A chest drainage system including a collection device configured to receive fluid from the pleural cavity of a patient. A sensor is included to detect a pressure differential in the fluid. A display is configured to display a trend in occurrences of changes in pressure of the fluid over time in predetermined time increments based on a number of detections of pressure differentials that exceed a predetermined pressure differential during each of the predetermined time increments. The trend is correlative to the percentage of time that the patient is deemed to have an air leak in the pleural cavity in the predetermined time increments. The trend is derived from a ratio of the quantity of respiratory cycles of the patient for which the predetermined pressure differential is detected (QRC.sub.leak) in the predetermined time increments to the total quantity of respiratory cycles of the patient in respective predetermined time increments (QRC.sub.total).

An expandable medical balloon including an inner layer formed of a poly (ether-block-amide) copolymer and an outer layer formed of a polyamide, the expandable medical balloon having a burst strength of greater than 50,000 psi, and to methods of making and using the same.

The invention provides liquid injectable copolymers of TMC and HTMC that are degradable in vivo. Degradation can be tailored by adjusting the amount of HTMC in the copolymer, the initial molecular weight of the copolymer, and the characteristics of the initiator used in its preparation. Specifically, the degradation rate increases as the amount of HTMC incorporated into the copolymer increases, as the molecular weight of the copolymer decreases, and as the hydrophobicity of the initiator decreases. Moreover, the degradation yields products such as glycerol and carbon dioxide that are non-toxic in vivo, and which will not cause a substantive change in tissue pH upon implantation in vivo. The copolymers may be used in applications such as drug delivery and as coatings.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for increasing liquid absorption are described. Some embodiments may include a dressing having an absorbent layer containing super-absorbent material as well as ionic-exchange media (IEM). In some embodiments, the absorbent layer may include absorbent fibers. The absorbent fibers may each include a super-absorbent core surrounded by a water-permeable layer onto which ionic-exchange media (IEM) may be grafted. As liquid comes into contact with the IEM, its ionic nature may be reduced, therefore protecting the absorbent qualities of the super-absorbent material.

Medical syringe barrels having the inner surface coated with cured silicone oil are used for calibration and detection of silicone oil in medical syringe barrels. Calibration standards as provided in this invention allow for quick determination how well a lubrication system for lubricating medical syringe barrels with silicone oil is working.

A biocompatible material, which has excellent film formation properties and resistance to water dissolution, and is easily applied on various bases as a coating, while having excellent antithrombotic properties, and to provide an antithrombotic coating agent and an antithrombotic coating film produced by using the biocompatible material, and a medical device provided with the antithrombotic coating film. A copolymer, containing at least one repeating unit (A) represented by formula (1) (wherein, n represents an integer of 2 to 10 and R.sup.1 represents a methyl group or an ethyl group), and at least one repeating unit (B) represented by formula (2) (wherein R.sup.2 represents an aliphatic hydrocarbon group); an antithrombotic coating agent containing the copolymer and an organic solvent; an antithrombotic coating film formed of the copolymer; and a medical device provided with the coating film.

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A tumor ablation system includes a heating needle and a power supply device. The heating needle includes a rigid tubular shell. The heating needle further includes a heating element and a non-heating element; the heating element has at least one heating wire, a central cylindrical object and a distal part of the shell. The heating wire and the central cylindrical object are inside the shell. The heating wire is electrically coupled to the non-heating element, and coiled on the central cylindrical object. The distal part of the shell covers the coil formed by the heating wire on the central cylindrical object. When the heating wire is charged with electricity the heating wire generates thermal energy that is conducted to the distal part of the shell. The power supply device couples to the non-heating element, and provides electricity to the heating needle.

Devices and methods for transplanting cells in a host body are described. The cell comprises a porous scaffold that allows ingrowth of vascular and connective tissues, a plug or plug system configured for placement within the porous scaffold, and a seal configured to enclose a proximal opening in the porous scaffold. The device may further comprise a cell delivery device for delivering cells into the porous scaffold. The method of cell transplantation comprises a two step process. The device is incubated in the host body to form a vascularized collagen matrix around a plug positioned within the porous scaffold. The plug is then retracted from the porous scaffold, and cells are delivered into the vascularized space created within the porous scaffold.

The disclosure relates to molecular protein brushes and devices comprising regions of protein brushes.

The present invention provides polypeptides comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from collagen type VI or a fragment, variant, fusion or derivative thereof, or a fusion of said fragment, variant of derivative thereof, wherein the polypeptide, fragment, variant, fusion or derivative is capable of killing or attenuating the growth of microorganisms. Related aspects of the invention provide corresponding isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors and host cells for making the same. Additionally provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising a polypeptide of the invention, as well as methods of use of the same in the treatment and/or prevention of microbial infections and in wound care. Also provided are a method of killing microorganisms in vitro and a medical device associated with the pharmaceutical composition.