charge distribution near an actuation aperture layer. In one embodiment, the electric field may adjust the opening and closing of the actuation aperture thereby controlling the flow of the control fluid. In a second embodiment, the control fluid is an electrorheological fluid where the electric field controls the viscosity of the ER fluid, thereby controlling fluid flow through the actuation aperture. In both embodiments the flow of the control fluid controls stretching of a flexible membrane into and out of the conduit, thereby controlling the flow of the main fluid by opening or closing the conduit. | 11-15-2012 |
20130050800 | MULTIPLE LINE SINGLE-PASS IMAGING USING SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATOR AND ANAMORPHIC PROJECTION OPTICS - Two substantially one-dimensional scan line images are simultaneously generated by modulating a two-dimensional homogenous light field using a spatial light modulator having light modulating elements arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. An upper group of modulating elements are configured using a first scan line image data group, and a lower group of modulating elements are configured using a second scan line image data group. The homogenous light source is then pulsed (toggled) to direct the two-dimensional homogenous light field onto the spatial light modulator. The resulting two-dimensional modulated light field is directed through an anamorphic optical system, which images and concentrates the modulated light on an imaging surface such that two parallel one-dimensional scan line images are simultaneously formed on the imaging surface. | 02-28-2013 |
20140088345 | SINGLE CHANNEL, MULTIPLE DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHODS - Devices and methods are provided for drug delivery. The device may include a housing configured for intralumenal deployment into a human or animal subject and a reservoir contained within the housing and having an actuation end and a release end. The release end may include at least one outlet. A first drug formulation and a second drug formulation may be disposed within the reservoir and adjacent to each other and immiscible, or separated from each other by a first barrier. The device may also include a plug within the reservoir at the actuation end, the plug being movable toward the release end to drive the first and second drug formulations out of the reservoir. The device may also include an actuation system operably connected to the actuation end of the reservoir and configured to drive the plug toward the release end and release the drug formulations from the reservoir. | 03-27-2014 |
20140088346 | MULTIPLE RESERVOIR DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHODS - Devices and methods are provided for drug delivery. The device may include a housing configured for intralumenal deployment into a human or animal subject and first and second reservoirs within the housing, each reservoir having an actuation end, an opposed release end, and a plug moveable from the actuation end toward the release end. First and second drug formulations may be contained in the first and second reservoirs, respectively. The device may also include one or more actuation systems configured to drive the first and second plugs so as to drive the first and second drug formulations from the first and second reservoirs. The housing may include a porous membrane sidewall in fluid communication with the release ends of the first and second reservoirs, the porous membrane sidewall being configured to distribute the first and second drug formulations driven from the first and second reservoirs. | 03-27-2014 |
20140200553 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR INTRALUMINAL RETENTION AND DRUG DELIVERY - Retention devices and methods are provided for drug delivery. The device may include a housing configured for intraluminal deployment into a human or animal subject and at least one reservoir contained within the housing. The at least one reservoir may have an actuation end and a release end and contain at least one drug formulation. A plug may be contained within the at least one reservoir and be moveable from the actuation end toward the release end. The device may also include an actuation system operably connected to the actuation end of the at least one reservoir and configured to drive the at least one drug formulation from the reservoir. The device may also include at least one retention member affixed to the housing and movable between a non-stressed position, a deployment position, and a retention position for retaining the device in an intraluminal location in the subject. | 07-17-2014 |
20140377731 | Test Platform for Wrist-Mounted Physiologic Measurement Device - A test model has an outer polymer layer that models an exterior surface of a human arm and includes at least a wrist portion, an inner polymer core that is at least partially surrounded by the outer polymer layer and extends into the wrist portion, and polymer tubing adjacent to the inner polymer core. The polymer tubing is at least partially surrounded by the outer polymer layer and extends into the wrist portion. The polymer tubing has a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet. The test model is substantially free of metallic and magnetic materials. | 12-25-2014 |
20140378777 | Physiological Measurement Using Wearable Device - A method for real-time, high-density physiological data collection includes automatically measuring, by a wearable device, one or more physiological parameters during each of a plurality of measurement periods, and upon conclusion of a measurement period, for each of the plurality of measurement periods, automatically transmitting by the wearable device data representative of the physiological parameters measured during that measurement period, to a server, the server configured to develop a baseline profile based on the data transmitted by the wearable device for the plurality of measurement periods. The measurement periods may extend through a plurality of consecutive days, and each of the consecutive days may include multiple measurement periods. At least some of the physiological parameters are measured by non-invasively detecting one or more analytes in blood circulating in subsurface vasculature proximate to the wearable device. | 12-25-2014 |
20140378794 | Physiological Measurement Using Wearable Device - A wearable device includes a detector configured to detect a response signal transmitted from a portion of subsurface vasculature, the response signal being related to binding of a clinically-relevant analyte to functionalized particles present in a lumen of the subsurface vasculature. Program instructions stored in a computer readable medium of the device, and executable by a processor, may cause the device to determine a concentration of the clinically-relevant analyte based on the response signal detected by the detector; determine whether a medical condition is indicated based on at least the concentration of the clinically-relevant analyte; and, in response to a determination that the medical condition is indicated, transmit data representative of the medical condition via the communication interface. The device may also include a signal source configured to transmit an interrogating signal into the portion of subsurface vasculature, thereby generating a response signal in response to the interrogating signal. | 12-25-2014 |
20150065997 | TRANSMUCOSAL DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD INCLUDING CHEMICAL PERMEATION ENHANCERS - Devices and methods are provided for transmucosal drug delivery. The transmucosal drug delivery device may include a housing configured for intralumenal deployment, such as intravaginally, into a human or animal subject; a drug-dispensing portion which contains at least one drug, the drug-dispensing portion being configured to dispense the drug from the housing by positive displacement; and a permeability enhancer-dispensing portion configured to release or generate a permeability enhancing substance to disrupt at least one region of a mucosal barrier adjacent to the housing at a selected time while intralumenally deployed in the human or animal subject. The device may be operable to dispense the drug from the housing to a region of the mucosal barrier disrupted by the permeability enhancing substance. | 03-05-2015 |