Disclosed are methods of delivering an agent to the lumen of the vas deferens under guidance of ultrasound imaging. The methods include vas-occlusive contraception in which the vas deferens is non-surgically isolated and an occlusive substance is percutaneously administered into the lumen of the vas deferens under ultrasound. Also disclosed are methods of reversal of vas-occlusive contraception and methods of delivering an agent to the lumen of the vas deferens. Also disclosed are compositions for use in the methods of the invention.

The present invention relates to a hemostatic composition including collagen, a stabilizer, and thrombin, and a container holding this hemostatic composition. The hemostatic composition and the container holding this hemostatic composition can be applied to an urgent bleeding patient by a simple method of use, and the hemostatic composition is less toxic, does not have a problem of blood infection, has a fast rate of biodegradation, has an excellent hemostatic effect, and can be usefully used as a hemostat.

The present invention relates to a bioink for 3D printing, the preparation method, and the usage. Such bioink is a gel made of α-zein, porogen by 0-10% of the weight of zein, ethanol and water. The preparation method consists of: 10-50% zein is dissolved into an aqueous solution containing 40-90% (v/v) of ethanol, then, the porogen by 0-10% of the weight of zein is added, and then, this solution is allowed to stand at 5-95° C. for 1-10 days, or stirred for 30 min-24 hours, and thus, the bioink for 3D printing can be obtained. The conditions applied to prepare such bioink are mild and the method adopted is easy to operate, in addition, the said bioink for 3D printing has good mechanical properties and biocompatibility, which can be applied in the field of biomedicine for preparing tissue engineered substitutes and hemostatic materials by 3D printing at room temperature.

An adhesive skin patch including a substrate and an adhesive layer, wherein the substrate is formed of a foam sheet having open cells and a bubble fraction of 70% or more, and the adhesive layer is partially formed on one side of the substrate.

The invention relates to a dispenser of a sealant for hemostasis comprising a container configured to receive a fibrinogen solution and an activation compartment being situated downstream of the container and comprising a functionalized support to which a coagulation factor, preferably thrombin, is immobilized, such that upon dispensing the fibrinogen solution it passes through the activation compartment, thereby generating and dispensing polymerizing fibrin as a sealant. The invention further relates to a support, exchangeable tip and a kit for the dispenser as well as to methods and uses of the dispenser or components thereof for dispensing a sealant to a desired site.

Provided is a thrombin-carrying hemostatic sheet that is suitable for hemostasis during surgery, in particular, for hemostasis during spine surgery, that is convenient without preparation before use, and that is bioabsorbable and can be embedded in the body as it is. The hemostatic sheet is composed of a gelatin sponge carrying an effective amount of thrombin, wherein (A) the density is 30 to 55 mg/cm.sup.3, and (B) the shape maintaining angle in wet conditions is 55 to 120°.

Some tissue adhesives include a solid having bio-absorbable fibers and at least one of nano-spheres, micro-spheres, nano-tubules, or micro-tubules. A first layer of the solid has a positive Poisson's ratio and a second layer of the solid has a negative Poisson's ratio. In some cases, the second layer has been transformed from a positive Poisson's ratio material to a negative Poisson's ratio material. In some cases, an entire face of the first layer is in contact with an entire face of the second layer. In some cases, the second layer includes one or more pores, at least a portion of the one or more pores containing a secretion from one or more barnacles. In some cases, the secretion is configured to adhere the tissue adhesive to one or more layers of tissue to at least partially close a wound.

A trigger mechanism that can be used in AR-pattern firearms has a hammer, a trigger member, a disconnector, a locking member, and a “three position” safety selector having safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions. In the standard semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer such that the disconnector hook catches the hammer hook, at which time a user must manually release the trigger member to free the hammer from the disconnector to permit the hammer and trigger member to pivot to the set positions so that the user can pull the trigger member to fire the firearm. In the forced reset semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer causing the trigger member to be forced to the set position, the safety selector preventing the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook, and thereafter when the bolt carrier reaches the substantially in-battery position the user can pull the trigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing the trigger member. The locking member is pivotable between a first position at which the locking member mechanically blocks the trigger member from moving to the released position and a second position at which the locking member does not mechanically block the trigger member allowing the trigger member to be moved to the released position. The locking member is spring biased toward the first position and moved against the spring bias to the second position by contact from the bolt carrier during forward movement of the bolt carrier as the bolt carrier reaches a substantially in-battery position.

Compositions and methods for producing materials for construction and for dust control utilizing enzyme producing cells, an amount of a nitrogen source such as urea, and an amount of calcium such as calcium chloride. Calcium contributes to the formation of calcium carbonate which creates a solid structure, layer or shield. One or more compositions containing components of the invention can be sprayed or otherwise applied to surfaces for erosion control, foundation support, prevention of sink hole formation, prevention of dust formation, or other applications. Ammonia, water and other by-products of the process can be recycled and re-utilized for the same or other purposes including, for example, as fertilizers and energy sources, or independently fermented from selectively cultivated microorganisms.

An embodiment includes individual SMP foams that radially expand and fill gaps around a heart valve that may be improperly seated, in an unusual cross section, or has poor apposition against a calcified lesion. Other embodiments are described herein.